When to Layer Your Window Coverings
The first question I ask when meeting with a client to discuss their window treatment needs is “what problem are you solving with these window treatments?” Is it sun control on a south or west facing window, privacy from a nosy neighbor, or just a finishing touch to a beautiful design. There are often two problems to solve requiring two window treatments on the window.
Sun equals furniture and flooring damage over time – and it doesn’t take long to see what the sun can do to ruin your furnishings. This is where layering gets practical but can also be beautiful, functional and even playful.
What if you have a south-facing family room? You are going to get sun most of the day and therefor want to have protection such as Solar Shades as your first layer of window coverings. These versatile roller shades come in degrees of protection, 1% openness being the most protective up to 10% which is almost no damage protection but gives you great view-through to the outside. Depending on the type of window, we can usually mount these simple roller shades inside the window frame, but you should consider the operation of the window and access to the screens with this decision.
When sun isn’t the main consideration, but a combination of privacy and blackout is needed, a roller shade combined with fabric draperies or roman shades with blackout lining is needed. Here is a bedroom with solar shades inside mounted under draperies with blackout lining. The solar shades provide daytime sun control and privacy, and the drapes darken the room at night.
If drapes are not your style, pair the solar shade with classic fabric roman shades. The roman shades soften the treatment in this traditional home and provide privacy at night while the solar shades perform the necessary sun control in the daytime.
I always encourage people to go a bit past their “comfort zone” when decorating the powder room. It is the one room in your home where your guests are all alone and will study every detail, so make it interesting! For a bit of fun and to add texture, use a light filtering shade such as a beautiful grass roman shade under a playful and interesting fabric roman shade. This tiny powder room is color drenched in purple with added interest from the textures of the natural grass shade, interesting artwork, and purple grass wallpaper.
One last consideration with any window treatment is the operation. Motorization has come a long way in the 20+ years I’ve been in the window covering business. Today’s motors are less expensive, don’t require hard-wiring as they have internal lithium-ion battery motors, and can be incorporated into whole-home automation systems.
Call Pat Benson for a free one-hour in-home consultation where we will discuss your needs, show you all your options for both types of coverings and fabrics, and provide a cost estimate. Mention this add for a special discount on February orders.
