Naked, hummm. Never thought of your unadorned window as being naked? How would you feel if you were left to fend off the harsh sun, blazing heat or chilling cold without the aid of clothing? And, what about the damage that can be done to the interior of your home for lack of protection in your window? Window treatments are clothing for your windows. Whether blinds or shades, top treatments or draperies, they all play a part in making your window, not only beautiful to look at, but functional with your life style and needs.

Window Treatments Can...

...add safety. Sad to say, in these times it is not wise to have your home open to the public for viewing. Without window treatments anyone can look in your window, find out what possessions are inside, determine if you are home, or worse yet, if your children are home alone. No one should be allowed to see into your home at night, or when you are not there during the day.

...add value and curb appeal to your home. Ask a realtor, in any market a well staged home will sell faster and for a higher amount. Well staged includes the windows. A small investment into window treatments can bring big rewards in the future.

...add beauty. Window treatments can be color coordinated with your furnishings and your paint colors and add a whole new "light" to your room.

...cut the UV rays coming into your home. This will not only protect your flooring and furnishings, but your skin as well.

...add privacy. Not exactly ready to have the neighbors in every night for dinner, not to mention your bedroom?

...add dimension and show off your fabulous windows. Styles are created to fit your window and designed to give your room its best look.

...add you! Your windows make a statement about who you are, what your style is like, and how you feel about your home. Not crazy about a room? Add yourself; your color and fabric selections, your style choices, your functional requirements.

Determining What Works Best for Your Window.
Don't fear, help is here. To determine what clothing is best for your window, first ask your self these questions:

...Does this side of the home get direct light or wind? How much?

...Is the heat or cold coming through the window increasing or decreasing the temperature inside the home? You can bet if the window is heating up, it will also be cooling down.

...How much privacy do I need in this room?

...Is there a view I want to see and not obstruct?

...How is the room used; entertaining, resting, dining, family room?

...Does my room echo; do I need to add insulation for sound?

...What type of atmosphere do I want to create in this space; casual, formal, general everyday use?

...How much of an investment am I able to make?

OK, now you are ready to think about style.

Blinds/Shades VS Soft Window Treatments

Though blinds and shades are considered more about function, they offer great style and can fit into any décor. Soft window treatments can also offer function, and are always an added plus to your décor. No matter which way you go, style and function are equally important when considering how to dress your window.

Blinds and Shades and Shutters will...

...provide privacy

...protect flooring, furnishings and you against UV rays

...can add value to your home, IF, you use a well made brand name product, such as Hunter Douglas. There are many choices out there; low budget products will not increase your home value or marketing appeal. And, you will be replacing them in a few years. Like anything else, you get what you pay for.

...add beauty. There are many choices that will allow different amounts of light into your home. And when it comes to style with blinds and shades - it is all about light.

...add insulation or R Factor. This really does depend on the blind or shade your pick. Some are better at this than others. Don't be fooled by low cost honeycombs; they are not all the same. A good honeycomb shade will offer a R factor over 5, which will decrease your heating and cooling expense.

Soft Window Treatment...

...add beauty and style. These are the tops for creating your own custom look. Even a window with a good shade or blind still needs the soft look of a top treatment or drapery to finish it off.

...provide privacy.

...add value to your home. Custom made window treatment generally add higher value and curb appeal than a blind or shade alone. However, do not expect over the counter ready made treatments to have the same effect,; nor will they look as good.

...provide protection against UV and offer light control. Colorado sun is hot, even in the cooler months. Unlined draperies and top treatments will rot in a short time, leaving you to make yet another investment. Spending a few extra dollars on quality materials and products will give you years of great service.

The best way to really determine your needs and what type of investment you should make is to consult with a professional. At Decor & You we ask all of these questions before we even visit your home for the first time. We are able to get a very good idea what products and style will suite your needs and taste.

When we visit your home we take lots of photographs of your windows. Using the latest in design software we are able to place style and function recommendations for window treatments on the photo of your window. We can add color and even the fabrics you are considering. This gives you a two-dimensional idea of how the final treatment will look on your window.

What do you save by using a professional?

...time running all over town or shopping on the internet only to get the product in your home to find out it does not match, and then you have to return it -IF you can return it.

...avoid costly mistakes. Color and patterns changes when you bring them into your home. Ever buy something and take it home only to find out it does not match?

...make certain you get the right product for your needs.

...MONEY - Decor & You does not charge for their design services. Consultations are free. You get professional help in making your selections, you do not run all over town looking and wasting your gas and time, you see the fabric and color selections in your home. Best of all, your designs are designed just for you.

... Decor & You will help you fit selections to the investment you wish to make. We know all the trade secrets for designing with fabrics and styles to help you keep your budget in line. Designing over time is easy; we keep your selections choices on record and can go back to these at any time to help you create the look you want over time. We can let you know if a certain fabric or item you are interested in is going to be discontinued. You can not get that at a discount store.

...and speaking of discount stores; are they really a good bargain? Who would want a great price on a blind or shade that only comes in one length, or may be discontinued next week. Again, you get what your pay for, and your hard earned money is too good for an inferior quality product. Don't be fooled; even the brand names you see in a discount store are not the same product you can purchase through a professional window treatment expert.

Want a professional? Contact Decor & You at 719 282-0570 or send us an email at tthompson@decorandyou.com. Visit our website at www.decorandyou.com/tthompson to view some of our room and window treatment creations. Ask about our summer specials. We are waiting to help you Love the Space You're In.