Ultimate Guide to Window Treatments

Window treatments can significantly impact the interior design of a house. Today, you can choose among different types of window treatments that can change the look and feel of each room in your home. A window treatment is a covering that is placed around a window to achieve a desired aesthetic or functional effect. They usually come in styles such as drapes, curtains, blinds, and as well as glass blocks, which can affect a room’s lighting, privacy, temperature, and energy efficiency. 

The thing with window treatments is that it’s not always easy to know which window treatment to use on each window. If you are moving to a new home or upgrading your current home and you need ideas about window treatments, you’re in the right place. Read on as we’re giving you the ultimate guide to window treatments. Check out best security film for windows for more information.

What are Window Treatments For?

Windows are among the most important parts of each room in the house, and as well as exterior spaces like porches. They can let light and air in and give wonderful views of the landscape outside. When buying window treatments, you need to consider their goal. Determine whether you’d like them to be purely decorative, or use them to block light to make a dark room, or insulate a cozy living room. To help you, here are some of the uses of window treatments:

  • For decorative purposes: One of the goals of window treatments is to give decorative value to your home. Window treatments can add texture, color, and stylistic elements to each room in your house. 
  • To control temperature: Many window treatments are also used to control the temperature in the house. There are those that have a thin layer of foam to give insulation. Those that have a layer of thermal backing for insulation can also keep cold air in when the temperature outdoors gets too hot. 
  • To control light: You can also use window treatments to either keep the light out or let some light in your home. One example of this is blackout shades. They are made to block up to 99% of light. There are also sheer curtains, which are made to let some light in. There are also blinds with slats that allow you to control the light to let in more or less lighting. 
  • For privacy: Window treatments are also used to cut down visibility and give a room a sense of privacy. This is essential for rooms like bedrooms and bathrooms. 

To learn more, you can also read the following articles by clicking the links below:

The Different Types of Window Treatments

A window treatment includes covering over the window, such as a curtain, and as well as how the pane and trim are designed. To give you more ideas, here are the different types of window treatments.

Window Covering Selections

Window coverings can help block the sun and interrupt the transfer of heat. In addition to that, they can also add a decorative element to the window. There are two types of window coverings, which are hard coverings and soft coverings. 

Hard Covering – Blinds

window blinds

Blinds are great for shutting out sunlight, particularly when it is made with a thick, opaque material. They are fastened to the top of a window frame and can be lowered to cover the whole window and raised to let some light in. Blinds feature adjustable slats that you can control to let some light or air flow through. 

If you want to learn more about blinds, you can check out the following articles:

Hard Covering – Shutters

window shutters

Another hard covering window treatments are shutters. They are placed on either the inside of the window or on the outside of the window. They have different shapes, styles, and colors. Some of the common types of shutters include shaker-style shutters and louvered shutters. 

You can read more about window shutters by visiting the links below:

Soft Coverings – Shades

window shades

Soft covering window treatments can create a subtler look for your home. Shades are quite similar to blinds as they roll down over the window to block light and control temperature in your home. They are usually made of fiber or bamboo and do not have slats like blinds. Shades are also better insulators. They are also added in modern rooms to create a streamlined look. 

Check out the links below to learn more about shades:

Soft Coverings – Curtains

thin curtains on window

Curtains are also examples of soft covering window treatments. They are also used in controlling the lighting and temperature of a room. In addition to that, curtains can also help reduce 80% of exterior noise. There are specifically designed noise-reduction curtains that are great for rooms that you wish to be quiet, such as the library, study room, or bedroom. 

The most exciting feature of curtains is their look, as they can enhance the ambiance of a room. Since they are made of fabric, they are available in many different patterns and textures. Meaning, there’s always a curtain that will match the room you are decorating. 

Learn more about curtains by reading the articles in the following links:

Soft Coverings – Drapes

beautiful drapes

Drapes are different from curtains because they are typically double lined and made of a thicker fabric. Also, they are used more practically to block out the sun, heat, or cold air outdoors. But they are also lovely to look at. Drapes may hang from the top of the window down to the floor in rooms that have formal designs, rather than stopping at the window sill as many curtains do. 

Window Treatments Around the Window

After learning about the different options for window dressing, there are also window treatment options that go around the window and not on it. Most of the time, windows have a trim around their ends, which creates a border between the window itself and the wall. There are also some contemporary homes that have windows with no trim or super thin trim. Windows may also have an interior jam, which is the face of the indent that leads to the window. 

Here are the different window treatments around the window:

Trim

A window trip can add to the atmosphere of a room. For example, adding a bright-colored window trim could help create a fun look in a room, while dark shades can create a grounding feeling. Aside from that, the trim of a window can also create a statement when it is either ornate or simple. Most modern homes have window trims that are streamlined. But there are also Victorian-styled rooms that have decorative trims.

Interior Jam

This is the part of the wall that extends from the windowpane to the surface of the wall. Windows that have deep insets usually have interior jams that are quite extensive. You can enhance this feature by using polished wood, steel, or stone. Using reflective surfaces such as wood with a high sheen can capture light and reflect it into the room. You also have the option to paint the interior jam with a bright shade to play up the light that will come through the window. 

Valance

This is a short panel of fabric or curtain that hangs from the top of the window. It is a decorative piece but also helps in controlling the lighting. Valance comes in different shapes, too.

Cornice

A cornice is just like a valance, but it is made of a solid board. This covers up the hardware used in applying the window covering, and it also adds style to the window. 

Window Treatments on the Window

You also have the option to dress up windows by working with the glass. Here are some examples:

Frosted Glass

Using frosted glass on windows helps in decreasing visibility while still letting some light in. There are frosted glass panes that you can buy and install on your window. This is a great choice for bathrooms. 

Stained Glass

For decorative purposes, stained glass is also a good option for windows. It is made using panels of colored glass that are welded together along with meatal. But you can also use a stained-glass film that can be applied to glass to create the same look. When you have a stained-glass window, the color of the light that filters through it will change, and it will add elaborate details and eye-catching elements to the area. 

Things to Consider When Choosing Window Treatments

Here are some of the important things that you need to consider when choosing window treatments:

Get the right measurements.

Before you buy a window treatment or order one online, you need to make sure that you are getting the right size for your windows. There are different methods of measuring windows, depending on the kind of treatment you want. 

For example, if you are buying a curtain, you need to measure the width of the space that you want it to cover. It is better to have the curtains extend past each vertical edge of the window. If you already have a curtain rod, then you just need to get the size of the rod, then measure the height that you prefer. 

For blinds, since they are mounted on the interior of the window, you have the option to fit them inside of the window if the molding is deep enough. However, if the molding is shallow, then exterior-mounted blinds are the best option. You need to decide on this to be able to get the right measurements.

Find the right style.

When it comes to window treatments, there are many options out there. Try to search for some inspiration online if you want something new. You should also think about how the window treatment will affect the look and feel of the room you are enhancing. If you want, you can also consult an interior designer to find the perfect window treatment for your home. 

Be certain about your goal.

Your goal may be a combination of things, such as energy efficiency, style, and privacy. Therefore, before you buy a window treatment, make sure that you are certain about your goal. Always figure out your main priority instead of straying from it as you shop. 

Have a set budget.

Window treatments like stained glass and high-quality exterior trim may help increase the value of your property. Therefore, you can think of the price as your investment. If you are looking into purchasing a window treatment, it’s better to set your budget for it ahead of time and decide on the total cost that you wish to spend on them.

Conclusion

Window treatments are indeed essential because aside from adding style to your windows and enhancing the ambiance of the rooms in your house, they also provide other useful benefits. Some of these are providing privacy and giving you control when it comes to lighting. We hope this guide helped you learn more about window treatments.