Everything You Need to Know About Window Treatments

One of the biggest mistakes people tend to make is to procrastinate and neglect window treatments when designing a new space. Given the number of options available to dress and treat windows, it can be overwhelming and tough to navigate. Window treatments can be a good investment in a home so you want to ensure you are picking appropriate selections and avoid costly mistakes. We’ve put together a list of our favorite types of window treatments and their appropriate use.

ROMAN SHADES

Classic and timeless, roman shades are beautiful in nearly every style of home. Roman shades are a much more cost-efficient option to draperies that still provide softness with fabric and folds when the shade is open.

For a clean-lined, no-fuss look we love using a flat fold. And for a more romantic and traditional aesthetic, a relaxed fold or tulip style fold adds a lovely detail.

Blackout lining is a must in bedrooms and sleeping spaces. We also use blackout lining for any shade with a defining pattern so it does get washed out looked in daylight with the sun shining through the fibers of the fabric.

In this bedroom, we opted to mount our shades inside the window frame as opposed to having one large shade mounted outside the window frame.

WOVEN WOOD OR GRASS SHADES

Another ANI favorite are woven wood and grass shades. A great way to add texture to a room and dress your windows without blocking out natural lighting. For this sun-soaked living room, we opted for top-down-bottom-up style function with privacy lining which allows the natural light to pour in from the top or bottom of the window depending on preference and time of day. This was a great solution that provided filtering of heat from direct sun, privacy in the evenings, and without compromising the gorgeous natural light that floods the space.

ROLLER SHADES & SOLAR SHADES

For a more clean-lined and modern look, consider roller shades. Roller shade essentially disappear when opened. No bunching or folds at the top and nothing to obstruct an amazing view. Roller shades are wonderful option to use when layering window treatments as well.

DRAPERIES

Nothing substitutes the elegance and luxuriousness of long draperies on windows. Here we layered custom drapery panels with a blackout-lined woven grass shade and added motorization for the ultimate escape for our clients. Our favorite draperies are two-finger euro pleats on rings mounted about 1/8” off the floor and more often than not with blackout lining.