Your living room area is the perfect spot to unwind after a long day at work. It’s also a great space to host friends and family on the weekends. What about the rest of the time? It’s got to be one of the most versatile areas in your home, right? Watching TV, listening to music, putting together a puzzle, enjoying a cup of tea…there’s no end to the amount of time or the range of activity that takes place. What’s the key to creating the best atmosphere no matter the occasion? We believe it’s the living room window treatments. Do you want to create your own personal haven? We’ll walk you through it.
Understand the Space.
The way your family uses the living room–or family room–of your home can vary. But, there’s rarely a household that uses it for just one thing–at one time of day. This multi-purpose space needs to respond to the ever-changing needs of the family, the activity and the time of day. For your family, it would be helpful to think about the ways in which this room could be improved. Consider these questions:
- Do you need more privacy?
- Does the space seem dark?
- Are there times when direct light is shining in?
- Do you have hard-to-reach windows?
- Does the space seem drafty in winter, or blasting hot in summer?
- Are there windows and doors in the same area?
These questions will guide you to the types of solutions for living room window treatments that will help you enjoy the space the most. It’s a room for everyone to enjoy, and we can help you create the right atmosphere.
Lighting Challenges
Does it sometimes seem like you’re Goldilocks when it comes to the lighting in a room? It’s too bright to read…it’s too dark to work out. It’s too bright to relax…it’s too dark to do a puzzle. If nothing feels quite “right” when it comes to lighting, you probably need a better solution for living room window treatments. They need to be as versatile as the room itself.
There’s no system more versatile than dual shades. There are endless settings–or positions–that offer a variation of lighting as the shades adjust. In general, the following three will feature entirely different lighting:
- Everything fully opened–the window is bare. Bright light and views enter.
- The front shade is lowered–the view is visible, while softened light enters.
- The secondary blackout shade is lowered down. The view is closed off for privacy, and the room is super dark.
It’s really the “in between” that extends to give you the most customized light experience. Any time shades are lowered partially into position, you’ll notice a big difference in your home. With dual shades, the perfect atmosphere is a quick adjustment away, made easier with motorized shades. Save your favorite settings, or even schedule changes throughout the day.
A View Out Is a View In
When you’re spending time in your living room, the last thing you’ll want is to feel like you’re in a fishbowl. Neighbors can see in, and passers-by have a view of what’s happening. It may not seem like a big deal during the day, after all, the view into your home isn’t quite as stark during the day as it is in the evening. When it’s dark outside, it’s easy to see into a lit up home. And, that can make you uncomfortable, even if your family is just sitting around playing board games. By adjusting your living room window treatments, you can increase your privacy to meet your needs.
We love how these sheer shades can invite natural light during the day, but the sheers reflect light out during the day, so you can enjoy the view without feeling like you’re being watched. Then, in the evening, the solid vanes close flat, putting a solid layer of fabric between you and the outside world. Go ahead and play charades…no one but your family is watching you!
Coordinating Windows and Doors
The open floor plan home is the most popular layout in homes, and it’s not hard to understand why. Family and friends can span a couple of “rooms” and still feel like they are spending time together. But, it can provide decorating challenges, at times. Take the example of windows and doors in the same space. How do you style your living room window treatments if there is a door in the room? Thankfully, this is a question we get asked a lot! We have a couple of answers to help you understand what our designers may recommend.
Match Everything: When window treatments “match,” this is a reference to them being exactly the same on the windows and doors. This can be a great way to style your home, and as long as the function of them allows you to use your doors as intended, it’s a good option.
Exact Fabrics, Different Coverings: Some of our window treatments are available with fabrics that “cross categories,” or are used in more than one type of window treatment. That means, you can use the same fabric whether you choose horizontal shades for the windows and vertical shades for the doors, which can be helpful when choosing living room window treatments.
Coordinating Fabrics: This is a choice that is popular, but some clients do not feel confident to put this together on their own–and that’s okay! Coordinating fabrics means that we will determine which window coverings work best for the windows and doors in your home, and we will work with you to show you fabrics that pair well together. It’s a beautiful look that offers variation in fabrics, but results in a put together look overall. This works well with draperies and shades, whether they are layered on one window, or simply sharing the windows and doors in a room.
Let Us Show You OUR Favorite Features!
At Night & Day Decor, we see the transformation of client homes every day. We have seen what living room window treatments can do to create the best atmosphere in a home. But, what about features? We’ve shared with you the dual shades feature and how motorized shades can revolutionize how you use your window shades–and your space. Have you heard of Aura Illuminated Shades? These window shades offer LED lighting that can change color temperature to meet your needs, from warm to cool. The light comes from the window, but the shades are closed, making it easy to enjoy a well-lit space with as much privacy as you need.
Are you ready to choose living room window treatments for your home? Did you find any favorites here? We’d love to know! Get in touch with our team for your free design consult.
