Window Dressing Ideas

What is overlooked by most people when it comes to home decorating is the amount they can do with their windows. Window dressing is something most people undermine, and invest in other items in order to give their rooms a look right out of an interior design magazine. However, investing instead some time in finding out about and using different drapes and curtains can give your room the look you want, without having to go out of your budget to make a statement. How, you ask? Take a look at these ideas given here, and you will realize how much you can add to your windows and to your room.

Sheer Curtains
Sheer curtains are a real beauty, particularly for windows that do not let in too much light. In fact, natural light filtering through these curtains make for a gorgeous setting within which you may spend some time with yourself, or enjoy the warmth of the sun without feeling too hot. Try sheers in light, pastel tones that match the décor of your room. If you choose embroidered or lace sheers, the light will reflect through these and create a beautiful shadow and effect. This idea makes for a great contemporary window treatment. Think about it.

Drapes with Valances
If you are a person who likes her/his interiors to be royally done up, yet with a traditional touch to it, try out heavy silk drapes with valances. This looks absolutely grand. If you wish to use sheers in the bedroom, ensure that you have other opaque curtains to cover them up, because a bedroom requires privacy. If you wish to give your curtains a frill like valance, you may make them with a strip of solid fabric on the top and use another printed fabric below as the curtain. This just gives the appearance of a valance without having to add one.

Blinds (With Valances)
Window blinds have been a great choice particularly for bay windows because hanging curtains for these is a slightly difficult job. Putting up Roman blinds made of fabric, and adding valances to enhance them, is one of the many ways you can opt for a bay window treatment. These add a clear blend of modernity and tradition to your interiors and give the room a wonderful aesthetic appeal. The valances are optional but are one of the many ways you can enhance the appearance of a window. Other blinds for bay windows that you may choose from include vertical blinds, pleated blinds (great for a classic look), or roller blinds made from natural materials like bamboo, particularly for single, narrow windows as a rustic window treatment.

Blinds and Drapes
If you don't want to use just blinds for window dressing, combining them with drapes is an option you can resort to, and a beautiful one at that. Using contrasting colors, textures, or prints can help create the right amount of drama for the room you use them in, helping you to emerge with some great window treatment styles. In fact, you don't need to go all the way by investing in drapes to cover the entire window. You may use a single panel of drapes on either side of the window, and use the blinds for privacy. This also gives you a free hand in choosing the fabric of the drapes; sheers for example.

Drapes: Just for Effect
Some windows or French doors need not be covered, and in fact are there in order to allow you to enjoy a beautiful view, such as that of your pool. In such a case, you may use the aforementioned idea of single drape panels on either side of the window. You don't block out the view, yet you have a gorgeous look for the interior of the room. Consider adding a valance just to give the window a frame and define it.

Drapes from the Ceiling
This is a great idea to add to the appearance of height to a room, and treat your windows too. Instead of starting just above the window, place your curtain rods just below the ceiling. Have the curtains fall from that height to dress up your window. This is a great bedroom window treatment idea. Use vertical prints to enhance the appearance of height in the room. Such a window treatment idea usually gives the room a very grand look.

Cafe Curtains
Cafe curtains are a great choice that allow you to enjoy both privacy and natural light at the same time. While most people use cafe curtains for kitchens, you may use it along with drapes in your living room or in a study or den. Again, you may add valances to these curtains in order to make them look richer.

When it comes to interior decorating with curtains and drapes, you can go all out and implement some very creative window dressing ideas. It depends on how much you want to spend, how far you want to go, and the space you are trying to define by means of window treatment and dressing. Have a good time dressing up your windows!