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Window Treatment Ideas and Valance Styles

• There are many different types of window treatments on the market and cover all of the possibilities from casual, cottage, to traditional decoration styles.  Even if you don’t have a large living area, you can easily create the illusion of more space by using windows (the light) and window treatments.

• Materials for window treatments can be fabric, natural material (wood, reeds, bamboo), aluminum, manmade (PVC, faux wood, vinyl).  Many independent designers have their own line of beautiful, quality textiles previously sold to manufacture only are now available directly to customers.  And different window treatments such as blinds, shutters, shades, drapery, and curtains make it possible for you to choose window treatments that complement the style of your home; simply buy what you like and what looks good.

• The roller shades are functional inexpensive mainstay of window treatments.  They can keep the sunlight out in varying degrees; you get to choose from little coverage to total blackout.  They become invisible when retracted.  Aside from being good old standby white plastic shades, they are easy to customize to match your room decoration.  The roller shades also come in solid and printed decorative fabric shades in hundreds of patterns and designs.  These shades are easy to hang and most can be dry cleaned.

• For absolute glamour and elegant window coverings, nothing beats the classic style of swags and jabots.  Ideal for many formal settings such as American Heritage style, Traditional style, and English Country style, the swags and jabots can make these settings look stunning.  Swags (the top horizontal part of the window treatment) can be flat and smooth or full and pleated; jabots (the vertically hanging part of the treatment) can stretch to mid window or stop a quarter of the way down.

• Valance, a drapery treatment made of fabric used as a heading over a window, can be used alone or with curtains or to accent shades or blinds.  Valances are popular because they offers versatile looks for the whole house and because they are less expensive than curtains.  This means it is easy enough for you to replace valances whenever the mood strikes you.  Valances rarely measure more than a foot in depth which can make choosing patterns a challenge.  Look for prints with a small enough pattern repeat so you can see the pattern, but not so small that the pattern disappears at a short distance.

• Lambrequin is a short decorative shaped cornice (a simple window topper), often with extended sides.  The detailed cornices are traced or drawn onto plywood and then cut with a jigsaw.  Lambrequin can be used in an eclectic or cottage style décor.

• Roman shades, with their cascading folds, easy to use mechanism and simple style, can be both elegant and highly functional.  They are perfect for bedrooms and other spaces that call for maximum light control and privacy.  Roman shades are very popular ahead of all other shades in terms of practicality.  They also look clean and modern and make small rooms feel larger.

• A room will feel larger and more open if the room can be seen into and through.  For a quick yet airy window treatment, install an inexpensive roll-up matchstick blinds; it provides privacy without obscuring daylight.

• Avoid using nice fabric curtains or shades in the bathroom.  They are likely to stay damp and grow mildew.  Install plastic mini-blinds or shades; they are easy to keep clean and are more durable.  Select the kind that has the most thorough visual barrier possible.