Creating Custom Window Treatments to Finish a Room

Accessories and wall art, from Tuscan wrought iron decor to contemporary metal wall clocks can help define your style and beautiful custom window treatments can add the perfect finishing touch to any room in your home. Of course, there are plenty of ready-to-hang window treatments available from which to choose. However, it can be a lot of fun to customize your window treatments so that they perfectly complement the room's overall look and design. Whether you choose to sew your own window treatments, purchase custom-made curtains or drapes, or simply adapt one or more ready-to-hang styles to suit your needs, the end results can be spectacular. If you need a bit of inspiration to help you design your own custom window treatments, here are some ideas that can help.

Start with the Basics

Before you can create the perfect custom window treatment, you have to know the size and shape of the window. So, start by taking accurate measurements of the window's height and width. You'll also need to know the distance from the top of the curtain rod to the floor or windowsill, so that you'll be able to hem your curtains or draperies to the proper length. Depending on the style of window treatment you plan to use, you might also need to take additional measurements. For example, if you plan to use a café rod, then you'll need to know the width of the window inside the frame. When designing window treatments for a bay window, you will need to decide if you will be treating the area as one large curved window, or as three separate windows, and then measure accordingly. Once you've taken the measurements you'll need, you can start to think about overall style. If you're undecided on which style of window treatment to use, looking through a few decorating magazines or online sites can be helpful.

Choosing the Right Style

With so many different styles of window treatments from which to choose, deciding on the one that will look best in your room could be the most difficult part of the decorating process. Take your cue from the overall design of the room and the architectural style when creating custom window treatments. For example, although crisp Cape Cod window treatments can look terrific in a traditionally styled room, they would look out of place in a room that is sleekly modern. You should also take the room's light level into consideration. If the window gets a lot of sun, adding blinds or shades as part of your overall window treatment can give you better light control.

Create a Custom Look

If you have decided to sew your own window treatments, you'll be able to choose your own fabric and pattern. You can also order custom window treatments to your exact specifications. Or, simply purchase standard curtains, draperies, blinds or shades and add your own personalized touches. For example, you can sew decorative trim along the bottom of a pair of curtains, or use fabric paints to stencil a custom design. Sometimes even the simplest of decorating touches can add a customized look to your window treatments, such as adding a decorative tassel to Roman shades or painting interesting designs on roller shades.