As eyes are the windows to your soul, the spirit of your home can be reflected in its windows. There are window treatments for every window and preference, to the point where it can be hard to decide what’s right for you. We’ll review some of the most popular types of window treatments, like wood blinds and cellular shades, so you can find one to match the soul of your home.
From Shutters to Drapes: Different Types of Window Treatments
While window treatments are considered a form of interior decoration, they can also serve a variety of purposes. In addition to their style, we’ll discuss the functions for different types of window covering from providing privacy to regulating light and temperature. However, since window treatment is an umbrella term for many styles, we’ll clarify what defines a window treatment.
What are Window Treatments?
Technically, a window treatment is the decoration of a window and the frame surrounding it. Types of window treatments most often fall into 1 of 3 categories:
- Soft window treatments: usually made of soft materials (i.e. fabrics). Includes drapes, curtains and roman shades.
- Hard window treatments: typically made of hard substances (i.e. wood or vinyl). Includes blinds, shutters, and shades.
- Layered window treatments: comprise a combination of both hard and soft treatments (i.e. drapes paired with blinds).
#1. Shutters
Shutters are louvered or fixed slats that are mounted via hinges on a window’s wooden frame. They’re typically made of wood or vinyl and can be adjusted to allow for varying degrees of light, privacy, and insulation. The pros and cons of shutters include:
Pros:
- Add architectural integrity to your home
- Can increase a home’s value
- Easily adjustable
Cons:
- Can be expensive to install
- Are a more permanent option, not lending to changing tastes
#2. Venetian Blinds
One of the more common window blinds and shades, Venetian blinds are wood, metal or plastic slats that are suspended by a cord or piece of fabric. The blinds afford privacy by pulling on a separate cord to raise or lower them. Privacy and light can also be adjusted by rotating them to increase or lessen the gap between each slat.
Pros:
- Simple to install
- Easy to clean
- Relatively inexpensive
Cons:
- Considered more functional than decorative
- Cord mechanism can break fairly easily
- Can have a low-priced appearance
#3. Drapery
Drapes are one of the types of soft window treatments that can have seemingly endless possibilities for style, shape and color. Commonly defined as panels of thick, lined fabric that hang from the top of a window, drapes can hang on one side of a window or both. They can be paired with blinds for a layered window treatment and can be customized to hang at a variety of lengths and styles.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Highly customizable with many color, fabric, and style options
- Affords maximum privacy and insulation
Cons:
- Some custom drapes can be expensive
- Can have a heavy or formal appearance
#4. Cellular Shades
Cellular shades are one of the best window treatment ideas for maximizing energy efficiency. These shades have a unique honeycomb design that traps and holds air, preventing it from entering your home. They also come in a variety of fabrics, offering light and noise control.
Pros:
- Provide excellent insulation
- Don’t require a lot of depth, allowing them to be used for a variety of windows
Cons:
- Can be difficult to clean
- Once a fabric is chosen, light control is not adjustable
#5. Roller Shades
A list of window blinds and shades would be incomplete without including roller shades. This type of shade can be a soft treatment, comprised of fabric, or a hard one that uses vinyl. The shade is mounted on a tube at the top of the window. Both are lowered by pulling downward and raised by pushing upward with the shade rolling up or down on a tube at the window’s top.
Pros:
- Available in natural light and blackout styles
- Provide numerous options for homeowners to customize their appearance
Cons:
- Some styles don’t always provide total privacy
- Motorized shade rollers can malfunction over time
Now that you’re familiar with the most popular types of window treatments, you can decide which you prefer for your home. And for all of your window repair and replacement needs, be sure to call the local experts at Glass West.
