Your Best Laid Plans Should Include Window Treatments!

I was watching an episode of House Hunters, An Ohio Family Relocates to Baltimore, Maryland, last week with my husband. When the couple was down to their final decision, they were thinking about what each property had to offer and what additional work they would have to do. I was impressed when the husband said, "There are a lot of things you have to add, like window treatments.."! My husband made me smile because he reacted immediately when he heard that, saying, "Wow, he even used the correct term -- window treatments, not curtains."  (Gotta love that he's paying attention!) I know from experience that this type of forethought is not always the case, though. Very often clients tell me that they "never really thought about a cost associated with the windows."

I posed this question on our Facebook page expecting to get some interesting feedback: While house hunting, did/do you consider the windows in your budget? Most people think about painting, colors, and whether furniture will fit. Maybe you've thought about having hardwoods refinished or new carpet installed. Perhaps you considered custom cabinetry or upgraded appliances. But what about the cost of "dressing" the windows?

With respect to the interesting feedback I expected, well, I was not disappointed. I have to share a response that came in from Tuuli, who commented that when shopping for treatments for her new home, a fellow customer offered some advice: "Why spend money on curtains? Just put t-shirts in your windows." Thanks for the laugh, Tuuli! For the record, I do not recommend t-shirts, even if they are designer ones!

Photo: Sagamore Beach MLS Listing

Take a look at this pic of a wonderful condo in Arlington, MA. Looks move-in ready doesn't it? Look a little more closely. Those beautiful windows let in so much natural light -- truly a selling point. But there'll come a time when the proud homeowner will want to cover those glass panes. So easy to overlook budgeting for window treatments in a place like this but those windows could potentially require up to 18 yards of fabric, depending on the treatment style desired.

Photos: Homes for Sale by Owner

 
It can be so tempting to just throw anything up on the windows "for now." But before you know it, you're still looking at that same "temporary solution" for more years than you'd bargained for! Meanwhile, looking at what you don't want for so long can change the way you see your room and prevent you from envisioning a room's possibilities. You don't want this, do you?

Can you sit down to work when your desk or your house is a mess? Do you find yourself cleaning and organizing before you begin a big project? No, that is not procrastination. What you are doing is removing clutter so you can concentrate. The principle is true when it comes to decorating. Filling space with things you don't like just for the sake of filling space just inhibits your creative process. Better to keep a blank slate so you have nothing in your way from envisioning all possibilities and planning for things you love.

My advice? Approach window treatments as a budgeted item and investment, just as you would a new sofa, dining set, or kitchen cabinets. Plan and budget for what you truly want and you'll never regret it.  Those window treatments will be up for a long time and you want to love looking at them!

Photos: Storibook Designs

I'm going to put together a series of posts that will help you to understand custom window treatments -- hardware, good/better/best scenarios, style options, etc. -- so you have the foundation you need to begin thinking and planning for custom window treatments in your home design plans. If you plan for the look you want and budget the finances to get that look, you can't go wrong!

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