“Window treatments are always a focal point of any room,” said interior designer Eloise Kubli, owner of Collective Construction & Design in Plantation, FL. “They can help make the most of a beautiful view or diffuse a terrible view.”

That’s just the beginning. When South Florida’s relentless sun pours through glass, it can do significant damage to what’s inside the house. Window treatments can help to protect furnishings, fabrics, and art and photographs from fading.

SHADES AND SHUTTERS

Protection from the sun can be achieved in a variety of ways. Sheer panels that diffuse light are one solution. Solar shades are another.

“Solar shades are like sunglasses for windows,” Kubli said. “They drop down and diffuse glare and heat, and they can go up into a roller at the top so they totally disappear.”

They are available in several different colors, Kubli added. “But we typically use white,” Kubli said.

Solar shades also come in different gradients, so they block less light or more, all the way to complete blackout. They can be motorized, and with a smart system, they can be controlled with a cell phone. They can also be remotely controlled by cell phone. If you are traveling, adjusting the shades at various times during the day creates the illusion of an occupied home.

Plantation shutters, wide slats made of wood or vinyl attached to a frame, tilt to let in or block out light. “They’re a classic treatment that fits with traditional, contemporary or transitional decors,” Kubli said. “You can keep the top open, so you can look outside and see the trees, and the bottom closed for privacy.”

Cellular shades consist of fabric that is formed into a honeycomb shape that provides insulation by trapping air between the window and the room. Cell sizes vary and affect the amount of insulation provided, adjusting both temperature and light.

Roman shades, made from material that folds up like an accordion, also provide light and privacy and can be very decorative.

FABRIC PANELS AND DRAPERIES

Fabric panels that frame the window can provide color and texture. “Panels accentuate the windows,” Kubli said. “Fabric also absorbs sound. When you have hard-surface floors and lots of glass, they can make a big difference.”

“Real, 100 percent linen, while beautiful, is likely to have a bit of a natural wrinkle,” Kubli said. “If you don’t want that soft, organic look and want perfection, you should go with a polyester blend.” Some panels are stationary; others are draperies that open and close across the entire window.

It can be a good idea to line draperies with white fabric. “It gives them body, and you want them to look nice from the outside as well as the inside,” Kubli said. Lining can also reduce fading if the window does not also have a sun shade.

COLOR

How to decide on color? Some individuals like it to blend with walls and furnishings, others prefer contrasts. “Blandly painted walls can serve as a backdrop for bright splashes of strong colors in brilliant hues,” said Kubli.

RODS AND VALANCES

Decorative rods can be an important element. Panels can be hung with pegs or rings. “Rods are like jewelry,” Kubli said. “They come in many shapes and sizes, square and round, from simple and minimalistic to more traditional. I love square rods in a more contemporary space.”

Many rods today combine different metals, colors and materials, like gold with silver or gold with crystal or black, Kubli said. “Sometimes we use finials when a window is small and we want it to look as wide as possible.” Don’t use finials, she added, if the window is so wide that the finials will butt up against the corner of the wall. A valance is another option. “It can hide a sunshade motor and tube,” Kubli said.

ARCHED WINDOWS

Arched windows are beautiful, but window treatments for them present a special challenge. “Floor-to-ceiling draperies create soft and elegant columns, framing the natural architectural beauty of the arch at the top when they are open, yet allowing full light control and privacy when needed,” said Kubli.