So, you are expecting a baby! Congrats!Wondering what to do with the nursery windows so that they are both ideally suited for a child and look amazingly stunning?
Here are some handy Do’s and Dont’s (as well as the best window treatments for your nursery) that should help you started!
1. Avoid Long Draperies
Having floor-length draperies is like inviting a toddler to get his or her hands on something that looks interesting! In this case, be prepared to realise that your curtains can have other purposes other than decorating a room and enhancing its décor.
So, unless you want your cute one to wipe his nose on, climb, or pull the drapery panels, better keep them out of reach. In other words, go for something simple and short!
2. Install a Rod
Normally, your draperies should not overshadow your windows. Given that they usually cover much of the glass and reduce the window’s width considerably, it is always a good idea to buy wide-paneled curtains and have the rod’s hardware installed below the edge of the window.
That way, you will leave enough room to pull back the curtains and enjoy a completely unblocked view. Only make sure that the rod you instal is long enough to accommodate the extra width, for safety’s sake. Otherwise, if stretched too much, they become unstable, putting your child’s safety at risk.
3. Add a Valance
If you like blinds and want to treat your nursery’s windows with them, you can soften their appearance if you use fabric valance. Adding texture and color to your design and having a window treatment that the little fingers won’t be all over it, is a superb option for a nursery.
However, you could go a bit more dramatic and construct a simple wooden frame in the top of the window pad that you could cover with fabric (also referred to as cornice boxes).
4. Roller Shades
Blinds can be fairly expensive. Roller shades, on the other hand, is a much more cost-effective option that also allows for much sunlight showering the room during the day. They are very discreet throughout the day and don’t comprise much of a temptation for toddlers.
Ideally, you can dress them up with fabric (i.e. something light-blocking or ultra-thick if you don’t want that much light entering the room or attach fabric to the front to serve decorative purposes and have a soft finish).
5. Introduce a Pattern
A nursery design should be fun, fanciful, and inspiring! For that reason, choose a pattern fabric for the dressings of your window(s) and feature the pattern you have selected several times (at least 3-4 uses per pattern) throughout the room to create continuity. For example, you can coordinate the curtains with the nursery bedding.
You could even use the same fabric to make accent pillows. Tip: You can enhance the nursery’s theme by using your curtains. How? If, for example, you are working on a sports theme, you may want to consider attaching a bunting banner to your pull-down blinds and add tons of character!
6. Choose Fabric Elements First
A common mistake most moms-to-be make is saving the curtains for last. However, with the overwhelming abundance of paint colors available and the popularity of color-match technology, it is much easier to pick the textiles you like first and then buy matching paint.
7. Make Sure the Window Treatments are Safely Installed
You just can’t afford to have a loose blind casing or curtain rod falling, risking to injury your toddler. To prevent anything bad from occurring, ensure ALL hardware is either secured properly (with dry wall anchors) or fixed directly to the appropriate wall stud.
Note: Do NOT use tension rods because they cannot be screwed to the wall. Instead, the come with springs that if loaded with too much tension can as well collapse. And, don’t be mistaken by the small size of a toddler. They can pull the curtain panel strongly enough to get themselves a nasty bop on their head.
8. Say NO to Embellishments
Anything with beaded decorations or similar embellishments should be avoided as they can easily become loose and be pulled down by your little explorer. Needless to say, if some tiny materials end up in your child’s hands, they will be instantly be pushed right into the mouth, posing a serious choking hazard. If you want pizazz, then opt for embroidery, rich textures, or fun prints instead.
9. Make your Blinds Childproof
If you are a fan of blinds, you need to make sure to instal a safety device that has been particularly designed to control cord access. Otherwise, having exposed cords and an unsupervised toddler around them could be one of the worst combinations ever.
So, avoid blinds with long cords to stay on the safe side and ensure that all cords are either out of your child’s reach or break when they are stressed (these are models that feature breakaway cords), with the first option being the one most recommended.
Tip: If you have Roman shades in the nursery room, you can remove the cords and hold them in place with the use of clips.
10. Keep the Nursery Cool Enough
The nursery may seem cool throughout the day. Nevertheless, it would be nice to install UV-blocking, double-lined window treatments to prevent your little one from overheating, which is considered to be a risk factor correlated to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
So, a set of heavy blinds or heat-reflecting drapes can help keep your baby cool enough during the afternoon naps.
Tip: Another option is to install UV-blocking window film that is designed to reflect the sun’s heat. You just apply it to the window glass (directly) and you are set to go!
Final Note:
Safety has to be put above and beyond everything else. I know that as an expecting mother, you want to design the perfect nursery for your baby-to-be. Please don’t rush, though, to make everything look fantastic, dropping minor (yet very significant) details.
Always remember to install window stops or guards on every window and plan carefully the arrangement of the furniture. For example, having the crib in front of the window can lead to overheating your little one.
Want some more? Sure! Here is Everything you need to know about window shades, How to choose the best pinch pleats, and Shutters to Enhance Every Window in the house!Need some help Choosing the Right Window Treatment for your Home? We’ve got your back!