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Balloon Shades Float Into Fashion
Use these formal window treatments to add texture and luxury to traditional rooms
Houzz Contributor. Shane Inman is president and senior principal interior designer of The Inman Company. After earning a B.A. in interior design from Michigan State University, he started his career specializing in custom kitchen and bath design. He is a certified interior designer by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), a certified kitchen designer by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and also holds the highest-ranking memberships with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
Houzz Contributor. Shane Inman is president and senior principal interior... More »
Within the family of window treatments, the balloon shade is the opulent, not- so-distant cousin of the Roman shade. Large balloonlike puffs are created by inverting pleats in the fabric and repeating them several times over the expanse of a window, allowing the material to scallop at the bottom.
The balloon shade delivers on softness and texture, but it remains more of a decorative element than a practical one, as it requires fluffing and straightening. Consider using balloon shades in rooms that are traditional in style and require little change in light to keep maintenance to a minimum.
The balloon shade delivers on softness and texture, but it remains more of a decorative element than a practical one, as it requires fluffing and straightening. Consider using balloon shades in rooms that are traditional in style and require little change in light to keep maintenance to a minimum.
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Formal Balloon Shade
Every great room deserves great window treatments. An arched window opening is the perfect setting for this very tailored balloon shade with bottom bullion fringe.
Style tip: Should you want an even more formal feel, lower your balloon shade further. The more fabric that is exposed, the more formal the window treatment appears.
Every great room deserves great window treatments. An arched window opening is the perfect setting for this very tailored balloon shade with bottom bullion fringe.
Style tip: Should you want an even more formal feel, lower your balloon shade further. The more fabric that is exposed, the more formal the window treatment appears.
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Traditional and Casual
The gathered top heading creates more of a flouncy look on this balloon shade. The imperfect scalloped bottom adds a relaxed note, while the fringe is just the right touch to complement the chandelier.
Style tip: Rather than matching the fabric of the window treatment exactly to other upholstered pieces, coordinate within the general color palette for a more casual look.
The gathered top heading creates more of a flouncy look on this balloon shade. The imperfect scalloped bottom adds a relaxed note, while the fringe is just the right touch to complement the chandelier.
Style tip: Rather than matching the fabric of the window treatment exactly to other upholstered pieces, coordinate within the general color palette for a more casual look.
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Classic Symmetry
The perfect symmetry in the reversed pleats of this balloon shade has a more streamlined and classic appearance. The top banding is an up-to-date approach that ties in the yellow of the banquette fabric.
Style tip: Apply a contrasting band in a coordinating color to incorporate your overall color story throughout the room.
The perfect symmetry in the reversed pleats of this balloon shade has a more streamlined and classic appearance. The top banding is an up-to-date approach that ties in the yellow of the banquette fabric.
Style tip: Apply a contrasting band in a coordinating color to incorporate your overall color story throughout the room.
| Eclectic Edge Even though balloon shades are very traditional in style, this pair succeeds in creating a more modern look. The geometric pattern of the fabric, along with the playful vertical ties, adds the element of whimsy that's often found in eclectic spaces. Style tip: Save money by creating your own balloon shade — vertically gather a single, ordinary curtain from top to bottom with ribbon. |
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Dazzling Duo
A window behind the bed can be awkward, but not in this bedroom. A balloon shade done in the exact same fabric as the swag over the bed is a perfect combination.
Style tip: Even though the window is arched, the balloon valance has a straight top. Consider trying multiple techniques with these shades — there's no exact formula, and what looks good may surprise you.
A window behind the bed can be awkward, but not in this bedroom. A balloon shade done in the exact same fabric as the swag over the bed is a perfect combination.
Style tip: Even though the window is arched, the balloon valance has a straight top. Consider trying multiple techniques with these shades — there's no exact formula, and what looks good may surprise you.
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Bathroom Solution
You need both light and privacy in a bathroom. In this room, a double balloon valance offers a spectacular example of two functions within one design. The back balloon shade is a sheer fabric that can offer privacy but let in light, while the forward balloon shade can block out light if needed.
Style tip: The more inverted pleats you add to your balloon shade, the fuller and more elegant it becomes.
You need both light and privacy in a bathroom. In this room, a double balloon valance offers a spectacular example of two functions within one design. The back balloon shade is a sheer fabric that can offer privacy but let in light, while the forward balloon shade can block out light if needed.
Style tip: The more inverted pleats you add to your balloon shade, the fuller and more elegant it becomes.
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| Camouflaged Treatment This elegant balloon shade, done in a sophisticated toile fabric, disappears into the matching wall covering. Repeating the pattern of the wall covering on the window treatment emphasizes the arched tub opening and adjacent cabinetry, not the shade. Style tip: This effect works just as well with solid colors. Choose a fabric in a shade similar to your paint color to emphasize other architectural elements in a room. |
by Kelly Mack Home
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Playful Style
This balloon shade is the ideal complement to this fun wallcovering. The balloon shade design has a shirred (two or more rows of gathering) top that accentuates the fabric's playfulness in the body of the window treatment.
Style tip: Considering making a matching balloon valance as a topper to a shower curtain for a coordinated look.
This balloon shade is the ideal complement to this fun wallcovering. The balloon shade design has a shirred (two or more rows of gathering) top that accentuates the fabric's playfulness in the body of the window treatment.
Style tip: Considering making a matching balloon valance as a topper to a shower curtain for a coordinated look.
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| Layered Lesson Use your balloon shade as a backdrop for additional treatments on the same window. Here we have a balloon shade flanked by a pair of drapery panels and finished off with a decorative valance — layering at its best! Style tip: For a slightly lighter appearance, try forgoing the side drapery panels and letting the balloon shade shine on its own. |
by Robin Baron
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Side by Side
Sheer balloon shades cover half of this window while filtering soft light into the space. Four symmetrical drapery panels offer additional texture and work in conjunction with the gathering of the bedskirt.
Style tip: When you add the vertical lines of drapery panels to any window treatment ensemble, ceilings will appear taller than they actually are.
Sheer balloon shades cover half of this window while filtering soft light into the space. Four symmetrical drapery panels offer additional texture and work in conjunction with the gathering of the bedskirt.
Style tip: When you add the vertical lines of drapery panels to any window treatment ensemble, ceilings will appear taller than they actually are.
Ideabook published on Sept. 3, 2012.
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@sktzcbg: I agree that this type of window covering can look outdated however like any other style, much depends on your choice of fabric.
@Others: I totally agree that they are fussy, however because they really are a window covering that cannot be 'massed produced effectively', their popularity is and most likely will remain next to none since they must be specific in design.
" their popularity is and most likely will remain next to none since they must be specific in design"
Sorry to disagree with you, maybe you mean in the States, because here in the UK they are considered to be pretty naff and only seen in very tired old country houses that need a total update.