When it comes to window treatments for the home, there are so many options that not only tie a room together beautifully, but also stand the test of time. A well-dressed window can completely elevate a home, adding extra texture, color, and dimension to a space. We often get questions about the window treatments we use in our projects that we’d love to help answer, since we know it’s such an important decision! To help us answer a few of these questions and provide some insight, we reached out to one of our go-to sources for window treatments: The Shade Store. They shared their expertise — from types of window coverings available to when to use each of them. Keep scrolling to see The Shade Store’s window treatment tips!
What types of window coverings are available?
The Shade Store offers a wide variety of custom window treatment options: Roller and Solar Shades, Roman Shades, Wood Blinds, Drapery and more. Depending on the function and aesthetic you would like to achieve, their expert Design Consultants can assist in finding the perfect materials and products for every window.
When do you recommend using drapes vs. shades vs. blinds?
Whether you should use drapes, shades or blinds on your windows comes down to your taste and light control needs. According to The Shade Store, if you’re looking to achieve an elegant look and add depth and texture to a space, we may recommend floor-to-ceiling drapery layered with flat roman shades. But if you’re simply looking to soften the light and prevent interior fading, we may recommend solar shades. Blinds offer the best of both worlds – function and aesthetic. They are sleek and stylish, and let you control natural light easily.
What are the benefits to custom window coverings?
We believe beautifully dressed windows can be a stunning focal point in every space. With The Shade Store’s assortment of products and materials, they have the power to add drama and dimension to the home. Certain styles can even provide excellent insulation and help reduce energy bills, while others filter out harmful UV rays or block them out completely.
What is the first step when sourcing window coverings?
The Shade Store doesn’t have just one ‘first step’ in sourcing window treatments, but several easy options. You can visit one of their local showrooms – they feature our entire list of locations nationwide here. At every showroom, you can experience their full product line, sample complimentary swatches and receive assistance from their Design Consultants. You can also explore their complete material collection and order free swatches. Finally, you can get started on your window treatment project by requesting a complimentary measurement. This is the best way to ensure your window treatments fit perfectly and look beautiful.
Window Treatment Tips from Mindy
Some of the things we first consider when sourcing window coverings is the space they’re being used in, the type of treatment desired (roman shades, woven shades, motorized shades, and/or drapery), our mounting options based on the windows themselves (whether we can inside or outside mount), and when to splurge and incorporate beautiful drapery to add another gorgeous layer.
Our projects are never truly complete until window treatments are installed. We believe investing in window coverings is both a mix of form and function. Our go-to for nearly every space with windows are roman or woven shades. We love the simplicity of their design paired with their functionality.
When we can inside mount a roman or woven shade, we always opt to do so so we can be sure to showcase the window casing. Not every home allows for this though, so we work with The Shade Store to dream up the best case scenario, window by window, throughout the entire home. It can be an overwhelming process, with countless options, so we highly suggest finding a few images of window treatments that you love, and pay close attention to the details – are they inside or outside mounted, are they cordless or is there a mechanism by which they are operated. Everyone loves the idea of a cordless or motorized shade, but it isn’t always feasible. We suggest leaning on the experts at The Shade Store to help guide you though your options for each room. Each home really is very unique and even we have to bend a bit with what we want due to the architecture and window jambs. Ideally, we aim to stick with the same mounting style around the home, and when it allows, we also always propose adding drapery to a few rooms. Drapery can be costly, but they add so much beauty to the right rooms.
When selecting fabrics, we pull many stocked fabric options from The Shade Store. They have some beautiful linens, luxe linens, wools and sheers to choose from. Alternatively, at times we provide our own COM fabric when a room calls for it and we want to incorporate a little pop or pattern.
Lining fabrics and woven shades is another element to consider when selecting window coverings. We most often use a privacy liner, which allows lights to filter in and structures the fabric. We use a room darkening blackout liner in bedrooms and media rooms, but that is very much a personal preference. If you need a room to truly be blackout, talk with The Shade Store about how you can achieve this in your space. Ideally, you’ll want to do an inside mounted shade, paired with drapery, to prevent any light leaks from the window.
We hope we helped provide some insight on how to get started choosing window treatments. We love that by adding window treatments, not only is your home enhanced but it really does contribute to the overall design of each space. Thank you to The Shade Store for contributing to this post and sharing their insight. If you missed our last interior insights post on how to pair throw pillows, head there to catch up. Let us know in the comments what you’d like to hear from us next!