Stylish Window Treatments

Elements of a Window

Before choosing from the wide selection of new design possibilities, determine the function of each window and what you want the window treatment to do. Consider privacy, light control, ventilation, the view and energy efficiency when selecting a covering for any window in your home.

Natural Lights
A window should serve it purpose as a source of natural light. An east-facing window is considered to be preferable as it provides the first ray of sunlight into the rooms and warms it up. So on the amount of daylight streaming into your rooms, you can decide a particular paint color and matching furnitures for the rooms.

Ventilation
A window must also be a good source of ventilation. When deciding a window treatment always buy items that will not obstruct the flow of air circulation of a room, unless the house has installed an air conditioner.

View outside the window
Try to have a good view outside your windows. A well-kept garden or growing some trees are the best way for that, if you have that option. If your staying in a flat, your options are quite limited. In case you have a window that looks into somebody else's house, it would be wise to keep a good shutter,blind or curtains most of the times. If you do not have a good view outside the window, you can always decorate the window itself with potted plants on its ledge or put up a good lamp shade, in front of the window, in order to distract anyone from looking beyond that.

Avoid outside viewing inside the house
Following are some methods to avoid outside viewing inside your homes.
* Film (auto tint in plastic form that is applied to a wet window) This comes in various shades of gray and a golden shade. If one side has a reflective surface (looks like foil or a mirror) you can see out and not have to use too dark of a shade of tint. However, this looks very tacky and is totally out of fashion.


* Building a lattic and standing it a few feet from your window (on the outside).This blocks the view and distracts the eye. You can make one of VC lattice or build one of wood (diagonal or square style).

* Buy a tree and plant it outside your window. A vine will also work. Planting closer to your window allows you to see out but harder for people to see through and into your home.

Giving a new look to your windows

Nadia Gellar (interior designer who comes on the show 'While you were out' on Travel and Living) gives this advice.
"Before you start, decide what style of window treatment will work best for your window. Consider how your window opens and make sure that your treatment won't interfere with how your window functions. For example, vertical shades may not be the best choice for a window that opens horizontally. Fabric panels on a rod are an elegant treatment for almost any window..."

Now-a-days, window treatments represent a smart new simplicity. Simple doesn't mean plain, but does suggest a crisper, cleaner approach for your manufactured home windows. Giving your windows a fresh look is easier than ever thanks to an astonishing array of high-tech shutters, shades, blinds, fabrics and decorative hardware in all sorts of colors, styles and finishes.

Curtains and blinds

Curtains are most commonly used for windows in India. Before you decide to buy curtains here are some tips to keep in mind.

* Take some time out to plan to consider some design options. Whether you need curtains or would prefer shades/blinds. If you are dealing with a small window, curtains may not be the best option.

* Take the time to look through some home style magazine or visit a few ‘show homes’, as these are sure to give you some new and inspirational ideas. Remember that you should always consider each room in the context of your home as a whole, so think of
- In which room is the window located?
- What size of window are you tackling?
- In which direction does the window face?
- What about color and pattern?

* Always consider the position of the sun. South facing rooms get the sun all day and some fabrics will fade over time if exposed to strong sunlight. It is best to steer clear of using silk fabrics in very sunny rooms. North facing rooms are generally dark and can feel cold as they get little sun. In this case, a brighter color scheme may be the answer. However, bear in mind that sometimes it is better to enhance what you already have, rather than to try to change it drastically!

* Color is really important as it affects our mood, so give some thought to the look and feel that you would like to create. If you like to make a bold statement, select a dark colored curtain in contrast to a light painted wall. If you are set on a darker tone, but would like to reduce the impact, then select a contrasting border or trim that co-ordinates with the wall color, or choose a fabric that combines the darker color with a lighter shade.

* The style of 'pelmets' are out and 'rods','loops' and 'rings' are in.There are different options available in the markets. You can select the one you like.

* Always place the curtains much above the window almost towards the ceilings. Because this gives more depth and makes the windows appear bigger. Another way to make your windows look bigger, according to Nate Berkus, popular designer, is to "...hang an inexpensive bamboo shade and add simple cotton or linen draperies.
above the top of the window..."

Shutters

Shutters are attractive, help regulate light, insulate and fit into almost any décor due to their simplicity and clean lines. Although available in numerous colors and stains, shutters look best when painted or finished the same as the rest of the window frame. You can mount them inside or outside the window frame. If you are doing the installation yourself, use an outside mount to make installation easier. Leave room to swing open or fold back the shutter panels.

Shades and blinds
You can display beautiful shades and blinds alone. Or also pair with a valance or combine with drapery panels of varying lengths and styles. High-tech styles and materials leave no shortage of choices.It looks very neat and there is variety from which you can choose like - Roman shades, Honeycomb shades, Woven-wood shades,vertical blinds etc. Most of these are useful instead of curtains, or can also be combined with curtains. These can be fitted according to the size of the windows. If the windows are small, it is suggested to fix the blinds or shades inside the frame of the window, whereas if the windows are bigger, you can place them outside the windows.

Accesorize your Windows

There are different ways to accesorize you windows:
1. Potted plants
It is a good idea to place potted plants near the windows. It adds an element of greenery to the room.
Only thing is to place a plate or a large bowl under the pot in Plus the sunlight coming through the window, helps the plant too.order to avoid stains of water and the pot rings on the window.

2. Colorful all sized bottles
This gives a similar effect to a stained glassed window. Then again it depends on the various color and sizes of the bottles. Using your imaginations, you can place many other artifacts or sculptures too on the window.

3. Lights

Lights are an excellent choice for to make your windows highlight. It again depends on the width of your window ledge. You can also put a hanging antique lighting near the windows.

In all you can also do a mix and match of all elements. Get inspired by nature and things you see on a daily basis. And let your imagination go wild. There are a lot of things one can do in order to decorate a window. Sky is the limit!!