Windows are Your Home’s Greatest Asset

We all admire windows; we shop for the best we can afford and then search for the perfect treatments.  This is the dicey part:  what is best for you and your family’s activities.  This is a critical assessment to be certain.  In sunny California, we love our outdoor spaces and often have the ability to bring it inside; then there is that sun, shining relentlessly in those precious windows, fading our upholstery, carpets, wood floors and furniture-not to mention the artwork and photos we have hanging where we thought they were safe from direct exposure.

If you are in the market for new windows, you have the opportunity to buy more energy efficient ones along with sun fading prevention treatments on the windows themselves; it is worth the money you spend, not only to save your furnishings, but also to reduce your energy consumption and to heat and cool your home more efficiently at less cost.

If you are working with older windows that are dual paned, you should check with the manufacturer before you apply any tinting treatment on the windows that may cause permanent damage.

What can you do without having to treat the actual window glass?  First of all you must determine how the room is being used:  TV watching, sleep, a work space?  All these areas will present their own limitations.  TV rooms are most comfortably used when reflections from the windows do not fall on the screen.

Blinds come in so many different types and price points, it can be hard to decide which is best for you.  Wood blinds, cellular shades, roller blinds, Roman shades and  drapery panels are all good choices.  If you need total black out for sleeping during the day, most of the above products will accommodate your needs, but price points will vary.  From a décor standpoint you might consider layering to add interest, warmth and color.

Homes with a two-story first floor with windows out of your reach may get great light; but in some cases, there may be too much light.  I prefer to have such windows uncovered as they give such good light, and the need for privacy usually is not an issue.  Using tall drapery panels from the ceiling of a two-story room is dramatic but expensive, so consider your budget.  Those tall windows will cause all the problems mentioned earlier, so see about getting some kind of tint for cooling and fade problems.

If ground-level windows look out on a poor view, consider treating the outside of the window.  For instance, if your view is of a block wall or service area, consider putting up a trellis outside and growing a vine for a very green solution to an unpleasant view.  Attach the trellis to the frame of the house or window offset some distance so the plant won’t grow onto the actual house.  Naturally you’ll want to have a ready source of water.  Building out the area with a small, private garden if you have the room really will bring the outside indoors.

Windows are a great focal point with or without a view; layer your windows with elegant drapes if you have a less than exciting view and treat windows with a great view minimally to take advantage of the view.  You can add simple natural blinds, roller or Roman for light control and drapery panels for added texture and color.