You decide your room needs curtains or shades… probably as soon as possible.
What do you do now?
Many people head to their local hardware store or Pottery Barn to see the options available.
Usually, you’ll run into a few problems.
- The stock curtains in these stores are not cut to fit your windows.
- Fabrics under retail lighting will look different from how they will look in your home.
- Even beyond the fabric, there are so many options! It can be overwhelming to make every decision.
Homes are not designed like widgets, so it’s hard to “cut and paste” a stock window treatment into your home.
Let’s explore how a window treatment specialist can help you make the right decisions, and why you might want custom blinds, shades, drapery, or shutters for your home.
Working with a Window Treatment Expert
A window design company usually consists of a few local consultants who will help you install window treatments tailored to your needs. For example, our staff at Takoy Designs are local consultants serving the Idaho Treasure Valley.
When you meet with a specialist, they’ll ask detailed questions to determine the best solution for your space. They’ll consider:
- your vision for each room’s aesthetic
- how much light you want at different times of the day
- how you’d like to open and close your windows
- your goals in terms of privacy, UV protection, and insulation
- the unique shapes of your windows
- the cohesiveness of window treatments in different rooms
- compliance with your homeowners association
A specialist who has been around a while will draw from years and perhaps decades of experience. They’ve likely heard from hundreds of customers who showed them the window treatments they currently have and shared what they don’t like about their windows. … Imagine knowing ahead of time what you might want to avoid, because your design consultant has been there and seen that!
A good expert will first ask questions about your needs. They’ll give you options that align with your goals. They’ll see how you react. They’ll listen to your feedback. They’ll invite you to ask questions. Then they’ll provide answers drawing on years of experience.
What was once an overwhelming abundance of options is now a seamless process with a definite solution. It’s like finding the answer to a math problem once you know the formula.
5 Advantages to Custom Window Treatments
Now, what about the window treatments themselves? Do off-the-shelf curtains look ok? Or will you really get an advantage out of going custom?
Let’s take a look at 5 advantages.
1. Cohesion
When you walk into a luxurious interior, what is going to strike you first is how cohesive everything is.
Window treatments take up a lot of visual space in your room, so it’s important to get them right. When you go custom, you can get window treatments that perfectly coordinate with your interior design.
2. Measurement
Ready-made blinds and shades are mass-produced to fit a limited number of standard window sizes. Your windows might be taller or wider than these options.
Good design starts with a great fit. A shade that is even a half an inch off can look out of place.
Your designer will measure your windows and work with you to help you choose the right styling and customizations.
3. Design Control
You’ll have control over style, color, fabrics, lining, and operating systems. Plus, you’ll get options for treating unique window shapes and sizes.
4. Smooth Installation
A specialist will install your window treatments for you. This will save you time and guarantee a proper mount and fit. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the results.
5. The Best Options
Finally, many of the best manufacturers only distribute their products through local window designers. These companies do this to ensure their products are installed correctly so that their customers can get the intended experience.
Take the Samples!
When you work with a consultant, they’ll encourage you to hold onto samples.
You can get inspired online, and a good designer will be happy to look at your Pinterest board (if you want to make one). However, seeing colors in person – next to your furniture, in your room’s light at different times of the day, and over multiple days – will help you feel confident in your decision.
A curtain or shade is an investment, both financially and aesthetically. So any good consultant will want you to feel comfortable with your choices.
The material samples are key to this process!
Custom Is Better
While you can buy curtains in a store, the results often fall short.
You invested a lot in your home. Curtains cover a lot of your real estate, so (in our opinion) it just makes sense to invest in them as well. Get the design done right, so that you can enjoy your home at its best.
You deserve it. 😊
