Wonderful Window Treatments for Your Craftsman-Style House

Inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century, the look of an American Craftsman-style house is unmistakable. Lacking the ornate corbels, fanciful carvings, and scalloped gables of a Victorian or Queen Anne-style house, a Craftsman home can be identified by its intimate scale, down-to-earth aesthetics, and simple, uncluttered trim. Craftsman homes often feature:

• Bay windows
• Deeply overhanging eaves
• Exposed rafter tails
• Low-pitched roofs
• Muted colors
• Multi-pane windows with wide, flat trim
• Natural materials
• Oculus windows
• Partially-paned doors
• Prairie-glass casement windows with geometric patterns
• Single or double dormer windows
• Spacious front porches
• Thick, tapered roof support columns
• Open floor plans
• Built-in cabinetry

Craftsman-style houses are especially popular on the West Coast. If you happen to own one of these amazing abodes, you may be wondering which kind of window treatments to choose.

Best Window Treatments for Craftsman-Style Homes

Classic Shutters

Tidy and functional, classic wood shutters blend beautifully with the natural elements popular in Craftsman-style houses. When opened, they reveal the enduring lines of Craftsman windows. Opened halfway, shutters dissipate light and provide natural air flow. When closed, they provide privacy and insulation, increasing energy efficiency.

Roman Shades

Stylish and simple, fold-up Roman shades align elegantly with the tailored, decidedly un-fussy feel of Craftsman interior design. Blending the best features of window shades and draperies, Roman shades can be mounted inside the window frame to reveal your Craftsman trim or mounted on the outside to create the appearance of a larger window. Lined shades provide the best insulation for optimum energy savings.

Benefits of Roman Shades

• Available in a range of colors, patterns, and textures
• Top-down and bottom-up options
• Can be customized to fit your window
• Keep heated or conditioned air inside where it belongs
• Motorized shades are safer for Craftsman homes with children and pets

Woven Shades

Rich in texture and entirely versatile, woven wood shades are a natural choice for treating windows. Made with organic materials such as reed, rattan, grass, and bamboo, woven shades filter light without adding bulk to your windows. They offer privacy without distracting from the classic Craftsman look. To block out daylight while enhancing energy efficiency, choose lined blackout shades. For extra flair, add a valance above the window.

Benefits of Woven Shades

• Available in top-down and bottom-up options
• Can be customized to fit arch-shaped windows
• Can be motorized for hard-to-reach windows
• Made from sustainable organic material

Curtains in Craftsman Homes

Windows in original Craftsman homes were typically given a two-curtain treatment. To emulate this classic look, select a set of light-filtering sheers to be hung closest to the windowpane behind heavier drapes that can be drawn to provide privacy and insulation.

Sheers may be made of poly/cotton blends, cotton or lightweight linen finished with a simple bottom hem. Outer curtains made of heavier fabrics may be printed, stenciled, or embroidered with nature-inspired patterns to provide additional interest while remaining true to a classic Craftsman window treatment.

Not Just for Windows

In a classic Craftsman home, curtains were not restricted to windows. Room entrances often featured a portiere curtain in place of a door, and bookcases and closets were often strung with lightweight linen curtains to reduce dust buildup. Light-filtering linen panels were attached at the top and bottom of French doors to prevent them from moving when doors are opened and closed.

Custom Window Treatments for your Craftsman Home

A single Craftsman-style house may feature windows in several unique shapes and sizes, including casement windows, double-hung windows, and wide picture windows. Small square windows, bump-out oriels, and curvaceous oculus gable windows can also be found in Craftsman homes. One thing that all these windows have in common is the happy fact that they can be enhanced any way you like.

Whether you choose to stick with classic Craftsman window treatments or opt for something more modern, Budget Blinds has got you covered. Request a free consultation, and a Budget Blinds specialist will be happy to help you decide.