Window Treatment Ideas & How-Tos

A remote control is sitting on a couch next to a window.

Looking to upgrade your home?

Your window treatments can dramatically affect the look and feel of your living spaces. And if you have massive picture windows, like so many hilltop houses, you may also have a massive problem.

A living room with plants and a vintage drape in the background.
One of the easiest and best ways to commingle the old and new is to incorporate vintage curtains into modern home decor. Lace curtains paired with geometric-patterned furniture can create an elegant fusion of the past and present. Florals can add a splash of color and soften the stark lines...
A bathroom with white shutters and gold fixtures.
No one disputes the natural beauty of natural wood, but composite shutters come close in the aesthetics department. In certain situations, they may be a better choice. Here, we’ll dig into the pros and cons of wood and composite shutters to help you make the right decision for your home...
Pinch pleat curtains
In your luxurious hilltop home commanding a view of the valley, your windows are statement pieces. So are their curtains, which sweep dramatically toward the gleaming hardwood floor. Or at least that’s how you envision things as you daydream in your San Fernando Valley abode with a conspicuous view of...
3d rendering of a living room with a large window.
Large windows, however glorious, can pose a problem for curtains. The sheer size of the window makes it hard to find ready-made curtains. Curtains for large windows tend to be heavier, necessitating sturdier curtain rods and hardware. Large windows admit more natural light, making it more difficult to find suitable...
A restaurant with green awnings and tables outside.
Old photos reveal a very different America. Men wore dapper hats, women dressed to the nines, and every town had a quaint small business area, made all the more charming by the colorful awnings that marked every shop. Awnings did more than attract customers from down the street; in the...
A thief opens a door with a crowbar.
Burglars stake out the ripest targets, sometimes with small, almost undetectable electronic devices. The most common break-ins are between 10 am and 3 pm when the bad guys know you’re at work or running errands. What’s a homeowner to do? One of the best tactics is to make your home...
A dollhouse with a kitchen, living room, and bedrooms.
Small rooms often feel cramped and dark. The right window treatments can transform them into cozy, bright, inviting havens. Window coverings aren’t just about aesthetics — they significantly impact a room’s atmosphere. The wrong window treatments can make a small room seem even smaller, while the right choices will open...
A living room with stairs and a couch.

An often overlooked aspect of DIY interior design is coordinating window treatments with decor.

Whether it’s the charming appeal of curtains or the sleekness of shades, window coverings can elevate a room’s aesthetics — or wreck them if chosen carelessly.

But how do you achieve that flawless design symbiosis?

A woman standing in front of a window.

Curtains or shades?

It’s more than an aesthetic choice — each window treatment has pros and cons, including light control, noise insulation, ease of cleaning, and longevity.

In this blog, we’ll cover their respective strengths and weaknesses to help you make the best decision for your home.

A deck with a picnic table and a shaded area.
Picture this: a scorching summer afternoon, the sun beating down on your patio pavement. Radiated heat blasts through your patio doors, making your home feel like a set from Lawrence of Arabia. In sun-soaked Los Angeles, sidewalk temperatures can reach well above 170 degrees F, almost hot enough to cook...
An ornate bedroom with ornate furniture.
Window covers have always been a thing. At least, it may seem that way to anyone born in the last century. But the earliest humans found caves for shelter and protection; caves aren’t well-suited for vertical blinds. So, where did the idea of window treatments come from? Who came up...