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This post is written in partnership with Bali Blinds. All opinions and text are my own.
Do you have "sidelight" windows in your entryway? You know, those tall, skinny windows on either side of the front door? I love how much light they let in, but I hated how exposed they made me feel in my own house. The UPS guy, neighborhood kids raising money for their football team, door to door salesmen, and anyone else that came to our front door could easily look into our house and see if we were home. It make me feel like I had to answer the door if someone knocked, plus I felt awkward walking around the house in my underwear. And more than that, it seemed a little unsafe to leave our entryway so exposed, like burglars might be peeping in and scoping out what to take. So we finally decided to do something.
I looked up ideas for adding privacy to sidelight windows, and I saw some inexpensive DIY ideas like window film, adhesive vinyl, frosted glass spray, and even plain old contact paper. However, I still wanted the flexibility of having the windows be clear sometimes. Ian loves looking through them (they're just the right height for him), and there are times when I'm not as concerned about privacy and would rather be able to see out. However, most window treatments that I saw looked weird for such tiny windows. Drapes or Roman shades (my usual go-tos) seemed bulky and silly. So we decided to try something new!
We chose Bali cellular shades for our sidelight windows, and I think it was 100% the right decision. They have a simple, clean, modern look that works well for smaller windows (in fact, they're so low-profile that I barely notice the shades when they're all the way up, like the photo below). They also come in a huge variety of colors to match any decor. We decided on a basic white fabric that blends in with our walls (Cosmopolitan White Lace). I love that these still let in lots of light, while giving us plenty of privacy. Best of both worlds!
Another awesome thing about cellular shades? They're super energy efficient, thanks to the honeycomb cells that trap air and reduce heat loss. I'm talking more about energy efficiency on Bali Blinds today, so head over there for some tips that will help you save (potentially quite a lot) on your utility bills!
Cellular shades are a really affordable choice for window treatments, so I'll definitely be considering them for more windows in our house! I'm thinking maybe the bathrooms, where we also have fairly small windows that would look best with something streamlined and simple.
Do you have sidelight windows? What have you done with them? Left them clear, installed window treatments, or did you come up with a more creative solution? I'd love to know!
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Oooh! We don't have any sidelight windows in the front of the house, but we have a powder bathroom on the first floor that has a window and I've been wondering what the best window treatment would be. Definitely going to check out cellular shades for that window!
Those shades look super great on your sidelight windows - super inconspicuous yet practical and energy saving. :) it'll be super cute for Ian and his little brother to look out. Hope you guys get to meet the little guy soon!
They'd be great for any small window where you don't want something bulky! I'm thinking about cellular shades for our bathrooms too. And thanks!!! I have a c-section scheduled for Monday now, so either way it's almost time to meet him. :)