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Find Your Window Treatment Style
Whether your look is traditional, contemporary or somewhere in between, make your window treatments match your design personality
I started JASON BALL interiors out of a passion for the design and building process. For me, it's all about learning about my clients and creating a personalized space that fits the way they live.
I started JASON BALL interiors out of a passion for the design and building... More »
There isn't a secret kept by interior designers or other design professionals on how to best dress your windows. But I can't tell you the number of times I go into someone's home and one of their biggest complaints/issues is which window treatments would be best given their personal aesthetic.
Key considerations
1. Color, pattern and texture. Getting these three elements in the right proportion for your particular style is what will make the window treatment fit perfectly in your space.
2. How the fabric is manipulated. This includes your hanging method (tab-top, grommets, rings, hooks), decorative elements (ruffles, banding, tassels, swags), pleating (pinch, reverse pinch, box, pencil, butterfly) and type (drapery, curtain, shade, valance, cornice).
Each of these elements has a place and time, depending on the particular style you're aiming for. Let's look at three main styles — traditional, contemporary and transitional — and the elements that best represent each look.
Key considerations
1. Color, pattern and texture. Getting these three elements in the right proportion for your particular style is what will make the window treatment fit perfectly in your space.
2. How the fabric is manipulated. This includes your hanging method (tab-top, grommets, rings, hooks), decorative elements (ruffles, banding, tassels, swags), pleating (pinch, reverse pinch, box, pencil, butterfly) and type (drapery, curtain, shade, valance, cornice).
Each of these elements has a place and time, depending on the particular style you're aiming for. Let's look at three main styles — traditional, contemporary and transitional — and the elements that best represent each look.
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| Traditional. Window treatments in this style are most commonly defined by all the details. Here, a swag is used as a valance to hide all the hanging hardware. Historically, the amount of fabric used in drapery was indicative of wealth. In today's world, traditional treatments become a major design element in a room. In this room, the shape of the swag reflects the scrolling design of the mirror. Consider how your window treatment fits into the overall design scheme — make sure it doesn't feel like an afterthought. So Your Style Is: Traditional |
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by Sara Hopkins
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| The treatments used in this family room play multiple roles. The drapery used on the far wall controls light while on the large window the drapery is more decorative (you can tell this by how much fabric is in the "stack"). The valance across the top of the long window matches the design of far wall drapery, keeping it all consistent. Notice how patterned the fabric is — a key element of traditional window treatments. |
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| Traditional doesn't always mean incredibly decorative. In this vintage-style farmhouse kitchen, simple roman shades fit the bill perfectly. An elegant patterned fabric creates a soft roman shade for a more casual, yet traditional window treatment, adding to the country formality of the space. |
by RLH Studio
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Here is another traditional look (albeit an updated version) elegant in its simplicity. Box pleats with a button detail and a slight puddling on the floor show that traditional doesn't have to be fussy.
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| Contemporary. Structured shape combined with a structured fabric give these drapery panels a clearly defined role in this living room. For me, contemporary window treatments focus either on the simplicity of the structure or the pattern of the fabric used, but rarely both in the same treatment. While pattern and texture play a role, the architectural nature of the vertical lines of the drapery enhances the contemporary living space, drawing your eye up and highlighting the height of the room. |
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| Turning the idea of window treatments on its head, these walls of sheers seem to hang directly from the ceiling. In a contemporary space, minimizing the complexity of hanging systems and focusing primarily on the structure of the treatments cleans up the lines. Pure vertical movement and softness create a cocoon-like environment. |
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by Sylvia Martin
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| For a more industrial feel, using a stainless steel rod and industrial-sized grommets contrasts against the white sheers. During sunny days, the shades filter the light and act as a wall of light. Notice the play off the translucency of the chairs. |
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With a strong focus on the pattern, these soft-fold roman shades in a Moroccan-inspired fabric bring in a nice pattern to coordinate with the striped area rug and simple, clean lines of the furniture. By using roman shades, the strong architectural shapes of the windows are given importance.
So Your Style Is: Contemporary
So Your Style Is: Contemporary
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| Transitional. Somewhere between the simplicity of contemporary treatments and the details in traditional window coverings lies transitional. These treatments are perfect examples of how to dress your windows in a transitional setting. The drapery has little detail (maybe a simple pinch pleat at the top), while incorporating more color and pattern than in a contemporary setting. |
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| The structured shape of the drapery panels combined with a geometric fabric give these drapery panels a clearly defined role in this living room. While pattern and texture play a role, the architectural nature of the vertical lines of these drapery enhance the transitional living space. |
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Traditional European-inspired chairs and table are combined with a contemporary light fixture and modern art in this transitional space. The simple panels in this space are paired with shades, acting solely as decorative elements, softening the strong architectural lines of the windows.
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Both the drapery and roman shade exhibit beautiful transitional styling. The mix of window treatment styles is most appropriate when using the same fabric on different types of openings. For example, you will want to use drapery around French doors because of their functionality, while a roman shade will provide light filtering/blocking for a higher window.
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| In transitional design, play with the scale of the pattern for a huge impact. In this room, a geometric design on the area rug is paired with an over-scale floral fabric used for the drapery. While this room feels borderline traditional, the fabric pattern and shape of the occasional chair keep it from being too serious. More: How to Get Your Window Treatment Right Get Gorgeous Drapes with Classic Pinch Pleats Pretty (and Money-saving) Window Treatments Your Windows: Dress in Layers |
Comments
Spacify Inc, very stylish
15 months ago · Like
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Lisa Mende Great post! Love the kitchen by Katie Emmons!
15 months ago · Like
AFP Interiors LLC Thanks for including my bold floral drapes in this idea book. I love that fabric!
15 months ago · Like
patscats2 I love long flowing drapes but with cats and dogs trying to keep them clean is a nightmare.
15 months ago · Like
Tammy@InStitches Love this topic ! Panels are so versatile, you can make them as casual or as formal as you want by the fabric and hardware used.
15 months ago · Like
kimbreunig Where can I buy the Moroccan inspired fabric roman shades?
15 months ago · Like
renamae422 i love the bed room
15 months ago · Like
Jason Ball Interiors, LLC @kimbreunig - try contacting the designer of that room for that information.
15 months ago · Like
Tileshop Very beautiful and inspiring ideas!
15 months ago · Like
kimbreunig Thank you, Jason Ball Interiors.
15 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Feb. 9, 2012.
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