When redecorating, you can enhance -- or completely recreate
the mood in each room of your house with just a few strategic changes. By
determining the optimal mood for each room before you start decorating, many of
your other decisions will be easier to make.
Wall color and window treatments
are the two most powerful mood setters in room décor. Assuming your walls are
already painted or papered, your next consideration in setting the mood of each
room is the appropriate window shades and blinds.
The Effects Of
Lighting On Mood And Appearance:
Brightly lit rooms inspire activity while rooms with more
subdued lighting create a more calming, intimate feel. Decorating disasters
often occur when window shades and blinds create lighting environments that are
in stark contrast to the wall color and furnishings of a room.
Red, yellow, and
blue are best suited for active rooms such as kitchens and playrooms. These
rooms look their best when window shades and blinds provide plenty of sunshine
while preventing glare. The sunlight adds a cheerful note to the mood of the
room and complements the color scheme.
Bedrooms and dens are better suited for earth tone colors,
such as greens, browns, gold, and purples with heavier window shades and blinds
made out of wood or other natural fibers.
These materials allow you to
eliminate sunlight for those weekend mornings when you are able to sleep in.
Heavier window treatments also allow you to protect your darker wood furniture
and books from the damage caused by too much sunlight.
Selecting The Best
Materials And Styles:
Window shade and blinds materials make a significant
difference in the look and feel of your rooms. There are more options available
today than ever before. Window treatments include curtains, sheers, shades,
blinds, and shutters.
Today's blinds are made from wood, faux wood, woven wood,
aluminum, and vinyl and they come in a variety of widths, from 1" to 2-5/8",
and can be horizontal, vertical, or roller style. Window shades are made from
fabric vanes and panels, natural fibers, and other materials and they can be
pleated, cellular, bottom to top pull style, and even made to fit arched
windows and skylights.
Heavier, more natural materials will create a softer light
and a more soothing mood for your room. More modern, lightweight materials
provide a brighter light source and a more stimulating environment. Most window
treatments now offer extra light blocking and insulation capabilities, reducing
your utility bills and protecting your possessions from sun damage.
Design Options Using
Window Treatments:
The correct combination of style and materials can make a
significant difference in the overall feel of your room. A child's playroom
would be best suited to brightly colored, sturdy materials that diffuse only
some of the light coming in through the window.
Special cord safety features
are also available to prevent choking risk. Dens, libraries, and bedrooms are
best suited to heavier, more natural materials and designs, creating a more
elegant ambiance.
Kitchens and workrooms are ideal locations for vinyl and
aluminum blinds in lighter colors, providing the necessary light to make
working in these rooms easier.
Clearly, the sky is the limit when it comes to using window
shades and blinds to create specific moods for each of the rooms in your home
or office.
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