Dress your windows in style

One of the first decorating steps a home owner has to take hours after moving in is putting up curtains. What many home owners might not realise is that there are different types of window treatments, including simple curtains made from free-flowing fabric mounted on a rod or track.

Another type of window treatment (often confused with curtains) is drapes. They are often pleated or gathered and are a bit more elaborate and wider than curtains. Tie-backs are often used hand in hand with curtains and drapes. Valances and cornices cover the top boarding of the window. The former is often “draped” over the board while the other consists of a fabric cover stuck to the boarding using tacks or nails.

Another type of window treatment is swags and jabots (often used together), which are often used in formal rooms such as a traditional dining room. They are ornate and often more complicated to make.

Here are a few factors to consider when choosing a window treatment:

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

The view, I mean. Does your window afford you a beautiful and breathtaking view that you cannot get enough of such as your garden or the sunset? If the answer is yes, you should probably choose a window treatment that allows you to enjoy the view as much as possible.

If you have sliding doors, you might consider using simple white sheers to give you a “bare” covering that allows you to see the outside and still have some privacy. Another option is to have a professional glazier tint your windows so that you can have some privacy and still be able to have an almost unobtrusive window treatment.

SEE THE LIGHT

Not everyone is lucky to live in a house that is exposed to direct sunlight. If your rooms have this problem, an ideal solution is to expose your windows as much as possible to the little sunlight you get.

So, use simple curtains, and the lighter the better. Minimise the use of valances, swags, and jabots so that you maximise the amount of light you let in.

Remember to use the lightest of sheers and steer clear of patterned ones. The simpler and lighter the sheers the better, and stick to simple neutrals like white and off-white; dark sheers will make the room look even darker.

STYLE

When choosing your window treatment, go for one that allows ventilation and also lets you open and shut the window easily. Never choose style over good old common sense. There are different types of windows.

For instance, homes that were built in the 1980s have windows known as an awning. The challenge with styling these windows that are top-hinged and which open outwards is that they do not look as good with ordinary curtains. They are best paired with roman or vertical shades as the windows themselves provide a great deal of visual interest.

Another type of window that may be hard to treat is the slanting window often found in attics, basements, or some bathrooms. An easy and inexpensive way to treat these windows, which are difficult to instal with curtain or drape rods, is to use frosted or stained glass to offer privacy as well as some visual interest.

QUIET PLEASE

If your home is conveniently located next to a busy road, you know the noise and disturbances that come with such a location. To reduce the noise, you could get sound-proofed windows, which eliminate some of the noise.

Such windows could cost you a bit more than ordinary ones, but they will increase your chances of having a good night’s sleep. Couple the sound-proofed windows with some heavy drapes to minimise the noise and you will have a bit of peace in the quintessential “urban” jungle.

HOT IN HERE

If you live in a place where the temperatures are always high, it would be a good idea to make light and airy cotton curtains that will allow the room to breathe and keep it cool. If, in contrast, you live in a place that penguins would find perfectly cool to live, buy some heavy fabric such as velvet or faux suède to keep the warm air in and the cool air out.