WINDOW TREATMENT SELECTION: "EASING THE PROCESS"
By Sophie Azouaou - Correspondent - © 2005 SophiSticate Interiors
Alameda Journal, Friday November 4th, 2005

Selecting the proper window treatment for your home can be complicated.
There are so many styles and brands available that it can be confusing as well. Here are some things to consider that should help ease the process:

1.The size of the window:

• The smaller the size of the window and the room, the simpler and lighter the window treatment should be.(Light weight shades or blinds)
• The bigger the size of the window and the room, the more choices.
  Big windows can take heavier, richer window treatments. (Draperies, curtains, shutters, vertical blinds to name a few).

2. The style of the room:

• Try to coordinate with the furnishings, colors and textures in the room.
• For a room with a modern look ( an office, a den), there are several choices:
  • Vertical fabric or vinyl blinds
  • Cellular linen or woven fabric shades
  • Wood blinds or shutters
• For a room with a casual look, a kitchen, bathroom or family room:
  • Wood blinds
  • Bamboo or grass weave roller shades
  • Cellular woven fabric shades
  • Shutters or roman shades
• For a room that is more traditional like a living room or dining room:
  • Vienna sheer horizontal or vertical flatter and enhance the room.
  • Vertical sheer blinds emulate the flow of drapes and are elegant.
  • Draperies, curtains with valences add richness and formality.
  • Shutters give a crisp, clean look

3. The control options and child safety:
Controlling and operating the window treatment vary from one product to the other.

• Most common window treatments have cords, chains or wands hanging.
• Some window treatments come cordless or with a short " auto wand" for child safety. Pull up or down window treatment or rotate the wand manually.
• Many brands now offer programmable remote controls and system timers.
• They use batteries and operate as much as 50 feet away.
  Be aware that it is possible for children and pets to become entangled in cords.
• Here are some safe choices:
  • Cord tensioning:
    Some window treatments offer cord/chain combination that uses a cord "tensioning" device.
    The cord is attached to the wall and does not hang.(Easy to operate: manually pull up or down the cord.)
  • Cordless:
    Some window coverings have no cords. Option for most shades. It creates a neat appearance with the elimination of external lift cords. (Easy to operate: pull up or down shade by hand).
    Auto wand:
    It is a single wand that offers one control. Most vertical blinds have this option. Twist or rotate the louvers. The system eliminates dangling.
  • Motorization:
    It includes remote controls, wall switches and system timers.
    These are options in most Vienna window sheers, roller shades, cellular shades and wood blinds.
    o Remote control and wall switch can be programmed to operate different groups of shades.
    o Wall switch is easy to install and does not require wiring.
    o System timer allows you to set specific times for shades to be raised or lowered.(Ideal for child safety and home security .When on vacation your shades will go up and down automatically at programmed times.
    All these options will prevent children and pets from entangling and injury.

4. The insulation:
Window treatments can provide insulation to keep a room cool in the summer and warm during the winter. Proper selection of energy efficient window treatments will reduce heating and air conditioning costs.
Some popular choices to choose from are:

• Cellular shades: their construction increases insulation and reduces the effect of ultra violet rays. Also minimizes fading.
• Vertical blinds: most of them have a fabric insert in the "groovers" which increases energy efficiency.
• All traditional lined drapes have good insulation against heat and cold.
• Shutters: have a great insulating value not only against heat and cold but noise as well.

5. The privacy:
Most shades, blinds, shutters or draperies offer total privacy when closed.

• Full privacy:
  Shades, horizontal sheers are completely lowered and the interlocking vanes for the vertical blinds are closed. Shutters, draperies and curtains are closed.
• View through and semi privacy :
  • Louvers in the wood blinds or shutters and vanes in horizontal and vertical sheers are open. You can enjoy the view and still have some privacy.
• Open and no privacy:
  • Shades or horizontal sheer are fully raised.
  • Vertical blinds, shutter panels and drapes are completely drawn

6. The light control:

• Black out: provides optimum light control by blocking light
  from outside. Best for bedrooms and media rooms.
  Most shades offer room darkening option.
  Some good choices are:
  • cellular shades with blackout, "no-lite, routeless"
  • wood blinds ((have no holes),
  • vinyl vertical blinds,
  • roller shades with shade liners and all lined drapes.
• Light filtering: light filters trough without damaging furniture or accessories. These window treatments are best for kitchen, bathroom, living room or dining room. You can find the light filtering effect in lightweight drapes, all sheers window treatments, light shades (without room darkening).

7. The measuring Instructions:
Vary with each window covering. It is hard to explain all different ways of measuring windows. Width and height are critical. Fabric cannot be altered after the shading is fabricated. I recommend you ask the store or decorator you order from to measure for you. Most stores do it for a small fee.

Finally, consider your budget. The more options you have, the finer the material, the more costly. Remember: select what is right for you, not what the trend is this year. My rule is: your house should be a reflection of you and who you are. Happy Decorating!

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