7 Tips on Making a Window Treatment

A proper window treatment can give accent in our whole room, but then the cost of customized curtains and even its valances can be immense. There is a fact that is saying that “anyone who is really willing to invest a little of their time and patience can make their own curtains effortlessly without even having bothered to sew it”. Now let us see how we can make our own do it yourself window treatment without having to spend too much. [one_half_first]The first step that we can make in making your own DIY window treatment is to decide what kind of curtain do we want, considering its full length, its windowsill, or even its valances. Once that we already have decided, we can now pick out our own fabric. We can simply buy a fabric by yard at any craft stores or even at any of the retail outlets. While we are out picking up a “no sew”, which is already an iron on product that fuses the fabric together without having sew it.[/one_half_first][one_half_last][/one_half_last] When we’re already home we should measure the length we want our curtains to be hanged, giving some several inches of it for its hem, and then we could now start our fabric cutting. For an instance, if our window is 5 feet long and we wanted our curtain to just hang at our window sill, we should cut out our fabric 60” plus 5”. And once we already have our fabric with its right size, we now need to put a hem on it, at its bottom and even in any of its raw side edges. We just simply needs to take a piece of the “no sew” that we bought and then cut it to the length of our fabric that we wanted to hem. We should lay it flat along with the wrong side of our fabric, and run a very hot iron on it. After which, we now have to peel the back of it and carefully fold our fabric into itself to be able to create a very smooth and straight hem, and then iron it again for a few seconds and allow it to set. We should then repeat the same process at its top, and never forget to create a pocket for our curtain rod. We should also do the same process of folding our fabric, except that we have to leave at least about an inch and a half of it, or even larger if we are planning to use a wooden poles, and let’s not forget to iron our curtain good, just to create a strong bond. Simply because, this is the area that will usually be abused; the same reason why we should make sure that it has a good bond. Those are some of the great tips that we can take just to make our own window treatment.

Using Rice Paper Shades

If your décor has a touch of Orient then the best window treatment for you is a rice paper. In addition, if you've got a window with an unusual shape or in an awkward location and you want to dress it up, a rice paper window shade is the answer. Rice paper can provide an austere, enchanting, and economical alternative to drapery. The traditional Japanese shades, called "shoji", are being assembled by stretching rice paper over a wooden frame. These shades can then be affixed to the window frame or hung from the top of the window frame. Though the word "shoji" means "something that blocks the way", rice paper shades allow light to filter to. When the lights filter through, it is when you really get to see the beauty of the paper fibers. The rice paper shades create a feeling of light and space much better than cloth curtains. There are types of rice paper window shade that you can choose to fit your window. A true rice paper is a very thin, translucent paper made from rice grass (Oryza sativa). However, there is ‘rice paper’ that is much sold that made from the vast fiber of the mulberry tree and is more properly called unryu paper. The distinction of this paper to the pure rice paper is it has a coarser texture and more visible fibers. I can assure you that both types of will work well in a window shade. Just keep in mind that rice paper is available raw and sized, with the sized type being thicker and better suited for use in a shoji shade. When choosing the color of the rice paper to your window, white or off-white tones of rice paper shade should be place in your window where the sunlight passes through. White or off white tones can stay looking good longer than strong patterns or deep colors. Another is you can use the acid-free paper for it last longer than papers with acid content. Do I need to add decorations with the rice paper shade to coerce it to be more elegant and beautiful? Traditionally, rice paper window shade is left undecorated however nowadays you can add few unique touches before the paper is attached to the frame. One of the most prominent decorations to add to rice paper shade is Chinese calligraphy. If you are into the authentic look, you can try painting the rice paper shades with a combination of Sumi-e ink and watercolor paint. Rubber or sponge stamps dipped in ink is suggested if you are not into complex symbols. This is more convenient because it provide a faster and simpler way to add style to the shades. Remember that rice paper window shades can provide an elegant solution for hard-to-cover windows, can be made inexpensively in less than a day and with proper care, you can maintain the attractive appearance up to 8-years or more.

How to Choose Window Treatments

When it comes to your home, decorating it needs to be perfect. This is because you certainly would want your home to look well coordinated and suitable for your preferences. The decoration of your home not only includes the fixtures of your home but even your window treatments. A window can even act like your home’s eyes since you can look out while others can also look inside. But since the amount of light that enters your home can affect it, it is important that you control the light that comes in. For this you can make use of window treatments. The reason why it is important to choose window treatments well is because they act as direct source of light to your home. Your options include shutters, window coverings, vertical blinds, mini blinds, plantation shutters, draperies, curtains, cellular shades, pleated shades, roller shades and a number of other different types. Because there are just too many different options for you, choosing the right one can be a bit overwhelming. For this, here is a guide to help you choose window treatments: • Price As with anything else, this is usually the first step when it comes to looking for the right window treatment. You need to determine how much your budget is so that you can have a price range on the probable window treatments that you want to buy. By having a budget, you can easily shortlist the ones that have caught your eye. • Size This is the next thing you need to know as the size will play a huge part in getting the right window treatment for your home. There are some instances when you can get to a store and find one that you like. If you are unable to write down what the measurements of your window are, you might end up buying one that is either too big or too small for your home. If this happens, you will only waste money on something you cannot use. • Style and Color The style of the window treatment needs to match your home. This is where your creativity will take action. You will have to choose the color that matches the predominant hue of the room where you will put the window treatment. The reason why this is important is because it will affect your home’s color scheme later on. • Type of Window Treatment Lastly, you have to decide what specific type of window treatment you want for your home. This is where you choose between curtains, shutters or blinds. The decision for this can be affected by the whole look of the room you want to put the window treatment in. If you are interested in having a modern look, shutters can be opted. If this is for an office, blinds are more appropriate. On the other hand, if they are for a bedroom, drapes are usually more appropriate. However, when it comes to how you should choose window treatments, your own preference cannot be disregarded. The above mentioned are merely some tips on how you can shorten your selection as well as the important factors that you should consider. The end decision still rests on your own choice.