16
This post is sponsored by Bali Blinds. All opinions are my own.
As promised, today I have pictures of our living room updates...with the gallery wall and window treatments DONE! I'm sooo happy with how they both turned out, but especially the new drapes layered over our Roman shades. They're beauuuutiful, if I do say so myself. Window treatments can be tricky to figure out. Similar to paint, you can fall in love with a color on a swatch, but it can feel totally different when you see it on a large scale. And custom window treatments are a big purchase, so it can be scary to feel confident with your decision. Which is why I wanted to share some of my tips for choosing window treatments for your home, in partnership with Bali Blinds. They've been our go-to source for several years now, and I would recommend them without reservation--their quality and service are amazing!
1. Find inspiration photos to narrow down your style. First, spend some time on Pinterest (or your favorite place for interior design inspiration) and find photos of window treatments that you love. Note what they have in common. Do wood blinds catch your eye? Are you drawn to natural, woven shades? Do you love billowy linen drapes? Or maybe your favorite rooms have a combination of these? Pay attention to the details like hardware, trim, and mounting style as well. I noticed that the rooms I was pinning tended to have long, white drapes hung very close to the ceiling, combined with neutral Roman shades that were mounted inside the window with no valance. I also noted that the curtain rods I liked were simple and basic, often in black. So that's what I chose for our living room! I absolutely love the results, so all that time spent gathering inspiration was totally worth it.
2. Consider the room it will be in. The type of window treatment you choose will likely vary based on the room it's meant for and the size of the windows themselves. We love the drapes in our living room, but we wouldn't choose them for the kitchen since those windows are smaller and have cabinets underneath (plus I'd be worried about drapes in the kitchen getting splashed with food!). Likewise, I love the look of Roman shades, but we wouldn't use them in every space. We have two narrow windows on either side of our front door, and something more low-profile would work better there. There's also function to consider. If you're designing a nursery, you might opt for blackout shades to make daytime naps easier...or if you're working on bathroom windows, maybe privacy is a top priority. Lastly, you should also consider the window treatments in the connecting rooms so there is a good flow throughout the house. You don't need to use the same window treatments in every room (in fact you shouldn't!), but you do want to make sure they mesh together, especially in connecting rooms.
3. Measure your windows, then measure again. Custom window treatments are usually non-returnable, since they're made to your specifications. So be very careful with your measurements, and make sure to double (& triple) check them! Don't assume two side-by-side windows are the exact same measurements--in our living room, the middle window is wider, which I didn't realize until I measured. Also, windows are often not perfectly even. Measure the width of your window in multiple places--at the top, the middle, and the bottom, just in case. Bali Blinds has some handy measuring guides that walk you through the process, so you can feel confident that you're getting it right.
4. Get swatches! I can't emphasize this point enough. It's SO important to get physical swatches of the fabrics you're considering before placing your order. There were a number of fabrics I liked based on the thumbnail photos on the Bali Blinds website...but once I was able to see and feel them in person, I immediately ruled them out. They were stiffer than I imagined, more sheer than I wanted, or the weave was tighter than I expected. These type of things are hard to tell from an online photo. Getting a swatch will also allow you to see how the color blends with the other elements in your room (furniture, art, rugs, etc.) and you can hold it up to your window to see what it will look like with sunlight coming through. If you're considering a pattern, it's so important to see the scale of the pattern. And if you're planning to layer window treatments, you can make sure the fabrics you pick out will work well together. Plus, Bali Blinds offers free swatches so there's no reason not to! Comparing swatches made it easy for me to pick the fabrics for our drapes (Dover Snowfall, a beautiful ivory linen) and Roman shades (Fenton Glow, a soft grey with a subtle slubby texture). I love them both!
5. When in doubt, stay neutral. If you LOVE a vibrant color or a bold pattern, by all means--go for it. But if you can't decide what to choose, neutrals like white, ivory, grey, and natural wood are a good bet. You're less likely to get sick of them, they'll stand the test of time, and they'll appeal to more people when it's time to sell the house. I've learned over the years that I prefer neutrals and solid colors when it comes to big things like furniture, drapes, and wall color, and I can still add lots of color with art, pillows, and decorative objects that aren't as big of an investment.
Hope this is helpful! I know choosing window treatments can be intimidating, but if you get it right it can really make a huge difference in the room. I feel like our living room looks so much more finished, homey, and elegant now. And another plus--the fabric helps soften noise. With our vaulted ceilings, we noticed sound bouncing around when we first moved in. But installing the drapes totally took care of that issue (yay)!
Our window treatments: Back Tab Custom Drapery in Dover Snowfall / Classic Roman Shades in Fenton Glow / Black Ceramic Ball Rod Set
Related Posts:
Would you mind sharing where your sofa is from? I love it! The whole room looks great. :)
Hi Chelsea! It's the PB Comfort sofa from Pottery Barn. We've had it for seven years and it's still in great shape and very comfy!
My wife and I are remodeling our living room at the moment, so thanks for the tips on choosing window treatments. I like your point about getting swatches to compare different elements of the room. We'll be sure to do this so we can see what fabrics look best with the new paint.