Controlling the light coming into your home or adding a bit of design to the room is possible when you add the right window treatments. But how do you know what to pick? There are almost endless options to choose from today, so it’s important to think carefully about what you want and what might look best in each room. When you’re considering window treatments, use the following information to narrow down your options and determine what’s right for your home.
What’s Your Goal?
There are various reasons to purchase window treatments. Perhaps you’re looking into San Antonio blinds or curtains to block out light coming into the room. If you prefer the room as dark as possible during the day or you want to protect the interior of the home from UV lights, blinds and certain types of curtains may be an excellent option. If you’d like to add a bit of a softer touch to the room, though, you may opt for curtains that are sheer, velvet, or a lighter material. Think carefully about what you’d like the window treatments to do before looking into your options.
Choosing the Right Blinds
If blinds are desired, you have various selections to choose from. There are wood, composite, plastic, and aluminum blinds today as well as ones that are designed to be used without cords and motorized ones so you can open them up with the touch of a button. There are also a variety of styles, with the most popular being the following.
Venetian Blinds
These blinds have horizontal slats and are used to regulate the amount of light coming into the home. They can also help to increase privacy, as it’s not possible to see through them when they’re closed. This is the most common type of blinds today.
Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds are made from similar materials as Venetian blinds, but they do have vertical slats instead of horizontal ones. Often, the slats are wider to help block light. They are installed on a track at the top of the window and are easy to open and close. These are often used for larger windows.
Panel Blinds
Panel blinds are made from fabric panels that can open and close along a track to block light as needed. They are also used on larger windows and provide a stylish alternative to vertical blinds. Since they are made of fabric, the options for panels can be endless, especially if you opt to customize them.
Roller Blinds
Roller blinds are made from panels of fabric, too, but they roll up when opened and down to close. They can be used on any size window and light-blocking fabric can be used to help keep out the light when the blinds are opened.
Opting for Curtains
If you prefer curtains, there are many choices to consider. Curtains are available in just about any type of fabric, from sheer to ones that block out all light from entering the room. When you do have curtains, you can choose the number of panels you have to cover the windows completely. There are various types of curtain headers, from ripple folds to grommet or rod pockets. Curtain rods can vary, too, from basic to stylish, so you can pick out the right option for your home. Before buying the curtains, think about how you’ll hang them to make sure they look fantastic and that you have the curtain rod hung at the right height.
Place it Above the Windows
It is best to hang the curtains closer to the ceiling. It doesn’t need to be at the ceiling, especially if you have higher ceilings, but you will want it spaced above the windows to help them look taller and to make sure the curtains fit properly. If you are using anything to cover the curtain rod, keep this in mind when you’re deciding how high to hang the curtains, as it may impact how close to the ceiling the curtains can go.
Have the Curtains Extend Beyond the Windows
Make sure the curtain rod is wider than the windows by at least 10″ to 12″. It is important to make sure there is plenty of space on either side of the window, as this provides the illusion that the windows are larger. It also helps to make sure the curtains can be pulled completely away from the windows when they’re open, making it easier to allow in as much light as possible. Consider how you’ll tie the curtains when they’re open to hold them in place, too.
Think About Where the Curtains will Fall
The bottom of the curtains should fall as close to the floor as possible. It is recommended to have the curtains reach down to the baseboards or make them longer. They can hang all the way to the floor to create the illusion of taller windows. For added elegance, consider having the curtains puddle on the floor a little bit. This does mean the curtains may need to be washed more frequently, though, so keep that in mind if you’re trying to minimize how often you’ll clean them.
Combining Both Options
It is definitely possible to combine windows and blinds for more privacy, to keep as much light out as possible, and to add to the style inside your home. When you do combine both, opt for a lighter, neutral color for the blinds and play around with color in the curtains. Curtains are easier to switch out when you want a new look, so you’ll want to use them to add style and glamour to the room.
If you’re ready for new window treatments for your home, there are plenty of choices to make before you buy anything. Take the time to use the information here and consider what you’d like to see in your home or what your goals are for the window treatments. From there, you can look through the options to find the perfect blinds, curtains, or both to create an amazing space inside your home.
