Tips Choosing Right Window Treatment
There’s a lot to consider when choosing the right window treatments, like style, material, and whether or not to have them custom made. Motorized window treatments have numerous options that can seem overwhelming, including sleek roller shades, curtains, cellular shades, sheers, and more. Here, we’re making it easier to narrow down the options.
If you’re currently looking into adding new window treatments to your home or business, then read our tips for matching the right window treatments to your needs.
Use sunlight to determine your ideal window coverings
Depending on which direction your window faces, each room gets different levels of sunlight throughout the day. Based on the amount of natural you’d like to have in a room, it’s a good idea use this as a way of selecting the right kind of shade. For a room that receives little light during the day, sheers or softly translucent shades will allow light in during the day while offering privacy. Roller shades can be made with different levels of opacity for this reason.
If certain areas of your home gets a ton of brightness, you can opt for thicker drapes or blackout blinds that will block light, reduce noise and help regulate temperatures. Layering different window treatments with curtains provides better control over how much light you let it. By layering different textures and colors it creates a personalized look.
Embrace custom window treatments
If you have windows that are not a standard shape or size, such as arched or bay windows, you’re better off having custom window coverings made instead of trying to use something that doesn’t quite fit. Professionals can create custom motorized shades, curtains or any other window treatment you that will fit your exact dimensions. Though it’ll cost extra for customized window treatments, you’ll be happy you made the decision when you see how well the final results compare to
Measure your windows carefully
Accurately measuring your windows is an important step, especially if ordering your treatments online. Never assume your window or the treatments your ordering come in standardized sizes, and never guess based on how they look. We’ve written an article on how to measure your windows accurately, but if you plan on having a professional install them, they’ll prefer to do the measuring themselves to ensure exact accuracy.
Consider lining for drapes and curtains
If you know curtains or drapes are the route you want to go, then you’ll want to have them lined with additional material. Lining provides benefits such as shielding fabric from sun damage and making curtains last longer. Lining also adds some heft to the fabric, which helps block out drafts and makes the fabric fall attractively. To increase durability, insulation, light blockage, and volume, you can get curtains with an interlining, too—a layer of fabric sewn between the lining and the “face” fabric. This option can be chosen for custom made curtains, but aren’t commonly available when buying pre made drapes or curtains.
Colour and Fabric
When choosing window treatments, fabric is a big consideration, since the material will dictate how well your window treatments perform and last over time. For instance, if you plan on opening and closing your curtains often, than large, billowy fabric isn’t ideal. A thinner, crisper material like in sheers, panels will fold back more gracefully and allow more light to come through.
Some fabrics can help keep out the cold. Many hotels use suede, velvet, tapestry or tweed since their weight helps block light and keep heat in. Still, nearly any fabric can be interlined with bump, a thick, insulating felt material.
Also, remember sunlight will fade fabrics over time. If a certain room gets a lot of light, it’s a smart idea to avoid bright colors, since they tend to fade faster. When choosing motorized window coverings, you can customize the colour and material of your shades, including the opacity and UV blocking capacity.
Consult a professional
Sometimes the best idea is to talk to a professional about what you want to get out of your window treatments. Are you most interested in sound control, insulation, or maximizing natural sunlight? A professional knows what questions to ask to help determine the best solution, as well as the full range of options that’ll fit in with your criteria. If you’re looking for electric window coverings in Toronto, then we’re happy to answer any questions you may have during your search.