Which window furnishings are right for your home?

Congratulations on completing your new build or renovation! Now it’s time to make the finishing touches to your home with the perfect window furnishings. Curtains, blinds, sheers and shutters – there are a lot of options and it’s important to consider how they’ll look from the outside, as well as the view from indoors.

What to consider before choosing window furnishings

Window treatments present an opportunity to bring your personal aesthetic to the overall design of your home, connect internal and external elements and boost your home’s street appeal.

But before you begin, there are a few factors you need to consider, says Evan Montero, CEO and co-founder of DIY Blinds.

“The major factors to consider are function, purpose and the overall aesthetic objective,” says Evan. “Functional considerations include what the room is intended for, the light and privacy requirements of the space, and the size and location of the room and window."

“The right window furnishings can elevate your street appeal and increase the value of your property.”

Which window furnishings will suit my home?

With so many window furnishings available, making a decision can be tricky. Here we break down some of the key options:

Blinds: Blinds come in many variations, including roller and Roman blinds and venetians, which come in both horizontal and vertical options. Evan says roller blinds are the most economical and versatile option, as they suit almost every style of home. He suggests pairing rollers with curtains for a beautiful and practical addition. “There’s also the option to automate your blinds, which provides such functional luxury in the home.”

Curtains: For elegance and texture, think curtains. “Curtains are a lovely option to help your space feel larger and grander and when layered, they offer equal functionality and aesthetics,” says Evan. Sheers bring softness to ultra-modern interiors, while heavier curtains will block out the light, heat and cold.

Plantation shutters: Well suited to period homes, industrial-style interiors and street-facing windows, shutters are also durable, low-maintenance and timeless. “They provide great street appeal and suit the style of traditional double-hung windows with decorative architraves,” says Evan.

Combining function and form

For Dianne and Rhys Brett, whose contemporary farmhouse project Catalina in the New South Wales Southern Highlands amassed 30,000 followers on Instagram, the choice of window treatment was crucial. The pair used horizontal Linea™ Weatherboard cladding on their home’s exterior and this was key to their choice of ultra-modern, floor-to-ceiling sheers throughout the house.

“The window furnishings are actually quite visible from the exterior, so it was really important that the sheers would complement the horizontal cladding, and create a nice connection and flow between the interior and exterior of the home,” says Dianne.

Rhys agrees. “I think for this particular house, being an all-white house with lots of glass, the use of beautiful white sheers combined with the classic white weatherboard created such a timeless look,” he says.

Matching the right window treatment to your home’s exterior

Not sure which window furnishing will work best with the exterior of your home? Here’s a handy guide:

Vertical cladding

Do use: Floor-to-ceiling sheers, which contrast beautifully with a product such as Axon™ Cladding by James Hardie. Currently experiencing a surge in popularity with those seeking a sleek and contemporary exterior, vertical cladding also suits the soft fullness of single-toned curtains and roller blinds, which break up the lines and provide a calm place to rest the eye. Don’t use: Venetians – combined with the vertical lines of the cladding, horizontal or vertical venetians will look too busy.

Render or render-look cladding

Do use: Treatments that add visual interest through texture or pattern. The modern, minimalist aesthetic of Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding works well with patterned curtains, Roman blinds or plantation shutters. Don’t use: Sheers or roller blinds unless there are other feature details on the exterior, as these may look too plain.

Horizontal cladding

Do use: Sheer curtains, which work beautifully in a contemporary build such as the Catalina project, which featured the strong horizontal lines of Linea™ Weatherboards. Roller blinds also provide a moment of pause among the texture of horizontal cladding, while plantation shutters are a popular option for more classic horizontal treatments such as the Hamptons look. Don’t use: Vertical venetians – the effect will be too busy.

Style tips from Dianne and Rhys Brett:

If you love sheers but need something that offers more thermal insulation, privacy and light control, combine them with blockout roller blinds.

When placing curtains over large glass doors, make sure to position the openings over the point where the doors open and close.

Sheers always look fabulous – to give the illusion of more height, hang them all the way from ceiling to floor!

Now that you know which window treatments suit the style of your house, click here to find out what other finishing touches will add the ‘wow’ factor to your home.