Guide To Home Improvement - Home remodeling projects, kitchen remodeling, window replacement, cabinet refacing, vinyl siding, and more

Window fashions--curtains, drapes, and blinds--offer a broad palette for the interior designer. You'll find a stunning array of colors, materials, and styles--not to mention functional features. How to choose between them? Here's a simple guide to navigating the options and selecting the treatment that matches your home's style.

Window Fashion Shopping Checklist
Before you release your inner interior designer on the showroom, take a minute to set your functional priorities. How will your use this window covering? Consider the room's sun exposure and your privacy needs. These criteria will help you weigh in on the functional decisions:

Stationary or Mobile?Curtains may be stationary--side decorations--or they may slide horizontally along a rod. Blinds may open from the top down or the bottom up.
Floor Length or Window Length?Floor length treatments lend a graceful look, but households with pets and young children may prefer to keep their window coverings safely out of reach at windowsill level.
Transparent or Opaque?Transparent shades eliminate glare without blocking the light or the view. But privacy may argue for an opaque shade. For the best of both worlds, choose a combination approach--a transparent shade lined beneath a side curtain, for example.

Creating a Look
After you've made these functional decisions, it's time for the fun part: creating the look that will complement your room. You'll find an infinite palette of styles, colors, and materials at your disposal.

Style
There's much more to window fashion than a panel covering the pane. Style elements extend from the color, material, and fringe of the covering to the rods and mounting hardware. You may choose a sleek, modern curtain or ornate silk drapes with cording or fringe. Valances, pleated or scalloped panels mounted above the window, add a soft, decorative touch and obscure curtain hardware.
Color
Curtain and drape fabric comes in many colors and patterns. Even natural coverings such as wooden blinds offer color options, from natural bamboo to a stained hardwood such as basswood.
Material
Fabric, faux wood, wood, aluminum, vinyl, and even paper--window fashions offer a broad palette of materials from which to choose.

Wading through the many window treatment options can be an enjoyable adventure if you know what you're looking for. Window fashions offer an opportunity to express your design sensibility while adding to the livability of your room.