Function Before Form: How to Choose the Right Window Drapery, Blinds, or Shades for Your Home
If your new bamboo window shades, custom draperies, or fabric vertical blinds don’t do what you want them to do, it doesn’t matter how good they look or how well they go with your decor–you’ll never be totally happy with them. When it comes to window treatments, we sometimes get sidetracked by form and we forget about function. In order to make the most of your time, energy, and money, make sure you determine what practical objective you want your window coverings to perform before you get sidetracked by matters of color or construction.
One major practical element of window coverings is light control. Sheer window draperies, for example, will let in a lot of light, while horizontal blinds, often made of wood or aluminum, will block most light from coming through, at least when the slats are turned down. If you are installing new window coverings in your home, think about how you want the light to be in whatever room you’re considering. In a bedroom that has eastern-facing windows, you may want to have coverings, such as cellular shades with blackout inserts, that will block out light very well. That way, you won’t be woken up by early morning light on weekend mornings before your alarm even has a chance to go off! If, on the other hand, you have a room that you want a lot of light to come into, you might consider an option such as roman shades or even sheer window drapery, which will screen some light while still letting a goodly amount through.
In addition to light control, the other major practicality to take into account when it comes to window coverings is privacy. In a given room, how much do you want people on the outside to be able to see in when the coverings are down or closed? Again, your response to this question will likely depend on the particular room in question. If you are putting up window treatments in the first floor bedroom of a city apartment, you’ll probably want the privacy provided by thick roll up shades or mini blinds. In most cases, these treatments will block the view from the outside, including silhouettes, so that you don’t have to worry about sharing your private life with the rest of the world. If you live in a more rural area, though, or if privacy isn’t an issue in a particular space like a living room or kitchen, there are other options to choose from for window coverings. If privacy isn’t a major concern, a more transparent or sheer window shade or blind might be right for you. Whatever your privacy preference, there’s a window treatment out there to make it possible.
There are hundreds of different window coverings on the market, and all of them are designed to do a slightly different job. As a customer, knowing what purposes you want your window coverings to fulfill will help you pick the option that will best serve you, and your space, in the long run.
