Window Treatments in Our Home

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Window treatments are one way you can create a custom look that is unique to your home. There are many options on the market, from different product styles to different patterns and textures. While most window coverings are used for function, they can really pack a punch in the style category as well! Window coverings can have a big visual impact on a space. Did you know that most new construction builds don’t include window coverings? This was one of the first things we needed to tackle in our new home! But I didn’t want to run to Home Depot and hang the first vinyl blinds we could get our hands on. I wanted to create a custom look for each room that still felt cohesive throughout our home. Each room needed something different! After introducing each type of shade, I’ll get into what we selected for each space and why.

Types of Window Treatments

In our consideration process, we concluded that there were 4 main categories of window coverings that could be used in our home.

1. Curtains. Curtains, sometimes referred to as drapes or drapery due to their hanging nature, are a common household decor choice. Most people will include curtains to “soften” the look of the room. There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to curtains!
   • Style: Will you use solid color or pattern?
   • Material: Will you use a lightweight linen, or something more structured, like velvet? Perhaps a sheer?
   • Weight: Do you want light filtering curtains or blackout lining? Here it’s important to consider the purpose of the curtain!
   • Header Style: Will you purchase rod pocket that slide directly onto the curtain rod, grommet that glide through holes onto the rod, or use drapery rings that attach the curtain to the rod?
   • Length and Width: Will you hang the curtains “high and wide” as advised by most designers? Will you hop on the returning trend of cafe curtains that cover only the bottom half of the window? (Note: I love cafe curtains! More on that later!)
2. Shades. Shades are a good option if privacy is the goal. You can fully cover the window by rolling it down, yet still let some light in by choosing to roll it up. One thing to remember is that shades do exactly what their name implies–provide shade/darkness to a room by blocking out the sun! This may be great for a bedroom but might make rooms a little too dark at certain times of day. Here are my key takeaways with shades:
   • Style: Will you use a woven textured shade? If so, will you add edge binding or keep them natural? Perhaps you’d rather a fabric Roman shade? If doing a Roman shade, will you use a solid color or pattern? Will you add a tape trim? Another option out there is a roller shade. We didn’t look into these at all, as I personally feel they fit best in a modern home.
   • Inside or Outside Mount: Will you have the shade made to fit inside the actual window casing (inside mount), or atop the whole window frame (outside mount)? Note: I chose inside mount! More on that later)
   • Corded vs. Cordless: For safety reasons, I chose cordless. I highly advise doing research on the standard within your own state.
   • Lining: Just as with curtains, you can choose to add liners to the back of your shades. If you’re looking for a natural, airy look, then a woven shade with no liner is best. If you’re looking for shades in a bedroom, adding a blackout liner might be your best bet–but remember, this may change the look of the shade as it then filters less light. It’s important to note that you should also consider the exterior view of your window coverings. For example, if you can see two bedrooms and a bathroom from the street view of your home, you may want to add blackout liner to all three of them, even if you don’t really need a blackout liner in the bathroom, so everything things cohesive from the exterior.
3. Blinds
   • Material: The main consideration for blinds will be material. Will you choose wooden blinds or vinyl? There will likely be a big cost difference between different materials.
   • Color: Will you choose white blinds? Blinds with a wood tone? Perhaps a dark color?
4. Shutters: Shutters are the option I am least familiar with, as I instantly ruled them out due to hearsay of lack of light. However, on the flip side, I’d say that translates to lots of privacy! I do love the charm of shutters, but I prefer light pouring in during the daytime. It seems that the biggest consideration (and cost difference) will be material used to create the shutters.

Window Treatments We Chose

In our home, we decided to include a variety of types of window treatments. After all, each room in our home is used in a different way and therefore has different priorities.

1. Curtains

For our primary bedroom, we chose these gorgeous pinch pleat linen drapes in a soft light blue color. I chose just curtains for our bedroom because I don’t want to obstruct the view out of our large picture windows and we don’t need too much privacy since it’s in the back of the house with no close neighbors. We hung the drapes high and wide. The ceilings in here are 10ft, so I opted for the 102″ length, as the 108″ would have been cutting it too close with the slope of our ceiling. I wound up using 3 panels on each side, for a total of 6 panels, because our windows run essentially the whole length of the wall. I love that I was able to find an option that wasn’t super expensive, as not many people will see them since they’re in our bedroom. I also found the BEST product for making curtains glide easily!

I also opted for curtains in my daughter’s bedroom. I fell in love with the pattern on these block print curtains as soon as I saw them! They look custom and expensive, but they’re from Amazon! My girl loves pink, so I plan to carry that throughout her room, but the white ground on these helps break that up a bit. They are not blackout, but they offer decent light blockage. These French return curtain rods also help block out light, since they wrap around the sides, preventing light from seeping in. I do plan to add textured woven shades in here as well. I love the layered look! I will use the same woven shades that I used in my older daughter’s room and my primary bathroom.

While I haven’t ordered them yet, I’m going to add my favorite linen drapes from Two Pages in our living room. I used them in our previous home’s dining room and they made such a statement. You can use code MOLLYGIL at checkout to save 15% on your order (paid link). I’m also on the hunt for the perfect patterned drapes for our dining room!

2. Cafe Curtains

Oh my word, am I happy that cafe curtains have made a comeback! I just adore their romantic, timeless feel. Not to mention, they’re truly the most functional. I love the amount of light that still pours in! Let’s face it: We need to cover the lower half of the window for privacy, not the top. As soon as I saw the window over our freestanding tub in our primary bathroom, I knew I wanted cafe curtains there. And I knew exactly which ones! I was lucky enough to partner with one of my favorite brands, Pepper Home, to get the pinch pleat, patterned cafe curtains of my dreams. I used this rod from Rejuvenation in the lacquered brass colorway and these rings. It was important to have rings no larger than 1″ for the cafe rod. You can shop them all here.

3. Woven Shades

I chose to use woven shades in two rooms in our home so far. I prioritized ordering for the rooms that needed privacy because I wanted to make sure I was measuring correctly before spending a lot of money on custom (aka can’t be returned) shades for every room! Now that we have them installed in my daughter’s bedroom and our primary bathroom, I’m ready to order more because I just LOVE them! These shades are custom from Two Pages. I was very comfortable and confident ordering from this company because they have sample kits that you can order before making the big purchase. I also did this for the Roman shades! I was able to choose the texture and color combination that I liked, input my measurements and selections online, and they were delivered to my doorstep in just over a week’s time. It’s important to note that these are self-install but truly SO easy. In fact, if you’re not comfortable drilling into your window casing, you can choose to use their no-drill, pressure mount system that is mailed with your shades. I’ve listed out all the details for my exact shades below. You can also find them linked here! I did a partnership with Two Pages in my previous home, so I do have a discount code for you. You can use the code MOLLYGIL at checkout to save 15% on your total purchase! (Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link. I may earn money from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.)

• Style: Natural Paper Bamboo Woven Shade – Marble White
• Color: Marble White
• Installation Method: Inside Mount
• Lift Type: Cordless
• Width: For inside mount, I measured across from inside window frame to inside window frame. Definitely pay attention to Two Page’s note to deduct 3/8 inch when inputting your data (INSIDE MOUNT ONLY)! For example, my daughter’s window was 32 and 1/2″ wide so I input 32 and 1/8″ for my order. The first time I almost made the mathematical error of subtracting/counting back QUARTERS, so double check that you’re subtracting EIGHTHS.
• Height: I measured from the top inside of my window casing to the bottom inside of the window casing. I input the exact measurement.
• Lining Type: Blackout
• Edge Binding: No edge binding

4. Roman Shades

I added Roman shades to our powder bathroom and my daughter’s bathroom, both of which are made of a soft but structured linen fabric. I love the relaxed, comfortable feel of a Roman shade. They give me that quintessential New England vibe that I’m always seeking to incorporate in my home. I plan to add wallpaper in our powder room so I didn’t want to choose a textured window covering that might wind up competing with the wallpaper. I chose to use this lovely white linen shade for that reason–it will go with just about any wallpaper that I choose! For my daughter’s bathroom, I chose this sweet light pink linen shade. It’s a nice, dusty pink as opposed to a bubblegum pink, so I think it will age well with her. I wanted to add color since her walls are painted white for now. I’ve included exact details on my orders below, or you can click here to see all sources. I did a partnership with Two Pages in my previous home, so I do have a discount code for you. You can use the code MOLLYGIL at checkout to save 15% on your total purchase! (Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link. I may earn money from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.)

• Style: Liz Linen Roman Shade Cordless
• Color: Pink Lemonade
• Mount Type: Inside Mount
• Lift Type: Cordless
• Width: For inside mount, I measured across from inside window frame to inside window frame. Definitely pay attention to Two Page’s note to deduct 3/8 inch when inputting your data (INSIDE MOUNT ONLY)! For example, my daughter’s window was 32 and 1/2″ wide so I input 32 and 1/8″ for my order. The first time I almost made the mathematical error of subtracting/counting back QUARTERS, so double check that you’re subtracting EIGHTHS.
• Length: I measured from the top inside of my window casing to the bottom inside of the window casing. I input the exact measurement.
• Lining Type: Room Darkening (Note: Even though this is a for a bathroom, I chose the highest level of lining so it would look cohesive with the bedrooms across the front of my home)

• Style: Isabella Roman Shade Cordless Lift
• Color: Beige White
• Mount Type: Inside Mount
• Lift Type: Cordless
• Width: For inside mount, I measured across from inside window frame to inside window frame. PLEASE pay attention to Two Page’s note to deduct 3/8 inch when inputting your data (INSIDE MOUNT ONLY)! For example, my daughter’s window was 32 and 1/2″ wide so I input 32 and 1/8″ for my order. The first time I almost made the mathematical error of subtracting/counting back QUARTERS, so double check that you’re subtracting EIGHTHS.
• Length: I measured from the top inside of my window casing to the bottom inside of the window casing. I input the exact measurement.
• Lining Type: Privacy

Conclusion

There are many different types of window coverings you can choose to dress your home. You can choose all of one type or create a cohesive mix like I did. At the end of the day, you need to prioritize function for your home! Hopefully this has inspired you to take the plunge into the custom route if it’s been on your mind.