Window Treatment Ideas

Using Window Treatments To Give Any Room A Mini-Makeover

Dressing up your windows is one of the easiest ways to give a room a makeover, next to painting, rearranging your furniture or accessorizing. You can choose something basic, but chances are what you have NOW is either basic or outdated. So to give your room a fresh makeover, choose a window treatment or combination of treatments that is well-coordinated with your room to tie everything together and give it that designer look.

First, you will want to determine how much you want to invest into your makeover. If you have the funds, it's a great idea to replace your windows before adding anything else, if they need updating. New windows can save you money on your future electric bills, keep your house at a comfortable temperature, and give your home a clean look on the interior and exterior.

The most economical choice for replacement windows is vinyl. A mid-priced option is fiberglass and the most expensive, yet highest quality is a wood window. Depending on your home and the look you're going for in your room, vinyl could be your best option and it will suit your needs very well. Besides, anything is better than the single-pane aluminum windows you probably have currently.

If it's not feasible to buy replacement windows, a deep cleaning of your current ones can serve your home well. Make sure to clean out all the corners and crevices on the inside, outside, and in the track. Also, polish up the frame if possible. With a little bit of window cleaner and elbow grease, you can have shiny new windows in just a few hours.

Once you get the actual window squared away, you can start with what you'd like on the inside of the window, if anything at all. You will probably want some kind of treatment there that will give you privacy as well as light and temperature control. You have a few options for this. You can go with window blinds, shades or shutters. Each of them offer different features and materials that may better coordinate with your room.

If you have a bay window or arched window, plantation shutters will accentuate both of them very well. You can choose to have the shutters by themselves or add another treatment to frame the window or group of windows.

Shades soften the sunlight as it comes through the window and gives a warm glow to any room. They can be used on virtually any type of window including the two mentioned above.

Blinds give you the ability to have a direct view of the outside and are typically the least expensive of the three options. They are basic, but better than old or non-existent window coverings you have now.

Your next step would be to determine if you want a treatment around the outside of the window to frame your view. There are quite a few options here and this is where you can get really creative, if you have it in you. If not, don't worry, by the time you read the ideas on this site, you'll know a thing or two about windows and treatments.

Many people will consider adding drapes or curtains to add texture or pattern to the overall look of the window. You can choose to have a decorative curtain rod or a hidden bracket to hang the fabric from. There are a lot of details to play with when choosing drapery. For the hardware, you have many options of styles and finishes to use and for the accessories, there are tassels, fringe, or rope. All of these little extras can really spice up the room.

The variety of styles of drapes is nearly infinite but there are a few functional drapes that serve many homeowners well. Blackout drapes shutout all, if not most, of the outdoor light. Insulated drapes help reduce the transfer of energy (heat or cold) into the home. Silk drapes add a beautifully elegant look to a home as well as velvet.

The arrangements of your treatments will make your window look custom designed because really, if you're coordinating the coverings with your room, no two windows should ever be alike, unless they're in the same room. And even then adding variation would make the room look like a million bucks.

Mix and match different treatments and if you're ever at a loss for ideas, surf the web or stop by the magazine section at the home improvement store near you. There are literally TONS of ideas on how to turn your window from drab to fab without blowing the bank.