The main function of a window is to allow natural light into a room. However, every homeowner has the ability to control just how much light gets into a room by choosing the right window treatments, whether curtains, blinds or shades. To make sure that you achieve the proper lighting in a room much consideration must be given to the type of light you’re working with and how you wish to manipulate it.
Mostly this depends on the season that you’re facing. If you’re facing a hot summer in Texas you may want to filter the light in order to lower the temperature inside your home. Opaque curtains are great for diffusing bright lights and if you’d like to control the angle in which light enters a room then slated blinds or shutters will do the trick.
If you live in Chicago and are experiencing a blistering cold winter then you may welcome as much light as you can get but you will also want to balance this by keeping as much heat indoors. Heavy curtains are great for allowing light, helping to create a warm and cozy atmosphere without sacrificing loss of heat.
Your window treatments should vary from room to room according to the way a window faces, as it has a tremendous bearing on how much light finds its way into the room. A room that faces south will get more sunlight and therefore be hotter than a room that faces north. Expect to see more sunlight early in the day if a room faces east and more light in the evenings from a westward facing room.
The type of window you are trying to cover will also affect the type of window treatment it gets. If it’s a kitchen then you’d probably choose a shade that could be let up and down easily to allow plenty of light. On the other hand, bedrooms are designed to be cozy and dark so full-length curtains or valances would be ideal.
There are no rules of course what you will eventually decide on when dressing your windows. Some people prefer for all rooms to be well lit and some people can’t sleep at night unless it’s pitch dark. Sometimes sheer curtains will do the trick and at other times blackout curtains is just what you need to create the proper mood.
Regardless of the type of window treatments you choose, consider the light and each set of windows separately before making your decision.