Idea for inexpensive room-darkening treatment mounted outside the window frame?
Question by EllenElaina: Idea for inexpensive room-darkening treatment mounted outside the window frame?
Window is 76″ W 64″ H
Child’s room
Already have blinds mounted inside the frame that don’t block much light, but they have to stay.
Best answer:
Answer by Mary D
Plantation shutters are better at blocking light than blinds, but if the blinds stay, you should consider using drapes that are thick and dark. Between the blinds and the drapes, this should be a very effective way to keep out light.
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Categories: Window Treatments Questions Tags: frame, Idea, inexpensive, mounted, Outside, RoomDarkening, Treatment, Window
Q&A: Interior Design Help Please – Window Treatment needed!?
Question by expat g: Interior Design Help Please – Window Treatment needed!?
The focal point of our home has a big design flaw! The windows/doors follow a bay style – however the top windows the cement was poured straight.
We were able to get windows installed and the aluminum conformed to follow the bay style and it works well. Now I need to think about window cover because the afternoon sun comes in and really heats up the house. We brought an awning/canvas guy and he wanted to install all this iron extending way beyond the window so that it can cover the sides where bay goes in. Many have said to put the window treatment on outside instead of inside to prevent the heat from entering into the house in the first place. I’m up for that but I really don’t want anything too big that would distract from the look. No designs, frills, and I do like the light coming in without the heat. Any ideas? Thanks!
Best answer:
Answer by fuzzylolipop
Particularly if this is a south facing window, the best thing would have been to use low-E argon gas filled insulated windows in the first place as to repel and insulate from the heat. In my opinion an awning works best for commercial or very traditional exteriors – and I do not think that is the look you are going for. You could do a pergola that extends the length of the window and will help diffuse some of the light and still keep the feeling of the house. You could look into professionally installed window films – they do make a solar film which will cut down on the heat but it will slightly darken the light coming in. Nothing dramatic or more than the light that an awning would have altered. You could also do plantation shutters (or wooden blinds, a less expensive version of the same idea) which will help some as well and give you maximum control and flexibility with how much light comes in. Aside from those two options – option 3 would be a motorized window shade but in the end it would be closing off the window to some degree to get some control over the light and heat. Where there is light – there is heat. So in the end you will have to choose between the two to some degree.
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Q&A: What is the best window treatment to block most all light from coming in?
Question by User Name: What is the best window treatment to block most all light from coming in?
I’m a night shift worker. I’ve used foil before, and would prefer not to. I don’t want the neighbors wondering why we have foil on the windows. If there is an item I can buy in a store that would do the trick and look nice at the same time, I’d much prefer that. Thanks.
While I do appreciate the creative response to tint the windows :o) this home is a rental, and tint removal would take longer and be more of a hassle than it would probably be worth. thank you anyways though!
Best answer:
Answer by tajmina
It doesn’t have to be thick or expensive, just not let the light in. Get a large piece of cardboard, recycled from a large box or poster board. Put it over the entire window opening and secure with tacks, or if you don’t mind, duct tape, and hang a scarf or wall hanging over it. If it still leaks light, a little tape should seal it up, but be careful about your walls if you rent. You can paint the poster board so it looks nicer, or hang a pretty scarf, put some window decorations or whatever in the window area so your neighbors don’t mind. It all can go up and come down in a matter of minutes, so a change in shift won’t take up alot of time. Sleep tight.
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I live in a mobile home and in my master bathroom, I have a frosted glass window by the garden tub.
Question by ivanmyheart: I live in a mobile home and in my master bathroom, I have a frosted glass window by the garden tub.?
The problem I’m having is that from the outside, you can kinda see the outline of the person who’s in the tub when they’re standing, as in, when I get out of the tub. So my question is this: does anyone have any ideas on window treatments that would look good right there, in the bathroom? Please give details….I really appreciate it!!
Best answer:
Answer by snottierottie
The humidity in your bath is a huge factor in determining what you should do for window treatments. Anything fabric or cloth or organic (bamboo etc) will just get moldy and mildew. Your window treatments, over time will grow it too, in a humid bathroom. Stick with plastic blinds, easily cleaned!
You could also try covering it from the outside maybe with a small fence, awning, etc.
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What kind of fabric can I get for privacy and lets light in to make window treatment?
Question by averyjea: What kind of fabric can I get for privacy and lets light in to make window treatment?
Best answer:
Answer by bbr_lucky4
I like the idea of having wax paper on the window, it lets in light, but no one can see you because it’s all translucent.
You could get blinds and put up whatever curtains you want, the blinds will keep the curtains from fading quickly versus direct sunlight, or if you don’t want to put up blinds, you could just go with straight up gauzy type curtains. They let lots of light in but people cant see through them.
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Sliding Door Window Treatment?
Question by tia r: Sliding Door Window Treatment?
Is there any contemporary window treatment for a sliding door. Currently we have blinds, but our kids constantly play outside and go in and out all day long. We have to always change out the blinds. Furthermore, I just think the blinds take away from the design, but I can’t think of anything that can be used other than blinds. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Best answer:
Answer by ginny
You can use curtains, just make the rod extends beyond the door far enough so that you can pull them back in the daytime for the kids.
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Categories: Window Treatments Questions Tags: door, sliding, Treatment, Window
What do I need to do to treat a stick to turn it into a window treatment / curtain rod?
Question by KristenCO: What do I need to do to treat a stick to turn it into a window treatment / curtain rod?
I’m getting ready to cut down a couple of small pine trees on my lot (they are stealing water from my bigger trees), and I’d like to use the bigger branches as curtain rods in my house. What do I need to do to the stick before hanging it? Does it need to be treated, stained, sealed, or anything like that? Also, any advice for hanging it? THANKS!
Best answer:
Answer by parishaanta
Shellac is a great durable finish, though it will darken the wood and it is oil based so you would need solvents to clean your brushes and stuff. Polyurathane (a water based kind) would do the trick too, it is not quite as durable but would seal the wood once it was dried. It is not like curtain rods get tremendous wear and tear, so the poly protection would be fine ( and water clean up).
Though I think it would take a bit of time for the wood to dry out and there might be sap seepage if it was not dried out all the way. I am in Florida, so not too many pine trees here, but I recall sticky pine tree sticks in my Grandparents yard in Jersey.
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What is a good window treatment solution to camouflage the space heater that is right under the window?
Question by **Cullen**: What is a good window treatment solution to camouflage the space heater that is right under the window?
…taking into account materials that are nonflammable and are suitable for this application that will not be a critical fire hazard.
Best answer:
Answer by seamstress
Please reconsider putting any sort of fabric in front of a space heater as it is a very unsafe. No fabric is nonflammable, it is just fire resistant, at best. Which means it burns slowly in the event of a fire, not that it will not catch fire in the first place.
Perhaps getting a decorative metal screen would be a wiser choice as metal is fire proof. Decorative cut metal sheets are available at your local home improvement store in several patterns. Cut a sheet to size, frame it and cover the heater.
I make drapery for residential and commercial applications. Fire codes prohibit covering space heaters with fabric. Please do not do that as you are sure to start a house fire.
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Categories: Window Treatments Questions Tags: camouflage, good, heater, Right, Solution, Space, Treatment, under, Window
What are some good kitchen window treatment ideas?
Question by Mina: What are some good kitchen window treatment ideas?
I want tips on how to get the most from windows since they are a long-term investment.
Best answer:
Answer by Lady in Florida
I am very fond of the 2 inch faux wood blinds. They can cut them to fit your window at no extra charge. What I like most about them is they are very easy to clean. I put them in the bathtub with some Oxyclean and hot water and even the draw cords are like new. They give you total control of the light. Then you can add a valance over the top to make them more decorative if you want.
In most kitchens the windows are treated with fairly frilly curtains. I used a tailored valance in my latest kitchen just to be a little bit different, and it has a gathered lining (custom made) http://jansseninteriors.blogspot.com/ (the very first photo)
The most important thing to keep in mind for kitchen curtains is that they get dirty, and should be machine washable if you want them to last. Most are not very expensive.
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Q&A: Any ideas for window treatments in screened-in patio?
Question by okeydokey: Any ideas for window treatments in screened-in patio?
We completely screened in our back patio. There are 12 screen window sections top and bottom. Each pane measures 28″ x 36″. There is also a screen door added. Right now I have lace door panels on 2 of the top window sections using spring tension rods. The screen door also has a lace door panel. The other windows were completely covered on the exterior with 7ft outdoor rollup blinds. We want a little privacy and the lace curtains do OK. It gets a little dusty so we’d like to keep dust minimal from coming in. The rollup blinds are a pain and can only be worked from the outside plus they don’t hold up very well. There’s a roof overhang so very little rain comes in. Any decorating ideas for these windows?? Prefer a more contemporary look. Thanks so much in advance.
I forgot to mention that we did the floor in light earth tone linoleum. The wood was painted in a dark brown and ceiling is off white and the back wall is beige. I live in Hawaii so it can stay up all year round. Cost is no object. Love the creative & interesting ideas!
Best answer:
Answer by musicimprovedme
How about shower curtains made of vinyl or water resistant fabric? They are pre-made for very reasonable cost and would work fine outdoors because they are meant to get wet. I would try shopping somewhere like Ross or a similar place…totally clearance rack!
The other thing I can think is some particularly heavy weight tulle or mosquito netting type material, you can buy huge volumes of it for little money, like a dollar or less per yard. If you scrunch it together it offers you the privacy you want, but still allows for light. You can get a soft color like a buttery yellow or a soft blue to bathe you in a sunshine or watery feeling color, or use white or cream.
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Categories: Window Treatments Questions Tags: ideas, Patio, screenedin, Treatments, Window