9 Useful Window Treatment Ideas for Your Custom Home

July 22, 2021

Window treatments include all of the interior decorations used to cover, decorate, and enhance windows. Not only does this go beyond standard curtains, blinds, or drapes, but it also means you can get creative with your window treatments for a unique look. Here are some creative window treatment ideas to help inspire you:

1. Hang a Sign

Whether you decide to buy something or DIY, a sign can be a great window treatment across the top of a window. Instead of a standard valance, you can hang a sign across the top of the window for a unique look that still lets in plenty of light.

This is an idea that also has a lot of options. You can stick with something standard like, “welcome”, or opt for a more personal word, phrase, quote, or saying. There are a lot of options to make your own clever signs for your home.

2. Repurpose a Barn Door

Turning a barn door into a window treatment is one of the ways to use barn doors in your custom home design and can add a unique design element to a room. You can make it a standard window cover or create a folding privacy screen.

Whether you hang a door on a sliding bar to cover the window, split it to make shutters, or something else, using a reclaimed barn door as a window treatment can help you create a rustic, country, or farmhouse look and feel.

3. Consider Frosted Glass

Window treatments can also include decorative glass options. If you want to have some privacy while still letting light into the room, consider frosted glass.

You can opt for full coverage or a custom design to fit the style of the room and the look you want. Decorative glass options can help you get the right light in an entryway and are creative entryway decor ideas too.

4. Put up Shutters

Another one of the creative window treatment ideas is to put up shutters on the interior of the windows. Shutters can be a great way to enhance windows on the exterior of your home, but they can also work well inside too.

Vintage-style shutters can help create a rustic look while other materials can help you get a modern look. Plus, shutters are customizable, so you can get whatever size, style, color, etc. you need. And, they can be a great way to incorporate natural wood into your home decor.

5. Add Shelves

A window nook can be a great place for some shelves if it’s a window you’re unlikely to use a lot. Also, this is one of the great ways to eliminate wasted space in your home. Wooden shelves can give you some extra storage space while still letting in light. Glass shelves are another excellent option.

Not only will they let in light, but they’ll also brighten the space by reflecting it. If you mount only upper shelves with some space between the window and the edge of the shelf, you can get extra storage from the shelves while still maintaining the use of the window.

6. Create an Herb Garden

A window ledge or deeper sill can be a great place to grow herbs or small plants inside, but you can also create a hanging herb garden in front of the window. These are both great ways to decorate with houseplants.

A few well-mounted dowel rods and small hanging containers with hooks allow you to keep all of your counter space free and still have use of the window – all while growing useful herbs and spices for use in your home.

There are many ways to use garden herbs in your home, but they are not the only option. If you don’t want to grow herbs but still want some plants, you can opt for bright flowers or other plants. Many of the best houseplants for your kitchen will also work well in front of windows in other areas of your home, so you have a lot of options for a hanging window garden.

7. Opt for Sheer Panels

Sheer panels are made of semi-transparent fabric. They are often lighter and can help create a breezy look in a room. They’re a good fit for windows where you want to diffuse light and aren’t concerned with privacy.

In addition to allowing more light to pass through than other window treatments, sheer panels also soften the look of a window. They can be used to help create a cozier, comfier atmosphere. Their light, breezy look is one of the classic rustic coastal design ideas and also fits in with a variety of interior design styles.

8. Try Out Some Shades

Shades are a great way to cover a window completely while still getting flexibility for how much light you want to allow in – full, partial, etc. When it comes to shades, there are a lot of options. You can go with something standard or something with a more interesting look like Roman Shades or Honeycomb Shades.

Roman Shades

Roman shades have a smooth surface when they are lowered to cover the window. When they are fully or partially raised, they fold up into even pleats. They can be a good option for privacy and light blocking if a thicker material is used as they do cover the window when they are closed and can be raised partially to allow some light in.

The most common material in Roman shades is fabric, but they come in other materials as well. You can create an interesting look with different types of fabrics, colors, patterns, and more, but you can also opt for an interesting material like bamboo as well.

With natural textures and materials being one of the consistent interior design trends, bamboo or another natural textile can help you get the look. Roman shades are also available in sheer materials if you don’t need to worry about privacy as much and still want a lot of light.

Honeycomb Shades

Honeycomb shades fold up to the sides as they open and create a honeycomb look. They are also called cellular shades. Depending on the material you choose, you can block light fully, filter light partially, or let a lot of light in with a sheer option.

They work well for most rooms and are one of the home office lighting ideas to let in natural light and soften it. They can even help insulate the windows more too. Like Roman shades, the most common material in honeycomb shades is fabric. You have a lot of options with light-filtering vs light-blocking styles, patterns, colors, and more.

9. Layer Styles

Another one of the window treatment ideas for your custom home is to layer styles. You can hang a double rod and double up on curtains. This can be a great option for getting full light-blocking and privacy when you want it while also having the option of full or partial light.

You can also pair blinds and curtains, shades and curtains, shutters and curtains, and more to get the light control, level of privacy, and look that you want. This type of mix-and-match approach can be the perfect solution when you have window placement that requires a little more flexibility throughout the day.

Changing up your window treatments can also freshen up the look of a room, which is why it’s one of the spring decorating ideas. These are just a few creative window treatment ideas to inspire you as you think about the style you want around your windows. If you’re stuck between several ideas, you can think about light, style, and more to choose window treatments that work well for you.

If no amount of redecorating or remodeling helps your current house feel like home, it may be time to consider upgrading to a custom home that is built to suit your needs and taste. Contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090 to bring the home of your dreams to life!