Window treatments can achieve an extraordinary number of different “looks.”
Is that really what’s most important, though?
For example: you could have the most elegant shades in the world, but if they aren’t lightproof, and your bedroom faces east…they will NOT be practical come sunrise!!
Another example…can you imagine drapes in a bathroom? Of course not.
Window treatments are a design element, and yes, they should look EXACTLY the way you want. They’re like the purse you pair with a favorite dress. They’re the accessories that can have their own look and bring in unique colors, patterns, and styles into the picture. But they still have to “work” with the outfit.
Translated: your window coverings have to fit within the function of the room they’re in.
Window Treatments 101
It’s important to consider window treatments alongside the first design decisions you make in a space.
First, though, you need to know what options are out there!!
- Drapes: heavy fabric panels with a luxurious look.
- Blinds: slated treatments made of wood, metal, or an imitation of one of them.
- Shades: fabric rolls, including Roman shades and roller shades.
- Shutters: solid wood or composite panels with adjustable louvers.
- Valances: decorative fabric toppers that hide window treatment hardware.
- Cornices: upholstered boxes above the windows, also used to hide hardware and to add an architectural look.
- Sheer panels: lightweight curtains that diffuse light for an airy feel.
Learn about more window treatment types and technology in this 101 windows guide.
Best Window Treatments for Kitchens
When choosing the best window treatments for kitchens, you face some unique challenges:
- Heat
- Moisture
- Aromas (delicious though they are)
Nobody wants fabric drapes soaking up fumes and smells, so most fabric window coverings are out of the running in a kitchen.
What’s more, modern kitchens are changing in a BIG way. We’re literally connecting kitchens to the outdoors now. What’s that do to window coverings?
If we’re talking window treatments for kitchens with oversized windows or patio doors, sheer shades and solar shades capture that breezy, indoor-outdoor vibe perfectly. They still cut glare from the sun while also maintaining your view.
To choose a timeless window covering that will survive the test of today’s modern kitchen reinvention, think about window treatment technology, too. Automatic lifts, remote controls, and cordless options are all part of the “tomorrow” of window coverings, especially in indoor-outdoor spaces.
Best Window Treatments for Bedrooms
Bedroom-perfect window treatments are the secret sauce that turn your most intimate space into a true retreat.
This is the space you sleep in, for goodness sake! It’s where you wind down. It’s where you DESERVE to wake up feeling refreshed.
So, what do you need from your bedroom window treatments? Privacy and light control, of course…plus that added style to make the room feel like yours.
Blackout curtains are a classic choice for bedrooms, and it’s clear why. They block out all light and glare, and today’s designs don’t have to look heavy or builder-grade! More often now, they’re layeredwith sheer panels to add a soft light option, or paired with Roman shades for a classy, tailored look.
If you do want that luxe hotel feel in your bedroom, you can play with double rod drape options. You can use the blackout curtains on the outer rod and hang sheer drapes on the inner rod. With the right combination of window treatments and hardware, it can be a total-blackout or a beautiful display of light filtered in through colorful sheers.
Learn even more about how to select the right fabrics for window treatments…
Best Window Treatments for Home Offices
Home offices have become a staple of modern homes, especially the high-end homes of homeowners with demanding or cutting-edge jobs. With home offices getting more use now, we’ve begun to optimize them for a truly unparalleled work experience, starting with our comfort (ergonomics) and ending with efficiency (soundproofing, etc.)
Our window treatment selections for home offices make a HUGE difference, too. They have to create the perfect working environment while protecting all the expensive gear that powers your work.
The number one purpose of window treatments in your home office is to manage light. Natural light is a mood-booster and is ABSOLUTELY something you want in the space!! However, it wreaks HAVOC on screens, not to mention causing a glare that makes any monitor hard to read…
Enter: solar shades.
Sleek, modern solar shades are the perfect treatments to let in soft, filtered light. They protect your devices and furniture from UV rays and they come in loads of colors, materials, and styles to make your office a space you find appealing to work in, too.
With the rise of home offices, window treatments had to evolve. Have you evolved the window treatments in your own home office yet?!
Remember, we’re your local Graber Blinds & Window Treatments dealer, so you’re one interior design consultation away from your own custom solution!!
Best Window Treatments for Living Rooms
Living rooms are where you relax and entertain…maybe you even nap on the sectional occasionally!! Unlike the more specific uses of spaces like bathrooms and kitchens, living rooms are spaces where we have more freedom to play with window treatments that reflect our unique styles and preferences.
Consider, for instance, pairing a choice of sheer curtains with heavy drapes in a double-rod installation. Or picture velvet panels instead, adding texture and richness. If you prefer clean lines, roller shades or Roman shades for windows are sleek options that can be easily automated or remote controlled. The living room is your window treatment playground!!
When it comes to large, luxurious living rooms, there are often window shapes to consider in your selections, too. Arch window treatments often take sheer drapes or custom-fit cellular shades. (Once again, our Graber window treatments are all customized, so that’s something we can take care of for you.)
Extra-large windows, on the other hand, do well with motorized shades or floor-to-ceiling drapes.
One final word of expert interior designer insight here…your living room window treatments can be your playground for expressing your design style, but they still have to protect your furniture and finishes from light damage!
Best Window Treatments for Bathrooms
Bathrooms are another unique space that needs to balance privacy and practicality through window treatments.
For instance, moisture-resistant window treatments like faux wood blinds or vinyl roller shades are common selections. They’re durable and easy to clean, which means you’ll avoid warping and mildew. (Ew.)
Roller shades can also be made of a light-filtering material that still lets some natural light in while keeping your space private. This goes along with the trend of connecting with nature…even in the bathroom!!
Frosted and textured window films are another option for bathrooms. If you go this route, you can still add some window treatment “flair” with a valance at the top of the windows!!
Best Window Treatments for Sunrooms
Sunrooms are designed to let the sun IN, right? Do you need window treatments?!
While flooding a space with natural light is the point of a sunroom, you still need to have appropriate light and temperature control. For that, you need window treatments.
The right window treatments for sunrooms balance light management and temperature regulation while keeping the room’s airy vibe intact. That’s NOT something you want to give up!!
Solar shades are a top pick for maintaining that sunny feel while protecting from UV rays and protecting the space (plants as well as furniture) from glare. Motorized options allow you to raise or lower the shades throughout the day, based on your plants’ diet of sunlight or based on outdoor conditions. You can even do this when you aren’t home if you have your window treatments controlled by an app!!
Temperature regulation is another thing to consider, which makes cellular shades a fantastic option. Their design actually traps air, acting as a sort of insulation when the temperature drops outside.
Window treatments enhance a room’s personality and can also be optimized to meet each room’s unique needs. From moisture resistance to temperature control, what room in your home needs the hardest look first? Continue studying your window treatment options…or reach out to us to get a consultation started. The sun comes up every day, so why wait?!
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for nearly three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. At the start of 2025, she then acted as one of Dallas Market’s “Style Eyes” at Lightovation and Total Home & Gift Market.
Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
