Window Treatments

If you understand what a window dressing can do, you will be able to choose colors, materials, hardware, and styles to suit your home and lifestyle.

Some people prefer the contemporary look and presentation of using blinds, shutters and shades.  Others prefer the more traditional look and elegant feel of fabric treatments.

Basic window treatment categories in home decorating: Soft treatments  include curtains, drapes, valances, and the like. Hard treatments include blinds, shutters, and shades.

Fabric Window Treatments

Curtains  are generally used in smaller windows. Curtains can be used in any room, although they are most popular in kitchens, nurseries, and bathrooms.

Toppers include valances, swags, balloons, scarves, jabots, shams.  These treatments are used as accents for other treatments.  They also can be used alone for decoration when no other function is required. A topper is any type of cloth treatment that is affixed the top of the window.

Hard Window Treatments

Shades are a great way to keep the light out and an added bonus is that they are easy to clean. They use either a pulley system to retract or open the shade, or they may use a roll mechanism.

Shutters are a great way to create privacy. Shutters may create a cottage effect to a window when combined with lots plants. Shutters in an European or American Country kitchen will help enhance the style.

Blinds. This window treatment is very functional and provides a look for windows. Blinds are made of different types of materials.