Window fashions are always changing. They keep up with modern aesthetic choices and trending colors, but that’s not all that influence them. Technology influences craft. At the same time, modern, everyday stresses influence what people reach out for in design. For instance, natural colors are popular because people don’t get as much time in nature as we used to. We’ll talk about that a little bit more later. Custom window treatment colors and solutions depend on your taste most of all.

Two Tone Curtains

Two tone curtains, duo drapes…they go by a few different names. They do a great deal to create a sense of additional space for a room. A difference in light and dark tones can set off the light. Generally, it’s a good idea to use these in rooms with neutral-colored walls, and to make the darker tone match or complement this neutral tone well. The lighter color will usually overlap the space of the window itself, which will make it more pronounced and highlight the light and space in a room. Trending colors include yellows, pinks, greens, and light blues – all colors that evoke spring.

Natural Colors

When it comes to shades, the trending colors are often natural: cloudy whites, stone grays, sea blues. These colors often have a calming effect. For blinds, wood-look is popular. Faux wood blinds evoke a sense of the outside world, which can help make a room look good and feel more comfortable. Custom window treatment colors today are often centered around what’s reassuring and comforting.

Diffusion

Rather than blocking the light out, diffusion and filtering are becoming popular. Solutions range from silhouettes, which are soft fabric vanes, and to sheer treatments. These reduce light and eliminate glare without completely eliminating it. These solutions suit rooms where atmosphere is particularly important. The color choices you make here can be subdued, as the sun coming through will give the entire room its soft hue.

Trends are a way of guiding you toward solutions that might fit you. Let window fashions inform you, and at the same time, don’t feel bound by them. Design is freeing, and you should feel that when you look at the options that are at your disposal. You can customize to your heart’s content, and that lets you create, marrying current trends to the one you might start.

Need some inspiration? Contact Gallery of Shades today and setup a free in-home design consultation.

Maybe you’re creating a theme for a young child. The best advice here is to keep up the theme when it comes to curtains and shades for kids rooms. If you have a child who’s old enough to choose their own theme, then involve them in the process! This is the first and most important of our can’t-miss kids room window treatment ideas.

Decide Together!

For both girls and boys, it can be a great bonding experience to choose design elements of a room together and talk about why they work. Maybe your daughter wants to be an astronaut – what about a space theme? Perhaps your son wants to be a paleontologist – how can you work dinosaurs into the mix? There’s never an age when they’re too young for their dreams to be supported. Being part of these decisions also helps children feel invested in a space, which can encourage them to be more responsible for it and keep it tidier.

Repeating Patterns

Whether it’s anchors, stars, dinosaurs, starfish, or geometric shapes, repeating patterns help a child establish a sense of safety. Repeating patterns can help calm our minds because as we look at them, we can begin to predict how they’ll continue. This is subconsciously reassuring, and helps to create a space that’s comforting and nurturing.

Light Pastels

When it comes to children’s rooms, light pastels are suitable for all kids. From eggshell blue to pink, and sunset orange to pastel green, these light, bright colors help to keep curtains for children’s rooms cheery.

Layering

Rather than a single layer, it can be smart to incorporate sheer treatments and darker curtains for children’s rooms. This way, your choice isn’t just between light and no light. You can modify. A sheer treatment means that natural light will still come in, but the harshest light will get blocked. This allows you to keep a space bright while still keeping out the glare. You can draw the heavier curtains when you do want it to be darker.

Negative Space

Negative space is OK. A pattern doesn’t have to be dominating and overwhelming in order to work. You don’t want your curtains or shades for kids rooms to look like shower curtains because they’re so visually busy. Consistent color and how your choice influences the light in a room are both more important.

These are good guidelines to help you start, but if you need more kids room window treatment ideas, don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions. Gallery of Shades will come to your home for a free in-home design consultation and together you can choose the best shades for the room.

Shades for outdoor areas can offer you a chance to make your patio or deck more private. Outdoor patio shades – and even curtains – can keep an area cooler, making it more relaxing and even atmospheric. You can also block the view of nosy neighbors, or use blinds, sun shades, and curtains to help focus the view from your patio on a feature you like.

Patio Shades

The advantage of outdoor patio shades is that they offer UV protection. These are often used indoors to protect floors and furniture from prolonged sun damage. Outdoor shades are breathable and weather- and rust-resistant. They can offer you as much or as little light as you need.

Exterior Roller Blinds

Exterior roller blinds are a solid alternative to outdoor space shades. They can be mounted and controlled easily. These are good because they’ll still let some light in, but they’ll block the harshest light out and keep your patio private. Bamboo is a very good, lightweight material that’s now sustainably harvested, but it doesn’t offer the weather resistance of patio shades.

Curtains. Yes, Really.

A new popular idea is to hang curtains around a patio or deck. They offer excellent shade for a deck, and they stand out as a feature. Bringing the indoors outdoors can make a space feel comfortable and safe. They have a unique texture and bring out patterns boldly. Few things beat curtains for how well they block out sun and shade an area. Just make sure to protect them from the weather, and expect some fading. They’re trendy, and work well for events, but they don’t compete with patio shades as a long-term solution.

Keep it Light

We advise keeping outdoor patio shades lightweight. This carries several advantages – they still let the breeze in and encourage air flow. Heavier materials won’t have the kind of give that lets a breeze come in, and may even act as insulators. Keep it lightweight so that you don’t turn your patio into a greenhouse.

Keep it Practical

Curtains or shades for outdoors don’t necessarily need extra complexities, like frills, lace, or valences. Keep outdoors looks simple and straightforward. You can still play around with patterns and colors to your heart’s content. Neutral, deep, and natural colors each look good outdoors because, well, the outdoors matches everything!

If you are looking for the best shades for your patio, contact Gallery of Shades today!

Roman shades look beautiful in any room in your home. And did you know that they’ve been around for centuries? It’s true and while they may look complicated, the reality is that they’re a pretty simple window treatment. If you’re thinking about new window treatments and are leaning toward the more trendy shades of today or a even just a basic set of blinds, it’s time to take a look at soft Roman shades.

The Privacy Factor
One reason many people look to soft Roman shades is because they offer a great level of privacy. When they’re closed, they hang like a panel, so you have all of the privacy of a heavier drape without the weight of the drape itself. If you are looking for shades for bedroom or bathroom windows or any other spaces in your home where you want some privacy these are a great option.

Easy to Use
Many people have struggle with cords and mechanisms on a number of different window coverings, but cordless Roman shades can eliminate the problem entirely. Typically you operate them with the press of a button or a small tab and a bit of a pull or even magnetic ones. If your tired of struggling with window coverings cords, check out convenient cordless Roman shades.

Safety
Roman shades don’t have to include cords, and that means if you have small children or pets who might get tangled in the cords this is one less thing to worry with this safe choice. They’re one of the stylish modern window shades you can trust around your kids. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about the kinking or tangling for cords when you select Roman shades.

A Stylish Choice
The decision between blinds and drapes sometimes comes down to style, but with soft Roman shades, that’s not the case. Because they come in lots of different fabric choices, they’ll match your decor, providing you with the color or pattern you really want.

Roman shades have many different advantages. To learn more about whether they’re the right choice for your windows, contact us at Gallery of Shades today and schedule a free in-home design consultation.

Curtains can be the perfect addition to any space in your home for a variety of reasons. They offer privacy, temperature control, and the perfect touch to your decor that few other window coverings can offer. To get those beautiful drapes, though, you’ll have to choose a fabric you love. Learning how to choose drapery fabric is just a matter of considering these factors.

The Window’s Location: This is a key factor in choosing the right fabric for a few reasons. First, you need to think about the level of privacy you want. If the window in question faces the road or a sidewalk, you’ll need a heavier fabric with added privacy. You may also want to choose a sheer behind the fabric of your choice to add privacy while still getting the look you want. The other reason the location of your window matters is that those rooms that get a lot of sunlight need to have fabrics designed from man-made fibers covering them. Natural fibers in custom drapery like linen tend to fade quickly. Man-made fabrics last much longer in the sun.

Fabric Weight: The weight of the fabric is fairly important too. Various types of drapery fabric can help to increase energy efficiency, allow more (or less) light in, and change the way it hangs against the wall. For example, heavier fabrics don’t fold crisply when you draw them, and lighter fabrics don’t fall well against your flooring.

Color: This is the one concern virtually anyone shopping for custom drapes has, and for good reason. Color is likely the reason you went with drapes over other window treatment options initially. The right color can help make your windows shine, so select a color (and a pattern/style) that suits your decor well.

Need some help selecting the right drapes? Contact Gallery of Shades today to learn more and schedule a free in-home design consultation. We’ll find the perfect choice for any room in your home.

French doors make almost any room absolutely gorgeous. They’re a solid choice in a variety of spaces in your home because they add to the natural light while offering you an architecturally interesting focal point. The problem? Window covering choices here can be frustrating. You want something that will offer you the right amount of light and privacy, but you also want a choice that will help draw the room together. What are your real French Door window covering options? Take a peek.

• Shades: If you’re looking for a contemporary look, shades, particularly Roman shades, may be the way to go. You can choose from a variety of fabric options when you shop for shades for French doors, and they can give you the touch of softness you’re looking for. Some even roll the fabric up into a headrail to help avoid the stack at the top of the window more traditional Roman shades offered.
• Drapes: If you’re looking for the window treatment option that offers you more design possibilities and better light blocking power, custom draperies are the way to go. Drapes for French doors tend to be the most energy efficient option, and they’re the perfect way to incorporate a fabric you love.
• Blinds: Easily the most common of the window covering solutions, blinds for French Doors are the perfect way to control light and privacy. The biggest problem most people find is that they tend to get in the way of the handles, which can reduce functionality. The solution, though, is a fairly simple one. Simply buy shallow blinds for French doors that help to increase functionality and fit comfortably.

So, which French door window covering option is right for you? Contact Gallery of Shades today to learn more about your options and how we can custom design a window covering to meet your needs.

It’s unfortunate, but often window treatments of any type are an afterthought to the room. Many people will update almost every part of a room, but ignore the window treatments. New custom window treatments, though, can do so much for a space. They can give it the perfect pop it needs, and offer you benefits you hadn’t even considered. Wondering what those benefits are? Take a look.

• Your window treatments will finally match your decor. Even if you haven’t updated your decor since you installed the initial window treatments, there’s a good chance they don’t match anymore. Wondering why? The sun’s rays break window treatments down over time, and that means that the perfect blue you chose fifteen years ago is no longer the color you once thought it was, and that translates to time for an update! Custom window treatments can help.
• You’ll find added privacy. When was the last time you shopped for window treatments? Plastic vertical blinds and other outdated options don’t always come with a lot of privacy, but some of today’s hottest trends in window treatments certainly do. Neutral roller shades that will silently disappear behind the valance with a touch of a button will do a lot of your privacy.
• You can protect your investment(s). Your home is your biggest investment, but the chances are good you spent quite a bit on your furniture and your flooring too. If you’re not routinely protecting those two things from the sun, you may have wasted your money. Over time, the sun’s rays shining in through that window again and again will fade your furniture and hurt your flooring, but the right window treatments can protect them.
• Your children will be safer. Window treatments with exposed cords are a strangulation hazard for small children. They can also be a strangulation hazard for your pets as well. The best way to protect them is to select cordless window treatments.
• Create temperature control. If you’re hot in the summer but cold in the winter, your chosen window treatments could have something to do with the problem. With the right new window treatments, though, you could lower your heating and cooling bill and make each room comfortable once more.

Ready for new window treatments? Contact Gallery of Shades today, and we’ll come up with the perfect Scottsdale window treatments to meet your needs.

Your curtains may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to keeping your house clean, but they should absolutely be on the list. Understanding how to clean window curtains is essential. Dust collects on your curtains on a regular basis, as do odors. If you have pets, pet hair may pile up on your curtains as well.  If the thought of cleaning curtains, seems a bit overwhelming, these tips can help.

• Care Labels Are Your Friend: Just as your clothes have a care label on them to help you understand how to wash them, your curtains should have a similar label. Some curtains can simply be thrown in the wash if you’re interested in cleaning curtains at home. Others, though, will need to be dry cleaned for best results. Keep in mind that you need to know the care instructions for both the curtains and the backing, if they have backing. While the fabric may be machine washable, it’s possible that the backing isn’t. You should try to wash your curtains or have them cleaned at least twice each year. It’s really the best way to clean curtains.
• Weekly Cleaning: Deep cleaning in the wash only needs to be handled on an occasional basis, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your curtains the rest of the time. Instead, you can clean them routinely with a gentle routine. Use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum to keep the dust and pet hair to a minimum on a weekly basis. You can typically use soap and water to spot clean any problem areas, as well.
• A Dryer Cycle: With some fabrics, you can run the curtains through the no heat cycle in your dryer once a month or so to help keep the dust to a minimum. Set your dryer’s timer for ten minutes, put your curtains in, and remove them promptly. You’ll have fresher curtains, and they’ll be wrinkle free.

Cleaning curtains doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a little weekly and monthly maintenance, they’ll continue to look amazing for years!

If you are in the market for new curtains, contact Gallery of Shades for a free in-home design consultation.

Many people shun sheer window treatments with the thought that they’re out of style or simply won’t work well in a given room. The simple truth, though, is that learning about sheer window coverings means understanding they are completely worth the investment, and they can bring so many benefits to a room. Take a look.

• Minimal Light Filtering: While options like blackout curtains certainly have a time and a place, the airy feel sheers bring to a space do too. If you have an open floor plan or you have gorgeous windows where you just want the light to shine in brightly, sheers can be a good choice. They offer privacy, but you still get natural lighting throughout the room.
• Timeless Style: Sheer window treatments work with both modern and traditional room styles. What’s more, though, is that they can go in virtually every space in a home, creating a wall to wall look that will help to tie all of your styles together. They work well in rooms with lots of other bold elements, like patterns, too because they offer some visual consistency. Even if you want them as a stand-alone, they manage to create a soft, gentle look that helps create visual peace in a room.
• A Variety of Neutral Colors: While many people think sheers only come in white, the reality is there are many types of window sheers, and they’re available in many different neutral shades. While they often come in white or off-white, you could go with a gray color that would add a bit of a flair if you have pale wall colors. Something like an Oatmeal might be perfect against a white wall for a bit of a color shift, too.

The possibilities with sheers are absolutely endless. To learn more about whether they’re right for your space, contact us today at 480-643-0014.