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When looking at the different options available for window treatments, whether you’re outfitting every room in a new home with window coverings or just a single window, consider your options within the context of a single room. The dimension of a room, decorating colours and theme, its exposure to natural lighting, and, of course, what you use it for, all impact the type of window covering that works best in the space.
Acquaint yourself with practical considerations with regard to colour, room dimensions and natural lighting. The direction windows face and their exposure to the sun determines how much or how little natural light enters a room. But light differs in intensity depending on the direction it’s coming from.
Room with a view
South-facing windows offer the clearest, most consistent light but also the coldest exposure, while east-facing windows offer warm, bright light, especially in the morning. Early-morning light often means your interior spaces will heat up quickly. Look for window covering that diffuse the amount of light, which in turn helps to keep your rooms cool, especially in the summer.
West-facing windows admit the hottest
light and the most harmful UV rays.
Consider a window treatment that
provides superior light control, energy
efficiency and UV protection for this
position. And finally, north-facing windows are the most important natural light source because they receive sunlight year round and cast a warm, golden glow on interiors. Look for treatments that let in as much of this light as possible while still offering protection against heat and UV rays.
Colour affects mood
Colour plays a big role in determining
the mood in a room. To visually expand
a room, keep the colour contrast between
wall and window low. To make a room
feel cosier, create a high contrast. As a
general rule, use neutral-coloured
window treatments when you want
other furnishings - a prized painting,
say, or sofa - to make bold statements.
Also, neutral colours not only invoke a
sense of calm but also create an illusion
of height.
Creating an illusion
The size and shape of your room is
obviously an important consideration
when selecting a window fashion. Some
basic guidelines to keep in mind: vertical
window fashions can add height and
dignity to a room, while horizontal ones often suggest relaxation and informality. Also, fabric window shadings with gentle folds can counterbalance the rigid lines of the design of a room.
Light control and privacy
Light control and privacy are closely
related. Light control is about mood. It’s
about modulating and diffusing light. It’s
about dramatically transforming the
appearance and ambience in a room.
More than anything else, it can mean the
difference between an ordinary home
and an exceptional one. Every treatment
provides a different degree of light
control. Roller shades, for example,
provide minimal control. You can stop a
traditional roller shade anywhere you
want, but you can’t really control the
varying levels of light. Sheers and
Venetians, on the other hand, provide a
high degree of control, since you can
rotate or tilt the vane or slat to let in just
the amount of light you want.
When it comes to privacy, if you live in the city, privacy is first and foremost about blocking unwanted views. If you live in a private place - on a densely wooded lot or on a secluded stretch of beachfront - privacy is not about blocking views but about creating a sense of emotional security.
If your top priority is blocking unwanted views, look for treatments that provide complete privacy. Also consider top-down/bottom-up window fashions, which allow you to mask those coffee shops (and all curious onlookers inside) while still giving you access to natural light. If you’re looking to preserve your views but want to ensure that no one on the outside can see in (especially at night), consider a treatment that provides privacy on demand.
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