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What To Do with Small Windows

Small windows can be hard to cover. Often the window treatments physically don’t fit in the smaller space, or their design aesthetic is too overwhelming for the smaller proportions; either way, the window treatment looks off. There also isn’t one right way to cover all small windows as widows in different rooms or areas of the house may have different light-control or privacy needs. There are, however, tricks and tips that can help you design the best window treatment for your small window including style suggestions, color and textile recommendations, and decorating advice.

Heritance® Hardwood Shutters Fletcher, North Carolina (NC) the best window treatments for small windows.

Trust the Plantation Style Shutters

Plantation-style shutters are a classic choice for small windows. Their louvers come in small, medium, and larges sizes so no matter the size of the window the shutters can be built proportionally. They can also be customized to fit in specialty-shaped windows (which is a common requirement for smaller-sized decorative windows) including arches, circles, ovals, trapezoids, and angles. Additionally, many small windows in residential houses, like the bathroom, require privacy along with light control, and plantation-style shutters can provide both. Plantation shutters can also be stained or painted in lighter colors up to and including white shutters; light colors often work better on smaller window treatment's because their hues brighten the space and help it feel more open. Hunter Douglas makes three kinds of high-end plantation shutters that work on small windows:

Use Light Colors or Materials

Though plantation shutters are one of the most common window treatments for small windows, other soft shade styles also work for smaller treatments including sheer curtains and roller shades because they showcase rather than overpowering modest window sizes.

Sheers Curtains

Sheer is a great material for small windows because of its light, diaphanous weave. Heavy textiles and dark colors overwhelm small windows making them seem even more meager. Drapery and side panels from the Hunter Douglas Design Studio collection come in a selection of sheer and semi-opaque fabrics suitable for small window treatments.

Roller Shades

Streamlined, sleek, chic, unassuming; descriptions of roller shades themselves reveal why this style of window treatment is best for small windows. The operating system and the design profile of a roller shade work well for the proportions of a smaller window, and their simple front makes a great canvas for subtle design like white-on-white patterns or horizontal striping for added dimension.

Be Cognizant of What’s Around

Sometimes to make small windows appear larger it’s not about the window or the window treatments themselves; sometimes making small windows appear larger is all about what’s around the window. One way to create the feel of a designer's touch is to fabricate the illusion of bigger windows with decorating tricks including the strategic use of mirrors and trim color.

Mirrors

Mirrors help spread light in rooms where windows are small or singular; they help amplify natural illumination which makes the room feel brighter and larger. Mirrors can also be used to create the illusion of multiple windows in a room depending on their placement on the interior or exterior walls of the home.

Trim Color

Most interior trim is painted to contrast with the wall color, be that with lighter or darker shades. However, sometimes with smaller windows painting the trim the same color as the wall creates the illusion of greater space by removing the hard, defining frame around the window so the small size is no longer accentuated.

Discuss the window treatment options for your small windows with the design experts at Blinds & Designs today. Request a consultation online or visit the showroom located near Fletcher, North Carolina, to speak with a team member at your convenience. Blinds & Designs serves areas in western North Carolina including Asheville, Hendersonville, Weaverville, and Fletcher, NC.