Layering Window Treatments: Combining Blinds, Shades, and Curtains

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” —Coco Chanel.

Your home reflects your family and your style. This is reflected in the colours, decor, and even the way you arrange the furniture. It also extends to how you design your window coverings.

Typically, window coverings provide function and style on their own well enough. However, when combined with a counterpart—such as blind with curtain, shade with blind, or all three—you can create a new look, style, and grace to a room that the neighbours will be talking about for years to come.

Think About Function

Regardless of how you envision a room, you still need to consider the functionality of the window treatments. There is no point in having a stunningly dressed window if the light is blinding and the room is hotter than a sauna.

The window covering itself should still function the way you need it to. Privacy partitions, blackout features, and adjustability need to be taken into consideration during the design phase.

Consider Room Size

Smaller rooms will get naturally darker quicker in the winter months, whereas in the summer, they can have a greenhouse effect. The window coverings and treatments used in these rooms need to be carefully planned out as they can also make the space feel smaller than it is.

Larger rooms will have the opposite challenges. The coverings need to be substantial enough to help with environmental control and light reduction. This way, the room is cool and dimmed in the summer, and warm and brighter for longer in the winter.

Choose Materials Wisely

Designing the ultimate style is not just about saying, “I want blinds with curtains”; it is also about considering the materials used.

Blinds and shutters can come in fabric, vinyl, and wood, so you want to make sure that the curtain or drape complements these materials. For example, you don’t want wood on wood or vinyl on vinyl.

Having a solid base with lighter, more flowy first and even second layers works well together, and can create the feel you are looking for. Window blinds and shades are versatile enough that they can complement other materials easily.

Use Different Colours and Patterns

Gone are the days when there was a floral print on everything in the home, from the floors and curtains to the furniture itself. Now, people are a little more creative and conscious about the colours and patterns used and how they can alter the feel of a room.

Combining patterns with the right solid colours can create design pieces that could be mistaken for expensive art. 

Colour plays a very important part in our lives. In fact, the colours used in rooms can dictate how a person in that room can feel. Lighter, pastel colour choices work well with bold patterns, while lighter patterns can brighten darker colours.

Consider Unity and Consistency of Style

Try not to mix up the layering or the style you choose throughout the home. Stick to the same combination to give a sense of unity and consistency. The colours may change depending on the room, but if you opt for two layers, then keep this theme running in each room.

Too many different styles can make the home feel confused and unsure of what it is meant to be. This can be disorienting for your guests.

Combine Hard and Soft Materials

One combination that works well in almost any setting is hard blinds and soft curtains or drapes.

When made of wood, the blinds or shutters can give a vintage, rustic feel to the room. When combined with a soft curtain or drape in a complementary colour, it can add a timeless elegance to the home. 

The softer fabrics framing the blind or shutter break up the hardness of the window covering and the surrounding walls, making the whole room feel softer overall. The horizontal slats in wooden blinds are also softened by the fabric frame, and yet can look stunning with vertically lined patterns on the curtains.

Make Use of All the Space

A lot of the time, people will dress the window only, and not fully incorporate the space around it. By doing so, the window and the coverings can appear smaller, and make less of a statement.

By using the space above the window and going wider to create more of a frame, you can make the coverings a feature and even expand the feel of the room. This can be easily achieved with two or three layers and using different styles of blinds, shutters, drapes, or curtains. 

If the windows themselves are more than just plain pains of glass, then this exaggeration of space will enhance their look and make the space even more of a focal point.

The Combinations are Limitless

You can achieve whatever you envision for your windows and coverings. The only limit is your imagination. By integrating technology with stunning designs, materials, and functionality, you can create a serene paradise or a dynamic and inspirational environment. 

The experts at Window Blinds Direct have everything you need to create your perfect home. With the knowledge on hand to help you design it, we are the only window-covering professionals you need.

We have been serving Toronto and the GTA for many years with our award-winning service. You can call us at 647-503-4357 or go online for a free estimate.