What to Consider Before Buying Window Treatments

Maybe you're moving into a newly built home or remodeling a few outdated rooms, either way, this means that you're looking for more information about window treatments. You might have a flair for interior design or need a little help to find the right way to cover your windows. If you're unsure if you need blinds or curtains or even the difference between them, you need a helping hand. Here's a guide to everything you need to consider before buying window treatments.

Types of Window Treatments

Some people want frilly curtains that match the wallpaper while others desire sleek blinds. There are numerous types of window treatments to fit everyone's style. You need to find the type of window treatments that reflect your taste. The most common types of window treatments include:

• Shades: These are window treatments that roll or pull down from a point at the top of the window. They include Roman shades, roller shades, pleated shades, solar shades, cellular shades, and others.
• Blinds: Slats that open and close this type of window treatment. The slats can orientate both vertically and horizontally. You can also pull blinds up or to one side so there is a minimal obstruction in the window.
• Drapes or curtains: This is a common designation for window treatments that hangs from rods on either side of the window. You can pull the two curtains together to completely cover the window. These treatments come in a variety of materials, patterns, and colors.
• Shutters: Shutters are usually made from wood or a composite. They fold open and closed with louvers to let a small amount of light into your home.
• Valances: This window treatment is mostly decorative, and it sits at the top of the window to add color or coordinate with the other patterns and colors in a room.
• Sheers: These are curtains or shades made of see-through material. They filter the light and diffuse it a little, but don't add a lot of privacy to your home.

Venetian blinds, with the slats oriented horizontally, are usually considered the most popular type of window treatment. These coverings are versatile enough to use as kitchen window treatments or in every room of the home.

Best Locations for Window Treatments

Knowing where you're going to place the window treatment plays a large role in the type of product you might choose. For instance, you wouldn't want to place sheers on a window in the front bedroom of your home. The filmy material wouldn't offer much privacy, allowing neighbors and people passing by a glimpse into your home, but they might be ideal as a kitchen window treatment facing the backyard.

You might consider putting the same type of window treatments throughout the house or shake things up with different types for the room type. Blinds make an excellent choice for every room in the house because they come in a variety of colors. If you elect to use different types of treatments in each room, you might consider blackout shades for bedrooms and sheers for areas where you need limited privacy and just want a filter for sunshine.

Cleaning Methods

To keep your home clean and dust-free, you'll need to clean your window treatments, so you want to find treatments that meet your own cleaning schedule. Each kind of treatment needs to be cleaned to a specific way to avoid damaging it, so it’s important to take time to learn about proper care

Most people consider window blinds the easiest to clean. You can easily wipe the slats down with a cloth, although you may need to use a little dampness on dirty ones. Valances and sheers also need to be washed or handled by a dry cleaner, depending on the material and then rehung. Shades are also easy to clean with a damp rag. With blinds and shades, you may find yourself cleaning them more often than you would treatments that you need to take down first.

You know your cleaning habits and the amount of time you have to devote to these chores. It's essential that you know how to clean your window treatments before buying them. You don't want to spend money only to find that the maintenance is too much for your lifestyle.

Window Treatments for Your Personal Style

Are you into clean lines and neutral colors? Do you love frills? Are you looking to recreate a time period? You need to know what look you're going for before you start picking out window treatments. If you're looking for a high-end look, you can accomplish it with almost any kind of window treatment, but if you want your window treatments to match your comforter exactly, then you need curtains.

While blinds come in almost any color, you don't typically find them with patterns that you might find on curtains. Decide first where you need new treatments, such as the kitchen, and then examine the style of the room. You need to find kitchen window treatments that complement the rest of your decor. With so many choices from materials to colors, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a window treatment that matches your personal style.

When you're ready to start picking out new window treatments for your home or a single room, Budget Blinds is ready to help. Contact us for a free consultation to find the perfect window treatment for your personal style.