Pulling back the curtain
With all the sunlight on the spring horizon, I imagine you, like me, are eager to open your windows and let in the light. Now, as we reintroduce longer hours of sunshine into our lives, we’re especially dependent on our windows, and the shades and draperies that cover them. Windows truly make a room—natural light provides warmth, color, and comfort to any space in your home, and helps define the spirit of the room. I’m sure you have a favorite window in your home, because I know I do: our living room windows are tall and front-facing, and provide a perfect view of our lovely street, plus a wonderful dose of sun to brighten and warm the room we spend most of our time in.
And in concert with the wonderful work our windows do, we also find some equally stalwart companions: our shades and draperies. Not only do shades, shutters, and draperies moderate how much light we’d like in our rooms, but they also help provide insulation against outdoor temperatures, which haven’t quite stabilized into warmth just yet. Plus, on top of their immense functional quality, window coverings can add incredible texture and color to your room design. Little is more beautiful than the natural curves and shadows of draped fabric—from classical elegance to clean modernity, draperies can fill any aesthetic niche you could desire.
Today, in recognition of the new attention we’re paying our sun-filled windows, I thought I’d talk a bit about the value of custom window treatments, plus some fun ways you might mix and match to make layered designs.
First, let’s talk custom window treatments. When I say custom, I don’t just mean they’re fitted to your window—I mean you have control over style and shape, too. Drapery panels (functional or artistic), valances, cornices, lambrequins, Roman shades, shutters, blinds—all these things are available to you, and here at Woodside Home, we’re ready and able to help you sort through and find the perfect option for your windows. Custom window treatments are one of our specialties!
So what’s the process like? First and foremost, we’ll take some measurements to get the specs of your window and ensure your new treatments will fit without a hitch. Second, we’ll talk design with you—styles you like, functional elements you’ll need, the whole nine yards. Based on measurements, our chat, and your wider design plan, we’ll put together a window treatment design plan combining your needs, tastes, and our finest vendor offerings, so your windows can look as beautiful as your home deserves.
You may be wondering: why go custom? Much like other realms of design, there really is no better guarantee to satisfaction than opting for custom items. Every window in your home is different, and mass-produced treatments will likely leave you with poor fits and inconsistencies that will hinder your home’s style and functionality. Custom pieces are produced in smaller workrooms with a far sharper eye for quality and precision, which means you’ll be getting draperies built to last, with a much wider range of options for fabrics and finishes, tailored to your room’s specific styling. Plus, the better fit your treatments are, the more energy-efficient your home is! Snugly-fit treatments help preserve the internal temperature of your house, which means your AC or heater, depending on the season, has a lot less work to do.
Going for custom treatments also allows you to better curate layered draperies! Layering your window treatments can be an easy way to add color and depth to your space, while also adding another bit of temperature-shielding for your windows. The primary layer should be your most functional treatments—usually, this means blinds or shades, which you’ll be adjusting most often to control the amount of light in your space. Then you can use secondary and even tertiary layers to add new fabrics, new draped textures, and new depth. A bold fabric choice here can allow your draperies to function as a special focal point in the room.
Interested in refreshing your window treatments? Send us an email! We can get you gorgeous custom window treatments, tailored to you.
Paying a little attention to your window treatments can go a long way. When you’re opening those curtains to the spring sun, wouldn’t it be nice if they were your perfect match?