Window coverings can either make or break a space. The right window treatment can complement your windows and enhance the look of a room, while the wrong one can make a room feel bare and incomplete. But with the extensive amount of styles and types available, shopping for window treatments can be overwhelming. With the numerous options, how would you know what to choose for your space?

Before anything else, consider the windows themselves, as well as what the role of the window treatment you are going to purchase will play. Understanding such factors will surely make your shopping a lot easier.

Tip #1: Evaluate Your Needs for Privacy

While a sheer curtain may be suitable for a room that is primarily used during daytime, an opaque window treatment is more appropriate in a room that requires more privacy such as your bedroom and the bathroom. If you have a sheer drapery in your room but want greater privacy, you can supplement it with blinds or shades. You can also opt of heavier curtains if shades and blinds are not your thing.

Tip #2: Match It to the Interior Style

The decors and overall design of the interiors matter just as well. When choosing a type of window covering, the one you are picking should coordinate with the style and color of the room. If the room is simple and plain, matching its decor with a window treatment that has a simplistic design can work. If you want to try something different, choose a pattered curtain or a drapery in bold color to contrast the room’s simplicity.

Tip #3: Determine the Room’s Purpose

Each room in your house serves a specific purpose. Hence, each requires a specific type of window treatment. If you want your room to be noise-free and dark, opt for blackout draperies or shades for better light control and insulation.

Tip #4: Figure out Your Window’s Function

The way you use the window will determine what window treatment is appropriate for it. Will you be using it as a natural light source? Purchase a seamless non-fussy roller shades or other sheer window treatments that can easily allow natural light to fill the room. Do you regularly open and close the windows for better air circulation? Choose a window covering that is light enough to enable you to open the window breezily.

Tip #5: Know Thy Options

Lastly, find out what various window treatment types are available. Once you understand the uses, and benefits of each type, it will be easier for you to assess your dressing needs. Generally, there are five types: panels, shades, cornices, blinds, and shutters. Shades typically add light control and privacy to a room, while cornices or swags offer added features to window coverings.

Panels, on the contrary, can be made with lightweight or heavy fabric, depending on its purpose. And similar to shades, blinds and shutters provide light control and functional privacy.

By: AdobeFineLiving.com