Sunday 15 January 2012

Fabric Window Coverings

Before the advent of mass-produced mini-blinds, the available options in window treatments were limited. Most people wanting to cover their windows used simple pinch-pleated draperies made from heavy fabrics in more formal spaces, and lightweight, fabric curtains with vinyl roller shades in kitchens, bathrooms, or bedrooms.
Traditionally, windows were decorated with layered treatments. For example, even in the 1700's, blinds were used. Venetian blinds (the forerunner to today's vinyl mini-blinds) were actually brought to Venice from Persia. Plantation-style shutters were also used in this era. When used as under-layers, these offered privacy, and were then enhanced by the addition of draperies to complement the décor of a room. Look at a Victorian period home, and you will find detailed and luxurious draperies made of velvet or rich brocade fabrics covered in exquisite lace. Valances were also popular, whether basic and straight, or elaborate swags with beautiful detailing.







Window Coverings For Arched Windows

Arched windows have always been the attention grabbers amongst all the shapes of windows that we see so they need to have their own special arch window treatments. They seem to have a special place in everyone's heart and give a complete fairytale look to the house, both from the inside as well as outside. If you are planning dress these unique windows, you must not treat them as you would regular conventional rectangular windows.
As compared to the standard or traditional rectangular windows, the number of options in arch window treatments are quite limited. Nevertheless, there are various ways in which you can give your arched windows a fabulous look.
You can select the materials for the arch window treatments according to your preference. If you want to install blinds, then you can select from wood, faux wood, metals like aluminum, PVC and certain strong and reinforced fabrics. There are numerous designs and colors in the PVC, metal and fabric blinds. The wooden blinds come in different types of wood which define the finish, shade and pattern of the wooden blinds. These are available in both horizontal and vertical blind styles.




Top Window Treatments

Do your windows look so dull? That is really a problem. Our home shall be as soothing as we want it to be. Therefore, everything on it shall exude tranquility so that we will have a more relaxing environment and a more efficient place to work at. I know that is it somewhat difficult for you to achieve such home environment especially if you do not have the skills on how to have one. The interior of the home shall have light coloured furnishings and paint. The choice of colour for the furnishings and the paint of the ceiling and wall shall complement with the home furnishings and the lighting. As part of the interior, the windows shall also be given treatments and the same extra care you give for your furnishings and interior paint. This article will provide you the top window treatments that ensure to give you and your home a more soothing atmosphere. Take time reading between the lines and see the difference.





Lace Window Treatments

The original "window treatments" were purely functional. They acted as a barrier to the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer. The functionality of window treatments has diminished some what as homes have improved but they still remain popular as a decorative enhancement. Window treatments bring together the thematic elements of colors and designs in a living space.
Croscill Bedding was the first company to offer decorative window treatments that matched their bedding sets. The first matching patterns that Croscill offered were known as "Arsenic and Old lace", coined from a popular Cary Grant movie. Historically these first breakthrough ideas from Croscill have made them one of the most popular names in bedroom themes. Today you can get and entire decorative motif from Croscill that spans from bedroom to bathroom. Croscill is also known for bringing decorating to the household, allowing the average person to elegantly decorate their living area without laying out huge expenditures on a professional decorator. Other companies soon followed suit, and today you can find window treatments for every room and any style imaginable. Many companies now offer patterns in similar color schemes which can be mixed and matched to suit a variety of tastes.





Blinds Window Coverings

When you are planning on purchasing blinds window coverings and treatments, the best way to this is by going online. Shopping online for coverings, shades, treatments and shutters online is the way to go these days. It will save you time and money as you do not need to drive to your department store or your home accessories stores or even your blinds store. But there are those who would rather go personally to their favorite blinds store.
There is always a massive selection of custom window blinds, window shades, plantation shutters, curtains and drapes from almost every manufacturer. This can give you a lot of choices for the best deal and the best designed and styled window treatments and coverings for your house enhancement. Some of these online sites that offer these products even offer free samples so you can really choose the best for your room or house window treatments.
There are many uses of these blinds window coverings. You can use for your protection from the glare of the sunlight that pierce through your room windows and doors or you can use for privacy. But besides protection form sunlight and for privacy, the one thing that really stands when you plan to purchase is how it can enhance your room or your house as a whole. It is undeniably the foremost thing in every shoppers mind, how it will fit in your house décor and style.





Plaid Window Treatments

When decorating one's home, the easiest way to bring out a desired mood or theme for a room is by using window dressings. Depending on the feeling one wishes to bring to the room, there is a fabric available to help bring that mood alive. With the abundance of curtain fabric available, one usually has no difficulty in finding the perfect treatment.
Depending how it is going to be used on one's windows, some fabric works better than others depending on different situations. For instance, sheer curtain material is lightweight, allowing outside light to enter the room, while allowing for a bit of privacy. This type of material can be used in many different ways. Sometimes it is used with other full-length curtain panels, allowing the light in during the day, but also allowing for privacy by closing the drapes when necessary. Textiles like velvet work well with sheer draperies. Lace works well with an antique type decor, while sheer cotton can be used for many different styles.





Window Fashions

The blinds you add to your windows will add to the overall look and feel of a room. Choosing the right window fashions is important because you would imagine they will be in place for some time, given that you choose ones that will last. There are many different kinds of blinds available and all with their strong points. One of the most popular and classic blind is the wooden venetian blind, and for good reason. If you would like a little more information on these fantastic blinds, continue reading. This way you will be sure you are making the right choice.
More than meets the eye
Timber blinds are beautiful; there is no doubt about it. They add a sense of style and charm to a room, giving warmth and the feeling of being cozy. Wood blinds are durable and versatile and make a very wise choice to use. Because the look of a wood blind is more natural they don't shadow the other elements in the room such as fine furniture or artwork, they simply add to it. But there is more to the wooden venetian blind than just looking good. Wood is a natural insulator making them great for either hot or cold weather and also fantastic for sound reduction. This means any excess noise coming from outside will be reduced so you can enjoy a more quiet and peaceful day inside.



 

Window Treatments Online

Like almost anything you might want to buy these days, there are lots of websites offering discount window treatments at prices quite a bit lower than you would find in your local window covering store. You can save quite a bit by buying online, but there are several things that you need to keep in mind if you choose to do so.
The first thing is that you won't be able to touch & feel the window treatments in person. You'll usually find lots of great pictures on the website, but sometimes there's no replacement for actually seeing them in person. One way around this is to shop locally and find what you want, then search for the best price online.
Another problem with buying on the internet is that you won't have the same level of service and support after you buy. If you're handy and are comfortable installing the window treatments yourself, this may not be an issue. But if you're not comfortable doing the work yourself, you may need to hire someone locally to do the work for you, which could wind up costing more than dealing with a full-service dealer in the first place.





Curtains And Window Coverings

First, let's clear up the nomenclature. Curtains are known by many names, some are actually a distinction and some refer to the same thing. These names include: curtains, drapes, drapery, draperies, drapery panels and curtain panels. I think there's even some confusion amongst the so-called experts and if you asked the average person what the difference is between curtains and drapes, I bet you they wouldn't know. Aren't they all the same? Apparently not.
Curtains and curtain panels are the same thing. According to Better Homes and Gardens, "curtains are generally lightweight, unlined and suspended from a rod by simple tabs, rings or rod-pocket casing." A rod-pocket casing is simply a sewn flap at the top of the curtain where you push the rod through to hang. Curtains are decorative and casual and easy to make yourself, if you were so inclined. Imagine, a country home with sheer curtains pulled back, a typical way to utilize them. They don't do much for light control but add warmth and color to a room. Lastly, curtains panels can be floor-length or just long enough to cover the window casing. If you add a lining to curtain panels, you start approaching the look of drapery panels.




Black Window Treatments

there is one important question to remember when choosing window treatments that can narrow your search down immensely: how much light do I want to come in or stay out? In this article, we'll explore how that single question can narrow your window treatment search, a quick overview of the different kinds of window treatments, and what's new today in window treatment style. First, let's go over the different types we have to work with.
Window treatments are categorized into "hard" and "soft". Hard ones are things like blinds, and soft treatments are things like curtains, for example. The truth is you can match hard and soft treatments together for your own personal and unique looks. You've got blinds, shades, cellular shades, and roller shades, which are ideal for rooms where privacy and light control are the main concerns. Roman shades, made of fabric, are ideal for energy efficiency and complete-room darkening. Sheer window shadings which are ideal for privacy control, as well as light control (whether you want more or less). There are swags, Curtains, and Draperies, which are ideal when you want to soften the look of a window. Also, they can let light in while maintaining privacy. There are also shutters, which are ideal for maximum privacy and people who enjoy architectural beauty. Cornices and Valances are ideal for hiding hardware, and if expertly placed, to make the ceiling look taller. But, to choose which type of window treatment you want, you must first answer the most important question.







French Window Treatments

No matter what window treatment you decide on for your French doors, always bear in mind the need to allow for easy access through the doorway. There are a number of window treatments that work well with French doors, and this article discusses some of these.
One solution to prevent obstructing the doorway is to place the curtains well above the frame and to have the curtain rod clear of the frame on each side so that the curtains won't get caught in the door. Alternatively you could have curtains or blinds installed on the actual door, so there's no concern about fabric being caught in between the doors.
If you going to use curtains, you'll want them to be floor length, or you could have them a little longer and have them puddle at the base. You could have them hanging down loosely or have them with tie-backs to each side. The curtains could be finished off with a valance; either scalloped across the top of the curtains or sitting straight a few inches down the curtain for a more formal look.





Sheer Window Coverings

A sheer can be a good alternative for window treatment since it can add a decorative element to your window. Sheer is commonly made of fabric. It will be the right window treatment option for those who need more light in the room. Yet, it does not fit for those who need absolute privacy. Wanting to make sheer window treatment, you can simply use sheer fabric and simple curtain rod.
Firstly, you have to measure the width and the length of the window to determine the size of fabric you will need. For the draping, you can add the measurement for width and length and then multiply it three times. Sheer window draping needs more fabric than conservative panels. It needs a curtain rod. If you don't have any, you have to buy one for it. The rod should be able to complement the design and look of your home. If you have already had window treatment, you can drape the fabric at the end of the existing rod. Instead, you can purchase new rod for the draping.





Office Window Treatments

Lighting for home offices is something that most people don't spend much time contemplating. Just think back to the old movies where you would see a guy at a typewriter, his desk covered in scattered papers, a coat rack in the corner with a hat perched neatly at the top, and a single bare light bulb hanging from the centre of the ceiling. Times have certainly changed.
How to approach the lighting concept for your home office will depend on a few things. The first, and most important, is to determine where light is needed, and how much light is required.
In general, there are three types of lighting: general, task, and ambient/decorative. Ceiling-mount fixtures should be able to provide general light. If you don't have an overhead fixture, and don't intend to rewire for one, you'll have to opt for a combination of floor lamps, table lamps, and possibly wall-mount fixtures (commonly referred to as sconces). Recessed "pot" lights should not be relied upon for the only light in a home office -- instead, use them to accent specific items by angling them, if they are adjustable, much the same as you would in any other room.







Beautiful Window Treatments

Windows can be beautiful features of just about any room, allowing natural light to enter and offering vistas of the surrounding landscape. But without the right window coverings, windows can appear stark and unattractive, not to mention let in too much sunlight on glaring days. Window draperies are a great choice for dressing up the naked windows in your home or office. Generally falling into one of two categories, drapery window treatments tend to be decorative or practical.





Saturday 14 January 2012

Unique Window Coverings

As part of your latest home repair project you have decided to replace your window coverings, but how do you begin to make a choice between all the different varieties, styles and materials available today? The following tips may offer you some guidance in making that very important choice.
Firstly, using color in your window dressing design can really add movement and vibrancy to the overall look. Experiment with drapes of complementary or contrasting colors depending whether you want to create a subtle or dramatic effect.
Mixing materials and textures can make an interesting window display and can bring out the texture of other soft furnishings in your room. Possibilities to try would be a satin material over a linen base, or luxurious velvet over voile, however, experimenting yourself will be a great way to inject your own personality into your decorations and to produce a truly unique look.





Thermal Window Coverings

With the rising cost of energy, now would be a great time to invest in some thermal window treatments. Thermal window treatments help to prevent cold air from getting inside your home in the winter and help keep the sun out of your home during the summer months. This will help cut energy cost year round. It is important to know the makeup of these treatments before you make a purchase. We will discuss a few important factors that should help you make your decision.
Thermal drapes, sometimes called insulated curtains, stand out considerably from a regular panel. While thermal panels can be made of any fabric, one of the main differences is the heavier weight of the thermal panel. Thermals should be lined with a thick rubbery lining. This lining should be waterproof which will protect the panels from the condensation that will occur from the cold air on the windows. It will also prevent the sun from coming through in the summer months. It should also have a thick "bump" interlining in between the lining and the fabric. The results will be thick weather repellent draperies.