How to Modernize Your Home with Window Treatments

It's a common desire to want to modernize your home. However, it's not always in the budget when you start thinking about the changes you have in mind. Choosing the right window treatments can have a similar impact without the expense of a more extensive home makeover. As an added bonus, window treatments can easily be changed or altered if you get tired of a certain look or just feel like changing things up. Here are some window treatments likely to give your home an affordable modern look:

Panels

Panels are a popular window treatment for a few very good reasons. Panels can be simple with neutral colors to add a subtle accent to your decor or you can infuse some contrasting colors into your decor with wider stripes. Incorporate bold colors for a modern, vibrant look.


Curtains

When you play with height and texture, curtains can create a wonderfully modern feel in a room. Simply changing the placement of the rod can produce a modern look by appearing to change the dimensions of the room. Create the illusion of height by placing curtains above the frame or choose curtains that gather on the floor to make a window look bigger than it really is.


Accessorize Hooks, rings and rods are great accessories that can easily add some modern touches to your window treatments. Instead of hiding your curtain rod by choosing a color that blends in with the wall, choose a bold color that stands out. Exchange old-fashioned drapery hooks for fun, funky gold or silver rings. Consider using colored, textured rope to hold your curtains back instead of traditional tiebacks.

Layers
While not a new concept, carefully selected layers can make a room look fun and modern. Take your cue from your existing decor. If you have a bright red bedspread and matching throw rugs, for instance, consider pink and red curtains layered together with white sheer curtains placed in the middle to add some privacy. The layers can be as simple or as complex as you like.

Be Bold
If you want an instant modern look, be bold and forget about matching anything. If you have a room with subtle blues and whites, for example, consider black and white curtains hung purposely unevenly spaced. The look is definitely bold, modern and eclectic and meant to be noticed. Don't be afraid to think out of the box.

Mix It Up

If you want a modern look, forget convention. There is no rule that says you can't mix and match different windows treatments throughout your home. Window blinds can accent curtains pushed to the sides or vertical blinds can be mixed with matching curtains purposely placed a few inches above the frame to create a different perspective. Some other ways to mix it up for a fun, modern look include:

• Curtain combos - Try valances with panels or sheers with more textured curtains. How about mixing up lighter fabrics with darker fabrics? How about different color panels spread across a large bay window? Again, forget convention.

• Multiple styles - Just because you have multiple windows in a room, doesn't mean that every window has to be exactly the same. Use Roman shades on one window and panels on the other for an off-balance modern look.

• Ceiling to floor - If you normally have curtains that start at the top of the frame and end where the frame ends, consider going ceiling to floor with your curtains. The result is a sleek, modern look with panels pushed to the corners to allow plenty of light into the room. Add sheers or roller shades if privacy is a concern.

The sky's the limit when it comes to what you can do to modernize your decor with window treatments. You can even soften the look of a room with curtains hung from walls with no windows for purely decorative purposes. A modern look generally means thinking outside the box by going beyond what is expected in a room. At the same time, you want to embrace light and create sleek, startling contrasts. The result is an appealing modern look that easily fits into your budget.

Author Bio
George Dennis is president of King Shade and Window, a home improvement company that supplies replacement windows for the Boston area.