How to Choose Window Treatments in Your Open-Concept East Austin Home
When your kitchen opens into the living room, you can often see most of the windows from the sofa. That makes choosing window treatments a little different. A shade needs to work for the window it covers and look right beside the treatments across the room.
The easiest way to choose window treatments for your open-concept East Austin home is to start with the light. Once you know where you need more shade or privacy, you can choose styles that look good together. You may end up with matching shades throughout, or find that curtains suit one part of the room better.
Notice How the Light Moves Through Your Home
Pay attention to the windows while you go about your day. You might love the morning light at the dining table but find yourself squinting at the television later. The window beside your favorite chair may need more coverage than the one shaded by a tree.
Take another look after sunset with the lights on inside. A window that feels private during the day can leave the room exposed at night, especially if it faces a sidewalk or a neighboring home.
It also helps to look at the windows from where you usually sit. Adjacent windows tend to look best when treated as a group. A smaller window around a corner gives you more freedom to choose something different.
Decide Which Details Should Match
Using the same shade on a row of windows gives the room a consistent appearance. If you like that simplicity, you can carry the style through the rest of the space. The fabric can vary where you need stronger light control, though it is worth comparing samples to see how they look together.
Different styles can work together just as well. An ivory roller shade above the kitchen sink can pick up the color of the living-room curtains. A Roman shade in a similar fabric can bring that color into the dining area without adding another pair of curtains.
Hold samples against your walls before settling on a color. One white may look yellow beside your cabinets, while another feels too cool. Custom blinds give you more choice over the fit and finish, which can help when you are trying to coordinate windows of different sizes.
Choose a Treatment That Suits Each Space
Kitchen Windows
A shade above the sink needs to be easy to clean. Faux wood blinds can be a practical choice, as can a roller shade made from a material suited to moisture and splashes. Check the care instructions before choosing a fabric. Some need gentler cleaning than others.
Roller blinds take up little space around the window, which is useful near a counter. Make sure the shade clears the faucet and window handle, and keep it away from cooking heat.
Living Areas
If you watch television during the afternoon, focus on the windows that cause reflections. A solar shade can reduce glare while preserving some of the view. A light-filtering roller or cellular shade may suit a seating area where you want softer daylight.
Cellular shades are also an option if the area near the glass feels uncomfortable. Their air pockets help slow heat transfer, as the U.S. Department of Energy explains. The benefit will depend on your windows and how well the shades fit.
Dining Areas
Roman shades bring fabric into a dining area without taking up the wall space needed for curtains. Woven wood shades have a more textured look, though you may want a liner for privacy. With either style, check how much of the window remains covered when the shade is raised. That can make a difference on a small window.
Glass Doors
A sliding glass door needs a treatment that moves easily out of the way. Sliding panels or drapery that opens across the full width can work, provided there is enough room for the material to gather at the side. Keep the handle accessible and choose a color that works with the nearby windows.
Make Sure Your Privacy Lasts After Dark
A fabric that softens sunlight does not necessarily stop people from seeing in. Some light-filtering shades still show silhouettes, and solar mesh can become see-through when the room is brighter than outdoors. Ask to see samples in your own lighting before deciding.
For windows where you need privacy at night, a solar shade can be paired with lined drapery that closes across the glass. Decorative panels fixed at the sides will not provide that coverage. Another option is a separate opaque shade that you lower in the evening.
After installation, check the result with your lights on. Looking in from outside can reveal gaps at the edges that are easy to miss from the sofa.
Think About Fit and Daily Use
An inside-mounted shade sits within the window frame and leaves the trim visible. There needs to be enough depth for the hardware, and small gaps may remain along the sides. An outside mount extends beyond the opening and can provide more coverage. Your installer can help you work out which makes sense for each window.
If you have several shades to adjust, motorized blinds can save you a walk around the room. You could lower the shades beside the television while leaving the dining-area shades open. Ask which controls and schedules are available with the system you are considering, along with how the motors are powered.
Before ordering, get a quote that includes installation and the accessories your selections need. If you plan to update the room in stages, start with the windows that bother you most. Keep a record of your fabric and finish choices for the next stage.
How the Choices Can Work Together
Suppose your East Austin home has warm wood cabinets and ivory walls. You like the daylight in the kitchen, but the west-facing living-room windows make afternoon television difficult. An easy-clean ivory roller shade could work above the sink, with a Roman shade in a similar color beside the dining table.
The living-room windows could have matching solar shades with lined curtains for the evening. Repeating the ivory color would help the treatments look related, even though you use each one differently. Try the fabrics side by side before ordering to see whether the combination works in your room.
Get Help Choosing Window Treatments in East Austin
Budget Blinds of East Austin brings samples to your home so you can see how they look across the room. We can help with measuring and choosing the right fit for each window. Schedule a free in-home consultation to talk through what you would like to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all window treatments need to match in an open floor plan?
No. Matching treatments work well on adjacent windows, but you can use different styles elsewhere. Repeating a color or fabric helps them look related while leaving room for different light-control needs.
Can I mix roller shades and curtains in the same room?
Yes. You can put roller shades on smaller windows and curtains on larger ones, or layer them at the same window. If the curtains will provide privacy, make sure they close fully rather than serving only as decorative side panels.
What works best over a kitchen sink in an open-concept home?
Faux wood blinds and roller shades made from moisture-resistant materials are worth considering. Choose something you can clean easily, and check that it will clear the faucet. A color similar to your other window treatments can help it fit the room.
Do solar shades provide privacy at night?
Solar shades should not be your only covering where nighttime privacy matters. People may be able to see through the mesh when your lights are on. Closing lined curtains or a separate opaque shade can provide the additional coverage.
How can I reduce TV glare without darkening the whole space?
Cover the windows causing the reflection and leave the others open when their light is comfortable. Compare shade samples while looking at the television at the time of day the glare is strongest.
Are motorized shades necessary for an open-concept room?
No. Manual shades can work well if you can reach them easily. Motorization is more useful when you have several windows to adjust or a shade that is difficult to reach.