Golden Rule: Decide on your Privacy level
How much light do you want in your room? Do you prefer more privacy? Maybe, even both? These are the things you have to consider, before going for shades, drapes, sheers, cafe curtains, blinds, or anything else. To help you make up your mind, here are some tips:1. Semi-sheer window treatments
A living room or a family room doesn’t usually need much privacy. However, you may need light from all day long, always depending on the overall number of windows. Take this photo, for example. The living rooms gets plenty of natural light anyway, and the designers have chosen semi-sheer fabrics to treat the windows. That way, they have ensured both subtle privacy and light at the same time, even when the window treatment is lowered.
Note: Pay attention to the thickness of your fabric. It will have a direct impact on the amount of light entering the room. The thicker the fabric, the less light you have in a space.
2. Roller Shades
Roller shades are great if you have your neighbors within an arm’s length. It doesn’t matter if your bedroom or bathroom are on the 1st or 2nd floor; you definitely need privacy. Super easy-to-install roller shades will give you exactly that without blocking the sun and natural light from showering your room(s).
Tip: Roller shades are also an excellent option for window treatments at the back of the tubs. These hard-to-reach areas can be easily enhanced by hardwiring a roller shade. That way, you can easily manipulate it remotely or from a control panel!
3. Cellular Shades
Almost every bathroom, especially when situated on the 1st floor, requires utmost privacy. For these cases, hard window treatments are ideal. You may hear them referred to as cellular, top-bottom, or bottom-up shades and are constructed with a honeycomb design that prevents heat from in the inside to escape and cold from the outside to enter the room. Another good thing about cellular shades is that you don’t sacrifice natural light for the sake of privacy and vice versa.
4. Draperies
Just like bathrooms, bedrooms on the first floor also need more privacy than those on upper floors. Truth is, both require natural light, at least most of the times. A good solution is to use floor-to-ceiling draperies. That way, when you close them, you will still have lots of light in and have and a big part of the wall (if not the entire wall) of fabric, ensuring privacy, at the same time.
Note: For contemporary floor-to-ceiling draperies, the rod can be wall-mounted. Alternatively, you can install it on the ceiling. Depending on what you feel fits the room best.
5. Blackout Curtains
Window treatments with blackout lining can be proven extremely useful when you need complete privacy. Think about getting a baby to sleep in the midst of the day. This challenging task can be made easy if you just saw a very dense fabric on the back of ANY drapery you have! Your fabric doesn’t have to be black, brown, blue, or any other dark shade. You can achieve the same result with light shades as well.
Now, if you want absolute darkness, a good idea is to opt for floor-to-ceiling drapes. Just make sure you install them 18 inches past every side of the window. Then, the only light you will have in the room, will be the light beams that seep in through the cracks!
6. Layered Treatments
Blackout curtains can also be extremely functional in a family or media room or where you gather and watch a movie or TV. However, the media room in the photo has run the extra mile. See what the designers have done in this room…They have chosen to layer a Roman shade and floor-to-ceiling draperies. The result? A fabulous total movie theater darkness; so inviting to spend some quality time with the ones you love!
Note: Did you know that the more fabric you add, the better the acoustics in your media room? Try it out!
7. Shutters
If you want to sleep in after the sun has risen for good, shutters will make it happen for you. See these lovely shutters painted bright red fuchsia (for high impact), installed with solid center panels?Have you also noticed how seamlessly they blend into the room’s overall theme? This shows that you can use them as decorative pieces or as bedroom window treatments to block out the sun completely, when you want to sleep in a bit more. For more amazing shutters to fit every window, here are some fab ideas!
Note: You can paint the shutters any color you like. If you don’t fancy the intensity of bright hues, you can surely choose a more toned-down look. Just make sure your shutters’ color matches the color of your walls!
8. Stained Glass
If you have many windows either around or on your front door and would like some privacy, installing stained glass is a splendid choice. Besides using them to keep intruding eyes away, you can also install them as decorative pieces, to enhance a window treatment (they look great at arched window treatments, covering the arch!). A stain glass window treatment will turn your foyer into a centerpiece and an awe-inspiring point for everyone entering or exiting your house. Plus, you will cultivate mystery by not allowing passers-by to get a full look right into your home!
Note: Another great and more cost-effective alternative is to use vinyl and create your window treatments.
Tips:
1. If you want a more crisp, clean room, you can try installing blinds. Just pick the right fabric to get the privacy level you want!
2. If you don’t have the space to install shutters that should be opened to the side, you may consider movable louvered shutters. You can shut them completely to get a good night’s sleep in total darkness!