How to Use Modern Window Dressing in your Interiors

Although when it comes to interior designs windows do not tend to get as much attention as say, a different coat of paint or some new furniture, there are actually a wide variety of modern and stylish window treatments that don’t cost a lot of money to buy and only takes a little bit of time to install.

Luxurious curtains for your interiors

When it comes to the more traditional kind of window treatments, probably the first kind that come to mind are drapes or curtains. However, what provides a bit of a trendy twist is by selecting ones that are made with by luxurious fabrics such as silks, suede or velvet. If you do decide to go this route, you’re going to be paying a bit more money for the yards of fabric, but if you can sew a hem, it can still be a pretty affordable investment.

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Roman shades add a touch of modern design

If you don’t want to use curtains or blinds, Roman shades are an ideal compromise. Whether you want a casual, classic or formal look, one great thing about this particular option is that there are plenty of websites that can walk you through how to make them by hand.  Just make sure to put “how to make Roman shades” in the search field to locate the instructions.

Consider sheer window dressings

Do you love having the sun wake you up in the morning? If so, another option to consider is going with some sheer fabric to add a bit of warmth to a room without compromising the natural light that comes through the windows. Sheer window dressing come in all kinds of colors and patterns. Another nice fabric alternative to them (especially if you are eco-friendly) is organic linen.

Blinds are a good window treatment option

Whether you purchase blinds that you can maneuver by hand, the great thing about this option is that they come in a variety of materials (such as wood or plastic) and colors. This helps to either give a room a really casual or a more formal appearance. A particular kind of blinds that are currently all the rage are honeycomb blinds. That’s because they’re not only stylish and affordable, but they are eco-friendly too. Speaking of eco-friendly, two other great materials for blinds are sheer linen panels and bamboo blinds.

Choose curtain rods that add beauty to your window dressing

If you do decide to go with curtains, you need some curtain rods to hang them from, right? A current style that is a timeless fashion statement is rods that are made out of stainless steel. They’re sturdy, they’re attractive, they’re appropriate for any room of the house (whether it’s a formal dining room or a laidback bonus room) and they will last for a lifetime. Definitely a look worth eying.

For more window dressing ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Spring Home: Window Treatments For Spring

Image Via: Katie Emmons Designs

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Floral Fabrics

Spring ushers in a whole new variety of flowers and plants. Also it brings along beautiful, cheery colors that were missing in the winters. That is a reason good enough to incorporate floral patterns in your spring home and let the light sift in through brightly colored flowers. You can use floral patterns in regular curtains or fabric blinds. Both will look gorgeous.

Image Via: Lauren Hufnagi

Cut-Out Curtains

Winters saw us using dark heavy fabrics that covered each and every inch of the window. Now that it is spring, we want to welcome the first rays of warm sun in our spring home. Curtains in the form of cut-out patterns serve the purpose excellently and elegantly. You can go in for spring flavoured cut-outs like flowers or birds, or follow geometric patterns like circles or ovals. Organic cut-out patterns are likely to look better than straight geometric ones .

Image Via: Cogan + Crawford Architecture + Design

Transparent Bamboo Blinds

Wooden bamboo blinds represent a certain fresh and light feeling, quite resonant with the season of spring. These blinds will give your windows a good covering and also by the way let you peek into your spring garden unnoticed. Bamboo blinds also add a casual rustic charm to your spring home decor.

Image Via: Rethink Design Studio

Pastel Covers

Window treatments vary from season to season. So like winters saw you use heavy and dark fabric, spring urges you to go in for pastels, self prints and lighter fabrics. Let the spring sunshine spread to every nook and corner of your home.

Image Via: Eric Roseff Designs

Plants By The Window

Spring as everyone knows speaks a lot about flowers, plants and new flora. Window treatments most certainly express it like any other part of decor in your house. The simplest window treatment in my opinion is placing fresh flower pots or fresh green planter pots on the window cill and bask in the spring glory.

Image Via: Hilda Grahnat

Window treatments vary season to season, in terms of patterns, colors and motifs. Spring calls in for pastels, nature inspired patterns and lighter transparent fabrics. Hence, going with the call of the season will bring forth a quality of harmony with nature in your spring home. Do share with us what you feel about spring window treatments and what practices you follow at home.

Click here for more Spring Home Ideas on Stagetecture!

]]> https://stagetecture.com/spring-home-window-treatments-spring/feed/ 0 75525 https://stagetecture.com/creative-ideas-window-shades/ https://stagetecture.com/creative-ideas-window-shades/#respond Wed, 30 Apr 2014 21:24:49 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=64480 With the sun shining more and more each day, it’s about time to look at your window shades again. Changing them is a great way to improve any room’s appeal and to give your home an easy make over. However, choosing the best window shades can be a real challenge because of the vast variety available in the market. Here are some clever DIY ideas on how to choose the right window shades for any room.

Creative Ideas for Window Shades

Image via: Pinterest

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Color Match Window Shades

Each room can have a certain character, defined by the color of the furniture, wall paintings or linens. Try to match the colors or compliment the room’s décor with the window shades, to give the room an unbeatable look.

Image via: Homebunch

Choose Window Shades that Pop Out

If you have a room that is otherwise poor in color, why not choose a vibrant color or a design that will pop out and cheer up the whole room? Make the window treatments the center focal point of the room to add character and appeal to an otherwise boring room in no time.

Image via: BHG

Use Unexpected Materials

The good thing about window treatments is that you can use almost anything you can think of to provide you with the character and look you are aiming for. They are also inexpensive, since you can up-cycle old items. Consider using roll-up maps for your home office or the kid’ s room, burlap for an earthy living room or even left-over wallpaper attached to a plain roller shade.

Image via: Pinterest

Try any of the above décor ideas to make your home and any room stand out with window shades. Changing the window treatments is an easy and inexpensive way to make a quick home make-over, now that spring is here and calling for a change of our mood, after a long and dark winter.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

With curtains, your interior theme will be emphasized. This is very important especially if you want to do a quick makeover of your home interior. But it’s not only the curtain textile can make a difference. You can do something about the curtain rod too. For instance, using tree branches as your curtain rods will definitely command attention.

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Here’s how to create curtain rods from tree branches:

Materials Needed

• Fairly straight tree branches
• Garden cutting tools (like gardening lopers, pruning scissors)
• Sandpaper
• Handsaw
• Screwdriver
• Screws

Procedure

1. Prepare all the materials needed. Make sure that you have the right tools for safety and accuracy.
2. Carefully select the branches you gathered. Trim them so that tiny twigs will be removed. These tiny twigs may cause damage to your curtains if not cut.
3. After the trimming, use the sandpaper to smoothen the surface of your tree branches. Do the sanding lightly so that the natural looks of the branches will remain.
4. Cut 2 small pieces of the branch that you’re not using. Screw these pieces of branches into the wall as mounting mechanism.
5. Loop your desired curtain in the branch before hanging.

You don’t have to paint the branches as it will look great as it is.  Your home interior will never feel closer to nature with these curtain rods. It’s so amazing to look at these curtain rods and you’ll surely impress your guests with how these curtain rods display its natural beauty. This is an amazing project that you should try!

 For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

When renovating your home and trying to add some glamour and beauty, windows are often one of the most important areas to start with. Installing windows with different styles or colors can do wonders for your home, and provide a fresh new look. When deciding the type of window treatments for your home, you need to look at different designs to determine which one will decorate your home best and blend with the rest of the house.

Window dressings require a lot of maintenance and cleaning to keep them looking good. Window treatment cleaning is a very simple house hold task that can be done using a brush or a hand vacuum cleaner. Treatment and cleaning your dressings allows the curtains to last longer and look more appealing, eliminating the need for frequent replacement. Maintaining window dressings is easy and cheap, if you know the right process for your home’s treatments.

Image via: Panageries

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There are several options for cleaning your window treatments, depending on which type you use. Blinds, shades, curtain panels and drapery need to be dusted and cleaned on a regular basis to continue to hold the color and pattern of your dressings.

Machine Washing

Machine washing is especially useful for curtains made of soft fabric. Be careful not to use detergents that are too strong because they may damage the fabric and ruin your curtains or remove color from the fabric. Machine washing is very effective in removing stubborn stains, and it makes washing easier. Dry cleaning blinds and drapes also offers a quick solution to window treatment, and it can be easily done at home. This method of cleaning window dressings is very helpful when you have a lot of dressings to wash, which would be difficult to do by hand. However, for fiber glass and some special types of blinds that require delicate treatment, cleaning with a brush or a soft cloth and cleaning supplies is far more effective.

 Image via: Six Walls Interior Design

Dry Cleaning

Another option for your window treatments is dry cleaning. If your curtains or draperies are dry clean only then be sure to never wash. If you do wash the dry clean only items, you can be subject to shrinkage or color loss with your items. Always have your dressings dry cleaned if the care label says so.

Dusting

Dust and debris always builds up on your window dressings, and regular and thorough dusting is important to avoid staining and to protect your family from allergies and pollutants. The best tool for dusting is a hand vacuum cleaner, which can be moved up and down along the curtains or drapes gently for clean and more appealing windows.

Image via: Mariko Reed

Shades and Blinds

With shades and blinds, you can simple dip them in a bath to clean the items of dust and dirt. A white vinegar bath can help remove the dust from the blinds and have them looking brand new. To avoid purchasing new blinds or shades, take a few hours and clean the items in warm water with vinegar to remove the dirt and grime.

Erika is an avid home decorator who enjoys maintaining the style of her home. To find more home decorating options visit Blindsgalore, a specializer of honeycomb shades and other window dressing options.

For more home cleaning tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Not all of us are crafty homemakers, filling our houses with seasonal décor that we’ve fabricated with our own two hands. We all have interior spaces that start out pretty sterile until we throw in some furniture and accessories. But while you know you need items like a couch and coffee table, a dining room set, and plenty of lamps, you might be a little sketchy on how to decorate when it comes to your walls. Some people shell out major money for artwork that speaks to them while others frame cheapo posters. But how can you tell if these vertical adornments go with your furniture, your home, or your overall style? You might as well just leave the walls blank! Okay, settle down. There are myriad ways to decorate your walls, and not all of them require you to be an expert on art and interior decorating. Here are just a few ways to spice up your space that don’t call for a curator.

Image via: Vanguard Studio Inc.

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Stencils and decals.

If you love the look of patterned wallpaper but you’re not too keen to get busy with the adhesive, you can recreate the look you crave and add some visual interest to your walls by purchasing stencils, paint, and a sponge. Or if you’d like something a little more organic, try a website like whatisblik.com that offers a wide variety of easy-to-apply (and remove) decals, some of which are works of art in themselves.

Color blocking.

One of the latest trends in fashion and décor is color blocking, and you, too, can incorporate it into your space by blocking out sections of the wall with painter’s tape and applying different colors of paint to each portion. You could go all Piet Mondrian with primary colors, or go for something a little more subdued and organic a la Mark Rothko, but modern trends also allow for variations on the theme, such as color blocks that overlap and the use of diagonal lines instead of traditional rectangles.

Image via: SVOYA studio

Water wall.

If painting isn’t your thing or you’re looking for something a bit off the beaten path, you might consider adding an element that not only dazzles the eyes, but also the ears. There are all kinds of water features that you might choose to occupy a wall in your home, from those that hang to floor-based models. And you can opt for a sluice-style that runs over rough rock or a metal plate, a drip system of some sort, or even a more conventional and 3-dimensional installation where one bowl drains into another, fountain-style. It just depends on your preference and available space.

Drapery.

A lot of work can go into decorating a large, empty wall space. But if you’d rather avoid the whole process and simply hide the wall, consider adding a drape that covers it from floor to ceiling. This can create a lush and textured look in any room while saving you the time and trouble of planning a complete art installation.

Photo spread.

Although a lot of work can go into laying out a photo wall, there are ways to make it easy on yourself. Start by selecting a variety of photos (some staged, some candid) and print them out in black and white. Then choose frames that are similar, or simply spray paint them to match one another if you like to pick up yard-sale finds.

Image via: Imagine Living

From there you can purchase templates to pin to the wall (look online or in craft stores) that will act as a guide to hang photos in a variety of patterns. It might not be quite as professional as a spread for a site like HomeQ, but it will definitely become the focal point of the room it is featured in.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Curtains and window treatments add a beautiful dynamic to your interiors. With the right curtains, you can attain your desired aesthetic at any area at home. Window curtains can provide a quick and obvious style update in your interior. This is very helpful especially if you only have limited time to enhance the looks of your home.

Window curtains are not just for beautification but also for privacy, comfort and lighting control. It’s a functional accessory that comes in handy and easy to install. You just have to know how to find the perfect curtains for your design style.

Image via: Jamie Padgett

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Check out these ideas in choosing the perfect curtains:

Know the right type of fabric

Fabric is an essential part in selecting the perfect curtain. This will act as to how you want the curtain to function. For instance, if the window is highly exposed to sunlight, a thick fabric should be considered. There are also light fabric curtains for those who want it fluffy and soft. A combination of different fabrics can also be a nice option.

Measure the length and lining

Proper length and lining is very important in the whole package. It will definitely look awkward if your curtains don’t have the right measurement. If your hanging panels are higher than your window, it will give height in your room. Modern curtains typically go down to the floor to have an elegant look at the interior.

Image via: Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs

Pick the right color and style

The color and style of your curtains will help highlight your theme. This will enhance the appearance of your interior. This will also help neutralize the overall setting of your interior. For instance, if your wall color is too bold or intense, you can tone it down with curtain colors such as brown, beige, yellow and other light colors.

You can customize the size, style and design of your curtains if you want it to fit exactly to your window. Enjoy your quest of having perfect curtains.

For more curtain ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Some people are worried that they’ll lose their current theme or design if they switch over to energy efficiency, but that’s not true anymore with all of the new energy efficient items on the market.  There are quite a few great designs to be had in home décor without sacrificing energy efficiency.

Image via: Lane Design Studio llc

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Families living in the Texas area can visit http://www.shopelectricityratestexas.com/ to shop for electricity providers to see who would be cheapest and who is the most energy efficient company.  They also have a great resource center for residents to learn about conserving energy efficiently and easily incorporating these changes into a family’s everyday life without too much effort.  Reading through this list is definitely a good start when it comes to making your home energy efficient.

Try decorative window treatments to keep out the heat/cold:

Now that it’s getting warmer out, it’s time for those living in areas like Florida or Arizona to start thinking about their air conditioning needs.  It’s not always feasible to simply turn your air conditioner off, so instead, invest in some heavy blackout curtains to help block out the warmth from the sun and help keep the cold air inside.  Blackout curtains are extremely popular these days and they’re available in various colors, styles, and lengths to fit into everyone’s décor.

Energy efficient light bulbs used to be available in just one style and color but in the recent years, they’ve expanded this quite a bit.  Whether you’re trying to have your home feel a bit warmer or perhaps you’d rather it have a daylight feel to it, you’ll be able to find bulbs to fit your style.

If you’re someone who lives on the east coast and loves to open the curtains on a nice spring day to see the view of the ocean but doesn’t like the unnecessary heat or sun exposure, there’s a solution for you.  If you’re willing to replace the windows in your house, you’ll be able to find quite a few various energy efficient window styles out there these days.  There are even sprays that can be used over existing windows that will help cut through the UV rays coming in while leaving a layer of insulation on the windows to help keep the heat out.  The best part about this is that regardless if you’d like to keep the windows or get new ones, you’ll be able to get them customized to fit whatever you’d like them to.  You’ll even be able to get them fitted for your beautiful bay windows overlooking the beach.

Image via: The Couture Rooms

Weatherization will keep your energy consumption low:

No matter in which part of the United States you live, weatherization will go a very long way to keeping your utilities down and your energy consumption minimal.  Outside of different curtains and blinds, there are a lot of various trims and caulk-type products that will serve to keep heat leaking in from windows and doors and most of them are available in a bunch of different colors.  If you want them to blend in, it’s possible; if you’d rather have your weatherization stand out, it’s possible.

Most places will also be able to provide small rugs or pillows that can be placed in front of doors and windows to help keep the heat out this spring and they’re available in hundreds of styles and colors so there should definitely be something to suit your décor.

No matter what style your home has, there will always be something to help you stay energy efficient without having to give up your home’s personality.  Energy efficient products have come a long way these last few years and now they’re just as stylish as everything else.

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Easy DIY Craft: How To Make Your Own Curtains

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Supplies

1)     Measuring Tape

2)      Fabric

3)      Pin Needles

4)     Needle and Thread

1. Optional- Sewing Machine (If you already have one)

Directions

1)      You want to measure the size of your windows, to help you decide on how much fabric you may need and how long you want your curtains to be.

2)      Next, you will need to purchase the fabric for the curtains and you can go to any fabric store of your choice or even if you think it is convenient for you, you can order them online.

3)      If you have a basic window then 7’ X 9’ (7 by 9 foot) of tapestry should be a good enough amount to cover it.  Measure how low you want the fabric that you purchased, then slice that fabric in half and begin to sow the hem on the edges.

1. To help keep the fabric together while you sow take pin needles and pin the fabric down in a line that you will use to sow the hem.
2.  If you are covering larger windows then you will need more fabric for covering (add at least 1-2 feet to the measurements when purchasing the fabric).  But you will continue with the same process as stated above.

4)      Hem the top of the curtain with a loop, so that the curtain will be able to easily slip through the rod.

5)      Now, if you would like to have a double-layer reversible curtain purchase two different fabrics and sow the backs of the fabrics together.  After the fabrics have become one then treat them as such and do the steps above and there you shall have your double-sided, layered, reversible curtain.

There is nothing like upgrading your space with a change in the window treatments.  It is cost effective, saves you time and money plus these curtains will be your custom made creations.  Make your own curtains and have fun while you’re at it!

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

When we think about remodeling our exterior home we may think about getting some new siding or putting up a new fiberglass door. However, what may not cross our minds is purchasing some outdoor window treatments.

Although the window treatments for the interior can provide a pleasing aesthetic to any room of the home, by placing some on the outside, it can help to significantly reduce the amount of sun that comes into your home, which can ultimately cause your energy bills to be much lower than what they would be without them.

Image via: Allegro Ltd

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If this is something that interests you, perhaps you are wondering what you should take into consideration before making a purchase. You’re in luck, because we have five tips for getting the ideal set of window treatments for your house below:

What type suits your needs?

Just like there are a variety of options to choose from for the interior of your home, there are quite a few as it relates to exterior window treatments as well. You can get blinds, shades or shutters. Then, you have to choose what kind of material that you’d like them to be made from: aluminum, vinyl, real wood and faux wood are just some of the kinds that are available to you.

What kind of climate do you live in?

For obvious reasons, if you live in a place where there’s a lot of rain or high humidity, because wood tends to swell, you probably would not want to go with real wood blinds. Or, if you live where there are a consistent amount of tornadoes, storm shutters are probably the ideal route to go. So, in assessing which ones are best, be sure to speak with the sales associate in order to get their opinion on which ones would be the wisest purchase.

What amount of maintenance do you want to put into them?

Some people actually enjoy working on their house. If you fall into that category, you may not mind having some real wood or perhaps even ordering some AOL outdoor blinds. Just remember that with wood window treatments, they tend to disintegrate after spending a significant amount of time in the sun if they are not properly cared for. Due to the fact that outside of your home is what people will see long before walking into your house, you definitely want to make sure you buy the ones that will fit into your “house maintenance routine”.

Image via: Cornerstone Architects

What is your budget?

Exterior window treatments range in prices. You can find some for as low as $40 per treatment and some for that are over $200. This is why it’s a good idea to spend some time online researching the ones that you have to choose from so that you can get what will fit your budget. Your local home improvement stores’ websites and also Menard’s and Payless Decor are places where you can see what is currently on the market.

Will you need help with installation?

It may seem like a simple question (that has a simple answer) initially, but some window treatments are easier to install than others (especially if you don’t live in a one-level home). There is always an additional fee to have someone come out and put them on for you, so when you’re close to making the final decision, definitely make sure to take if you can put them on yourself or if you’re going to need a professional to do so into account.

For more outdoor home ideas on Stagetecture, click here.