Style Up Your Windows By Layering Window Treatments – Here’s How
BWS Marketing • April 2, 2021
Few things in a room offer as much potential for creativity and expression as window treatments. Thanks to all the various options available, you can have fun playing around with both soft and hard treatments to achieve various looks.
However, the sheer number of options available also means that it can be hard to come up with a look that works for you. Here are a few basic techniques on how to layer window treatments and achieve a classy, timeless look.
1. Define Your Goals: What Do You Need Your Treatments to Do?
There are many reasons to layer window treatments. Maybe you want better light control, privacy, or you just want to add character and life to your decor. Whatever your reasons, you will need to define them before you start.
Hard treatments such as shutters can also add more outside isolation for security and insulation purposes. Others, like fabric drapes and valances, help to soften up and add liven up an otherwise plain window.
At this point, you also need to define how much you are willing to spend. Layering treatments, especially for fabrics like silk and rattan can be very expensive.
2. Plan the Layering
You can have as many as three layers of treatments on each window consisting of a base layer, a second layer, and a third outer layer. Each serves a purpose depending on how you arrange them.
- Base layer — this layer hangs flush to the window, but it can also be installed on the outside. It is usually made of hard treatments such as wooden blinds and shutters, but soft treatments like roman or roller shades also work great.
- Second layer — this is an inside layer just above the top layer. It consists of sheer drapery for light control, but can also be made of sheer panels, solid fabric (Roman or roller shade)
- Top layer — this layer consists of blackout shades for light management, especially in the bedroom to help with light sleepers. This layer can also be complemented with a cornice or valance to cover up the hardware used to hold all the drapery.
3. Window Treatment Pairing Tips
The various types of window treatments aren’t always complementary. Here are a few rules to remember.
- Draperies over blinds are a classic look. Use them for formal spaces or in old houses.
- For a more contemporary look, go for curtains over shutters or panels.
- Curtains over shades are the perfect way to mix and match all the colors and shades you want for a modern look. Various shades like sheers, Roman shades, and roller shades work for the base or second layer with a hanging curtain on top.
- Drapery over cellular shades — if you experience extreme temperatures in your location, cellular shades are a classy way to increase insulation while adding a contemporary touch. Add a heavy curtain on top for light management.
- Drapery over panels or pleated blinds — these work the same way as curtains draped over shades, only that you won’t use as heavy a curtain.
- Consider adding a cornice or valance to cover up protruding curtain rods.
- Always hang curtains high and wide to clear up any spaces left by inner layers.
4. Match Colors, Tones, and Textures
To obtain a perfect look, you will want to match the layers for color and texture. Solid curtains and printed or textured blinds or shades are a perfect match. Alternatively, you can have both printed but have the interior layers feature a much more delicate pattern for contrast. Even then, stick to one accent.
Consider mixing up window treatment layers for different rooms or even different windows in the same room. This adds a versatile touch and allows you to experiment more.
Bottom Line
With many options available, you are only limited by your own creative genius when it comes to layering window treatments. However, there is one thing you need to remember — always stick to high-quality window treatments. Anything less will just look off. Also, it is best to work with experts when it comes to blinds. Feel free to contact us for a consultation.
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.