The Best Design Details for Your Windows in 2017
BWS Design • October 31, 2016
If you love — really love beautiful interiors, you’re always looking for ways to change things up and improve your rooms both functionally and in terms of style. If you have an eye for design, you’ll tend to notice details and nuances in everything. Look, for example at some of the latest design trends in window treatments and pay attention to how they play off or enhance other design elements in each room. You’ll see why paying attention to detail counts:
Texture
- Woven wood – Classic woven wood blinds are the “trend” that never goes away. That’s because they literally “play well” with any style you can think of — modern, traditional, country, rustic, etc., adding warmth and texture to a room. It’s little wonder they’ve become a designer staple.
- Linen – In order for a monochromatic look to work and not look flat and uninspiring, texture is a must. Linen works perfectly to provide some earthy texture and interest in a completely neutral room.
Pattern
- Graphics – Wall matching draperies with subtle graphics add a sense of textural interest to a monochromatic room, proving that graphics don’t have to be “bold” to be effective.
- Intricacy – Shades with a subtle pattern can become the focal point of a room.
- Bold, Colorful Stripes – When you think of sheers, what usually comes to mind are translucent, delicate wisps of fabric. Sheers in bold Southwestern colors are unexpected, but beautiful in a richly colored bedroom.
Charm
- Quaintly patterned Roman shades can add color, a golden glow and cheerful charm in an all-white country kitchen.
- Relaxed Roman shades in linen add a little imperfect charm to a formal dining room. Sometimes, a touch of organic warmth is needed to keep a formal space from looking uninviting.
Embellishments
- Silky tassels add an air of elegance and luxury to a beautiful pair of draperies and are especially harmonious in a formal room such as a Victorian style living room. Use cotton tassels and a more homespun fabric, and the look becomes decidedly more casual.
- Fringe, particularly the beaded variety, adds a little play of light as the sun’s rays bounce off of them.
- Hardware is a lot like jewelry for drapes. Bold hardware is often a “showstopper.”
Simplicity
- Minimalist – There are so many fresh, clean ways to do windows in a minimalist room. Use blinds, shades, or shutters, for a pure, uncluttered effect that lets each carefully-chosen item in a room shine.
- No Fuss – There are times when utter simplicity is just so relaxing, such as with simple roller shades. Anything more would take away from the restful feeling of certain spaces.
Form
- Sleek and Modern – Think tailored, like crisp valences in a modern dining room setting.
- Soft and Romantic – For instant romance, sweep silky draperies to one side and tie loosely with a silken cord.
Function
- Motorization – Eliminate cords that are dangerous to small children and pets, open and close draperies or shades from the bed, and accommodate tall windows with a motorized window treatment.
- Blackout – Keep out light from the street, simulate night-time during the day for shift workers, and keep the inside of your room completely shielded from outside view. Let them stand alone or serve as a layer with a valance or drapes on top.
- Sun Shades – Sun or solar shades let filtered light in, but keep the sun’s harmful UV light from damaging floors, furnishings and art. You can even get a patterned solar shade for soft dappled light.
The secret to making a room look harmonious requires nuance — attention to detail, and a realization that the even the smallest changes can produce big results!
If you’d like to update your windows in time for the upcoming holiday season, contact us today!
Expert Advice by Just Blinds
Your selection of window treatment products and services is not merely about getting a job done. Rather, if you look hard enough, you can find direct correlations between the type of person that you are and the window treatment that you select. We have created this personality-based guide to help you best discover what kind of window treatment truly matches your spirit. The Dependable Type: Wooden Blinds You are the person that all of your friends can count on. You are the type of person who truly sticks to your plans when you make them, and you are the type of person who will choose wooden blinds for your home. Privacy is important to you when selecting your blinds, and that is why you find yourself pulled into the idea of putting up wooden blinds. Besides that, they happen to be highly functional, and that's not something that you are willing to pass up either. The Planner: Blackout Curtains Those who value truly getting the most value out of their blinds or anything else that they install in their homes will think very carefully about their options. For those people, going with blackout curtains makes a lot of sense. They want to gain as much value as possible out of their options, and they know that they can significantly improve their quality of sleep and so much more when they opt for blackout curtains. These also happen to be a great option for those who work night shifts or other odd hours and yet still want to enjoy their sleep. They need blackout curtains to help increase the quality of that sleep and allow themselves to get their day started right. The Tech Enthusiast: Smart Shades They roam among us: The type of people who are quick to adopt any new technology and get to work figuring out how it can improve their lives. These people are great because they are not afraid to take a risk and because they help to move our society forward. They simply want to get more out of each day, and they often do so by adopting and using the latest technologies. These individuals will gravitate towards smart shades for the following attributes: Innovation - Who wants to stick with the boring old ways of shading one's house? Smarter options are now available, and you better believe that the tech enthusiasts among us are willing to latch on to them. Efficiency - These shades are a more efficient option for those who care about that kind of thing. They can be easily activated and set up to open or close automatically (how cool is that?!). Progressive - The "cool" factor is a big deal for people who fall into this category as well. They might not admit to it right off the bat, but they care deeply about what others think about them. As such, they want window shades that have that cool factor attached to them. The Dreamer: Sheer Curtains Finally, we land upon the dreamer. This is the person who views every day for the possibilities that it can bring. They are not scared off by those with a negative attitude. If anything, they believe that they can change those people! Instead, the dreamer wants sheer curtains because they bring in soft light, open spaces, and bring about a feeling of possibility all throughout the house. Sheer curtains are the ideal option for someone who classifies themselves in this way. They will receive plenty of compliments on their curtains, and they will appreciate how open they are to the world. Which kind of person are you and which window treatment option makes the most sense for your personality? For more inspiration and ideas, reach out and contact us today.
We all know and understand the concept of installing outdoor shades on a patio. It is the classic way to create a cool and comfortable space for yourself and your friends to spend some quality time together outdoors. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is limiting to think that the patio is the only part of one's property where outdoor shades are appropriate. There are some surprising and unexpected places where homeowners have taken to installing outdoor shades recently. We want to take a look at some of these to provide you with ideas for your next home improvement project. 1) Balconies Some homes are built quite close together, and some homeowners naturally feel like they would like to do more to protect their privacy. Although their neighbors might not intentionally be looking through their balconies, it is easy for the human eye to drift. Thus, some city-dwelling homeowners have made the choice to install outdoor shades in this area. On top of keeping prying eyes off of your property, outdoor shades also block the sun rays from your balcony as well creating a more comfortable space to spend some time. 2) Outdoor Kitchens One of the most delightful social experiences that someone can have is to invite over a large group of friends for a meal cooked outside. It gives everyone the opportunity to share stories, laughes, and a bit of food all at the same time. Of course, this is best done in an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is a space where you should feel comfortable and have the ability to entertain a large group of people all at the same time. This means looking at installing outdoor shades to provide an extra layer of protection from the heat of the sun. Thus, this has become another area where homeowners are quickly installing outdoor shades. 3) Poolside Lounges Now we are really talking! Who doesn't love to kick back with their favorite cold beverage and spend some time relaxing next to the pool? That is what you can enjoy more completely when you set up a poolside lounge with outdoor shades. Poolside lounges are meant to be a place where you can spend several hours at a time. However, it can get pretty hot while doing so if you don't put some outdoor shades in place. Get those shades up so you can let all of your worries melt away as you take in the smell of pool water and sunscreen. 4) Garden Areas Do you enjoy a little gardening in your downtime? You might like it even more after setting up outdoor shades that protect you from the excessive heat of the sun. Gardening is labor-intensive work and can take several hours of diligent labor to do it properly. However, you don't want to overextend yourself and end up getting physically overworked. Keeping some of the sun away is an excellent way to ensure that you don't overdo it. Just make sure that you check up on the sunlight needs of the various plants that you intend to put into your garden before installing outdoor shades. 5) Exterior Windows Did you know that it is possible to reduce your energy bills by installing outdoor shades? It's true! If you place outdoor shades on the exterior windows of your home, you can reduce the strain placed on your air conditioning by naturally reducing the overall temperature within your living space. This means less money out of your pocket and more money for working on your next project. There are many interesting places where homeowners are installing outdoor shades these days. For more creative ideas on what you can do with yours, reach out and contact us now.