When most people think about the décor in their home, the first aspects that come to mind are the furnishings, paint colors, artwork and other accessories that help define a space. Usually further down the list—but just as important—are the window treatments, which sometimes get overlooked but can be crucial to tying a room together.

Of course, blinds, shades and draperies play a functional role in providing privacy, protection from the elements and light control, but they can also be a way for a homeowner to add flair and personality. The type and size of the window, the specific room and personal taste are all factors in determining which treatment would be the best choice.

House & Home spoke to local professionals to learn more about the decision-making process and the trends to be aware of heading into 2023.

Seeking expert advice
As in many areas of home décor these days, the options for window treatments seemingly go on and on. Whether a homeowner is primarily interested in functionality, aesthetics or a combination of both, there are countless offerings to choose from and the task can be overwhelming.

That's where the services of an informed professional can be instrumental, and will likely save the customer money in the long run.

"We really focus on trying to direct people to make the right choices," says Denise McCracken, showroom manager at Ambiance Design. "Different shadings accomplish different things, and depending on the person's needs, one shade might be better than another style. ... They're investing money in this and we want to make sure they get what's best for their décor and still give them an updated look."

Getting to know the customers' lifestyle and preferences goes a long way, enabling professionals to steer them toward certain products and away from upgrades that may be unnecessary. For example, McCracken points out that a home situated on a private lot would not have as many privacy concerns as one in a busy neighborhood.

Stella Zaffino, showroom manager at Blind Builders Inc., takes a similar approach with customers and, like McCracken, encourages them to bring photos to assist with the process.

"I ask a lot of people if they have a picture of the window or the room, because it's definitely a huge help to see what I'm working with and I can offer a suggestion or offer a situation that the customer may not be thinking about," she says.

"There are so many options out there, so I'm able to say that options X, Y and Z aren't necessarily going to work for them. It narrows down the options and makes things a little bit easier to understand, and we can go over what would be the appropriate product for that project."

Zaffino adds that taking the time to visit a showroom is much more effective than just browsing online for window treatments.

"Seeing them on a computer screen does not do them justice," she says. "To be able to come in and touch, feel and operate shades really gives you a sense of the quality and how great they are."

Popular selections
Once the wants and needs of the client have been determined, they can be presented with different choices for their home. One product that McCracken frequently recommends is a Silhouette shade from Hunter Douglas, which is notable for its versatility.

"That's what I have in my home and it's what we call a multi-functional product: You get several levels of both privacy and light control from it, and you're not necessarily closed off from the outside world," she says. "It's a combination of sheers and a fabric vane in the middle, and when you have that vane open, you can still see outside through the sheers. But most of the time those two layers of sheers are enough to give you privacy during the day, when it's hard to see into someone's house.

"Then in the evening, when it's easier to see into someone's house, you simply close the fabric vanes and you have complete privacy. It really does check all of the boxes and it has a few added benefits, like protecting your interior furnishings and floors from UV rays that fade everything."

Cellular honeycomb shades, Zaffino says, are similarly versatile and can work in both traditional and contemporary setups. They are offered in a variety of colors, textures and patterns, and are one of Blind Builders' top sellers.

Plantation shutters are another popular choice because they are easy to maintain, durable and provide complete light control as well as energy efficiency.

"I'm a huge fan of plantation shutters because you can put them in different types of rooms and with different styles," Zaffino says. "Like the honeycombs, you can make them look very traditional in an old, historic home—which we have a lot of in this area—or you can make them look modern and contemporary. There are a lot of different types of plantation shutters: You've got PVC shutters if you have a window in the shower; you've got hybrid shutters; and you've also got solid wood shutters, where you can match stains and paints and fully customize them."

The vinyl shutters, McCracken adds, are often used in Shore homes because of their coastal feel and ability to withstand humidity.

Roman shades are still in demand when it comes to a more formal look, Zaffino says, although she rarely gets requests for vertical shades anymore. Then there are soft treatments—fabric-related items like draperies or curtains in which the homeowner can add personal style to the room.

"We're doing less and less of the full drapery, but we do a lot of a stationary side panel, which is a great way to bring in a bold color or a pattern without being overwhelming," Zaffino says. "We're also doing a lot of the cornice boards—a nice, fabric-wrapped cornice across the top is another great way to bring in a nice, bold color without having it be a big part of the room."

Soft treatments are usually the finishing touch, according to McCracken.

"It's often the last piece of decoration—the jewelry to the outfit, if you will—and it can make the room," she says. "We work with a lot of interior designers in the area and they'll come to us to have us take care of that aspect of their project. It definitely adds something to the space."

Taking control
Of course, no talk about window treatments is complete without getting into motorization, which continues to grow in popularity. Not only can blinds or shutters be operated with the push of a button, but they can also be programmed to open and close at certain times of the day, promoting better energy efficiency.

"Those are definitely on the rise in popularity," McCracken says. "We find that sometimes people come in and spec out motorization for a certain area of the house, and then they'll come back and want more once they get a taste of it. They want it in every room."

Motorization used to be a harder sell for older generations, but according to Zaffino, that's no longer the case.

"Everybody at least has an Alexa in their house and they carry around an iPhone," she says. "Motorization allows people to integrate their home with their technical life. ... Hunter Douglas makes a very user-friendly product. We have these displays in the showroom, and when we sit down and talk about them, I show customers and let them operate them. They realize it's not that scary, it's nice and easy."

RESOURCES
Ambiance Design
Blue Bell, Pa.
(267) 898-0200
ADWindowTreatments.com

Blind Builders Inc.
Feasterville, Pa.
(215) 322-5855
BlindBuilders.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 23, Issue 2 (November/December 2022). 
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