When decorating a room in your home, a very important component to the design is the window treatment. Often people leave that to last, or don’t even think of it until everything else is completed. Very often lately room designs seem to forget window treatment altogether, leaving the windows bare and often stark looking. If you have a great view, or if the room orientation is such that you don’t have to worry about glare or excessive sunlight, this can be a design statement in itself. Everything else in the room stands out in contrast, perhaps because we’ve become so accustomed to drapes and shades that we unconsciously miss whatever they add to a room.
Every year a whole raft of new window treatments appears for decorators and home owners and choosing from a large array of materials and styles can be bewildering. Blinds come in many types and styles, from very simple, old fashioned ones of wood or metal to elaborate widths and finishes for every color scheme as well as style blinds. Plantation shutters are attractive and versatile, they traditionally have a countrified look which is relaxed and casual, while being very versatile. The heavy look of the shutters gives a solid feel to the room and they can be opened or partially opened to permit light shutters. The country feel of bare wood is completely changed when the same shutters are made of other materials and painted or stained a clear white ora matching shade to complement the color scheme of the room.
Roman shades are another choice that is becoming so popular that it doesn’t just say “decorator” any more. The fabric can be moved in such a way as to admit light where you might want it, or to admit light higher up on the window while still allowing privacy roman shades. The wooden window frame is allowed to keep all of its elegance, while attractive styles and patterns of fabrics blend or contrast with the colors of the wall. Shades that cover the whole window in one piece or also cover the window and frame soften the room as nicely as drapes and curtains, and they can match or contrast with the room colors shades. A lot of choices are available here, too.
The practicality of venetian blinds is a boon to decorators, be they professional or amateur. They are so simple to install, they control the amount of light so beautifully and they can blend and/or contrast with the tones in the room or with the contrasting woodwork. Hand adjusting them is easy and it is nice to be able to have bright sunshine flowing in during the day and yet be able to close for total privacy at night. They can be used along with drapes and/or curtains and are very helpful to ensure privacy. Some people even like to adjust them at different times during the day so they can enjoy the light that fits their mood.
