Which window dressing suits you best?

There are such a huge variety of window dressings out there, it can be tricky to choose which will work best for your windows. Undoubtedly within your home you will have windows of all shapes and sizes, some which get some more sunlight and some which are cooler and more draughty. You may have windows with a street view that don’t allow for much privacy and others that you are happy to open up to the world. Luckily there is a window dressing for every eventuality.

What do you REALLY want

The first question when choosing window dressings is to identify what you are really trying to achieve. Are you looking for something purely decorative, something that will allow you to control the amount of light that filters through, something which lends itself to privacy or something that will insulate your room and make it warmer and cosier?

Bedrooms

Starting at the top of the house, bedrooms will usually benefit from a layer of blackout fabric. This could be a blackout lining to your chosen curtains or a blackout roller blind behind or instead of your curtains. Although less of a problem in winter, during the summer months a blackout lining is a must have for a lie in! Blackout linings offer extra insulation too, which keeps the heat in on cold winter days.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms can be tricky because you want to ensure privacy whilst also having a window dressing that is resistant to moisture. Venetian blinds are be a good solution. They’re wipe clean and can be tilted to adjust the level of a light whilst offering a good level of privacy. Roller blinds are also a reliable and simple solution for kitchens and bathrooms as they are usually coated in a moisture protective layer.

Conservatory

Long straight Windows such as those found in conservatories are often best served by roller blinds or vertical blinds. Vertical blinds have fallen out of favour as they are a little reminiscent of an office but with modern colours and designs, can still look effective in the right place. Swedish blinds can also look stylish here but be aware that it can be difficult to re-roll them neatly if you use them on a regular basis.

The big bay

Big beautiful bay windows offer enviable amounts of natural light and great views but can be very tricky when it comes to dressing them. Shutters are gaining in popularity and add a sophisticated effect. They have a clean modern look and enable you to control the amount of light from fully open to completely blacked out. The additional benefit of shutters is that they are hypoallergenic which is a great benefit if anybody in your house suffers from a dust allergy.

Pairing curtains and blinds together can offer you a solution to more than one problem. You can control the amount of light and privacy during the day whilst pulling the curtains in the evening to make the room cosy and insulate against drafts.

If privacy is a problem in your home, perhaps you have a window facing directly onto the street, than frosted window films can be a delicate and simple solution to this. Easy to apply and requiring no maintenance they can be attached to the lower part of your window to stop people staring directly in. A sheer roller blind or curtain that allows the light to filter in whilst making it difficult to see directly into your window is another handy solution to this problem.