Sounds pretty obvious, right? And, in a way it is. I have seen many beautiful examples and many not-so-beautiful examples. The trick is to match the decorating themes of a given room to the right window treatment. The other options are color, insulating properties, light control, and privacy. By the way, I take window treatments to refer to just about any window covering: blinds, shades, shutters, and drapes. There doesn’t seem to be much consensus on what a window treatment is, so I’m taking the broader definition.
Choosing the right blinds and shades can be a bit more complicated than these few options. For example, there are motorized shades, cordless shades, valance options, rod control, and more. But for the purposes of this article, I’ll mainly stick to the main topics mentioned above. Once you’ve chosen the right blind, shade, shade, or shade, you can decide if you want to add any of the convenience options offered by the manufacturer.
First, let’s lay out the main options. In the window blinds category, you have mini-blinds, plantation blinds, vertical blinds, wood and faux wood blinds, and last but not least, panel track blinds. In the blinds category, you have roller blinds, sheer blinds, pleated blinds, woven wood blinds (also known as bamboo blinds), Roman blinds, cellular blinds, and solar blinds (also called sunscreens). Then there are the curtains.
The category of curtains can be huge depending on how you choose to categorize them. But for the purposes of this article, I’ll label them custom and pre-made. Custom curtains are made-to-order curtains cut to the appropriate size of your window and usually with a built-in width of 2 to 1. These are generally of higher quality and made from a variety of fabrics, from silk to cotton. Made-to-order shades are generally less expensive and can be picked up at many major retailers.
Segregate by room type, here are my recommendations. For kitchens, faux wood blinds and faux wood blinds are often a great option. They often pair well with wood cabinets and can withstand the often hot and humid environments of kitchens. This is also true for bathrooms. But, other options for bathrooms would be pleated blinds, which can be considered the non-insulating version of cellular blinds. The good thing about pleated blinds for bathrooms is that they go well with the top-down/bottom-up feature, which is great for privacy. The least expensive options for these types of rooms would be mini-blinds, woven woods, or Roman shades. Mini-blinds are a better option for rooms with more modern décor, while wood finishes are better for wood-style décor. A simple rule of thumb is to match window treatments to the room’s dominant color and materials: wood to wood, fabric to fabric, metal to metal, and all in complementary colors.
For living rooms and family rooms, the options are quite open. For large windows, like sliding doors, vertical blinds are an easy option, but don’t overlook panel-track blinds. Don’t forget that vertical blinds come in more than just vinyl; They also come in wood-look, fabric, cellular, and aluminum. Plantation shutters, though expensive, are a traditional window covering option. You can hardly go wrong with these, unless your house is very modern and contemporary. In that case, I would recommend aluminum mini-blinds or vertical blinds.
For bedrooms, privacy and light control are often the most important factor. So I would look for roller shades, cellular or pleated shades with a blackout lining, or woven woods and roman shades, again with a lining. The one you choose will depend on the overall decor of your room. If you want more insulating properties from your shades, go with the cellular option.
For dining rooms, I would recommend curtains or perhaps Roman or woven wood shades. If you like roman shades, consider the pleated or teardrop option for a more luxurious look.
For rooms with views and plenty of sunlight, consider solar shades. These come in various levels of opacity, that is, the amount of light they block. The good thing about solar screens is that you can still see out your windows without as much solar heat build up, as well as with a higher level of privacy from the street view.
