WINDOW TREATMENTSRinsha.M.Gafoor

S8 B.Arch

WINDOW TREATMENTS

o Room’s mood, style and character are determined by how the windows are dressed. Window treatments come in a variety of types, styles, and textures. There are so many materials that can be used- for example wood, fabric, metal, and even those branch off into different types.

o The two main families of window treatments are hard and soft. One of the categories is soft draperies made of fabric; the other is hard coverings made from hard materials such as wood or metal. Hard treatments, such as shutters, blinds and shades give you privacy.  Soft treatments, draperies, curtains and valances for example, enhance your windows. 

o Depending on the decorative and functional needs of your room, hard and soft window treatments can be used alone or in combination with each other.

o Decorative curtain rods, finials and accessories make your window treatments go from simple to sensational by adding decorative drapery hardware as the finishing touch.

SOFT CATEGORY:

• DRAPERIES AND CURTAINS

Draperies

Curtains

o Both are made up of fabric that flows down the window to the desired length of the creator, but they have a very slight difference. Draperies are pleated and made to go on a traverse rod for easy open and closing. While curtains are meant to be stationary and do not have pleats sown in.

o Draperies are heavy fabric panels which help regulate a window’s privacy, light, and temperature. They are usually installed with a traverse rod which draws the drapes across the length of the window.

o A less functional yet very chic option is the fixed drapery panel which remains at the sides of the window and mainly serves to beautify the room.

o Curtains are very similar to draperies, but are made with lighter weight fabrics which are more casual and mostly just decorative.

SOFT CATEGORY: • VALANCES

o Valances are the decoration to the top of window, they add colour and detail; they also can help soften the hard edges of the frame.

o They are non-functional window treatments that adorn only the top portion of a window. The shape of valances can be fashioned into swags, cascades, or jabots. A variation on valances is the cornice top treatment.

SOFT CATEGORY: • CORNICES

o Cornices are assembled pieces of wood, metal, or foam which is custom shaped and then typically covered with fabric.

o Also more for decoration are a box like frame wrapped in batting and fabric and hung over the top of the rod hiding it from view.

HARD CATEGORY:

• SHUTTERS:oShutters are a classic window treatment very much in high demand and not likely to go out of style anytime soon. They are much like a blind but are framed out on all sides and attached directly to the window instead of just at the top. Shutters can be built with wood or faux wood materials and they provide excellent insulating value.

oLike any home instrument shutters of exceptional quality can provide long term value and increases your home's appreciation.

HARD CATEGORY:

• BLINDS AND SHADES:

oBlinds and shades are offered in a variety of forms. The most fashionable trends in horizontal blinds are wooden slat, faux wood slat and woven wood. Sheer vertical blinds offer a softer, breezy look to a traditional vertical treatment.

Blinds Shades

HARD CATEGORY:

• BLINDS:

oConsisting of horizontal or vertical slats that can be moved on the window (up, down, or across) and tilted for privacy and light control

Wood and faux wooden blinds

Mini BlindsVertical Blinds

HARD CATEGORY:

• Shades:

o Cannot be tilted only raised and lowered, the most well-known example of this style is a cellular or cell shade.

oShades range from pleated or honeycomb shades to roman shades to roller shades to the latest introduction to the category-panel glides. Panel glides are another sharp alternative to a standard vertical blind on a sliding glass door.

Cellular shades Temporary shades

Roller shades Roman shades

Bamboo shades Outdoor shades