Any Pacific Northwest native will attest, this is a part of the world that loves to layer. Writing this, the sun is shining and it’s warm enough to sweat a little, but the forecast for tonight drops to the low 40’s. So when we leave the house, we’ve all learned the same rule: Layers. Windows work the same way. One layer is basic and incomplete, and modern window treatments can be better. A sheer roller shade during the day keeps the view clear and the UV rays out, a blackout roller shade offers full privacy and better sleep, sheer draperies add to the sun protection and bring a breezy daytime vibe to a space, and heavier curtains can make a space cozy and quiet.
The key to bringing such flexible elegance to a space is being prepared for it. When window coverings are an afterthought, they wind up looking like it. Plan for this critical element of your space as early as you possibly can. A few tips:
- Roller shades can recess into your ceiling in pockets. For common window sizes, a 3.5″ pocket is about as small as you can go, and 4.5″ or 5″ will offer more flexibility.
- Dual-Roller Shades, a sheer and an opaque room-darkening fabric typically, require a much larger header space to accommodate both rollers and the additional clearance required to keep everything from rubbing. Plan on a pocket of 6″ deep by 9″ high at the bare minimum.
- Draperies “stack” when they’re open. Plan on a place for all that fabric to go when they open, or you’ll wind up sacrificing your view.
- Many options can be motorized. If you have a chance to run wires, you’ll save yourself the cost and effort of wireless battery-powered options.
- Wired options can require fairly precise wire placement during construction rough-in. Work with a pro on this! We have examples of brackets, installation templates, wiring accessories, all the stuff to make your window coverings perfect.
- Drapery tracks are way more flexible than many people think. They can curve, they can flush into a ceiling, they can help you realize any vision for a space, but only if you’ve planned a final look and prepared for it.
- Windows with uncommon shapes are not the end of the world and they can be beautiful. Motorized roller shades can accommodate asymmetrical, triangular, trapezoidal, or other nonstandard shapes in traditional top-down or bottom-up configurations.
The takeaway here is that if you think about how you want your windows to look EARLY IN THE PROCESS, a professional window covering specialist has tons of options to help you realize that vision. PROVISIONING is the name of the game.
Links:
Lutron Shade Overview
Del-Motorized Options For Nonstandard Windows