How to Select the Right Window Treatments for Your Home
Did you just purchase or build your dream home? Or perhaps your home is just due for a new makeover… Here we present window treatment ideas for that finishing touch to create a unified, cohesive home design that is both functional and beautiful. There are a few key considerations when designing your window treatments. These considerations include budget, function and esthetics. Every window treatment has budget requirements, functional benefits and limitations and unique esthetics. For example, window treatments such as draperies and roman shades can add softness, texture and color to a room. While interior shutters are timeless, they are also versatile and architecturally interesting. Horizontal blinds can be more economical and a great way to save costs in certain areas. Every room of the home has different considerations such as lighting control, privacy and design to consider.
Window Treatment ideas for the Bedroom
Consider your sleeping needs and the amount of use that bedroom will receive. For instance, the owner’s suite can benefit from room darkening roman shades or room darkening draperies. A guest room that is rarely used may be a good place to use a light filtering roller shade or faux wood blind. Remember that any shade or shutter design can be accented with side panel draperies to add color and softness to a space without breaking the budget. At Elite Shutters & Blinds, Inc, we have also developed a room darkening shutter treatment for clients that want the architectural accent of shutters but need the room darkening attributes.
Blinds or shades for the Bathroom
Light control, privacy and durability are big concerns when designing blinds for the bathroom. Consider window treatments that offer all three! First, top-down-bottom-up shades and dual-functioning shutters are great solutions for bathrooms. These shades and shutters allow you to close the bottom of the window for privacy and keep the tops open for natural light. Humidity and durability are also important considerations in a bathroom. A quality wood shutter is an excellent choice for bathrooms. It can allow for lots of natural light, privacy and will tolerate the humidity in the bathroom. Check out these beautiful bathrooms with our custom plantation shutters and roman shades!
Shade window treatment ideas for the Kitchen
The kitchen is a great place to have some fun and pull in a unique shade treatment. Pay attention to the accent colors in this space. Do you have wooden rustic shelves or grey subway tiles? It’s a good idea to pull those into your kitchen window treatments. For instance, take a look at this recent project where we added a Hunter Douglas woven wood shade over the kitchen sink. The warm greys and taupes in the material accented the grey lower cabinets and wall color, creating a decorative focal point of color and texture over the kitchen sink.
Plantation shutters for the Dining Room
When designing a dining room, consider the function of the space. Is the dining room going to be a casual, fun environment for guests to enjoy an evening at your home, or is it going to be more formal and beautiful, reserved for special occasions? Either way, most dining rooms have additional architectural features such as tray ceilings and chair molding. Plantation shutters are a beautiful window treatment to use in this space. They are a stand-alone architectural treatment and can be accented with drapery side panels for a more formal design. Side panels can be a cost-effective way to add texture and color to this room, while the shutters will look great inside and outside the home!
Different window treatment ideas for the Home Office
Light control is a major concern for a home office. Whatever window treatment you choose should provide versatile and optimal light control without losing the benefits of natural light while you’re working. Many home offices are on the front of the home across from the dining room, so consider your dining room treatments. Interior shutters are wonderful in a home office because they provide versatility with light control and match the dining room from the home’s exterior. Roller shades are a great option as well. They provide both sun protection and privacy, or they can be fabricated as a solar shade that can provide sun protection and visibility.
Don’t wait to consider your window treatments! Quality window treatments are an essential component that adds a unique character to your home. They also provide privacy and protection from the harmful glare of the sun on your furniture and flooring. They can add value to the overall appearance of your home and, in some cases, such as plantation shutters, can be included in your appraisal value.
Planning for Window Treatment ideas in Your Home
Consider your Budget for Blinds
As a general rule, consider 1-2 percent of your home value as a working budget for window treatments. If you want to consider motorization or draperies, your budget could be 2-5% of the total home value depending on the final design and fabric choices.
Designing Your Blinds
Consider the design you want in conjunction with the design treatment. Some treatments like honeycomb shades stack tightly in the window and can disappear. Others like roman shades have folds of fabric covering more of the window and add a soft textural look to the room. Think about how much window you want to see out of when your treatments are open.
Functionality of Your Blinds
Do you need room darkening? Perhaps you want privacy but still want to see out of the window at the same time? Are there lots of pets and kids to consider? Does your home have arched windows or second-story windows? These are all considerations when designing your windows.
Every shade, shutter, blind and drapery have different price points, functioning and design. Working with a custom window treatment company can assist you in getting the most for your money by helping you navigate these issues. There are so many options available to you. Have fun creating the perfect design for your home.
Based in Charlotte, NC, Elite Shutters & Blinds products have been installed in thousands of homes and businesses throughout the Southern United States. Contact us today for a free in-home consultation.
