Daylight savings has come and gone, which means the hours we have of daylight on a daily basis are precious! It’s simple to dress your home’s exterior and interior furnishings in seasonal décor, but that’s not always the case when it comes to window treatments. Lighting plays a key role in creating an atmosphere in your home and the right shades, drapes, or blinds can make or break that vibe. To evoke the right atmosphere this holiday season, consider these tips and tricks for choosing the right window treatments.
- Use heavy fabric. Materials like velvet and wool can instantly bring warmth into any room in your home. These textures provide visual warmth and physical insulation, helping to keep the heat you’re pumping into your home from seeping through any cracks in your window caulking. In addition, heavy fabrics like these offer total privacy when closed.
- Consider room darkening options. If you’re a shift worker of any kind, room darkening curtains can be a lifesaver no matter what time of year it is. You need your room to be dark so that you can rest at any given time of the day. Room darkening curtains give you that option. In addition to eliminating natural light completely, room darkening curtains can help prevent cool drafts from coming in as well.
- Let the sun in with sheers. For those of you looking to let as much sunlight in as possible, sheer curtains are your best bet. This lightweight fabric was designed to let as much daylight through as possible, making it perfect for the short autumn days. Cheryl Smith, a Chatham, NJ interior decorator, recommends using sheer curtains in common rooms like your kitchen, living, and dining spaces. These rooms demand natural light and typically don’t require that much privacy.
- Accentuate with window treatments. If you’re looking for a simple way to incorporate color, pattern, or texture into a room, updating your window treatments is a quick, effective solution. The expert Jacksonville, FL painters suggest choosing curtains or drapes that feature a bold, autumnal color scheme, like burnt sienna or oxblood. These colors will translate seamlessly into the holiday season as well. This quick update will make a statement and help to usher the holiday season in.
- Choose the right style and length. The length of the window treatments you choose depends on what you’re trying to achieve in a room. For example, if you’re looking to make the windows in your family room appear larger than they are, you’ll want to find curtains that are 60-80” long. Hang them far enough above the window so that they just graze the floor. Conversely, in a kitchen, for instance, you’ll want simpler window treatments, like wooden slat shutters or a valance for that window over the sink.
Before you upgrade your window treatments, it’s important to consider the space, it’s current design, and the goal you’re looking to achieve. With so many options available, finding the window treatments that are right for you and your home can seem challenging. For the best assistance in home design, contact Decorating Den Interiors today.