Suitable Window Coverings

Every window should have an opportunity to become its best self.  Windows add light and ventilation and sometimes a great view, but not always.  That said, you need to determine how your windows will function best for your room and your needs.

First assess where the window is in the room; is it on the north, south, east or west wall?  Then, you can move on to what effects north, south, east or west light and ventilation will have on your room.  For instance, if you have a view, you will want to capitalize on it-- nothing trumps a view.  If your view is to the south or west, you will have sun issues that need to be addressed to protect your furnishings and floors; consider tinting so you can enjoy the view.

With a view window, you may want to consider no window coverings at all which will work if you do not have a privacy issue or need thermal protection; tinting will also help with thermal conditions.  In the case of a view without the need for privacy measures, I usually recommend nothing at all, or “dummy panels”, non-functioning drapery panels that add color, design and interest to a room to enhance the view outside and the decor of the room inside.

If you have a window without a view or an unpleasant view, I usually look outside to see what can be done to alter the view.  A block wall is decidedly uninteresting until you plant a clinging vine on it, flowering or not.  However, beware that non-flowering vines usually are deciduous, turning red in the fall and dropping their leaves in winter, leaving a skeleton of branches on the wall.  If planting will not work, I suggest covering the glass with a semi-opaque film, then adding pretty drapes or blinds.  You want the light, but can avoid the assault of an unpleasant view.

Odd shaped windows are a challenge and usually require custom coverings; those can be expensive.  Again, consider the above solutions if they apply.   Custom is sometimes the only way to go, but it does not have to be expensive.  Sometimes, off- the-rack drapes can be adapted easily with the help of a seamstress or your own sewing talents.  There are plenty of good, off-the-rack options; you just need to think outside of the box.  Add some trim, on the leading edge of the panel, or top or bottom, to add length, width, or interest.

Shutters are usually an added bonus, adding value when selling your home.  However, they are expensive and view limiting.  To take advantage of the view, you will want to have the widest possible louvers, or open the shutters during certain times of the day; but you will have to make sure the blinds will not interfere your furnishings.

Always, think of how you will use the room and its location before investing in expensive window treatments.  Sometimes the easiest solution is the best.  Consider a room divider screen as a window treatment,  allowing ventilation; the design options are unlimited.

Make an Entrance

I have been house shopping with a friend and have become aware of how many houses, old and new-er, open directly into the living space-- be it a dining room, kitchen or living room.  I find it much more pleasing to open a front door without exposing the living space to whomever is on the other side of the door.  

It is simple enough to create a “foyer” feeling from the front door, especially when the front door is off set from the center of the room into which it opens;  the homeowner thus has a bit of space in which to put up a screen or something to distract the eye, which protects the privacy of the home.  A simple piece of furniture can do the trick, creating a bit of a barrier between your living space and the person outside your door.  You can set up a hall tree or a table or a screen to add to the privacy. 

If you want to create such a screen, there are so many materials you can use, and you may have them around the house already.  Shutters that are no longer in service can be adapted into a useful screen by joining two or more together with reversible hinges; you can connect shutters that are the same width to make them taller as well.

There are plenty of uses for decorative screens, not just at the front door to make an entrance more private.  Screens can make a serve more than one purpose without the benefit of floor-to ceiling walls. A large room can be divided easily into multiple service areas with the clever use of furniture, screens or even sliding panels that attach to the ceiling.

Large sized cube-type book or storage units make great room dividers, and the open cubbies can be filled with useful baskets or containers for last minute items you need before heading out the door, like gloves, hats or scarves.  You also can fill the cubbies with decorative items that suit your decor, an especially good way to display collections you may have as long as the scale is in keeping with the size of the cubby; remember tiny objects can become lost in large spaces.

Hanging a long fabric “screen” from a rod in a ceiling of a loft is an excellent way to create rooms within a large space.  This division can be achieved with a long drape, with a beautiful colorful piece of fabric, or a great textured piece, as simple as bamboo.  Lofts offer you lots of ways to create clever separations while allowing your space to remain open and airy, which after all is one of the great appealing factors in loft living.

A strategic chest, table or area rug can give a room a boundary, thus making the room feel more comfortable and oddly enough more spacious.  It is a misconception that placing furniture around the perimeter of a room will make the room feel larger; actually the opposite is true.  Floating a table, chest or folding screen will allow you some privacy at your entrance and actually might make your space feel a bit larger.