Window treatments can make a major difference in the look and feel of any room. Today's window fashions come in an endless variety of innovative products to enhance and provide functional beauty to your home. From Toronto shutters and wood blinds to soft shades and woven woods, the window covering chosen can make a dramatic statement. Whether you're updating an existing home or designing a new décor, the window treatments you choose should reflect your personal style.
But with so many options, narrowing down what to choose can be tricky. Before you go shopping, consider these things:
- How much privacy and light control do I need?
- What is my budget?
- Is energy efficiency important?
- Are any of the windows hard to reach?
The amount of privacy you need is one the most important factors to consider. The type of window covering you choose will affect how safe and secure you feel. You can obtain complete privacy with closed blinds, shutters, lined woven woods, roman and roller shades, silhouettes, draperies and many other products. But what about the Toronto home with land that doesn't need privacy? You may want to consider protecting your wood floors, furniture and artwork with solar screen shades or a sheer treatment.
An uncovered window is not energy efficient: windows are holes where energy drains out of your home. But you can achieve greater energy efficiency easily with high R-value window coverings. Just remember to keep your window coverings closed when you're gone from the house-and watch your heating and air conditioning bills go down.
With today's tight real estate market, now is not the time to skimp on important design elements: the right window coverings will add great value to your home. I often tell customers that they will spend a lot time looking out their windows from inside their homes, so plan carefully! Most people keep their window coverings for an average of seven to ten years, so investing in quality products will provide years of beauty and style to admire. Prices vary from economical faux wood blinds to shutters and draperies. Remember: the gap between what you really want and what you would settle for may not be much of a price difference.
The popular, hard- to-reach windows in Toronto living and family rooms might seem a challenge, but specially designed extension poles or motorization make treatments for such windows quite convenient. Most products can be motorized for a reasonable price. And sometimes such windows only need the glare of the sun blocked, which can easily be achieved with solar screen shades; if you want more privacy, a wide range of options is available.
As a professional window treatment consultant, my job is to help you find the best window treatments to suit your needs. Perhaps you want to cover your windows cleanly and simply to enhance your view outside; or maybe you want to make a dramatic statement with valances, swags or side treatments. Sometimes I suggest doing both; beginning with simple window coverings and later adding the top treatments. By using an in-home consultant, you can take advantage of professional expertise to coordinate the myriad products available with your walls, floors, furniture, and personal style.
