Window Treatments

1. Window Treatments Applications added to window units either for helping control the home environment or for purely decorative purposes.

2. Choosing Window Treatments • Consider the need to control sunlight and noise • Window treatments can block all or part of the light from entering • To provide ventilation, privacy, and insulation for rooms • To create or enhance the feeling or mood of the room • Consider the initial cost of purchasing the treatments and the cost of maintaining them

3. Types of Window Treatments • Window treatments include draperies, curtains, shades, shutters, blinds, and decorative top treatments. • The right window treatments can enhance the appearance of a room. • Certain window treatments can camouflage windows that are not in proportion to the rest of the room.

4. Draperies • Draperies are pleated panels of fabric that cover windows completely or are pulled to the side. • They can be opaque (block light) or translucent (permit the passage of light).

5. Types of Draperies • Lined or unlined Lining blocks sunlight from entering room, helps draperies hang better, and increases their ability to insulate • Draw: open and close from the center or side • Stationary: cannot be open or closed

6. Curtains • Curtains are flat panels that hang to the left and right of the window and may be closed to cover the window. • They usually have a pocket hem at the top which is slipped onto a curtain rod and gathered to desired fullness. • They can also hang from the rod with decorative hardware or tabs. • Tiebacks may be used to pull the curtains back.

7. Café Curtains • Café curtains are horizontal panels hung in tiers to cover part of a window. • The top of each panel is joined to rings that slip over a curtain rod. • They are opened by pushing them to the sides.

8. Shades: block unwanted light • Roller shades: used in informal rooms, roll onto a roller • Roman shades: constructed of fabric which fold into horizontal pleats when raised

9. More shades • Balloon shades: constructed of fabric and take a balloon shape when raised • Pleated shades: constructed of synthetic materials and available in accordion or honeycomb styles

10. Shutters • Shutters are vertical units that are hinged together to open or close. • Can be constructed or wood or synthetic materials. • Built into the frame are moveable horizontal slats or louvers. • The width of the louvers may vary from 1 ½ to 4 ½ inches. Narrow are called traditional shutters, wider are called plantation shutters. • Can be used in formal and informal settings.

11. Shutters

12. Blinds • Made of slats that can be tilted, raised and lowered, or moved to the side • Can be made of wood, metal, plastic, or fabric • Can be custom made to fit windows with unusual shapes or placements

13. Types of Blinds • Horizontal blinds: also called Venetian blinds, can be raised completely • Used in informal settings • Miniblinds: horizontal blinds with narrow slats • Used in informal settings • Vertical blinds: slats that move to one side to leave a window uncovered • Used in contemporary design

14. Decorative Window-top Treatments • Can be combined with draperies, curtains, shades, shutters, or blinds to add interest to the window installation. • May use either matching or complementary fabrics and designs to add interest to the treatment. • Trims of decorative braid, tassels, and cording may be used to add a custom touch.

15. Types of Decorative Window-top Treatments • Swag: has softly pleated fabric hanging in a curve across the top of a window • Valence: a horizontal treatment across the top of a window. Can be used to hide the drapery or curtain hardware • Cornice: a horizontal treatment that is usually constructed of wood. It is usually padded and covered with fabric.