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Steamy windows?

Hillarys top tips for window treatments in the bathroom

Sarah Quilliam, head of product design at Hillarys says:"Window dressings can make a real impact on a room's look and general atmosphere. "Bathrooms can often be viewed as a functional space and not a room therefore in which to waste too much interior design style and input. But although the decision on which window treatment to choose should be based on practical considerations, its visual appeal should also be considered. Here are some top tips to help shed a little light on the subject."

Privacy is crucial in bathrooms so the window dressing must take this into account. Shutters are widely regarded as the ultimate window treatment and they well and truly tick all the boxes when it comes to combining good looks with practicality.

Simply tilt the slats to ensure privacy, whilst allowing light and air to filter between them. As long as you opt for made to measure shutters, they can fit any size or shaped window. One of the most unusual we've come across is a porthole on a houseboat!

Some fabric blinds can behave badly in bathrooms so look out for those designed for humid conditions. Vertical blinds offer good light and air flow - perfect for the bathroom and like fabric blinds are available in a huge range of colours, patterns and textures. Many are available with a moisture resistant coating which also makes them easy to clean. They're also a great solution for large windows.

Despite popular belief, you can opt for wood venetians in the bathroom- but that will 'move' according to the temperature. Or you could go for aluwood venetian blinds which look like wood but are actually made of aluminium. These will easily withstand the humidity and condensation in your bathroom - and they're cheaper too.

One of my favourite window dressings in a bathroom is a half up blind - this provides the necessary privacy yet still lets in plenty of light. And you can always get creative and personalise it by picking a digitally printed roller blind from our sister company www.web-blinds.com

A blind over a basin will always be splashed with water, so choose one which can be pulled up out of the way, rather than constantly resting on the window sill. Choose a fabric which is Teflon coated and mould resistant as this could almost act as a shower screen across a window in a wet room.

"And finally, we often have customers who are worried that fitting a blind means drilling into tiles and perhaps spoiling them. Opting for a made to measure blind that fits into the PVC verticals are another great option for bathrooms. As well as having a sleek appearance. PVC vertical blinds are water-resistant and have an anti-static finish
which helps prevent dust. And even if they do get dirty they're easy to wipe down. Perfect for family bathrooms where there's likely to be
plenty of splashing about!

Many people are choosing to improve rather than move in the current climate and going into the loft to create extra space is an increasingly popular option. Rollers, venetians or pleated blinds can be specially made to fit skylight windows. In the same way that a bit of sunshine can lift your mood, so too can a burst of colour or pattern in what can sometimes be a functional but rather utilitarian room. A cheerful blind is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to add warmth and personality.

Rollers are also a good choice in small areas as they can be fixed
into the window recess, giving a neat and tidy appearance and the
illusion of more space. recess of the window means that the brackets can be face fixed into the window frame,
not touching the tiles at all."

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