What kind of window treatments to use?

Privacy:  Sheers that cover the window,  operable drapes or shades all offer privacy from neighbors and  passers by. You may think your home is secluded or off the street enough that this isn't an issue, but at night, with all the lights on, it's much easier for people to see right into your living room! Bedrooms and bathrooms most often have privacy needs.

Light control: Different treatments can work to either filter the daylight coming in (to protect furnishings or soften the sun's brightness), or to completely block daylight,  streetlights and car headlights. This is often the case in bedrooms and media rooms.  In many cases, treatments are planned to maximize the light coming into a room.

Insulation: Here in the northeast, insulation is a big factor in window treatment planning, especially if you are the lucky owner of large picture windows and glass sliders.   Well designed drapes or shades, often with an additional layer of interlining can significantly add to the overall insulation of your home cutting down on both heating and air conditioning bills.

Design factors: Valences, stationary panels, curtains and shades can all work to solve design problems in a room. Windows can be made to look bigger or smaller with the right choice of treatment. Several smaller windows can be grouped with one treatment to give the impression of one larger window. The most attractive window in your home can be highlighted with a spectacular treatment, while a less attractive window can be minimized with a plainer treatment.  Using matching or complementary fabrics on all the windows in one area can tie together multi use spaces such as a kitchen that flows into a dining area. If one room has varying sizes and styles of window, using the same fabric in different types of treatment will serve to unify the look.