The Hidden Benefits of Custom Window Treatments
A dual treatment with custom hardware can completely change the composition of a room. A substantial fabric and technical liner can even help insulate both temperature and sound.
The Secondary Benefits of Premium Window Treatments
When many of us think about window treatments, two primary things come to mind: privacy and light control. While these are often the two most important factors for people to consider when adding window treatments to a home, there are quite a few other factors to that come into play, and certain benefits hiding just beneath the surface when you start to dig into the type of treatment and materials used. These benefits can be especially important for those of us who live historical homes that may have been constructed 100 years ago or more - as we so often find in the neighborhoods we work in in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Orange County.
1. Aesthetic or Fashion. This is the same debate that designers and builders have been having since the birth of art and architecture: form vs. function. And fortunately with a good eye and an understanding of product detail, with window coverings, you can really have both. Those of us that work in the window covering business often refer to it as the “forgotten element of interior design,” but just as you hang a painting on your wall, a very intentional window covering can change the attitude of a room. Or consider the way a beautiful rug may “tie the room together.” Or perhaps the objective is to seamlessly blend a window treatment into the background without making a statement at all – this can be done, too. With an in-depth understanding of materials and technical capabilities, you really can have both form and function.
2. Insulation. This is actually a two-pronged point as certain window treatments can offer both thermal and auditory insulation. We hear this all the time from clients after an installation – The drapery on my sliding glass door really helps to keep the room warm over night; or, The blackout drapery seems to help keep some of the road noise down. Well, it only makes sense. While certain materials, especially things like solar screen on roller shades, are made almost entirely with a functional benefit like heat reduction in mind, think about the padded walls in a recording studio or even the insulation within your walls – the pure addition of high quality textile material will have an impact on a room in more ways than just looking nice.
The owner of this property reported better sleep from a darker room from the blackout lined ripple fold drapery, but also noted how much quieter the room felt after installation of the drapery.
3. Protection and preservation. The sun is our friend and gives us life, but we all know the harsh effects direct sunlight has on just about everything – from our skin and bodies to the paint on our cars to finishes in our homes like flooring and fabric on furniture. Whether you have a renovated historic craftsman you’ve painstakingly curated (and poured money into), or an “original survivor” you are trying to preserve, a good window covering that provides solar protection is an excellent way to protect and extend the life of your house’s interior for years to come – possibly saving you thousands of dollars down the road.
Think of the components of your home as an ecosystem filled with symbiotic relationships (ideally) - a high quality window covering will do things like help protect an investment in components like furniture and flooring, just like high quality paint and a sound roof will help protect the exterior of your house. Roller shades with solar screen are excellent at keeping heat out and blocking UV rays.
With anything, there are tradeoffs – what a hyper-functional window treatment may offer with certain benefits, it may lack in aesthetics. But understanding your personal needs, the limitations of your space, and taking the time to add a well-made and intentional window covering to your space will not only provide privacy and light control, but will offer a multitude of other benefits, too.