The world of window coverings is a wide and overwhelming one. Whenever I dip my toes in those waters, I’m immediately flummoxed by the seemingly zillions of options. In every room of my house I’ve defaulted to the path of least resistance, gauzy white linen sheers on a plain iron rod. In the spaces that don’t allow for curtains—the kitchen and the bathroom—I’ve left the windows bare. But it’s certainly not by choice, and I’ve longed for someone to demystify for me the difference between blinds and shades, roman and roller, woven and wood! So I finally went straight to the experts and asked Ian Gibbs, the co-founder of The Shade Store, for his top tips on choosing the right window treatments. Ian’s family has been making custom draperies since his grandfather’s generation, and when the business landed in his hands he transformed it with objective of modernizing the way we shop for custom window treatments. Because he’s in the business of ‘making custom simple’ for his customers, he was a font of helpful information!
First, determine your needs. When selecting window treatments, consider what’s most important in your space. Are you looking for privacy, for which fully opaque treatments are best? Do you need to protect artwork or fine furniture from sunlight, making solar shades a great option? Is the energy efficiency offered by cellular shades a concern? Does the room need the architectural detail that a custom floor-to-ceiling curtain can provide? Prioritizing your needs will narrow the field before you even start shopping.
Pick something that lasts. Keep in mind that custom window treatments last for years, so make sure to pick fabrics and colors that will be seasonally appropriate and impervious to trends. Also, when considering longevity think about the feeling you are trying to convey in a room. Does your living room demand the light and airy effect of sheer curtains? Perhaps your bedroom calls for the cozy, enveloping vibe of wool drapes? Or maybe you’re seeking the clean and crisp personality of a cotton Roman shade in the kitchen? As for a child’s bedroom, the window treatments should be fun but should also something that kids can grow into—and the Shade Store’s Novogratz fabrics are great for this!
Assess your current window treatments. Sometimes, it’s easier to look at what you already have to help determine what you need. What do you and don’t you like about your current window treatments? Maybe your bedroom treatments let just a little too much light in and its time to consider a blackout shade. Or perhaps the window is in a room that’s feeling blah and begging for the decorative statement that a patterned curtain or woven wood blind can make?
Know the difference between blinds and shades. Many people don’t know the difference, so having that knowledge can help when selecting window treatments. Blinds are made of several long horizontal or vertical slats of various types of materials—most commonly wood, plastic, or metal. They can be adjusted by rotating from an open position to closed, shutting out the light by making the slats overlap. No matter the material or style, blinds are very versatile and appeal to a modern, utilitarian aesthetic. Shades, meanwhile, add a touch more sophistication to a space. They sit at the top of a window frame, and the material is rolled down to hug the window. They regulate natural light and privacy and are perfect for cutting down on glare and catching up on sleep. The Shade Store offers six styles of shades including roman, roller, solar, pleated, cellular and woven wood. Choose your style based on your functional needs and the visual presence you’d like your window treatments to have.
Know when to use pattern. Knowing when to use pattern can be helpful in making the final selection for window treatments. A good rule of thumb is to use pattern in a space that doesn’t already having a lot going on and to let the window treatments be the focal point of a room. But of course, if you’re looking for a bolder statement, then choosing printed curtains or shades is a great way to do some pattern mixing with other textile elements in the space such as pillows, linens, and upholstery! The Shade Store carries a selection of over 900+ materials, including colors, patterns and textures, so the opportunities for play and exploration are endless!
Phew! Did you catch all that? It’s still a lot, I know, but Ian definitely helped me parse through some of the major questions I had. I’m all set now to tackle the task of shopping for shades in the kitchen, knowing that my primary concern is filtering out the mid-morning glare that makes it hard to see my computer screen (yup, I work at my kitchen counter). Here’s to wading through the waters of window treatments armed with a little more knowledge and confidence!
Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Disclosure: This post was created in partnership with The Shade Store. All opinions are and always will be my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that enable me to bring you fresh inspiration daily!