Use our window treatment ideas to help you define yours

Everyone has windows, but not everyone has their window treatment ideas planned out.

Goals ? Well, quite often the goal is just to end up with a beautiful window; but did you know you can end up with a beautiful window using curtains and drapes and different valance styles that can also insulate, lend privacy, accentuate your home’s architecture , diffuse light, highlight a window with a fantastic view or hide a less than attractive view?

Read through some of these pages and you can come up with a window treatment idea that combines some or all of these elements.

It doesn’t have to be defined too narrowly. It could be defined as formal or casual, contemporary or traditional. Your style, or the way you have so far furnished and decorated your home may vary from room to room.

Your dining room or living room is typically going to be more formal than other rooms in your home.
You can put up a very classic damask swag here with or without puddled draperies underneath. As luxurious as draperies puddling on a floor look, they are not for everyone. If you have small kids this probably means you.

You might want a drapery panel to cover a window. One with a stiff pleated header creates more formality than a slouch top drapery.

Choosing a fabric with a slight sheen also helps create a formal treatment.

Informal window treatment ideas should consider fabric choice as well.
Plaids and textured fabrics are always a comfortable choice. Cozy up a plaid, interlined drapery panel and you have just warmed up your window in both look and feel .
Interlined draperies can raise the R-value or insulation value of your windows at a fraction of the cost of replacement windows. You can be more specific with style choice than just formal or casual. Maybe you are looking for country window treatments or cottage window treatments.
This style might include a small floral fabric choice, Jacobean fabrics, gingham or simple linen.
Look for a soft style that may combine more than one layer. A Magnolia valance with panels underneath perhaps.

Lodge curtains typically have animal designs in earthy colors or plaid fabrics.

Victorian window treatments tend to be a bit more dramatic. They often include heavy drapery fabrics or silks made into panels that puddle luxuriously on the floor.
Bullion fringes often embellish the bottoms of valances and leading edges of drapery panels.

French country curtains are another subtle but elegant style.
Fabrics in florals, toiles and whimsical prints are often found in the French country category.
Treatment styles are similar to the country look but with a little more flair.
Elegant simplicity.

Urban or contemporary curtains have strong geometrical elements whether in style, fabric choice or both.
Flat valances, simple cornice boards and sliding fabric panels are included in this category.
Flow-y panels and pleated valances are not usually considered as contemporary.
Look for fabrics with not more than two colors in it, and a bold pattern or just a solid color.

Consider mounting the treatment on the inside of the frame if you have beautiful woodwork you want to show off.
Being PRECISE in your measurements are key for any inside mounted treatment.

Bay window curtains or other design for bay windows can be challenging.
The bay window is typically a focal point of the room and you want your choice of window covering to help achieve that.
The drapery hardware you choose, sometimes referred to as jewelry for your draperies, can set off a beautiful panel set or valance style.
Bay window hardware is not always easy to locate either.

• Fabric Window Shades
• Valance Styles
• Drapery Ideas

If you’d like to make your own drapery panels, take a look at How To Make Curtains.

Take a look below at some window treatment ideas and follow them to their own specific page on our site.

	Formal valances have classic styles and fabrics. This Kingston swag is interlined silk which creates the soft folds.
	This Country window treatment is defined by its large gingham print and full pleat but would look great in a floral print as well. It looks perfect over a kitchen window.
	This lodge curtain has a rustic feel with a focus on the animal print. These can set off a home office as much as a mountain hideaway.
	The cheery floral print and soft lines define this as Cottage curtains but is also has the country look. Fabrics with light colors help achieve a light and airy look even when layered.
	This Arched window treatment made in Kim C's workroom highlights rather than hides the architectural style of the window. It is hung from medallions mounted over the window.
	These Contemporary curtains or valance is defined by simple lines and rather flat shape. Stick with geometrical styles.
	French country curtains have a more sophisticated design than a typical country curtain. Again, smaller floral prints are often used.
	Victorian window treatments have a classical, flowing type of look. This valance would look perfect over some puddling panels.
	Bay window curtains accentuate the architecture of the window. Repetition of the design is key. Roman shades are often used as well.