Enhance Your Living Room Look With These Window Treatment Tips

Choosing a living room window treatment can be difficult. Do you go with neutral or vibrant colors? Vinyl or wood? Let in some light or no light at all? There are many styles to consider when choosing treatments: blinds, shades, curtains, drapes, shutters, solar shades, valances, and roller shades are all options falling at different price points. These days, each option is available in a wide variety of colors and textures.

Don’t let the idea of choosing window treatments discourage you from doing so. Window treatments are a great opportunity to add character and color to your living room. It’s important to take time to consider different options. Head to the store to see treatments in person or order sample swatches to help you make a decision. Read on for tips for choosing and hanging window treatments in your living room.

Practicality That Fits the Room

Choose a window treatment based on your living room’s style and colors, plus your practical needs. Practical considerations include how often you will be closing the windows and how much light you’ll want coming in. Whatever the style of your living room, make sure your window treatments add to that style not detract from it. For example, if you have a formal, dramatic living room, create a statement with dark-colored, heavy drapes. If you want a breezy, simple, soft feel to your living room, opt for light-colored sheer curtains. Want a more natural, bohemian look? Go for bamboo shades or wood blinds.

High & Wide

Curtains and drapes should be hung high to make your living room look bigger. Experts suggest mounting curtain rods 4-6 inches from the top of the window frame. A 1-inch- thick curtain rod is advisable in most situations. As far as the curtain rod’s length goes, always go with a rod wider than the window frame.

Hanging Blinds

If you’re hanging blinds, the first decision you need to make is whether you want to mount them inside or outside the window frame. Sometimes the decision is made for you if your window frames are too narrow to hold the blinds. Blinds that hang above the window frame and extend width-wise beyond the frame will make your living room windows look considerably bigger.

Consider Layering

Layering window treatments creates a unique look, adding depth to your living room. Using multiple window treatments allows for a variety of light and privacy configurations at a single window. Here are just a few types of commonly layered pairs:

• Curtains over blinds: This creates clean lines and varying light control. To achieve this look, mount blinds to the window frame and hang the curtain rod above the blinds.
• Curtains over shades: This creates a warm, cozy look with a lot of options for shade textures.
• Sheer curtains flanked by solid curtains: The only drawback to this trendy look is that you’ll never be able to close your solid curtains. There is a solution, however: doubling your curtain rods. You can either buy two separate curtain rods and mount one higher than the other, or purchase a single unit that holds two rods.
• Curtains with a valance: This pairing works best for a formal room. A nice aspect of the style is that it conceals the curtain rod.

Patterns or Not?

Real Simple magazine offers an easy rule of thumb for deciding whether to go with patterned curtains. If your room already has patterned furniture or rugs in it, opt for solid color curtains. If your room has mostly solid color furniture and rugs, try hanging patterned curtains.

Learn More About Adding a Window Treatment in Your Living Room

Whether you’re looking for elegant, sweeping drapes, bright and sunny patterned curtains, or traditional plantation shutters, do your living room a favor and dress up your windows. Adding treatments will bring warmth, personality, and function to the room.

If you’re looking to accessorize a living room or purchase living room furniture in Sarasota, look no further than Matter Brothers Furniture for competitive prices on quality furniture and rugs. Offering complimentary design services, Matter Brothers Furniture can help you find the perfect area rug or create a design for your whole living room. Contact us today to discuss your living room goals.