Every Window Needs to be Dressed

When it comes to windows, there are a lot of opinions.  Some people want to leave the windows uncovered and soak in the view.  Others want to blackout any stitch of sunshine.  And still others want to have the option to do either.  I am of the mindset that every window needs some sort of treatment.  Window treatments give the room a completed look.  When windows sit stark naked, it feels like something is missing.  Most people tend to boycott treatments because they remember the old days of draperies and sheers covering every window.  There are so many options beyond heavy draperies or even plain blinds these days. 

Non-functional drapery panels are an easy way to give the look of full draperies but not go the expense.  These panels don’t open and close, but they do frame the window nicely. The fabric coordinates with the rest of the space making the room look well-thought-out.

A unique window calls for a unique treatment.  Despite the tinting on the glass, this homeowner had trouble with the sun beating through his window.  Remote controlled fabric shades work to block out the sun when its rays are too harsh or to roll up completely when the view out the window is desired.  A pretty cornice board along the top hides the mechanics of the shades and matches the décor of the bathroom.  

For an office suite or a more contemporary home, roller shades are a great solution.  They eliminate all hassle of dusting (something I hate about blinds) and they control the light while still allowing a view.  

My point is that window treatments serve a variety of purposes- light control, privacy, aesthetics, and so on.  You would be mortified for your friends to see you naked, so don’t submit your windows to that shame.

Easy ways to make a space feel larger

You wouldn’t normally think adding something to a space would make it feel larger, but that is just what hanging drapery panels can do.  Most windows do not go floor to ceiling in a room, thus leaving wall space above and below the window frame.  Our tendency is to take a drapery rod and mount it on or directly above the frame.  In that same line of thought, we usually only draw the rod out far enough for the finials to stop at the side edges of the window.  What we are left with are window treatments hung tightly around the window and a lot of wall space to spare.  Mounting a rod this way can dwarf not only your window, but the whole room , as well.  

When I hang window treatments, I take the rod all the way up to the crown molding (if there is no molding, go to the ceiling line).  This adds dramatic height and plays up the vertical space in the room.  When hanging stationary panels on windows greater than 3ft in width, I recommend foregoing the long rod spanning the window width and instead using two short ones on each end.  This is an especially helpful tip if you are using store-bought panels because it creates a sense of fullness.  Even for custom made draperies, two small rods looks stunning on a window and the rods appear more substantial.  To create the illusion a window is wider than it is, place the rods out to the side of the window frame so that only a portion of the panel is overlapping the window.