WALLS AND WINDOW TREATMENTS 3(1+2)

Lesson 15 : Soft Treatments For Interiors

Advantages Of Soft Window Treatments

1. In addition to flexibly controlling privacy, light, and heat, curtains and draperies soak up noise in proportion to the area they cover, the thickness of the fabric, and the depth of the folds.

2. They make rooms homely and effectively cover up the bareness of those not completely furnished- a point worth remembering. Curtains and draperies can change the apparent size, shape and character of a room or conceal architectural awkwardness. Small rooms look larger if curtains and draperies blend with and extend the length of the walls; low rooms look higher if draperies go from ceiling to floor. Gloomy rooms seem brighter when cheerful colours are invigorating patterns are used on windows. Wall chopped up with the windows or jogs can be unified by generous glass curtains and draperies, and some eyesores can be completely concealed.

3. Almost any degree of attention can be directed toward windows by the fabrics selected and the way they are hung. An unpatterned materials similar to the wall colour, acting as inconspicuous transitions between opaque walls and clear glass, encourage us to look through windows. Moderate colour contrasts patterns direct attention toward windows. Bold or unusual colours and designs usually cause us to look at the draperies rather than the windows.

4. Light and Privacy Control are important elements to consider when choosing your window treatments.

Type of Soft Treatments

Sheer soft window treatments are very popular. Sheers are used to accent an open, airy feeling found in most of today's newer home designs. They can be layered and combined with other printed and/or plain sheers to create a fresh look. Sheers provide the maximum amount of light to enter when the curtains are drawn, but the least amount of privacy. In order to get the best of both worlds—privacy and maximum sunlight— combine sheers with a hard window treatment such as a roller blind. Sheers come in cotton, silk, lace, and bronze, pewter and gold metallic.

Semi-sheer soft window treatments diffuse light for a little privacy. It is important to remember that during the day people will not be able to see in the room, but at night, when the interior lights are on, they will. Semi-sheer window treatments include heavy and layered sheer fabrics with designs and lace

Semi-opaque window treatments provide partial blockage of light when the curtains are closed. At night you can only see shadows on the inside from the outside. Semi-opaque products are the most widely available and include most drapery fabric and a few hard window treatments.