As if you didn’t know already, decorating your living space with the most trending window accessories will give your home a fashionable look that is both outstanding and unique. If you visit the home improvement section in any domestic merchandise retail store, you will be immediately awestruck by the variety of window accessory styles and options. Everything from the most noticeable window treatment coverings to the smallest accessories are offered in the most generous selection of materials, colors and styles to readily capture and increase the flair of not just your windows, but your overall interior and exterior designs. Because window treatments are an integrated part of design, finding the perfect treatments or accessories is simply a matter of exploration. To give you some tips on how to get started on dressing your windows, here are 3 timeless window accessory options that could add some flair to your living room or dining room.
Awnings
The use of window awnings or overhangs can be traced back to the Egyptian civilization where woven mats adorn market stalls and homes with their conspicuous beauty and comfortable shade. Awnings are popular for their functionality and aesthetic appeal, and loved for their complementary style and dimensional touch. Beside their apparent ability to enhance your exterior design, awnings are known for reducing interior heat gain by as much as 77%, while reducing sunlight and glare through your windows by as much as 94%.
Curtains and Drapes
Curtains and drapes are another window accessory that is not going away anytime soon. Choosing between the two is a matter of preference. Curtains are commonly lightweight, do not have linings and are hung from a rod by tabs. They are more casual and lively in nature, while drapes generally infuse style, elegance, and even royalty into the room. Another great thing about curtains and drapes is that you can explore with various materials and colors to complement the four seasons.
A lighter color is preferred in summer to effectively reflect heat, while a deeper hue is appreciated in cooler weathers. As the Department of Energy explains, “Studies demonstrate that medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33%. Draperies also stay cooler in the summer than some other window treatments because their pleats and folds lose heat through convection. When drawn during cold weather, most conventional draperies can reduce heat loss from a warm room up to 10%.”
Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters are simply wide shutters that work great with any window size (especially large ones). Unlike traditional shutters and other window coverings, plantation shutters gained great popularity for their operational convenience and easy maintenance. Plantation shutters give a room great natural lighting and outdoor visibility, while offering excellent privacy in their closed positions. When closed, plantation shutters help minimize heat transfer and can effectively keep heat inside the house during the winter and warmth out during the summer. Plantation shutters can be shaped to complement polygon windows. They come in a variety of colors and can give your existing window décor a generous dash.
Final Thoughts
As you have probably come to realize, window treatments are not merely an aesthetic addition to windows, but your overall design. All of the window treatment options mentioned offer energy-efficiency benefits and customization flexibility to satisfy your personal needs.
