10 Types of Window Treatments for Home and Office Interiors

Window treatments enhance the ambience of a room, mask design or architectural flaws and make a room look finished. Well-designed window treatments pick up colors and decorative themes and complement architectural details that give a room character. Window treatments can make a room look more spacious, ceilings higher or windows bigger. In addition, they filter light, create a thermal barrier and dampen sound.

If you are considering new window dressings for your home or office, you may feel overwhelmed by the choices. You may ask, should I install formal draperies, blinds, shutters, blackout curtains, voiles or something else? As you make your choices, consider your taste, design goals, how a room is used and the quality of the material. Although budget is often a consideration, try to go for well-made, high-quality products.

Here, we discuss 10 types of window treatments that work well in both residential and commercial settings.

Categories of Window Treatments

As you make your selection, visualize how the window treatment will affect the room's look. Consider the characteristics of the three classes of window treatments: hard, soft and layered. Each makes a design statement and affects the atmosphere of the space.

• Hard window treatments are made of wood, vinyl or other hard material. They include shutters, wooden shades and blinds.
• Soft window dressings are made of fabric and other pliable materials that frame a window, including valances, formal draperies, café curtains, swags and Roman shades.
• Layered window dressings combine two types of window treatments, such as shutters and curtains, sheers with blackout curtains or blinds and draperies. Layering offers several options, such as better light and heat control, enhanced texture and increased complexity and drama.

Window Shutters

Shutters are often used with rustic, country and coastal styles. However, shutters work well with many decorative themes. Traditional shutters are made of wood and painted or used with their natural wood tones. They are also available in synthetic materials with wood-like finishes and coloring. Half-shutters cover the lower half of a window, and full shutters cover the entire window. Adjustable louvered slats regulate light, airflow and temperature. Pair them with soft window treatments, or use them as a primary window dressing.

Pleated Blinds

Pleated blinds are made from paper, cloth or other materials that fold up into horizontal pleats. Although blinds traditionally pull down from the top, they can also pull up from the bottom for privacy and light. Cellular shades, also called honeycomb shades, are made with pockets that trap air, creating an insulating, energy-saving barrier. They retract into crisp stacks, giving a clean look to the window.

Venetian Blinds

Classic Venetian blinds complement all types of décor. Horizontal slats of metal, plastic, PVC, vinyl or wood are strung with cords that raise, lower and tilt the slats to control privacy and light.

Vertical Blinds

As the name suggests, vertical blinds are aligned vertically instead of horizontally. They work well on large windows and sliding glass doors because they stack to the side instead of the top of a window. Slats may be made of rigid or flexible materials. They are easy to clean and have noise and thermal insulating values.

Panel Tracks

Panel tracks combine ease of use and good looks. Fabric is mounted on panels that slide along a rail fixed to the top of a window, door or ceiling. They are perfect for sliding glass doors, patio doors and large windows. They add privacy, a thermal barrier and a sophisticated simplicity to your interior.

Drapery

Drapery includes window treatments that hang over or to the side of windows, such as curtains, swags, cornices and valences. Drapery comes in many colors, patterns, textures, styles and sizes. It adds privacy, muffles sound, reduces drafts and contributes to the décor of a room. Curtain panels may completely block light, such as Deconovo's blackout curtains. Light-filtering curtains and sheers soften incoming light. Drapery is often used in layered window treatments.

Voile Curtains

Voile curtains gently filter light and provide privacy during the daytime. They are made from lightweight fabrics with an open weave, including net, polyester, cotton and silk. Layer them with heavier window dressings for depth, added privacy and better insulating properties. Although white is the most popular color for sheers, they also come in colors and patterns. Deconovo's selection of voiles includes valances, pastel colors, rod pocket headers and patterned designs.

Café Curtains

Café curtains are ideal for kitchens, casual dining areas and other rooms where you want a lot of light and some privacy. They can be installed on the lower half of a window or as two tiers that cover the entire window. Material hangs from rings that glide over a curtain rod, making them easy to open and close. Checks, stripes and solid colors work well.

Roman Shades

Roman shades blend the practicality of shades with the softness and flexibility of curtains. Installed inside the window frame, a single piece of fabric forms crisp, horizontal folds when pulled up and lies flat against the window when rolled down. Use Roman shades to insulate, control light and add privacy.

Shoji Panels

Use shoji panels as window treatments, room dividers or decorative additions. Traditional Japanese shoji screens are sliding bamboo or wooden frames fitted with translucent rice paper that filters light. They complement modern decorative styles, including minimalist and Asian interiors.

When considering window treatments, go with your instinct on design and overall look. If you live in a noisy area, go for heavier, full-length draperies. If your preference is a lot of light and a view to the outside, sheers, blinds and shades let you adjust for light and privacy. Combining hard and soft window treatments balances the decorative elements, is more energy-efficient and softens light.

Properly sized and installed window treatments give a finishing touch to a space. Most importantly, do not scrimp on quality. Consider window dressings as an investment that will last long time. At Deconovo, we ensure quality through each step of the design and manufacturing process. Our thermal insulated blackout curtains were picked as the best overall blackout curtain by The Spruce for 2021 for their high quality and affordable price.

For more information about Deconovo's high-quality, attractive window dressings, call our award-winning support staff. We are always ready to assist you in selecting the proper size, color and type of curtain to best suit your needs.

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