To cover or not - that is the question

Question

A little over a year we moved to this house. We loved it because the living room, dining roomand kitchen are all open. So we can talkto each other or our guests while we are preparing meals.

The living room has three windows that look out over frontof the house. The dining room has twowindows and a door that goes onto the deck. All six openings are the same. Wehave not bothered to do any window dressings privacy is not an issue. Our nearest neighbor is about two acresaway. None of our windows or theirs faceeach other’s houses. As you can see fromthe pictures, we have trees pretty much around us.

My question is: should I cover the windows and doorespecially during the winter or leave them as they are? Thanks for your help.

Teri · Answer

Our house is the same set up. I would leave it the way it is. In our house if I were to cover them it makes the rooms smaller in which I didn't like.

Shari · Answer

When privacy is not an issue, I think fabric window dressings are a matter of personal preference and style. Curtains can make a room feel more cozy and conserve heat in the winter but since you are in Georgia, you probably don't experience long bouts of bitter cold like other parts of the country. I generally like curtains in other people's homes but not so much in mine. My last home was small and I felt like curtains just took up visual space and made the rooms feel even smaller. I only used white 2 inch faux wood blinds with nice moldings around the windows (like your first picture), or plantation shutters. Although my current home is twice the size of my former home, I have primarily done the same thing with my windows here--white 2 inch faux blinds and white plantation shutters for light and heat control. Curtains can also make a room feel more formal so since my style is rather casual and cottagey, the blinds and plantation shutters are a look that works for me. If you do decide you would like to soften any of your rooms with curtains, I don't think I would bother to make them functioning to cover the whole windows since you don't need them for privacy and you have a lovely view of nature that you probably don't want to cover up. Just a stationary panel on each end of the window would give you soft and cozy without the expense of whole window coverage.

Carol Meyer · Answer

like them as they are.

Melanie N · Answer

I would leave them - let the outside in. If your rooms are in need of some color or warmth, or want something to tie it all in, you could do short valances across the top of the windows...but I love natural light; I wouldn't block that out!

Blinds.com · Answer

Since privacy isn't an issue, it seems like light and temperature control might be the only reason you'd need window coverings. Having problems with glare on the tv or solar heat in the afternoons? Light filtering cellular shades will cut the glare, and give you some insulation against heat. Plus, they stack so small that they practically disappear when raised.

One other thing we noticed: Your existing blinds seem to be missing their valences. These are decorative wood pieces that attach to the headrail and cover up hardware. Call your manufacturer to see if you can get a replacement, or give us a ring and we'll see what we can do to help. (800-505-1905) This will give you a much more polished look.

Katnip 943 · Answer

I would either use wood blinds or shutters, no coverings.

Deb Bonham · Answer

Leave alone. Enjoy the outside. It looks beautiful as it is.

Patricia W · Answer

We live in the country, only one neighbor to the north, and we have a line of evergreen trees along that fence. I love the open, light and sun getting in. I have just little valances on the tops of my kitchen windows, and thats fine. My livingroom faces the road, but our home is back a bit, I do keep drapes in the windows that are low, and none in the higher windows. leave it alone, enjoy the natural light!

KrysFL · Answer

I would add something to the top to cover the top of the blind (usually blinds come with a strip that covers the mechanics... and for me, I would either put matching blinds on your French doors or white sheers.

Amy Rohde · Answer

I would frame the windows with long panels, possibly even stationery ones. That will give you a softer look but not block your view. We added plantation shutters to our first floor, and for me, I missed the fabric so I use long panels that don't obstruct the beauty of the shutters or the outside view.

Pure Home · Answer

Hi there, the best solution for this kind of window set up are just plain, flat panels that lay flat in between and on the sides of the windows. For the doors, just a panel on each side will complete it. This will create a sense of warmth within your space, give it class, and pull it all together! You have a beautiful home, btw. Here is a suggestion: http://www.purehome.com/home-accessories/curtains/diem-loft-ombre-grey-linen-drapery-panel

Susan S · Answer

I, too, agree that it's a matter of preference. Any curtains take up a lot of visual space and if you like a clean uncluttered look, stick with what you have. A valance can add a pop of color!

Mar M · Answer

We live in a center colonial in a residential neighborhood and have not had curtains or drapes for over 20 years. I love the natural light that comes in. Since our flat screen TV is in the living room, I decided to go the way of white wooden blinds. I am so happy I did this. The blinds let in the light and provide privacy when we need it. I love the look of the blinds both closed and open. Yours look beautiful just the way they are. No fuss no bother, just pure nature light.

Sue · Answer

I like sheers for a softer look. You could just have them on the sides or across the whole window. They do not block light or view. Just a thought.:)

Liliana Wells · Answer

Thank you everyone for your kind suggestions. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

I agree with Sue about adding sheers to the windows to soften them up. I love natural light and I do not like blinds because they block my sunshine. I live in the suburbs and privacy is an issue but I do not care! I figure if you want to stare in my windows and see me in my pjs then go ahead LOL I love windows and I love sunshine. You are so lucky not to have close neighbors.

Cassi Collins · Answer

I love swags! We moved to a mountain home a year ago and all our windows look out into the forest. I love the light and bringing the outdoors in, so I didn't want to cover the windows. But the starkness of the windows didn't blend well with our 'cozy mountain home' feeling. I found swags in a pine cone design that are just perfect. They frame the windows, giving them a cozy, homey, look, without taking anything away from the openness and the view. In our previous home, I used sheers to give a softer look without closing off the view outside.

Carol · Answer

I agree with Amy R., in adding simple panels. Think of it as covering the wall space rather than the window. One wide valance over all three windows (hung high enough that the bottom of the valance just covers the top mechanism of the blinds, not the window) and panels beside and between the windows (hung so the window molding is just covered, not the window itself) will make the windows look bigger....really! When windows are left as your picture shows, I feel they look 'forgotten'.

Janet koons · Answer

That looks awesome like that. Keeping it light and simple.

Norma Smith · Answer

I would hang panels between the window so that you do not block the view but give the room a more finished look. And put a valance above the door.

Kim Dagenais · Answer

I would add faux or wood blinds, in the colour the matches your wood furniture best. Then add a small solid colour valance on top maybe. I don't have any valances myself, and I love the plain wood blinds in my windows. At least if you want, you have the choice of pulling the blinds all the way up to expose the whole window. I do that myself on occasion.

Cyndi Moore Tippett · Answer

I am a huge fan of valances....I don't do full length curtains, so I put valances on all my windows. They can be just a small (1/4 of the window length) or large (3/4 of the length of the window) one. I love them because they don't obscure the view outside, but add a finished look to the window.

Donna Conrad · Answer

...Hand No Rods! Use Hooks - And Just Drape Lots of Fabric - Like One Long Shawl From Top To Bottom - The Hooks Won't Show - And You Can Change Your Fabric According To Seasons - Such As Sheer For Spring/Summer - A Light-weight Color Or Print - Even Burlap Or Painter's Drop Cloth For Autumn - And Of Course At Winter - Holidays - Drape The Fabric Through Small Grape Vine Wreaths - You Have Many Choices Without Using Heaving Curtains/Drapes And No Holes In The Wall From The Rods.

Margery Thompson · Answer

The back of my house faces our pool and large old hardwood trees with no homes in sight. The family room is mostly glass with fixed transoms. The kitchen is a bay of windows which has no window treatments. The transoms in the family room have leaded glass with a pattern I designed and that is it. I love all the natural light that does not obstruct the view of the pool and garden. No fabric to collect dust, fade or requiring dry cleaning. Go for the natural light!

Liliana Wells · Answer

Thanks again everybody.

Pamela · Answer

We live in the country, on a hill. Our guest room shave blinds & sheers. Our bedroom has blinds. I always have all of the blinds pulled up during the the day & closed during the hot or cold parts of the day or night. We so enjoy our views out our windows that we don't want them covered. We have valances that are hung higher up than the window & they come down to cover the blinds when they are pulled up all the way. This softens the affect & adds color & helps if you have wood floors to absorb the noise.

Jeanette S · Answer

43 years in the same house and I am sick of buying curtains/drapes/blinds/sheers, etc. So I decided to get those faux wooden blinds you can have cut to size at Home Depot and no more curtains for me. The only window covers I have the one over the sink in the kitchen and a matching one in the second window. When they fail to wash up white, out they will go and no more for me! I like your windows just like they are!

Eroque022810 · Answer

I wouldn't. I think they look beautiful just like the are and clean. Wait til after the winter and see if you feel a draft then buy all means yes. Ask yourself why you are questioning this now. How do you feel is all that matters. If you're interested in adding color that's one way but there are many more ess permanent and cheaper ways,for instance pillows...  If it's because guest have asked you forget them it's your sanctuary not their's.

To cover or not - that is the question

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To cover or not - that is the question

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