Start the New Year (And Decade) with a Fresh Look for your Window Treatments

A NEW decade dawns, and with it a great opportunity to make a fresh new start – and what better place than to start with your windows? Whether you fancy freshening up your home or smartening up your shop, window treatments are one of the very first things a guest or customer will see when they visit, and first impressions definitely count. But a good window dressing is not just about great visuals – they send important messages and serve a variety of functions, from privacy to energy efficiency.

So where to start? Calling an expert is a good place to begin as they can look at your windows with a fresh pair of eyes and bring expertise – both visually and technically – to help you make long-lasting decisions. For example, do you crave symmetry and consistency? Or can your windows be fitted with different furnishings to reflect the character of the room and its function? Or had you never stopped to consider the matter at all and just assumed a building needed the same treatment all over? Are the windows used more by people on the inside looking out; or the outside looking in? In which case is it to encourage a shopper to stop and stare for a while or stop a snooper looking into a confidential office?

Every space is different – even in a bland office block, identical cube rooms are used for a myriad of different purposes, and window dressings are a great way to personalize or customize an otherwise-samey area. And if your building is older, or has been extended, or has different shapes and building material textures, then each room can tell a different story – and the windows are a vital focal feature of every room.

A professional at window treatments is able to look at issues such as light, privacy and aesthetics – all while keeping the client’s budget in mind and ensuring function is as important as form – blinds and curtains need to be able to be opened and closed as needed.

Fashions also come and go, and window fixtures are no more immune from trends as your wardrobe – and staying up to date aesthetically can be an important part of your brand and message to others, especially if you are looking at commercial premises where customers expect to see shops and offices well maintained. Currently more minimalist designs are trending, with uncluttered windows offering maximum light into a room – but that can lead to privacy concerns or cause problems with viewing monitors or televisions if drapes or blinds are forgone altogether.

But there are plenty of tricks and techniques to achieve a clean and unfussy look without losing the important functionality of a window treatment – rods holding curtains or blinds can be cunningly recessed into ceiling spaces, for example, hiding hardware and giving a smooth clean look to the whole window and wall.

A new year – a new decade – a great time for a new look for your home or business with a fresh approach to your windows, which will add a whole new feel and increase the all-important curb appeal for your property. For ideas on how to make the most of your windows call the experts at Carmen’s Custom Window Treatments today on 216 321 4040 or visit www.carmenscwt.com to see what we can do for you.