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Do your windows look good naked?

Sarah Quilliam gives some simple ‘rules’ on how to dress your windows

Thanks to numerous style makeover shows, Sarah Quilliam, head of product design for Hillarys, believes that a large proportion of the nation's female population are likely to know their body shape and how to dress it but wonders if the same is true when it comes to making the most of their home's best asset.

"We're learning how to dress our pear, apple or hourglass physique to best effect and maybe even how to relax and relish in looking good naked!" says Sarah.

"But are we as savvy when it comes to dressing and accessorising our homes? Many of the same principles of proportion, colour and style can be applied to one of our home's greatest assets - the windows!

"Like bodies, it's very unlikely that any two windows will be identical and even in the same house it's very probable that they'll be a variety of different styles, shapes and sizes. Before deciding on what window dressing to use, first consider the shape and proportions of your window in relation to the rest of the room and whether its position may pose any limitation on the type of treatment you can use.

"Here are some rules and tips for highlighting their assets and minimising their flaws - and, if you are indeed tempted to practise how to look good naked then you really do need to make sure that your window at least is properly dressed!"

Tall windows
Floor to ceiling windows are a great feature and will flood your home with lots of lovely natural light. Like lofty, lean body shapes, they can 'wear' most fashions and styles. But as formal dressings becoming less popular, unless you particularly crave swathes of fabric, swags and pelmets, simple, clean looking treatments work best.

As an investment, shutters are a great solution, especially in period properties where you really want to accentuate attractive panels or an original sash.

Venetians are a good mid-priced option and natural wood is perfect for creating a simple uncluttered feel, especially if space is limited, such as in a hallway.

Originally used in offices, verticals are making a dramatic comeback and have been fashionably redesigned to give a stylish, modern yet practical look that works particularly well on tall, narrow frames like these.

Blinds featured are Acacia Angel from Hillarys Verticals collection. Prices start at £33 (50cm wide x 90cm drop) measured, made and fitted.

Alternatively add interest and flexibility with two contrasting or co-ordinating pleated blinds. Featured here are Willow Chalk and Willow Bark from Hillarys Pleated collection. Prices start at £76 (46cm wide x 91cm drop) measured, made and fitted.

Small windows
We know sunshine is great for beating winter depression. But scientific research says its effect is more than just psychological: light actually helps us produce serotonin, a hormone that can positively affect our mood. Which is why dressing your window to maximise the light is so important. Keep colours light and avoid fussy patterns.
Pleated blinds are a good option as they fit neatly into the recess and can be pulled up to almost nothing to let the light in. Venetians also work well especially if you use the narrowest 15mm slats giving the illusion that the window is actually bigger than it is.
Blind featured is Alaskan White from Hillarys Venetians collection. Prices start at £33 (46cm wide x 61cm drop) measured, made and fitted.

Awkward shaped windows

Curved bays
Dressing a curved bay window can be difficult, especially if you prefer the contemporary look of blinds rather than bespoke heavy curtains. With their straight lines, box bays are much simpler as you can either use roller, roman, pleated blinds or even shutters on the three straight sides.

Kimono Pink
The perfect solution is to fit vertical blinds that hang on one continuous track that's specifically designed to curve around a bay.
Blinds featured here are Kimono Faded Pink from Hillarys. Prices start at £ £45 (50cm wide x 90cm drop) measured, made and fitted.

Sloping windows
Loft conversions are a great way to gain more living or sleeping space but often windows will be an unusual shape. Vertical blinds are the best solution for sloping windows as they can be fitted to a sloping headrail. Plus some verticals have co-ordinating roller fabrics, so you can have the same colour and design at different windows.

Blind featured here is Stratford Cream from Hillarys Verticals collection. Prices start at £45 (50cm wide x 90cm drop) measured, made and fitted.

Round, arched or triangular windows
Where no other form of window dressing is possible, shutters can be custom made to perfectly any shape and making it part of the room. Shutters featured are Richmond Silk and Richmond Black Walnut from Hillarys. Prices start at £250 per square metre, measured, made and fitted.

Skylight windows

As loft windows generally have to withstand the heat of the sun relentlessly beating down on them during the summer months, it's wise to fit pleated blinds which have a reflective backing. They'll help to keep the room cooler in the summer and retain heat during the cooler months.

Not a lot of people realise that venetian blinds can also be used on skylight windows. hey have rails at the top and bottom, which are fastened to the window to keep it securely in place. Both are very practical so you just need to decide whether you'd like a simple look or blackout fabric with rollers, or soft, filtered light with pleated blinds.

Wide windows
Wide or landscape windows range from large picture windows to sliding doors. Where windows are very wide, curtaining can be difficult as there is so much fabric to keep at each side. Blinds, shutters or even sliding panels give a much cleaner, less cluttered feel and are ideal when you need to get access through a door or maintain a beautiful view.

North facing living rooms with large wide windows can be chilly uninviting places in the winter. Save energy, cut your bills and best of all stay snug and warm with Honeycomb blinds, which have a special design that retains heat. Blinds featured are Dune and Vanilla from Hillarys Honeycomb collection. Prices start at £64 (47cm wide x 60cm drop) measured, made and fitted.

This works especially well when you want to pull the shutter back to enjoy a lovely view or get easy access into the garden through a patio door or French window. Shutters featured are Richmond Silk White, prices start at £330 per square metre, measured, made and fitted.

The larger the window, the bigger the print you can get away with! Blind featured is Milo Cinnamon from Hillarys Rollers collection. Prices start at £49 (61cm wide x 76cm drop) measured, made and fitted.

 

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