4 Tips to Prevent Common Window Treatment MistakesHave you recently upgraded your home with Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey replacement windows? Now that you have improved your view on the world, you might be wondering what kind of window treatments are best to showcase your new windows.
There are so many creative window treatment designs available today that we cannot possibly cover all of them in one blog post. Below are a few general tips to help you avoid some common decorating mistakes.
Here are five common decorating mistakes and ways you can avoid making your own faux pas.
A very common decorating misstep is hanging window treatments at the top of the window instead of installing the rods close to the ceiling. By hanging your draperies just a half-inch to an inch below the ceiling, you’ll add height and substance to your room. This design trick also makes your smallest rooms look and feel larger.
Even when you’re dressing a sliding window or a casement window centered in the wall between the ceiling and floor, raising your rod is a quick way to add visual height. If you want to elongate a window, choose a curtain or drapery style that extends from the floor to the ceiling
Your window treatments should reflect the overall appearance of your home. You don’t have to be an interior design expert to make a bold statement or use subtle details to seamlessly meld your window treatments with your home’s overall aesthetic.
Add interesting and unexpected details with trim or tiebacks. Mimic architectural features by carefully choosing hardware finishes and shapes. Echo straight lines and gentle curves with similar shapes to tie your window treatment to your home’s structural details.
Resist the temptation to make your draperies the center of attention.
When you’re dressing a large picture window installed to frame a glorious view, don’t distract from your view with an over-the-top window treatment. Bays, bows and picture windows should showcase your vistas, not your draperies. Think of window treatments as the accessory to your beautiful window in the same way you think of a favorite hat as the finishing touch on an elegant evening ensemble. If done correctly, people will see the overall picture and not just notice your draperies.
The designer’s rule of thumb for choosing drapes styles and fabric is to buy the best you can afford. We built your Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey replacement windows to last many, many years and your drapery and curtain choices should reflect a high-quality, enduring style – even if you plan to update your décor long before your windows need updating.
If you’re working on a tight budget, opt for more fabric and not more detail. Simplicity can be timeless and elegant or casual and comfy, depending on the fabric you choose. Less isn’t more when it comes to window fashions. Many designers recommend you plan on a two to one ratio of fabric to window width. If you have a 36-inch double-hung window, your curtain (or curtains if you prefer multiple panels) should span 72 inches.
Don’t forget that your windows have an inside and an outside view. While window treatments fashionably frame the inside view, your window treatments also create an outside view – the view from the curb. Remember to consider how your curtains, shades or draperies will impact the exterior aesthetic as well as the interior décor.
The style of window treatment you choose can effectively dress up or dress down your replacement windows. The fabric and colors you choose for each window give you the power to create an elegant atmosphere or generate a down-home country feel.
Do you need to update your replacement window hardware to seamlessly meld your windows and the other architectural elements of your home? Maybe you are ready for the next phase in your home window upgrade project. If you have questions about updating your home windows and patio doors, we’ve got answers.
Reach us at (866) 609-5033 or post an inquiry by filling in the short form on this page and we’ll get right back to you.
Check out this post for more information on decorating your windows.
