Bedroom Window Covering Ideas
Curtain Treatments to Block the Sunlight and Get Some Sleep
Find window treatment options for your bedroom that keep the room dark but still are attractive to look at.
Bedroom curtains should be both functional and good-looking. Specially sized or placed windows will probably require custom-fit curtains and maybe the guidance of an interior decorator to get the right look. But for most people even their regular rectangular windows present a designing challenge. Here are some basic curtains types with positive and negative attributes. Maybe you can find the style that best suits your needs.
Wood Blinds
- Positives: Wood blinds give you tight control over how much light gets in the room. You can put the blinds all the way down and rotate them closed, or you can rotate them open to different degrees. Or put the blinds all the way up to let in the sun. They have a clean and masculine look.
- Negatives: Wood blinds are cold looking and may need to be given a softer look with the addition of a valance at the top. Wood blinds are not easy to clean, with each slat requiring dusting. They can also be heavy and expensive to buy.
Wood Shutters (Plantation Shutters)
- Positives: They look beautiful and give a romantic, feminine feeling yet still incorporate wood, typically a masculine element. You can control the light by raising or lowering the slat and can swing the shutters aside to let all the light in.
- Negatives: You need a wall on each side of the window with enough blank space to allow the shutters to swing open, or they will project into the room. You can't add a valance to the top or it will get hit or caught as you swing open the shutter. They can be expensive.
Room Darkening Blinds
- Positives: These blinds can make the room dark in the middle of the day, which is great for shift workers or children who nap in the middle of the day. Also good for children who go to bed before the sun sets or want to get up as soon as it gets light out. They can be made without the cords that can be a strangulation hazard for children. Can be custom-made to fit any width window.
- Negatives: Room darkening blinds have no in between. There are no slats to allow some sun to peek through. They are monochromatic, so to add pattern and interest you would need to put a valance on the top portion of the window. They are more expensive than regular blinds.
Roman Shades
- Positives: Roman shades have a soft and romantic look. Instead of hanging straight down, they droop down in folds. They can come in a variety of fabrics to match any decor.
- Negatives: Because of their droopiness, they can hang open on the sides and let sunlight in, causing your bedroom to be brighter than you may wish in the mornings.
Traditional Curtains
- Positives: Traditional curtains can be found at any window covering store. They mount easily onto a curtain rod, which adds an additional decorative element to your room. They come in endless fabric choices. They can be swept closed or pulled open easily. Use a tie-back for a romantic or feminine touch.
- Negatives: They may need to be custom ordered to get the right length for your window. (Try raising the curtain rod above the window if you need more height.) When not done right, they can look dated.
There are other window covering choices out there; the best way to familiarize yourself with all of them is to page through a catalog such as Smith+Noble or visit a store that carries a huge selection of window coverings, such as JC Penney.
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