Window treatments... what to do?
Hey, moving into a new apartment and we have the master bedroom, kids bedroom, and living room windows to deal with. The apartment is east facing and will get a lot of sun in the morning. We were thinking of using motorized roller/solar shades in the living room (side note - are there nice looking yet cheaper options than Hunter Douglas?) but not sure what to do for the bedrooms. Do most people just put curtains? Or blinds behind curtains? Are roller shades behind curtains a thing or will that look weird? Or just do roller shades with no curtains? If you did roller shades in the bedrooms, would you split it into 2 panels or just one large one? We would like to be able to block most of the light in the bedrooms for the sunny mornings but don't want any bad/cheap looking blackout shades.
Here's a picture... living room on top and bottom is one of the bedrooms which is similar to the other bedroom. Living room widths are 31"/54"/31" and bedroom window width is around 98".
Comments (9)
PROPatricia Colwell Consulting
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
caligirl5
6 years agoI bought sun up/down cordless cellular shades from Bali through Costco; the bottom is black out and top is light filtering. I've had them about a month and am mostly satisfied. I'm in urban California, so light filtering and privacy are important. I have trouble sleeping if it's not very dark, so wanted the blackout option. They operate very easily.
The light leakage around the shades is a bit worse than I'd expected. I think I could have lessened it by doing an outside mount (maybe less attractive), 3/8" shades which would fit deeper in the window, or adding drapes. Not sure how critical this is to you--it is pretty dark with the shades closed.
I talked to a designer about Hunter Douglas and other brands. She quoted $2700 for the bedroom windows (including installation), while I ended up paying $770 at Costco (no installation, but I installed them very easily). HD has a great reputation and people seemed pleased with them, but the cost difference was just too large.
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Window treatments...what are you doing?
Comments (15)Thanks so much for all your posts! I checked my post on the DF and didn't receive much information so I'm really happy that you have contributed to help educate me lol. One thing that I found online that I REALLY liked was a window quilt with overhead vallance. I only found one source online though and they only have a limited range of 5 colors, of course none of the colors work for me. But considering our winters get down to -50 with the windchill, I really like the idea of adding insulating value to our windows, plus they were very clean lines & aesthetically pleasing. Apparently "window quilt" is a trademarked name which accounts for why I can't find any others with comparable products. Does anybody know what other names I might search for a comparable product? Thank you Claire for the tip on Hunter Douglas. My ID is a supplier through them and has asked us to give her the opportunity to quote our window treatments through her once we've decided so I'll definitely look in to those more closely. Kelly, I know...doesn't the price just make you gag??? I have a set budget for furniture and finishings when we move back so I definitely need to get my pricing figured out soon! We need furniture dagnabit lol. Sorry Amy, hopefully you find some good insight here too in order to lessen the pain. Thanks again for all of your help! I'm checking websites and all info you post. I'll probably end up having to go do a sit down at one of these window treatment places, but at least I'll have an idea what we like and don't like when I get there! Your help is invaluable!...See Morehow do i do window treatments for this window?
Comments (3)Usally the top is left open. But if light is a issue, you can have a cellular shade made to fit into the opening. Cellular shades work out well on this type of window. You can get either one to cover both windows for a clean look, and better light control. Or 2 so you can have one up and one down if you want....See MoreWindow Covering - Think OUTside the Box
Comments (16)You don't like or need all those windows, no views to enjoy, and you want a busy happy family room. You don't want to remodel. For now, I'd say sure, go ahead with covering the lower panes inexpensively and seeing how it lives. A first step to deciding how you'd like a more permanent solution. How about eventually that more permanent solution by building portable book/storage/display cases in front of the lower part of the windows? Construct them with backs (insulated?) that cover all behind from sight but sides that are able to slide in against the wall while leaving the window casings untouched? The top would be a display shelf. You could run up simple tier curtains that could be hung on rings to open and close as wanted for the upper windows. The choice of fabrics and mood is almost infinite, the cost extremely low. What furniture might go in front of the patio door -- if it had been covered up entirely with a portable wall-height panel that created a special place between the shelves topped with windows on each side? A loveseat? A game table and chairs? Instead of solid storage, you could inset a daybed, desk, TV here and there. You could make the window-covers different depths to define separate areas. Readymade bookcases are surprisingly expensive, even Ikea's Billy, but other kinds of ready-made storage can be much more inexpensive. Instead of all open storage you could have doors on the lower parts by using shallow kitchen upper cabinets and building an open shelf over to the height needed. Or just do that here and there. The basic cabinets might be found at a ReStore. Could you inset a single bed across one end and pile it with pillows for playing and reading? Maybe google family room storage systems and imagine them stopping at the height you need to get ideas?...See MoreWindow treatments - what to do, what not to do?
Comments (3)Also those are the old rods from the previous owner that I plan to take down and make wider so the curtains are off to the side in the correct spot....See Moredrdavidge
6 years ago
Waynette Bailey
6 years agosonni1
6 years ago
PROAnglophilia
6 years agodrdavidge
6 years ago
PROFinishing Touches
6 years ago
Stacey