33 Stylish Window Treatment Ideas That Dress Up Interiors in an Instant

It's a hard truth to admit: Just as most people look better with clothes on (sorry, it's true!), windows do too. Window treatment ideas-curtains, shades, and blinds-shouldn't be an afterthought but an important part of room design. What's more, window coverings add privacy, conserve energy, and bring an extra element of pattern or color into a space.

"Regardless of your intention, window treatments are the perfect way to enhance or soften a room," Houston designer Kara Childress says. "Patterned draperies can add depth and create a focal point in a room, whereas natural woven or solid-textured panels add an additional layer of detail to a space. Additionally, a sheer panel acts as a petticoat, gently adding a soft layer that blocks unsightly objects or harsh light."

If you're hoping to maximize natural light in your living room or add the perfect finishing touch to the home decor, we rounded up a plethora of window treatment ideas from designers and the AD archives to get the job done right.

What is the most popular window treatment today?
Wading through window treatment ideas comes with a problem on par with ordering coffee at Starbucks: too many options. Thankfully, designers were willing to weigh in with insider home decor tips. "Simplicity is timeless and never really goes out of style," says Dorset, Vermont-based designer Joshua Smith, who loves tailored European pinch pleats and classic Roman shades. "It may not be the trend but is always beautiful, light, and fresh in more traditional window coverings." Pinch pleats are also a go-to of Minnesota designer Bria Hammel, who likes that they appear tailored and classic "without being too fussy" (a major boon).

If you're a "more is more" kind of person, you're in luck too: "We're definitely seeing a rise of the draperies that have a cornice over them, and tassels, trims, and tie-backs," Smith says. Miriam Dillion of Washington, D.C.'s, Barnes Vanze Architects notes that clients are asking for automated Roman shades behind more traditional pleated panels, while Eddie Maestri, principal architect, creative director and owner of Dallas-based Maestri Studio, sees both panels and Roman shades taking top place. Whatever you select, just remember: "Drapery is a huge part of the budget, so we want them to last. It's not something that you want to "overdo" and then be tired of the pattern or detailing in a few years," Smith says.

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article courtesy Architectural Digest