Are your drapes a drag? Are your blinds too blinding? To paraphrase an old saying, windows are the eyes to the soul – of your house, that is. More than simply a functional portal to let stale air out and sunlight in, windows represent a wonderful opportunity to showcase your home decor style.
Here are 5 rooms in your home you can “snazzy up” with unexpected window treatments:
1. Living Room Windows
Beyond curb appeal, the first impression that visitors receive of your home is typically a front window. As designer Tosha Scott recently told HGTV.com, big, bold grommet curtains are a hot trend right now. Rather than using clunky rings or suspension strings, these curtains have metal holes pierced through them, allowing the curtain rod to thread directly through the fabric. The results are crisp, consistent pleats that look as lovely from the outside of your home as they do from the inside. For added punch, pick a bright retro pattern when it comes time to select your fabric.
2. Kitchen Windows
Of all the rooms in a home, the kitchen is king when it comes to staging unexpected artistic flair. Though it’s a practice born of necessity in the old days of apothecaries, putting small colored bottles on the upper ledges of your kitchen window will add a cheerful “stained glass” feel to the light hitting your linoleum or tile. Select bottle colors that complement your existing decor or opt for a line of cobalt blue for a truly electric effect. Need to open your window often? Consider hanging the bottles with thread from the top frame – this technique makes a unique curtain that remains in place whether the window is open or closed.
3. Garage Windows
Transoms and sidelights are excellent at letting light into a garage or workspace, but clear versions aren’t a great choice if you’re trying to finish a project uninterrupted. If you’d prefer a little more privacy when you’re changing your oil or building a birdhouse, look into window films. With both adhesive or residue-free vinyl versions available, these translucent films allow light in while hiding the interior of your space from prying eyes. Plain opaque or frosted films will certainly get the job done, but for a little extra flair, try out a stained glass pattern and enjoy the view!
4. Bathroom Windows
Homeowners have long struggled to find the perfect window treatments for this humid, privacy-demanding space. Cloth curtains tend to mildew and retain odors, while blinds are often too large or awkward for smaller bathroom windows. The answer is curtains – but not traditional ones. Shower curtains are easy to modify with nothing more than a pair of scissors, and are custom-made to withstand high-humidity conditions without flinching. The next time you’re selecting a shower curtain, simply pick up two and a sill-mounted rod system – you’ll have a snazzy matching bathroom set. If you end up embracing this decorating trick, Apartment Therapy notes that fabric “outer” shower curtains also make excellent additions to other rooms in the home.
5. Bedroom Windows
When most people think of beaded curtains, they think of the cheap plastic or splintering bamboo travesties from several decades ago. But things have changed for the better in recent years. Modern beaded valances use beautiful ribbons, velvet cords and subtle crystal beading for an elegant bohemian vibe. Pair a beaded valance with some dupioni silk curtains and turn your bedroom into a bedchamber fit for exotic royalty.
These window treatments are a great start to making the look and feel of your home into something truly personal. Ditch the drapes and tweak, swap and experiment your way to home decor heaven!
Nicole is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about home decorating. For more traditional window treatment options, she recommends looking into blinds in Perth from Sola Shade.
