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
Outdoor shades are wonderful additions to your home. Not only do they allow you to enjoy mornings and evenings on your porch or patio in comfort, but they also protect you from some of the harshest side effects of the sun, including excessive UV exposure , which can lead to serious health consequences over time. If you have exterior shades installed, one of the best ways to protect your investment and ensure that your outdoor shades stand the test of time, protecting you and your family over the long haul, is to institute a routine cleaning and maintenance plan. How Often Should You Clean And Maintain Your Exterior Shades? Because needs will always vary by season and climate, it's best to visually inspect your exterior shades once a month. If you see any buildup of dust or pollen, or any obvious maintenance issues, address them immediately. At least once per quarter, you should also schedule a thorough cleaning and maintenance check. Every three months, around the time the seasons change, schedule a day to clean and thoroughly check your blinds for any routine maintenance. Particularly if you live in the Southeast, we recommend scheduling thorough cleaning and maintenance in January, April, July, and October. 3 Steps to Cleaning Your Home's Exterior Shades First, start by thoroughly cleaning your exterior shades. Step 1: Gather your cleaning supplies. You will need the following: A bucket and a mild cleaning agent A hose and water supply A soft brush or broom A soft cloth When it comes to your cleaning agent, be sure to avoid any solutions with harsh chemicals. If you haven't received information on any manufacturer-specific suggestions, we recommend using a mild dish soap diluted in water. Step 2: Dust away dirt and debris. Using your soft brush or broom, gently remove all excess buildup of dust, dirt, and debris. Make note of any trouble spots that will need more extensive cleaning. Step 3: Thoroughly clean your exterior shades. Begin by testing your cleaning solution in a small, hidden area. If you see any strong reaction, including erosion or discoloration, stop immediately and seek more information. Only if your shades respond well should you proceed with a full cleaning. Start by using your hose to gently rinse your exterior shades from top to bottom. Next, using your soft cloth, clean the shades, removing all accumulations of dirt and grime. After a final rinse with the hose, allow the shades to air dry in the sun. If necessary, repeat this step until your shades are fully clean. What Routine Maintenance Issues Should You Check For As You Clean? As you clean your exterior shades, keep your eyes peeled for any routine maintenance issues that may need to be addressed. Trouble spots to watch out for include the following: Fading color. Though color fading in itself is not an emergency, it can show that your exterior shades are beginning to show wear and tear. Assess the extent of the damage and consult with Just Blinds to evaluate the projected longevity of your current shades. Sagging shades. Sagging shades don't necessarily need to be replaced, but they may need to be re-tensioned. Check the external hardware and see if anything needs to be tightened up or replaced. Rips, tears, gaps, or holes. No matter how small, these issues need to be addressed immediately. Addressing these issues early can prevent the damage from growing, preventing more costly repairs down the line. Buy a patch kit and follow the instructions for sealing up any trouble spots. Just Blinds Is Here to Help To hear more about how to maintain your exterior shades, or to learn more about how outdoor shades can add value to your home and help you better enjoy your outdoor living areas by reducing heat, offering increased privacy, and lowering your UV exposure, feel free to contact us . We look forward to serving you.
When the mercury soars, never underestimate the power of blinds, shades, and other window treatments to keep your living space cool. With the techniques that follow, you can limit demand on your air conditioner, lower your energy bill, and maintain stunning aesthetics both inside and out. 1. Go For the Layered Look If you don't want blackout blinds that completely block out light and heat, consider layering your window treatments for the summer months. This is a great way to add depth and texture to your rooms while still maintaining a tight home envelope and limiting solar heat gains. Use wood or faux wood blinds to create a solid base layer. Then, add sheers and custom curtains to finish the look. Layering creates levels of flexibility and adaptability that single window treatments cannot match. You can close all three layers for maximum heat blocking, slant your blinds and close your sheers to let limited sunlight in, or open your drapes and your blinds and use your sheers for light filtering. 2. Beat the Heat With Outdoor Window Treatments Some of the best window treatments for blocking heat and light during the summer months belong on the outside of your home. If you haven't done so already, consider investing in shutters. Shutters can vastly improve the efficiency of your home while providing excellent UV ray protection. This will keep your flooring and furnishings from fading while offering a fair amount of skin protection. In addition to tightening home envelopes, shutters provide excellent noise reduction and offer added protection against the natural elements. With your shutters standing guard as your home's first defense, you'll still have one or more window treatments at the interior of the building during the next big heat wave. Outdoor Shades Work, Too If shutters aren't the right look for you, opt for lightweight, retractable shades. Installing outdoor shades gives you yet another way to safeguard your home from solar heat gains whenever temperatures spike. You can use outdoor shades with layered indoor window treatments to create an airtight space and reduce stress on your AC during the hottest portion of the day. Once the sun sets, you can easily draw them open. 3. Optimize Airflow According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be up to five time more contaminated than outdoor air. Even though air conditioners and heat pumps filter the indoor air during operation, they don't extract volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other gaseous chemical contaminants. When the sun's out and you're running your air conditioner non-stop, all the contaminants introduced into your home by off-gassing building materials, cooking, room freshening sprays, and chemical-laden self-care products and cleaners remain trapped indoors. Blinds are great for optimizing airflow. When the sun sets, the mercury dives, and a cool breeze rolls in, you can turn your blind slats upwards to reflect light from the setting sun and slightly crack your windows. This technique works well for giving ACs an early evening break. It's also an excellent strategy for improving indoor air quality (IAQ). As natural light decreases, you can open your blind slats wider and let more fresh, outdoor air flow in. This easy air exchange will get your home and your IAQ ready for the challenges of the next sweltering day. 4. Keep Indoor Moisture in Check With Shades With a high-functioning air conditioner or heat pump, you'll get reliable humidity regulation whenever your cooling system is on. The right shades can support this by keeping outdoor moisture outside and preventing the buildup of condensation on your windows. Cellular shades are made for high-moisture areas, and they're the perfect addition to any other southern home. You can get similar benefits from faux wood blinds, vinyl blinds, and aluminum blinds. Moisture-resistant blinds or shades are an essential upgrade if you currently have heavy fabric drapes or multiple layers of sheers. Some materials capture and retain moisture. They're also prone to problems like mold and mildew and can lower IAQ as a result. 5. Go Motorized Don't worry about dragging your ladder out to draw your outdoor shades or running through your home to manually adjust your blinds. Shop for motorized window treatments that you can open, close, and adjust with just the touch of a button. This way, as lighting and temperatures change, you can quickly adapt your window treatments to reflect your most current needs. At Just Blinds, we're all about comfort. We want your window treatments to look amazing, but believe that you should feel amazing too. We offer a fantastic selection of blinds, shutters, shades, and custom draperies to help our clients beat the heat in the summer months . Let us help you stay cool in style. To speak with our design consultants, contact Just Blinds today!