Window Treatments: 3 Problems, 3 Solutions
by Wendy Croixwendy.croix@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Interior Design School Review Columnist
Windows are the most memorable architectural feature in many rooms. So, windows and the decorating treatments that frame them can determine whether a room feels inviting or unappealing, private or open. Because window treatments offer so much home decorating power, they can actually solve interior decorating problems, like these.
Decorating Problem #1: Selling My Home
Home decorating creates an emotional response in prospective buyers. That's why sellers need to make sure that their houses are all that they can be when they put them on the market.Robert Mitchell, a sales agent for Seville Homes Inc., tells the Detroit Free Press that interior decorating has made a "huge impact" on home sales because the buyer's first impression pays back the cost. Adding fashionable--not trendy--window treatments can up your home's "wow" factor. Don't be afraid of color.
Decorating Problem #2: Small Windows Make My Home Interior Seem Dated
Unless they're in a classic home, small windows seem particularly old fashioned. That's why remodels so frequently enlarge the windows to make a home more open and less guarded.The light, as well as the relationship between inside and outside, are enhanced by larger windows, so when renovation isn't an option, these same qualities need to be created by clever interior decorating. Window treatments using light, bright fabrics seem to expand the window's space, while adding a window sill actually reflects more light into the room.
Decorating Problem #3: I Can't See My TV!
Whether the client has a full-fledged media room or just a plasma television, the reflection of window light on the screen is enough to blot out the picture. While that may seem a small problem in March, by July they'll be squinting at prime time programs.The home decorating solution? Window treatments that reduce glare. Designer Robert Soldo recommends solar shades, which give interior light control and come in a variety of shadecloth options. Solar shades like ThermoVeil have a contemporary look that's plasma TV compatible.
Sources:
"Designers rate: window treatments." Contract 47.8 (Aug 2005).
"Making empty houses look irresistible," by Suzette Hackney. Detroit Free Press (MI) (Jun 10, 2005).
"More than window dressing," by Christian Toto. The Washington Times (DC) (Jul 21, 2004).
"Product Showcase Window Treatments." Interior Design 76.3 (Mar 2005).
About the Author
Wendy Croix, Ph.D. is a freelance writer, cultural critic, and university professor who has guided hundreds of students toward the careers of their dreams.
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