The Wide World of Window Fashions

by Clare Kaufman

Window fashions can soften a hard-edged room, brighten a lackluster space, or add drama to an understated style. They can make a house a home. Today's window treatments offer a virtual vocabulary of style statements. From lush curtains to sleek valances, there's a window fashion to suit every fancy.

Your Window Fashion Guide
The challenge is deciding among the options. Here's a guide to the wide world of window fashions.

• Curtains.Curtains are lightweight fabrics hung from a rod above a window. They may act as a veil, adding privacy but admitting filtered light. Or they may frame the window, softening its lines and adding visual interest to the room.
• Drapes.These pleated panels are heavier than their light-hearted curtain cousins. As such, they do double duty as both decoration and insulation. Drapes are lined, extend to the floor, and are designed to be easily opened and closed as necessary.
• Blinds. There's more to blinds than the standard issue aluminum variety. Traditional Venetian blinds also come in wood such as bamboo for a warm, natural look. Blinds offer privacy and shade control, thanks to a series of horizontal slats that tilt open and closed.
• Shades. Roman and roller shades offer a simpler, sleeker look, but less control than blinds. They are practical, though, offering complete window coverage with the pull of a string. Shades come in fabric, pleated grass, and vinyl varieties.
• Shutters. Shutters--panels mounted on the home's exterior--offer historical charm and window protection. Traditionally made of wood, today's shutters come in sturdy fiberglass, vinyl, and wood composite. They may be decorative or functional. Benefits include rain and sun protection, ventilation, and privacy.
• Valances. These decorative fabric panels grace the top of a window, often covering the rod on which the drapes or curtains are mounted. A valance may be flat, pleated, or shaped, depending on the desired look.