Consider hard options: shades, blinds, shutters
If you’re trying to decide between hard and soft window treatments, consider the following. Do you need to protect your colorful furnishings from the sun? Will glare make it difficult for you to watch TV? Do you want to lower heating costs by insulating your windows?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” you may want to install hard window treatments, like blinds, shades, or shutters, rather than drapes or curtains.
Shades
Shades offer privacy, light control, and a clean-cut look. Roller shades are a good choice for contemporary homes because of their minimalist appearance; meanwhile, woven and wood shades fit with casual chic and rustic rooms.
Cloth shades, such as Roman shades or balloon shades, feature the patterns and soft look you normally get with drapery. One brand of grass cloth shades, Conrad Shades, is only available through interior designers. These shades are custom-woven to fit the size of your window.
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Blinds
Unlike shades, blinds can be tilted with louvers to let in light at an angle. Blinds are usually made of either aluminum, wood, or faux-wood. Wood blinds are classic and suit many different decorating styles. Faux wood blinds will not warp over time, so they are a smart choice for people living in high humidity climates. A good rule of thumb is that the slat size should match the size of your window: large slats for large windows, and small slats for small windows. Two-inch slats are suitable for medium-size windows.
Shutters
Shutters are made of either wood or vinyl. They’re more of an expensive, long-term option. Unlike blinds and shades, they don’t lift to reveal the view but can be opened out at the hinges from within the window frame. Shutters add sophistication and architectural detail to your windows. Regular shutters and blinds have one inch of space between louvers. Plantation shutters have two to three inches of space, which lets you see more of the view.
Taking time to study your options is always worth the effort. A well-dressed window makes a world of difference for your room.
Margaret Chambers, a registered interior designer (RID) and American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) member, leads Chambers Interiors and Associates. Her colleague Caitlin Crowley helped edit this column. Visit chambersinteriors.com/blog for more design advice.
