6 Steps to Finding Your Perfect Window Solution

First and foremost you need to decide what it is that you are trying to achieve.  Temperature (or sound) insulation, privacy, light control or aesthetic improvement are all common design objectives that call for some form of window covering.

Lined curtains offer the most effective form of insulation, particularly when lined with blockout or interlining.

Sheer curtains are perfect for filtering light and providing daytime privacy, but have relatively poor insulation qualities and sheer fabrics will become translucent in the evening.

Roller blinds and roman blinds come in lined or translucent varieties.  They take up very little space and are relatively cost effective.  Roller blinds are excellent if you want your window coverings to ‘disappear’ when they are open.

Sometimes your window dressing solution will involve a combination approach if there isn’t a single option that meets all of your needs.

In children’s areas you will probably prefer a solution that sits off the floor to maximise floorspace and keep the space uncluttered.  Blinds are an obvious choice here.

Once you have addressed the important practical concerns, you need to decide how much emphasis you would like your window dressings to have.

If you don’t want your windows to be the primary feature in the room, then your objective should be to find a fabric with a neutral muted colour or subtle pattern that will blend with the walls and provide a timeless backdrop for the rest of the furnishings.

Alternatively if your room feels a little soulless and lacks a “hero”, your window dressings could be an opportunity to make a statement and bring the room to life!  Pick a fabric that brings together all the colours in the room.

For spaces which are dark and/or south-facing, consider colours that will add warmth to your space. Colours likes creams, reds, pinks and burgundy are inviting and cosy.

In bright, airy and/or north-facing rooms, cooler blues, whites and grays can be used.  Keep in mind that colours can change according to the light of day, so be sure to test your fabric in different light conditions with a sample cutting before selecting the perfect hue.

Would you like a formal or more casual style in your space?

Curtains accentuate vertical lines and carry the eye upwards which in turn creates the allusion of height. This look is generally considered more grand and formal.

Blinds and shutters emphasise horizontal lines which creates a more casual, restful feeling.

Fabrics with smooth and silky finishes are generally considered more formal.

For more relaxed, casual areas, natural fibres like linens and cottons work well.

Mix up different textures for added detail.  A sumptuous high-sheen fabric like silk provides a beautiful contrast to the worn and weathered surfaces such as exposed brick walls and natural timber floors.

Washed linens, brushed cottons and woollen blends have a charming, antiquated feeling.  They pair beautifully with classic, traditional style spaces with weathered timbers, stone and natural sisal.

Last but not least, you need to ensure the structure will support your proposed solution.

Lined curtains are heavy, so make sure your installation surface (wall or ceiling) and the curtain hardware can support the weight (extra brackets may be required).  Your curtain rod should also extend past the edge of the window frame to allow space for the fabric to sit when the curtains are open.

Blinds can be installed inside the window reveal for a neat fit, or on to the frame. If you install on the outside of the window be sure to make the blind larger than the window so you don’t create large gaps on the side. You don’t have to treat windows and doors the same (curtains for doors, blinds for windows for example) window dressings in the same room should hang at the same height to maintain a line of continuity.