Window treatments are important because they add the finishing touch to a room’s decoration and enhance the design statement wanted for the space. Treatments can be of hard materials such as wood, vinyl, or metal, while soft materials are fabrics of various weights. The decision of whether to use soft or hard materials depends upon the look wanted for the space.
Examples of Hard Window Treatments
Hard treatments include:
• Shutters have horizontal slats and may be fitted inside a window or attached to the outer edges of the window frame. Shutters are typically made of wood or vinyl and can be stained or painted any color.
• Blinds have louvers made of wood, vinyl, or aluminum. They are raised and lowered by a cord system and the louvers may be opened or closed with a wand attached at the top of the blinds.
• Vertical blinds are made of stiff fabrics, wood, vinyl or aluminum. They are a good option for covering a wide sliding glass door.
Soft Window Treatments
Soft treatments include shades, blinds, curtains and drapery made of fabric. Although the term is used interchangeably, shades and blinds are different. Shades are made from a single piece of fabric and blinds consist of a series of louvers held together with cords that pass through holes in the louvers. They come in many different sizes and styles.
• Roman Shades, as the names suggests, are the product of Roman ingenuity. Modern Roman shades are adapted from the elaborate awnings used to shade spectators from the heat of the Mediterranean sun in stadiums, the Colosseum, and theaters. Traditional Roman Shades consist of rows of horizontal pleats that fold up when the shades are raised and unfold when they are lowered using a system of cords. They can be made from any kind of fabric.
• Roller shades are available in a wide variety of materials and colors, and are easy to install and operate. These shades have been popular since their first appearance in 17th century Holland, as a way to allow ventilation and light control and still provide privacy. The first blinds were made of translucent fabric, and were originally painted with romantic scenes that were visible from the inside and outside of the building. A major improvement was the American invention of the spring roller in the mid-1850s that automatically wound a shade on a roller and eliminated the complicated task of rolling the blinds up by hand. Shades help save energy by stopping energy loss through windows.
• Drapes are made of heavy fabric and work well to keep out heat in the summer and cold in the winter. They are generally floor length and are lined.
• Curtains are made of light fabrics and are not usually lined. They are light enough in weight to pair well with shutters, blinds or shades. Curtains can be one of several lengths such as ending at the bottom of a window or floor length. Panels may be used under drapes for a layered look.
Take time to choose your window treatments carefully. If you do, you will achieve just the look you want for every room in your home.