Curtains, Shades, and Blinds. Oh My!
From selecting shades to budgeting for blinds, the world of window treatments can be a daunting place. Window treatments not only help drive home your personal style and pull a room together, but they also have greater implications when it comes to privacy, safety, and cleaning. Here, we’ve outlined a few things to keep in mind the next time you want to welcome new window treatments into your home.
Form & Function
Perhaps the No. 1 thing to keep in mind when selecting window treatments is the function. Are you looking to reduce a glare while keeping your space airy and bright or do you want to completely block out light for a good night’s sleep? Are your windows easily accessible or do you have vaulted ceilings or furniture that make it more of a chore to make adjustments? Knowing the answers to these questions is a great first step to finding the right solution.
Privacy
The levels of privacy you’re looking for are likely to change throughout your home. While sheers may be the perfect pick for a sunny dining room or a whimsical living area, you’ll likely want a product that offers more discretion in areas of the home such as bedrooms and bathrooms. If you love the look of some of the more transparent options on the market, consider supplementing it with an option that offers more privacy.
Safety
For those with kids and pets, even the most ordinary of household objects can sometimes present a danger. When it comes to selecting your window treatments, consider avoiding blinds with strings that hang low or tailor a solution that places them out of reach. Also, take care to make sure curtain rods are securely mounted to the wall and won’t topple down with the slightest tug of a drape.
Cleaning
While blinds and shutters don’t need to be professionally cleaned, they can in fact be dust magnets. You’ll want to keep this in mind when shopping around. By contrast, curtains, drapes, and shades will hide dust and dirt better but when it does come time for a cleaning, the process is a little more involved and is best left to dry cleaners.
Window Treatments 101
Shutters
These are typically solid wood or vinyl and are fixed to the sides of windows with permanent hardware.
Shades
Often made from fabric, grasses, or woven woods, these solid sheets of cloth are typically mounted inside and at the top of the window.
Blinds
Similar to the look of shutters, blinds tend to only be fixed to the top of the window and are sometimes made from more flexible materials.
Curtains
More informal in nature, curtains hang on either side of a window and are made of fabric panels that can be pulled together.
Drapes
Drapes are identical to curtains but tend to be made from a thicker, more luxurious, and formal fabric that is often lined.
