One of our favorite ways to finish a space is with the right window treatments. While they serve important practical purposes like providing privacy, filtering light and creating a more comfortable environment, they also play a major role in the overall design of a room.
Window treatments are one of the most important design details when designing a room. Which treatment works best for each space? How will the room be used? And how can we use window treatments to elevate the design? These are all questions we consider with every project.
We know that selecting and installing window treatments can feel overwhelming as there are many details to consider, from the style and fabric to the lining, length, placement and height. We’re often asked how to measure for window treatments, how to install them properly and what makes a window treatment look custom.
In this guide, we’re sharing our designer approach to window treatments to help simplify and make it easier for you.
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
What Does The Room Need?
The first step in selecting window treatments is considering where they will be installed and what purpose they will serve. Every room has different requirements, so the application plays an important role in determining the right treatment, fabric and functionality. In a bathroom, for example, you’ll want to consider moisture, while in a kitchen, fabrics and materials may need to stand up to everyday cooking, including oil and grease. Privacy is another important consideration. Is the room on a busy street where you need privacy throughout the day? Is privacy primarily a concern at night, or perhaps not at all?
Light control is equally important. A bedroom, for example, may call for a treatment that creates complete darkness in the morning, while a living room may benefit from a softer solution that filters natural light without blocking it entirely. Our Life on Longview living room is a perfect example. This room did not require privacy but our clients needed a solution to harsh morning light. Hung on a traversing rod, the sheer panels gently filter natural light while keeping the space bright, whether open or closed.
That’s where the lining of a window treatment becomes an important decision, too. There are three primary lining options we consider: unlined, privacy lined, and blackout lined. Unlined window treatments can help filter and soften light but may provide minimal privacy. Privacy lining provides greater privacy while still allowing some natural light to filter through. Blackout lining offers the most light control, blocking light almost entirely while providing maximum privacy.
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Materials & Styles
Once we’ve determined which spaces need window treatments and identified any specific functional considerations, we can move on to selecting the right materials and styles. And when it comes to window treatments, there are so many options. While every project is different, there are a few styles we find ourselves returning to again and again.
Drapery panels are one of our favorites. Seen in our Made in Montibello family room, a drapery panel is a finished piece of fabric that hangs vertically beside or in front of a window, or, in this case, sliding glass doors. Especially in a beautiful green linen, drapery adds height, texture and softness to a space while also providing privacy and light control.
Roman shades are another versatile option. In the Life on Longview sunroom, we selected a cordless woven Roman shade to bring warmth and natural texture to the space. Roman shades fold into horizontal pleats as they’re raised, creating a clean, tailored look when lowered. In our Dansing on Providence eat-in kitchen, privacy and light control weren’t priorities, so we opted for stationary (non-functioning) fabric Roman shades instead. The shades create the illusion of taller windows while adding warmth and softness to the space. Roman shades are available in a wide range of fabrics and materials, making them a versatile choice for many different spaces and design styles.
As we mentioned earlier, bathrooms require a bit more thought when selecting window treatments because of moisture and humidity. While we have used Roman shades in bathrooms, plantation shutters can be another beautiful and practical alternative, as seen in our Firethorne primary bathroom.
Finally, roller shades are a great option when you’re looking for a clean, streamlined treatment, that provides light control on demand. In our Beaver Dam sunroom, motorized roller shades provide function without adding visual weight to the space. They can be customized in a variety of fabrics, colors and opacities, allowing you to control light and privacy while maintaining a simple, polished look. Better yet, when motorized you can operate the shades with a click of a remove versus having to manually adjust each shade.
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Layering
We love to layer window treatments. Combining different treatments not only adds texture, depth and visual interest to a space, but also allows us to bring together the best of both worlds when it comes to function and design. Depending on the needs of the room, layering can add height and help balance the proportions of a space, while also providing greater flexibility with privacy and light control.
In our Life on Longview primary bedroom, we paired blackout lined drapery panels with unlined woven Roman shades. The unlined woven shades allow you to see the warmth and texture of the material while filtering light, while the drapery panels add softness and height and provide complete darkness for those mornings when extra sleep is needed.
In our Dansing on Providence primary bedroom, we took a different approach. This room needed complete privacy, and plantation shutters functioned best for our client’s needs. To add an extra layer of light control and height, we layered blackout-lined woven shades. This combination offers both texture and structure.
In the White Christmas primary bath, both privacy and moisture were factors, so we selected plantation shutters paired with a stationary shade to soften the space.
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
In The Details
When it comes to style, it’s often the smallest details that make the biggest difference. To add visual interest and a touch of embellishment to window treatments, we love to customize.
One way we do this is with trim tape, which is a decorative trim available in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures. As seen in our Bulaful Home nursery and Dansing on Providence office, trim tape is a simple way to introduce color, pattern, and detail to window treatments.
Another trim option is to add color blocking with fabric rather than a trim tape as seen on the Made in Montibello kitchen valences and Bulaful Home living room drapery panels.
Pleat style can dress up a room or keep it more casual. A crisscross triple-pleat, as seen on the drapery panels in our Bulaful Home adds an unexpected layer of dimension, while the triple pleat in the Dansing on Providence office adds a touch of formality to the space.
When it comes to hanging hardware, we often use French return rods. Unlike drapery rods with decorative finials on the ends, this hardware has a soft 90 degree curve at both ends and fastens directly to the wall. It not only looks smooth, but it also allows you to pull your drapery panels right up against the wall. What’s great about French return rods is that they work well on windows of all sizes and in a variety of spaces, especially where both style and function matter. You can see this style up close in the pictures above.
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
How to Make Your Window Treatments Look Custom
There are a few tricks of the trade when it comes to getting your window treatments to look custom. First, go high. For drapery panels, install hardware close to the ceiling or just below the crown molding. Note that the typical installation range is around 8-11 feet, depending on the room and architecture, hardware can sit right under the crown or approximately 2” below the ceiling/crown.
Another important detail to get right: the length. Drapery should hang approximately ½–¾" off the floor. This is what creates a clean and tailored look. This also leaves a little room for the fabric to relax/stretch over time without pooling on the floor.
It’s important to not assume the floor or ceiling is perfecting level. Floors are often slightly out of plumb, which can affect how you measure and install your treatments - exact measurements matter when you’re aiming for a custom look!
