Do your windows look good naked?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Having just brought a period home i have lots of windows like the ones you describe and made sure i read through this before deciding what type of blinds to buy – thanks to your great advice i now have perfectly fitting blinds for may bay window, and tall windows. Thanks Hillarys!
I have taken the time to read your site and one thing that strikes me is that you do not advise in your measuring section how to measure and fit your blinds to double glazed french doors and the different ways this can be done; e.g. on the door frame or in the space of the glass panel. How would I measure the space of the glass panel.
You have a great range and another thing that I am frustrated with, as I am hopeless at making a decision, is that I have been unable so far to create a room setting of the Wooden Venitian blind with a tape instead of cords.
Thank you
Hi Sheryl,
If you want blinds in a door frame then why not make an appointment with one of our expert advisors – who will be able to measure and fit in even the most awkward windows such as the one you describe.
You can also ask the advisor to show you the different options of wooden venetian – with tape or with cord to get a real feeling of how they will look in your home.
Hope that helps!
You mention fitting blinds in a doorframe but what about outside of frames. I’ve got a door and window together, door opens inward so need to be able to roll blinds up to above the doorframe to be able to open the door. Fitting on the door would look odd as wouldn’t be level with window.
I thought i’d read before that you could put a roller blind onto a window pole and fit similar to curtains – but this doesn’t seem to be the case per your website?
Hi Michelle,
You’re right if you fit a blind to the door, it often won’t be at the same height as the blind in the window next to it assuming it’s fitted inside the recess, but that is the normal way to do it.
If you have a PVC window and door then we offer perfect fit blinds which come in a frame and simply slot into a window making them ideal for door frames.
If you make an appointment with your local Advisor they can go through all the different options for you and theres no obligation to buy.