The Dos and Don’ts of Choosing Window Treatments

If you’ve ever wondered what type of curtain or window treatment would work best for each room in your house, you’ve come to the right place. Learn about popular living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom curtain ideas and how window treatments can enhance your home’s design. For more room-by-room inspiration, explore our guide on how to choose the best windows for each room.

Brighten up your kitchen and make it feel larger with rays of natural light. When selecting the right kitchen curtains for your space, consider how they will function in this room especially.

Do think about convenience. As a durable option that doesn’t require frequent cleaning or maintenance, blinds- or shades-between-the-glass are a modern option for any kitchen. They are sealed between panes of insulating glass and protected from dust, damage and little hands. You can choose from light-filtering and room-darkening options to help you maintain your desired privacy level.

Do consider decorative kitchen window treatments like valances, cafe curtains or perhaps no window treatments at all. Depending on the home’s style some homeowners may opt for decorative window treatments that are less about function and more about style. Valances with a bold pattern can add a nice design pop to a kitchen or consider no window treatments for a more modern look.

Don’t choose window treatments that are difficult to launder. As one of the most high-traffic areas in a home, it is important to choose durable window treatments. Curtains that are machine washable are a great option, as they provide added privacy but are easy to clean.

In bedrooms, many homeowners strive to create a calm, dark environment. Some of the most popular bedroom window treatments are curtains, shades, shutters and cellular shades. Each option has its own unique set of benefits.

Do create a cool environment. For a more energy-efficient option, consider cellular shades. Cellular shades feature honeycomb-shaped pockets of air that help to slow the transfer of heat, keeping your bedroom cooler. They’re available in a variety of colors and patterns to meet your home’s design needs. Keep your bedroom cooler in the summer with blackout curtains, which help block the light and heat from the sun. To block the most light, room-darkening curtains are commonly hung high and wide on the wall.

Do consider window treatment materials other than fabric. For southern-style homes, window shutters are a great option to block the sunlight. Indoor window shutters are commonly made from wood or a wood-alternative and can be adjusted to let in different amounts of light. These shutters are usually the same size or slightly larger than the size of the window.

Don’t choose form over function. Decorative fabric curtains or sheer curtains can be used to display your unique design style. While they may create the light and airy feel you aesthetically desire, they let in more of the sun’s natural light and could disrupt your sleep. Room-darkening shades are most commonly used in bedrooms as they help block the sunlight from entering the bedroom. These room-darkening shades are a great choice for nurseries or toddler rooms — so naptime can be as peaceful as possible.

In a bathroom, window treatments are used to add privacy and design interest to the room. There are several important considerations when choosing treatments for a bathroom window.

Do make sure the window treatment can be used in a bathroom environment. Certain materials might not perform well in a wet, humid space. For example, blinds or between-the-glass blinds and shades may perform better in a bathroom. It is also important to check the manufacturer’s warranty for your window to make sure the application you’re planning on using is covered.

Do check that your privacy needs are met. Privacy blinds or fully opaque curtains will give your bathroom the most privacy. Consider pairing blinds with a more decorative, sheer shade to balance privacy with style. For a high level of privacy, blackout curtains could be used in the bathroom. This option would block nearly all natural light from entering into your bathroom while maintaining your privacy.

Don’t choose window treatments that make it hard to operate the window. In a bathroom, ventilation is especially important. Make sure that the window treatment you choose makes it easy to open and close your window whenever needed. A decorative valance paired with long curtains or blinds can easily be moved to operate the window but help maintain privacy when needed.

In a living room, curtains can be used to create a one-of-a-kind space. Common window treatments for living rooms are light-filtering curtains, sheer curtains, blinds and shades.

Do mix window treatments. Especially in living rooms, its popular to layer window treatments for maximum light and privacy. For example, living room curtains, decorative or sheer, layered with blinds or shades allows you to choose between more levels of light in your space. Draw the curtains and blinds to fill the room with light or close one to create atmosphere. Layering window treatments also helps warm up your space with texture to make it more inviting.

Do explore texture as another way to spruce up a living room window. Depending on the style you’re trying to achieve, you could choose matching or contrasting fabric textures. If you want more of a minimalistic style, consider fabric blinds that complement your existing furniture and décor. To create more interest and depth, a contrasting texture can achieve your goal.

Do consider effort to open and close. For windows that are high on the wall or hard to reach, consider motorized blinds-between-the-glass. Available exclusively on Pella Lifestyle Series windows, this innovative solution allows you to conveniently control the amount of light that enters your living room and can be integrated with select smart home systems.

When thinking about window treatments for each room in your house, the most important consideration is your style, light and privacy needs. Think about how each window treatment will affect and enhance your space, then choose the design that best complements your home.