The journey to make a home look and feel cozy and comfortable (yet still stylish and functional) can take time. The best window treatments are not always the most obvious choices. Here at Blue Sky, we love to help homeowners avoid common window covering mistakes with the right information and tools. Whether you’re after a better night’s sleep (hello light control), energy-efficient shades (money-saver), or beautifully functional design, we want to help you achieve those goals. Our team is ready to help you make the best decision for your home.
Aesthetics vs. Function
One of the ways we love to assist homeowners in finding the right window treatment is by choosing the best style for their space. In this process, it is easy to love a certain style but not how it works for your specific windows. Inspiration is everywhere, from magazines in stores to online content that showcases a certain look for your home. Consider this window covering mistake. What is right for one home doesn’t make it work for you, and here’s why. Window coverings differ in spaces for various reasons. Professional installers will note that beautifully designed, creatively styled shades may work well for one home (or even a room) but not for another. Your windows tell a story about your home stylistically, but they also help keep out errant light, lower those energy bills, and create a privacy screen to the outside world. Taking the time to find the best window treatment is important and can take a bit of intentional work to achieve.
Fix: Room Function and Style
Once you have an idea of the direction you’re going, it’s time to look at how each room can utilize window treatments to its advantage. What’s best in one room won’t necessarily work in another, so a curated approach is generally the best. Let’s take a look at some ideas:
- Kitchens: filter light, practical
- Dining Room: reduces glare, offers privacy control, and creative design
- Bedrooms: room-darkening with blackout features, privacy control
- Bathroom: automated for easy control, high need for privacy
- Living Room: light-blocking, privacy, filters light
- Home Office: reduces glare and visibility
Measurement Mishaps
An in-home consultation is the best way to have our professionals take a look at your windows. While we love homeowners to take charge of their space, a DIY mishap with measuring happens frequently because it is challenging to get all the digits correct. Accurate dimensions help build the right product specifically for your windows. Done incorrectly, the shades may not function properly, fit right in the windows, or hang properly. Some other issues that may come up include light filtering issues due to gaps, damaged shades or hardware, or damage to the frames or products over time. The best way to get a clear, precise measurement is to focus on top, middle, and bottom, then go top to bottom, and left to right. This gives you a more accurate measurement.
Fix: Getting Precise Measurements
Taking measurements into your own hands? We are here to help you figure out how to avoid window covering mistakes. Start with a metal, not paper, tape measure for accuracy. Verify numbers by getting a few measurements. Look for any obstacles like door handles or cranks on the window. Take note of any challenges that might come up like wall space or other considerations for creating the best window measurements. The final piece is to make sure the wall material will hold what you need and is the right fit for your windows. You can get precise measurements with the right tools, some patience, and accurate data.
All About the Swatches
Color matching swatches, paint colors, all of it, in an attempt to get the best window treatments for your home. Window covering mistakes often happen because there isn’t a color swatch assessment. Bring home what you want to put in the space, whether it’s a bedroom, living room, etc, and really analyze it. Check overhead lighting against the fabric and color, put it on the window, and take photos. See how it looks with the details. Lighting and flooring really make a difference when choosing window treatment colors and styles. These can differ room to room, so make sure to go through each space to determine the best type of window covering for each area.
Fix: Color Matching
Think about the story you want each room of the home to tell. Is it cozy? Chic and modern? Rustic? Choose colors that convey this message in each space. The rooms of your home deserve the best window treatments, so get hold of those swatches and walk around. Put them on walls, floors, and against existing windows. Check for lighting and tone changes. A piece of fabric and color will look vastly different in the morning than at sundown, so be sure to try it at different times of day. See how it engages the colors and fabrics of existing decor, as well. This will help you make a great choice and avoid window covering mistakes.
Embrace New Tech
A challenge when covering windows is figuring out what new tech will work best for your specific room. Each room might need different treatment, from cordless operation in kids’ rooms to considerations for hard-to-reach spaces (motorized, anyone?) Let’s dive into some of the modern tech approaches to window treatments for some options.
Fix: Choosing High Tech Window Operation
- Motorized Wand: cordless wand, ease of operation, and functionality
- Motorized Blinds: great for privacy, work well in hard-to-reach spaces with apps for convenience
- Cordless and cord-safe: cordless, push-button, easy, and safer than corded options
The Patience Payoff
It’s super easy to jump in and just want to get window treatments up in your home. Love them in the showroom, but then you get them home and up on your windows, and now what? Time and money are important when considering window treatments, so be patient.
The Fix
Take time to look at them in the showroom, bring samples home, and see what suits your aesthetic. Consider where you spend time at home and how you want it to look with the rest of your decor. Trends come and go, but you can choose beautiful window treatments that last a while and change up the curtains, sheers, and other materials around them for a quick update. Taking the time now will help ease the pain later of changing what doesn’t work and will let you enjoy it longer in the home.
New Dawn, New Day
Ready to get started? It is easy to jump in, but we can assure you we have the best professionals on staff to help you design your space your way. DIY can work for some things, but we don’t want you to settle for less than the best. Contact us to find out more about our products, services, and to see the showroom for yourself. Together, we’ll make sure your window treatments are as beautiful, functional, and enduring as the home you love.
