This week I received a question regarding window treatments, something many home owners struggle to choose. With all the options out there, it can be overwhelming, especially when they have such a huge impact on a room. It’s a finishing touch that should definitely not be overlooked. (This is especially true if you have a lot of windows!) Here’s the question I received:
Are curtains or blinds more preferable when decorating a house? ─ Barry
Great question. There are actually a few parts to the answer. First of all, this choice relies entirely on personal preference but I can give you a few things to think about. Depending on the type of windows and blinds, it can often be preferable to have both blinds and curtains. Blinds serve the purpose of privacy. Even if you have the curtains open during the day, you may want to adjust the blinds to block out the sun or have them there to obscure the view from the street while still letting light in. Also, they are a plus for buyers if you’re selling a home so they don’t have to worry about putting up their own window treatments right away.
Many people want more than just curtains for privacy, but blinds without curtains can look a little naked if the windows aren’t framed out. If you’re selling a home and staging it to go on the market, I suggest neutral curtains to warm up the room. If you are decorating for yourself, you have many more options. If you don’t want curtains but don’t have framed windows, then plantation shutters are a great option. Shutters have a much more finished off look than typical blinds (since they frame the entire window) and don’t require curtains to look polished. However; shutters are a much bigger investment than both blinds and curtains combined.
Here are different examples of curtains, blinds and shutters that look great in a home:
Wood Venetian blinds look nice in this living room without curtains because the windows are framed out. However; if they were unframed I would definitely suggest curtains to go with Venetian blinds. In the case of this room, curtains would be an option but not a requirement.
A Roman shade is another alternative to blinds and curtains. They fold up or down and can be adjusted individually to block the sun. They have a clean, contemporary look and come in a variety of colors, patterns and styles.
Plantation shutters offer an upscale, polished look. They are manufactured to fit custom window sizes and come in a few different styles and options.
You can mix Roman shades with curtains as seen here with this window seat. By layering a solid curtain with a patterned shade, you create depth.
Layer a sheer white curtain under regular curtains to create privacy without blinds.
Here’s a mixture of Venetian blinds, Roman shades and curtains blending together beautifully to create one fluid and stylish window treatment.
Hope this as helped you in deciding on window treatments in your home. Good luck!
Be sure to check out my answers to other design dilemmas and send me your own via my contact page.
Warm regards,
Megan