Drapes or blinds? Shades or café curtains? The biggest priority when you are at a window treatment store choosing what you want is making the decision of which you prefer – light or privacy. You may even decide that both of those things are desirable. When you follow these professional tips, you will be making the right, informed decision.
Roman shades are known for their tailored and minimalist look. They are often used in design when a space requires the functionality of blinds and the softness of fabric. Roman window shades are the best of both worlds. You get the privacy and the clean look of blinds with the warmth of drapery fabric without the added adornment. Roman shades have a varied style all their own. These styles are nuanced, and you can use them in a variety of spaces. They work to bring the whole room design together. Most Roman shades begin with the classic construction and add seams, fabric, or structural elements to get a varied look. Below are the six main Roman shade designs and tips on how to use them in a space.
A curtain wall adds a lovely architectural feature to an office building, letting in outside light throughout the building as well as pleasing form. From the outside it offers a unique style to the building’s structure, giving it an eye-catching appearance for passers-by. Inside, a curtain wall is functional and beautiful, because it can lower electrical costs due to the emitted light and the wall’s form, often curving, gives the building’s interior a modern, contemporary appearance.
Window treatments for a curtain wall can be a bit tricky, because while they are needed due to direct sunlight, you don’t want to obscure the concept of the wall itself. Finding the right window treatments for Ventura commercial windows can take some time as you browse through the options.
Curtain walls are designed to let in natural light throughout a multi-story building. Natural light is always preferable to artificial light. Artificial light is more expensive to run, causing costly electric bills. Additionally, artificial light is hard on eyes in the harsh decor of many office buildings.
However, there are some drawbacks to so much natural light as well. Natural light can fade furniture and carpeting over a period of time. It can also heat a building during warm months of the year. And it can cause a glare during specific times of day when it is shining directly inside. To avoid these issues, curtain walls either need special glass coatings to filter the light which is quite expensive or window treatments to act as a barrier. The best window treatments for a curtain wall should be sheer or easily raised when light is desired.
Sheer curtains are designed to allow maximum light to come through a window while blocking harsh direct sunlight. Sheers are the traditional form of window treatments for homes and offices when light is desired. For a curtain wall, sheers offer a method of filtering damaging rays, sun’s glare and heat. Sheers work well in a traditional setting, and some sheers can work in a modern setting. Sheers come in a wide range of colors, and some have delicate designs such as embroidery to add interest.
Sheers can be a bit difficult to work with for a very large curtain wall, although they can be hung on an automated curtain rod. Sheers do not add a lot of weight to the structure of a building, but allowances should always be checked when adding weight to a curtain wall.
Another option for a curtain wall window treatment is a retractable shade or blind. A retractable shade allows office workers to move the shade during times of day when direct sunlight causes glare, but can be raised to allow maximum light at other times. Shades come in a wide range of materials that can be treated to block the light when needed, and they fold up neatly when out of the way.
Like automated awnings for outdoors, retractable shades can be automated to work on a timer, or they can be manually operated. For large curtain walls, putting a shade on a timer will make the best use of the shade. Employees won’t have to bother with it, yet the company will get the maximum use of both the light and the shade. Shades can be raised to hang at any point along the height of the window, offering partial light with protection against heat and glare.
The hospitality and hotel industry has unique needs when it comes to window treatments. Unlike a home, guests staying at a hotel may use their rooms as bedrooms, dining rooms and office space while staying there. With such a wide range of use of each room, the hotel needs window treatments that can assist with those goals. Additionally, hotels want to provide a comfortable and attractive place for their guests to relax in and complete privacy during their stay. Most hotel chains use a combination of window treatments to fulfill all of these varied needs.
During the day, the window treatments for hotels in a hotel room need to let in light and provide privacy. They also need to protect the hotel’s investment in furniture, carpeting and bedding. Guests often use their rooms as a temporary office which means that lighting the room properly is important. Older hotels use sheer draperies to cover windows during the day, however many newer hotels are using solar blinds for this purpose. Solar blinds offer privacy while keeping out the sun’s harmful rays and nosy neighbors. They have a sheer look, but are more modern in style than sheer curtains.
At night, hotel guests still want privacy; however their primary use for the hotel room is to get some sleep to prepare for the next day. Many older hotels have a second set of drapes to block out the light from outdoors. These drapes are coated on the exterior side to keep the light out and also insulate the room. More modern hotels are moving to a blackout shade to block light from the room. You can also use blackout shades during the daytime if you need a dark room to sleep.
In common areas, such as the lobby or workout rooms, many hotels have started using solar shades to keep the rooms comfortable by blocking heat and UV light from the indoors. These shades allow natural light to filter into these larger rooms which makes them more welcoming and friendly to guests. Solar shades can be manufactured to custom specifications for extremely large window spaces.
It is quite common for hotels to layer their window treatments. For instance, a hotel room may have a layer of sheer window treatments, covered by a blackout shade and then a third set of curtains, valances or other decorative window treatments for decor style. The top curtain will match the style and decor from the room, and help mute sounds. It is the inside layers of shades or curtains that do bulk of the work maintaining privacy and blocking out light.
Another purpose for window treatment for hotel is to help make a comfortable working environment for the staff. Solar shades or sheer curtains help diffuse the glare from outdoor light which can play havoc with computer screens or strain eyes during a long work day. The reflective surface of a computer can be a nuisance when a staff member is checking in a guest.
Arjay’s window treatment department has experienced staff that will be happy to answer any questions about window shades or curtains that will work for your hotel, office or home. Discuss your needs with them so that they can recommend the best possible selection for you.
When you are deciding on window treatments for your home, part of the decision depends on where the window is situated in the room and how much light it lets in. Deciding the window treatments is important and one question to think about is difference between window film and window shades. Windows that let in direct light may also add heat to the room. On the other hand, if you prefer a well-lit room, you may not want your windows covered. Windows can also let in indirect light which generally does not heat the air. Therefore, you need make a selection of window coverings that let in disparate amounts of light or block light completely. If you are looking for basic window covers or want to control emitted light simply, you can take a look at window film or shades.
Window shades are usually hung on a roller placed at the top of the window frame. They are designed to block the light from windows by covering each window as the shade is rolled down. Traditional window shades are opaque, meant to completely block out the sun’s light and glare. They also offer completely privacy for a bedroom or bathroom. Shades can be taken down by removing the roller from the window frame, and replaced just as easily once the brackets are set to insert the roller.
Window film is a more modern window cover. They are designed to allow the light to come into a room, but partially block or mute the light. They can offer privacy by distorting the view using a patterned texture. Films are a good choice if you want to have the maximum amount of light in your room without the glare or UV damage.
Sunlight can cause other problems inside the home. Besides overheating a room, it can also damage furniture, carpeting and your skin. Even if you are not outside, direct sunlight can damage your skin with UV rays. Over time, it will cause furniture and carpeting to fade or change color.
Window film is made that can block UV rays for health and safety. You can also get window film that will diffuse light to prevent damage to your home interior. Window shades prevent harm as well but have to block the light completely in order to be effective. Unfortunately, closing shades necessitates the use of artificial light.
Another issue to think about when choosing window coverings is that windows offer beautiful views of the outdoors. You lose these views when shades are pulled down. If you prefer to see your garden or lawn, then shades may not be the right choice.
Modern homes do not have to use classic window shades that you find in many older homes. Single cell and double cell shades are used frequently in contemporary interior decorating. This type of shade is a cross between a blind and a traditional shade. The difference between single cell vs. double cell shades is that the single cell shades have one row of open weave shading while the double cell has two rows that are interlocked for additional insulation. These shades raise and lower using a pulley system similar to Venetian blinds.
Arjay’s window fashion consultants can help you determine which type of window coverings will work in your home. Contact us today for more information.
