A custom window treatment can be a beautiful focal point in your room. It can add interest and complement your room’s architectural shapes and bring all the colors in the room together. But have you considered whether it will give you enough privacy?
For someone who has never owned a custom window treatment before, all those unique shapes, colors and accents that make a custom window treatment so special can become overwhelming. However, before considering the different designs you should determine what your windows need.
To make a home appealing, many of the larger windows of a home face the front of the house. Unfortunately, this can make some families very uncomfortable and many front-facing rooms such as dining rooms or dens end up never being used. If you like light but need privacy as well, there are plenty of solutions. Many of our clients come to us with this problem, but also the expectation that any window treatments that they will buy will completely block out the light in their room, a trade-off that they must make. Actually, it doesn’t have to be that way. Many window treatments can open up your space instead of leaving it dark. In fact, there are window treatments that will make a room even brighter while at the same time giving it privacy. The key is to pick very light-colored or vividly colored fabrics and opt for regular lining alone instead of blackout lining or interlining. You’d be amazed at how much light something like an Austrian shade in a snow-white color can add to a room. Likewise, many cotton fabrics with a white or brightly colored background can accomplish a similar effect. One thing that you should remember is that light alone doesn’t open up a space. Color combinations are of major help as well. If your room is dark despite using pale wall colors or additional lighting, it might be helpful to move away from neutrals and consider fabrics with playful colors such as yellow, orange, or mint for your custom window treatments.
Once you pick a color combination that will least compromise the amount of light in a room and its design, picking the right window treatment for privacy is quite simple.
There are many types of window treatments that can give you privacy. The following are just a few of the many ideas out there:
One last thing to consider is how you will draw your draperies. A rod pocket drapery is a hassle to draw on a daily basis. If your window is tall, it’s impossible. For your convenience, draperies that are installed onto curtain rings are a much easier option.
Cafe Curtains - Cafe curtains aren’t just for the kitchen anymore. With today’s custom options, cafe curtains don’t have to be primitive white curtains that hang above a sink. They can be made with pleats, such as the pinch pleated cafe curtains shown on the right, and paired up with a simple valance or rich swag. Cafe curtains are an easy and sophisticated way to gain privacy without losing any light. For a laid back dining area or a country-style study area or bedroom, cafe curtains may be a great solution.Shades, draperies and cafe curtains are only a few of the many options that are available. They are only a sample of all the different options out there that only “custom” can offer.
