Not sure which window treatment option to go for? Do you have a tricky window shape to dress? – This short guide can help you with those decisions!
Curtains or Blinds?
When deciding whether to opt for curtains or blinds, it is important to figure out the purpose of the room, the style that you are trying to achieve, and how you would like the window dressing to work for you.
Curtains are a go-to option for many when choosing window treatments for the home. Because they use the most fabric of any window treatment, they can work out the most expensive, so getting them right first time is important.
Things to consider when thinking about buying curtains are;
1. The dimensions of the window
If the window is set floor to ceiling, then curtains are your best option ! Blinds can be cumbersome to operate when used at full length windows. They also take up a lot of space when pulled up at the top of the frame, which can restrict light and height access if fitted to a doorway.
When choosing curtains for a standard window, where possible always go for full-length to give a more finished look. Sill-length curtains often don’t hang as neatly due to the lack of weight to pull them into shape, they can also trick the eye in making the room feel shorter and enclosed. If you have obstructions underneath the windowsill like a radiator for example, then blinds might be the way to go, or have long dress curtains with a blind to the window for privacy and night time.
2. Choosing the right curtain heading.
The 4 most popular styles of heading are:
Pencil pleat curtains are the most common of the headings. This style of heading can be used with poles or tracks and are the most cost effective to make and use the least amount of fabric.
Wave headed curtains give a contemporary look to the home. They are great when used on larger windows like bi-fold or sliding doors as they condense into a smaller stack when open, allowing plenty of light to flow through and better views to the outdoors.
Eyelet headed curtains are hung directly onto the pole and create a soft pleated look but cannot be used with all window types like bay window for example.
Pinch pleat curtains are hand finished, making them a more premium option on price. This style of curtain works best in a more traditional room setting.
Blinds are still a very popular choice, and with so many options available at accessible price points it is easy to see why.
Things to consider when choosing the right blinds for you. If you want to add some texture or pattern into your home but sill-length curtains aren’t right, then opting for a Roman blind will give you the opportunity to bring colour and warmth into the room. They give a contemporary feel and sit neatly both inside and outside of the window recess. They can be made with black-out lining too to ensure a good night’s sleep if required.
Wooden slatted or Venetian blinds are a great way of letting plenty of light through but can also offer a great amount of privacy by slightly changing the direction of the slats. For a contemporary setting, go for a white or grey slat with vertical tapes. Remember, the wider the slat, the more light that can get through, so opt for no smaller than 50mm.
Roller blinds are the most cost-effective blinds. They are simple and work best when fitted to the inside of the window recess. There are an array of patterns and designs to choose from and many fabrics (except embroidered) can be put through a laminating process to make them suitable for roller blinds. They can have blackout properties too.
Solutions to your window treatment questions
Here are a selection of FAQs we have received from our clients. Hopefully they can help to solve your problems too.
“I have a ground floor window that is very overlooked. How can I achieve some privacy?”
The best solution for this problem is to fit a sheer / voile roller blind at this window. The great things about sheer fabrics are that they are semi-transparent, allowing light to flow through into the room but still giving a clear vision to the outdoors.. From the outside though they give a good degree of privacy. If fitted to the inside of the window recess, they can be used with any window treatment fitted to the outside recess like curtains or blinds. If you are looking for an all in one solution then dual sheer blinds will be the option for you. These can be opened in a way to give a sheer look during the daytime or a pulled in the evening to offer complete privacy.
“My home office space is south facing and receives a lot of direct sunlight which can be quite uncomfortable to work in. How can I work around this without changing the layout of the room as I like being able to look out the window as I work.”
To solve this problem, we would suggest going for a roller blind, choosing a fabric with UV properties. Sunscreen roller blinds can block 95% of sun rays, keeping the room cool and comfortable to work in. These blinds will reduce the glare which can also interrupt with screen visibility. The UV protection within the fabric also absorbs the rays which can extend the lifespan of your furniture, preventing it from fading. Sunscreen blinds also offer that element of privacy if your office is on the ground floor whilst still providing you with a view to the outside.
“I have an apex shaped, ceiling to floor window in my bedroom that I’m struggling to dress, what are my options?”
With more and more architectural led builds coming onto the market, many of our clients are struggling with the exact same issue. When viewing a property, they create a real wow factor, but can create a headache once you move to find ways of hanging curtains or blinds. There are a few options that can be achieved here.
- Shaped shutters will give the most contemporary look and feel to the space. They are a bespoke made product so will be at the higher end of the price scale, but the results are stunning. You must consider though that shutters will restrict the amount of light that you are used to pouring into the space. Also, if you like a completely blacked-out sleeping environment, then you are not going to achieve this with shutters.
2. If a black-out solution is top of your priority then opting for Italian strung curtains will be the way forward for you. This style of curtain is a very traditional look, however as these have to be made bespoke to your window, you can choose more contemorary fabrics if you wish, and perhaps opt for pinch or pencil pleat headings to finish off the look.
3. If your budget is ore limited then there is the option of shaped Venetian blinds. These blinds,unlike shutters, can be pulled open to the point where the window takes it’s shape, allowing you to have a clear view to the outside and letting light flood in. However, currently they are only available with metal slats which can limit the amount of light to pass through and also give a more commercial/ office feel to the room.
So there is our quick guide to finding the right window treatments for you. If you have a tricky window situation, why not contact us to see how we can help!