Interior Design Dos and Don'ts – Window Treatments

Interior Design Dos and Don’ts – Window Treatments

Heather McManus
February 18, 2013
Design Tips

Interior Design Dos and Don’ts: Window Treatments

Nothing will cheapen the look of your home faster that the wrong window coverings, or even the right ones poorly installed. I see these mistakes all the time, and it drives me crazy! When I am invited into a friend’s home, and I see inferior window treatments, it feels like seeing someone with food on her face; you’re never quite sure if you should embarrass them by telling them. I feel that if they haven’t hired me, it’s not my place to say anything. When I am hired to do design work, I am open and honest with my clients, and they welcome my vast knowledge.

Design TIP: Make sure your drapes “break” at the floor. That means that they touch the floor, giving an elegant sweep. Otherwise, it has the same goofy look as when your pants aren’t long enough, a painfully un-stylish experience. Equally important is that you hang your window treatment as high up as you can. This projects a taller appearance for the ceilings and the room overall. Hanging them any lower gives the illusion that your ceilings are lower than they actually are, making the room look meek.

Finding just the right style and fabric is not always easy. Window treatments happen to be my design specialty. There are no “standard size” windows, which makes it difficult to find perfectly-sized, ready-made window treatments in stores. Retail options are extremely limited. I recommend custom made window treatments, which will be a long-term investment. Your home should be your sanctuary. It doesn’t cost to hire a professional, it pays!

Heather McManus

Creative Director

Artistry Interiors

Jan. 22, 2013

Heather McManus

Principal Interior Designer, Creative Director, and Author of Love Where You Live – Dream Homes Made Real. Heather McManus, an associate ASID member, often has people hardly believe her design accomplishments since she looks so young. Heather has been Creative Director of Artistry Interiors for over a decade, transforming drab homes into fabulous and functional spaces. Having graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY she has the trained aesthetics and the industry experience needed for any project. Our design philosophy is “Love where you Live!” Your home should be a sanctuary from everyday life stress. Clients continue to praise how stress free we make the whole design process. Artistry Interiors goal is to make stunning homes that are a reflection of you – whether it is a single room or an entire home. We create a time line to suit your immediate needs as well as long term plans. Looking to work with Heather contact her at info@artistry-interiors.com or call 862.812.1600 now!

This Post Has 10 Comments

Mary C Nolte
19 Feb 2013 Reply

Drives me crazy too!
So simple yet so important. Going to share this valuable information that you wrote so well.
1. HeatherM
  19 Feb 2013 Reply
  
  Hi Mary! Glad you agree! I saw something funny on Facebook about a “Join the Fight Against Ugly”. I’m doing my part 😉
  Heather
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1. Adriana
  8 Mar 2013 Reply
  
  Hi Beautiful picture, but i can’t see daelits very quickly and can’t tell exactly what is going on. Is it a real window? Are there some window coverings I see a bit of a sheer drape, I think.Please let me know. I may need some help with window coverings.Aloha,Walter
  1. HeatherM
    18 Mar 2013 Reply
    
    Hi! The last image is a drawing, but the rest of the window are real life examples. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
    Heather
Creative Window Furnishings
25 Feb 2013 Reply

With window treatments every owner is encouraged to consider the benefits it can provide in terms of decorative and protective properties. Thanks for sharing.
stoett22
12 Jul 2013 Reply

Thanks for these simple yet useful tips for the windows. I have visited a few friends who have curtains or drapes hanging in mid-air because they are too short or perhaps hung too high up until they do not fally nicely off the floor. It is a little weird but however they managed to pull it off by covering it up with furniture. How about doors, do you have any tips on how to make decorating them more pleasant? So far, I have just used simple paint and gloss, but this year we would like to try stained glass on our screen doors.
1. HeatherM
  12 Jul 2013 Reply
  
  Hi! Thanks for reading my blog! I always hope to be helpful in ways that anyone can do. To answer your question, door are tricky, and there isn’t a one size fits all solution. I love stain glass, so if that is what you are thinking I bet it will look great. Other options are the rod to rod sheer curtain ether straight or hour glass with a tie in the middle. Sometimes depending on the room and how the door opens I will treat it like a window, and other times its best just to leave it alone. I hope that helps.
  Happy decorating,
  Heather
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Jade W
18 May 2014 Reply

“they welcome my vast knowledge”. Yes, granted some good tips to achieve a look you want, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder – specific to time and place. I live in a tropical environment and I’m getting rid of my full length, heavy curtains. In my environment, they look as awkward as someone wearing a tuxedo to the beach. The image drew me to the sight because I wondered (to use the analogy) “what’s was wrong with ‘wearing shorts in summer'”.

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