While windows and natural light are important factors in a home’s design, window coverings are often treated as an afterthought in the decorating process.

Window coverings can be functional, purely decorative, or strike a balance between the two, depending on your space and how much natural light you receive and prefer.

Curtains

Curtains are classic decorative and functional window treatments and have a long history in interior design. But they are by no means outdated. Curtains are multifunctional, versatile, affordable and effective in keeping up with modern design trends.

The advantages include:

• Decorative. Curtains can change the feel and look of a room and blend in perfectly with any decorative theme or style.
• Changed the appearance of the part size. To make a room smaller, hang curtains in bright colors that contrast with the walls. Thicker fabric curtains will also create a cozy atmosphere that large rooms lack. To make a room bigger, hang curtains of a similar color to the walls.
• Added privacy. The closing of the curtains excludes neighbors and passers-by.
• Excellent insulation. Their fabric layer properties reduce heat gain and loss in a room, so curtains are more effective than most blinds at controlling room temperature.
• Control the flow of natural light. Curtains can block out all light or let in natural light depending on your preference.
• Noise buffer. Curtains can muffle sound like rugs do. They also improve sound quality and reduce vibrations in a room. This is why curtains are often used against the walls in home theaters.
• Versatility. Curtains can easily accommodate large windows or odd shapes. They are available in a variety of materials, designs and styles to meet most of the fashion demands of home decorating.
• Affordability. Ready-made curtains are among the cheapest window covering options.
• Convenience. Curtains are convenient to install or replace when needed and require little maintenance. They are easier to clean and replace than blinds, shades or shutters.

Blinds

Shades can be fabric, plastic, wood or metal. The most commonly installed are vertical shades and venetian shades, and other types include Japanese shades, pleated shades, and cellular shades.

• Vertical blinds have vertical slats attached to a track mounted inside the window or above the window outside the window. The slats move from side to side to admit or exclude light, by means of a control rod on one side of the window space.
• Venetian blinds have horizontal slats which can be tilted up or down using a control rod. They can also be flipped up out of sight at the top of the window.
• Japanese roller blinds are often used to shade large areas or as dividers for interior spaces.
• Pleated shades are made from a pleated fabric that lifts up to sit flat on top of a window and is out of sight when opened.

Nuances

Blinds are similar to blinds. But instead of using slats, they are made from a single piece of soft fabric. The fabric can be stacked, folded or rolled up to open or close the blind.

• Roman shades are made from fabric that creases when pulled up. Mounting slats connected to cords are attached to the back of a fabric panel. When the shade is raised, the cords bring the slats together and force the shade to fold into folds.
• Cellular shades are similar to pleated shades, except that they consist of two or more layers joined at the pleats to form cell compartments. These compartments trap air, providing insulation. For this reason, cellular shades are possibly the most energy efficient and sound absorbing window treatment available.

Shutters

Shutters are usually installed in the window sill. They consist of horizontal slats of wood or synthetic materials. Slats can be fixed or adjustable to allow or prevent light and air from entering a room.

Shutters can be installed indoors or outdoors on a window or sliding door. They are often installed as an additional safety measure, especially in closed homes where homeowners may be away for long periods of time.

All the attention

Whether your taste is loose and flowing curtains, modern coverings, classic curtains, Roman shades or casual shutters, your windows deserve your undivided attention.