Absolute Journal
What Is the Modern Way to Dress a Window?
The Evolution of Modern Window Treatments
For as long as people have had windows, there have been window treatments. Today, there are more options than ever, and in the modern home, the focus is on balancing aesthetics with functionality. Customisation allows homeowners to choose from a near endless variety of fabrics, colours, patterns and styles, to create unique window treatments made to their specifications, and continued advancements in sustainability help promote eco-friendly options. Window treatments can be made anti-microbial, hypoallergenic, and some can even improve air quality. What’s more, smart home innovation is becoming more accessible and affordable, allowing for the integration of smart technologies, in order to enhance window treatments. So, what is the modern way to dress a window? There are so many options that it can sometimes be confusing, but here, we will simplify the key points regarding modern window treatments, to help you choose the perfect options for your home.
Key Elements of Contemporary Window Dressing
To begin our discussion of contemporary window treatment design, let’s look at some of the key elements to consider when choosing your window dressings.
- Minimalism and Clean Lines: Modern design emphasises simplicity, with uncluttered décor and an unfussy aesthetic. Modern window treatments reflect this ideology, in streamlined, sleek styles. Roller blinds and vertical blinds are perfect examples of this aspect of modern design.
- Smart Technology Integration: Motorised and automated window treatments are the ultimate in convenience, able to be controlled by a smartphone or with voice activation. Many different types of window treatments can be motorised, including roller blinds, Roman blinds, Venetian blinds, and curtains.
- Energy Efficiency: Modern homeowners value energy conservation, which means window treatments that provide insulation and temperature control. Cellular shades, for instance, have superior insulating properties, and can help keep your home comfortable while cutting your energy costs.
- Multifunctional Designs: Ideally, modern window treatments serve multiple purposes, all at once. Privacy, light control, and insulation can all be managed with the same window covering, like Absolute Blinds’ day and night roller blinds.
- Natural and Sustainable Materials: Modern design embraces natural materials, and for modern window treatments, eco-friendly options are steadily growing in popularity. For instance, bamboo and recycled fabric blinds are sustainable options, made from renewable materials, with non-toxic finishes to reduce or eliminate off-gassing.
Modern Window Dressing Techniques
Working within the framework of those elements, there are some window dressing techniques to consider when decorating a modern home. First, always keep functional simplicity and sleek design at the forefront of your decorating scheme. Clean lines, neutral tones, natural fabrics, and minimal hardware give a streamlined, contemporary look, and a successful modern window treatment enhances the space in a way that perfectly blends form and function.
- Layering with sheer fabrics gives a feeling of depth while keeping the look light and airy. There are a few ways to customise this look to suit your style, adding interest while still allowing light to filter into the room. A sheer base layer like muslin or linen can create a soft backdrop for blinds or heavier drapes, or you can incorporate different textures to bring in a cosy feel. Layering solid and sheer curtains can also be stunning, and allows you to control the depth and transparency of your window treatments. Absolute Blinds offers sheer curtains and layered shading solutions to help you create your perfect look.
- Monochromatic schemes play into the modern aesthetic beautifully. Matching the window treatments to the wall colours creates a seamless look. One of the hallmarks of modern design is the neutral, monochromatic colour palette. Using just a few colours in your home, adding interest with texture, and keeping it simple are key in creating a cohesive modern look. Absolute Blinds can help you define a beautiful, modern colour palette with our colour-matching service.
- Geometric patterns and textures are a good way to subtly add visual interest. Repetition is a hallmark of modern décor, and repeating a few geometric shapes throughout the room can make a room visually appealing. Remember to keep it simple, as clutter can ruin a modern look. Simplicity is central to this aesthetic, and you can choose a small scale, minimalist pattern, or go dramatic with a large-scale print. Patterned roller blinds and textured Roman shades are good examples of how patterns and textures can make window treatments more interesting.
- Floor-to-ceiling treatments create an illusion of height and grandeur. Use white, sheer or light-filtering curtains to maintain an open, airy ambiance. Vertical blinds can also be used to make windows seem taller and the room seem larger. Another striking option is wave curtains, which have an elegant contemporary appeal.
- Minimalist hardware won’t disrupt the sleek look of your window treatments. Little details can have a major impact on your décor, and window hardware is no exception. Using concealed mechanisms and sleek mounting options to maintain the minimalist appeal of your room. Recessed blinds can help keep a sleek, cohesive look to your window treatment, as can hidden track systems.
Innovative Modern Window Treatment Options
The modern aesthetic is attractive and functional, and enhancing your modern window treatments with the latest innovations can elevate your design even further.
- Smart glass and switchable films are high tech solutions that allow instant privacy and light control, at the touch of a button. They can also help improve your home’s energy efficiency. Smart glass is typically used in new construction, while switchable films can be retrofitted for any window. Absolute Blinds is in partnership with smart glass manufacturers, and can help you determine if this is the right option for you.
- Dual purpose blinds combine light filtering and blackout options. By combining two different types of shades, they provide enhanced functionality, allowing better control over light filtration and privacy. They are versatile and customisable, with options for sheer and opaque sections, and can help improve energy efficiency. Most dual shades Product Highlight: Absolute Blinds' dual roller blinds.
- Window treatments for outdoor-indoor transition can bring continuity while maintaining minimalistic style. Choose seamless treatments for large glass doors and indoor-outdoor spaces, to avoid disrupting your modern decorating scheme. When choosing, consider the need for UV protection when dressing large transitional windows, and don’t forget to think about light and privacy needs. Even as you are thinking about finding custom solutions for the inside of your large indoor-outdoor transitions, consider exterior shading solutions, as well.
Customisation in Modern Window Dressing
When you are choosing modern window treatments, made-to-measure solutions are the best way to assure the best option for your windows. At Absolute Blinds, we can provide window treatments that will perfectly complement your rooms, no matter your décor scheme. We provide colour matching to create window treatments that perfectly complement your home, in a wide array of types, styles, designs, and colours.
How Absolute Blinds Offers Personalised Options for Modern Homes
Modern window treatments beautifully integrate technology, for enhanced functionality, without sacrificing style. When you are designing a beautiful modern home, you are sure to find the perfect window dressing at Absolute Blinds. Founded in 1998, we are a family owned company with a team that takes pride in offering guidance and expertise to our customers. Since 2008, we have been manufacturing our own roller blinds and vertical blinds, which means better quality control for us and reduced lead time for our customers. Today, our product lines have expanded to include a wide range of options, from traditional Roman blinds to contemporary conservatory blinds to private blackout blinds. We welcome both domestic and commercial clients, providing excellent service, regardless of the size of your project. To learn more about what we have to offer, view our blinds online, or book an appointment to visit our showroom in Welwyn Garden City. We welcome customers from St Albans, Hertford, and the surrounding areas, providing both ready-made and made-to-measure options. Visit our showroom or contact us through our website, and our friendly, knowledgeable staff will help you find the perfect window treatments to suit your space, style, and budget.
