Window Treatment FAQs

Window treatment can paralyze a decorating project. Should you go with mini-blinds or shutters? Long draperies or just a valance? A decorative rod or something plain? Tiebacks or straight panels?

You may be tempted to just buy something, anything to be done with it. However, there are ways to go about choosing wisely.

***WINDOW TREATMENT FAQs***

Q. I just moved into a new house and need window treatments. What should I know first?

Learn about the basics of windowcoverings (privacy, light control, function, and style). Then prioritize your needs for each window. Layer the treatments for the most versatility. For instance, put mini-blinds next to the glass to control light and hang fabric panels for style and color.

Q. I went shopping for curtain rods but found so many choices that I gave up. How can I narrow the field and make a good choice?

Decide first on the function of the rod. Do you need something that closes for privacy or do you just want a stationery decorative element? Will the rod hold tab top drapes, rod pocket panels, or draw drapes on traverse rods? Next, look at size and scale. A tiny room may look better with smaller, delicate rods whereas a big room will be able to carry the weight of larger hardware. Next decide on finish. Match the wall color so rods "disappear" or create contrast by using a finish that will stand out.

Q. I have a great view out of my living room. Unfortunately the sun beats in all day long and I've noticed that some of my upholstery fabrics are fading. Do I have to cover the windows?

You could cover the windows to control the sunlight. For instance, mini blinds could be installed and tilted so that direct sun is blocked. However, this will also cut down on your view. To preserve the open expanse of glass, look into having your windows tinted. Done properly you won't notice much of a difference, however the tinting film cuts out nearly all of the damaging UV rays that fade and cause fabrics to break down. It is not an expensive project, especially if you are only doing one or two rooms.

Q. My bedroom window looks directly into the kitchen of the house next door. I don't want to block the light with drapes, but need more privacy.

You might consider using shutters or hanging a cafe curtain to cover the bottom of the window. The "bottom up" option for shades and blinds is another solution. These draw up from the bottom for privacy, but allow a view out of the top portion of the window. Or, look for a pretty stained glass window to set in the window sill which will look beautiful and offer some privacy.

Q. Where should I hang a curtain rod -- at the top of the window frame or higher?

You can hang the rod just above the window frame. However, for a more elegant look, hang it closer to the ceiling. This will offer a longer sweep of fabric and will help visually heighten the room a bit. Make the rods wide enough so that the stackback of drapery fabric will clear the sides of the window, rather than covering part of the glass.

Q. I like tab top drapery panels. Can I open and close these?

If your curtain rod is within reach you may be able to slide the tabs over to open and close the panels, but it could be cumbersome on a daily basis. Tab top panels are most often used as a stationery treatment over another light and privacy-controling covering (such as a shade or blinds).

Windowcovering Terminology:

Are you interested in learning more about windowcoverings? Start with these terms and you'll soon know the difference between butterfly pleats and fan shades, festoons and cascades.

Here's a guide to window treatment terms, from A to Z:

A

Apron: Window molding located below the window sill on a window frame.

Austrian Shade: A fabric windowcovering with soft draping scallops which run the length of the shade. They move up and down by a series of cords threaded through rings.

Awning Windows: Windows which are hinged on top and swing outward to open. They are usually rectangular, and wider than they are long.

B

Balloon Shades: Fabric shades with deep inverted pleats that fall into airy, rounded poufs at the bottom.

Bay Window: A window area that extends outward from the main wall, forming an protrusion on the exteriof of the home.

Bias: This term refers to the grain in fabric. The bias grain runs diagonally at a 45 degree angle to the straight grain and tends to stretch when pulled.

Bishop's Sleeve Curtains: Extra long curtain panels that are cinched up gathered up and over the cinched area.

Box Pleats: Deep, inverted, tailored pleats which are flat on the right side of the drapery to create a classical boxy look.

Brighton Shades: Similar to balloon shades, but without the pleats, rings, and cords along the sides. This allows the sides to fall in relaxed tails. The center section is usually wider than the sides.

Butterfly Pleats : A pleat with two, rather than three, folds to distinguish it from the basic pinch pleat.

C

Cafe Curtains: A window treatment that covers only the bottom half of a window. A cafe rod is most often hung at the halfway point of the window, at sash level.

Cascades: Side panels, usually pleated, which flank swags. They can be long or short.

Casement Window: A casement window has two verical sections that crank open outward.

Casing: A tunnel of fabric created by stitching parallel seam on folded fabric. A curtain rod is threaded through the casing.

Cathedral Window: These windows are usually seen in rooms with cathedral ceilings. The top of the window follows the slope of the ceiling. Many times the sloped top of the window is left bare.

Combination Rods: Two or three drapery rods sharing one set of brackets. They are used when installing draperies with sheers, or to create any layered look.

Cornice: A decorative wooden, fabric, or foam header placed above a window to conceal drapery hardware.

Curtain: Usually unlined, a curtain is a panel of hemmed fabric hung from a rod at the top of a window. Panels can be floor length or end at the windowsill.

D

Draw Draperies: Draperies which hang from a traverse rod and can be drawn to open or closed over the window by means of a cording system. Double Fullness: Using fabric that is twice the measured width of the window. Double fullness creates a fuller look and that is more pleasing to view than skimpy fabric. Dowel: A round of unfinished wood that is available in many lengths and sizes. Dowels can be used as inexpensive curtain rods, and can be painted, stained, or fabric-covered, and finished with finials on each end. Draping: A technique of looping and securing fabric in graceful curves and folds.

E

Envelope Shades: Casual curtains attached to a mounting board and hung as a pair of flat panels. The bottom inside corners are pulled out and hooked onto the wall.

F

Facing: The strip of fabric that is sewn to the raw edge of a fabric and folded back to the wrong side.

Fan Shades: Arcs of fabric pulled together in the center by cords and rings fastened to the back of the shades. The arc, or fan, faces down. When lowered, the shade becomes a flat panel.

Fan Curtains: The same as the fan shade, but used on half circle windows with the fan facing up. A curved curtain rod is required to install fan curtains.

Festoon : see Swag.

Finial: A decorative piece attached to the ends of drapery rods. Usually made of wood or metal and can be many sizes and shapes.

Finish: Product applied to fabric as a protection against water marks and fading.

French Door : A door with with rectangular panes of glass extending the full length. Usually hung with a pair of doors in one frame, with both doors opening outward.

Fringe: A decorative trim sewn onto the edges and hems of curtain panels and rugs. Also often used to decorate pillows and lampshades.

Fullness: Refers to the width of the fabric in relation to the curtain rod. Most window treatments are two to three times fullness.

G

H

Header: The top edge of a rod-pocket curtain that forms a ruffle when the curtain is on the rod.

Hopper Windows : These windows are hinged at the bottom and open inward from the top - the reverse of awning windows.

J

Jabot: Piece of fabric, long or short, which drape down on either side of a swag or valance, often pleated and tapered.

K

Kick Pleated Valances: Constructed like box pleats, but the pleats are spaced further apart.

Knotting: A technique used when looping and arranging fabric panels.

L

Lambrequins: Eleborate cornices, usually made of wood, which extend all or part of the way down the sides of the window. They are often padded and upholstered.

Lining: Fabric used as a backing for drapery panels. Lining can provide body and fullness, light control, and privacy. Often lining fabrics are decorative and chosen to be a pleasing contrast to the drapery fabric.

M

Mounting Board: A wooden board installed either inside or outside the window frame to which some types of window treatments are attached.

Mullion: Wood trim that sets off smaller panes of glass in a window.

N

Nap A fabric with a texture or design that runs on one direction such as corduroy and velvet. A fabric with a nap will often look different when viewed from various directions. When using a fabric with a nap, all peices must be cut and sewn together so the nap runs in only one direction.

O

Overlap: The area where drapery panels lap over each other at the center of a two-way traverse rod.

P

Passementerie: Fancy edgings or trims which emphasize the shape of the curtain, such as fringe, tassels, braid, and ruffles. Plinth: A square of decorative wood installed at the corners of a window frame.

Puddled Curtains: Curtains with long side panels allowed to drape and puddle onto the floor to create a soft, full look.

Projection: The distance from the front of the drapery rod to the wall on which it is mounted.

R

Railroading: Refers to using fabric horizontally rather than vertically. Fabric without a nap or a directional design can be railroaded easily. Used to avoid seams in long lengths of fabric (as in dust ruffles).

Repeat: How often the pattern is duplicated at intervals down the fabric or wallcovering. One repeat is one full pattern.

Return: The portion of the drapery extending from the corner of the rod to the wall, enclosing the brackets of the drapery hardware.

Right Side: The printed side of the fabric that is used as the finished side of an item. The right side generally has the most color and the most finished look to it.

Rings: Rings of wood or plastic are hooked or sewn to the top edge of a curtain and these rings are then threaded through the curtain rod.

Rod Pocket Curtains: The most common window treatment. A stitched pocket at the top of the curtain is gathered or shirred onto a curtain rod.

Roller Shades: Shades made of vinyl or fabric attached to spring rollers, mounted to the inside window casing or the window frame.

Roman Shades: Drawn up from the bottom by means of cords and rings, these shades create horizontal folds when raised. A roman shade panel is flat when lowered and covers the window glass completely.

Ruching: Extremely tight gathers used as a decorative top finish to a panel.

S

Self-Styling Tape: A stiff tape with woven-in cords used to create pleated and shirred curtains. Selvage: The selvage edges of fabric are the finished sides of the lengthwise grain.

Sheer: A drapery panel made of sheer or translucent fabric, sometimes used underneath an outer drapery.

Shirred Curtains: Curtains stretched tightly and gathered on rods at both the top and the bottom.

Stackback (or stacking space) : The area of the wall where drapery comes to rest when it is opened and the window is exposed. Draperies are sometimes installed so that the stackback clears the window frame, allowing an unobstructed view.

Stagecoach Valance: Used on narrow windows, this is a panel of fabric mounted on a board, and attached to the inside frame of the window. It is rolled up and tied in the center with a ribbon.

Straight Grain: The lengthwise threads of the fabric, running parallel to the selvages.

Swag : One or more pieces of fabric draped over a rod, typically used at the top of a window treatment with jabots. Also known as a festoon.

T

Tab-Top Curtains: Curtains with fabric bands attached to the top into which a decorative curtain rod is inserted.

Tension Rod: A curtain rod which stays in place inside the window frame through spring tension.

Tie-Tab Curtains: Similar to tab-top curtains, but with ribbons or fabric bands tied over the rod, instead of sewn in place.

Tiebacks : Fabric bands, cords, or other material that shape the curtain or drape and holds them back from the window.

Traverse Rod: Adjustable drapery rods that open and close the window treatment by pulling a cord.

Trim: Decorative cording, braids, or fringes applied to the edges or hems of draperies, to match or contrast the panel fabric.

Triple Fullness: A fabric panel that is three times the width of the window. Often sheers and lightweight curtains are made in triple fullness.

V

Valance : A window treatment that covers the top of the window and the drapery hardware. A valance is made of matching or contrasting fabric, often with a casing at the top, and gathered onto a curtain rod. .

Velcro: Hook and loop tape used for attaching fabric to a mounting board. Sometimes used for lightweight fabrics and valances.

Venetian Blinds: Blinds made of metal or wooden slats, attached to cloth tape, and worked by a cord on a pulley system, and available in many widths, colors, and sizes. Blinds provide excellent light control while allowing some view to the outside.

W

Warp and Weft: Refers to the direction threads in a fabric. Warp threads run the length of the fabric. Warp threads are crossed by the weft threads that run from selvage to selvage across the width of the fabric.

Window Scarf: A long piece of fabric casually draped over a pole or rod at the top of a window like a valance. The center is gently pulled down to create a soft curve.

Wrong Side: The back of the fabric. The less finished side that may have stray threads or a more rough look to it.

X - Y - Z

And there you have it!!

Window Treatment Articles Coming Soon:

**Window treatment in a childs room.

**Window treatment with curtains

** Window treatment with blinds

** Homemade window treatment

** Window treatments with shutters

** Window treatment hardware

** Window treatment for your home

**Wndow treatment instructions and patterns

** Window treatment borders, details and photos

** Window treatment for arched windows

Bay Window Treatment

Window Hardware

Vinyl Windows

Window Types

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