Window treatments do more than cover glass—they set the mood, manage light, and add texture. From fabric-soft looks to durable hard surfaces, the right choices give you style, privacy, and easier daily living. There are many styles, from roller shades to roman shades and vertical window coverings. We can help you find the best window covering options for your home. Explore the options below and see which fits your rooms best.
Soft Treatments (Fabric Based)
These window coverings are made with fabrics and soft materials, hence why we often refer to them as “soft treatments.”
- Roller shades – clean lines; sheer to blackout; great in kitchens, offices.
- Drapery – adds height, softness, and sound absorption; ideal for living/bedrooms.
- Roman shades – fabric folds for classic texture; excellent in bedrooms/dining.
- Sheer shades – sheer shades diffusing daylight across a modern living room
- Vertical window coverings – wide doors/sliders; smooth side-to-side operation.
- Woven wood shades – natural fibers for organic warmth; add a liner for privacy.
- Honeycomb (cellular) shades – insulation for heat/cold; strong in bedrooms and big windows.
Close-up of Provenance® Woven Woods in warm neutral weave
Meet the Fabrics
After you choose the shade type, you decide on the fabric. The type of fabric you choose will depend on your atmosphere goals. Do you want extra privacy? What about maintaining your view? Light control is also important. Take a look at the difference:
Sheer Fabrics: We offer sheer fabrics for both horizontal and vertical shades. The idea is that you can still see through them, but they diffuse the incoming light. Sheer shades diffusing daylight across a modern living room. This preserves the view and softens glare.
Light-filtering – daytime privacy with gentle light.
Room-darkening – strong privacy; good sleep and media use.
Prints, Solids, and Patterns: These styles typically cover the window for extra privacy and light control, often completely blocking out light. Think: bedrooms and bathrooms.
Woven Fabrics: Natural looking and very in style! This category of woven materials includes wood, bamboo, cloth, and natural fibers that are woven together for an organic look.
Opacity
This simply describes how much light can come through the fabric. Consider the room you’re working in and then decide if you need light filtering or room darkening. Some products even include a number scale: 0% is the most sheer and 100% is complete light blocking.
Operating Features for Soft Shades
When looking at window covering options for your home, don’t forget to consider how your shades will function. They can roll or stack, have unlined or lined fabrics, or even have a dual shade system. Not sure which would work best? Let our designers guide you.
Hard Treatments (Structured)
Hard treatments use wood, vinyl, metal or composites for crisp lines and durability. Shutters and blinds are considered hard window treatments.
- Shutters – architectural look; great privacy and light control.
- Blinds (wood, faux, aluminum) – precise tilt control; wipe-clean.
NewStyle® Hybrid Shutters on a specialty-shaped window
Materials and Finishes (hard)
It’s important to think about your space when deciding which material would be best. If you’re covering a bathroom window, durability is a priority. Composites are a combination of natural and synthetic materials—these are a strong, durable option. Also note the finishes on treatments, and always inquire about warranties and guarantees so you don’t have to deal with warped or cracked coverings.
- Bathrooms/kitchens: favor composites or aluminum for moisture.
- Check warranty: finish quality to avoid warping or cracking.
Operating Features (hard)
Blinds are typically controlled by hand using a wand. But there are automatic blinds that will tilt the slats at the touch of a button. Most shutters are adjusted by using your hand to shift the louvers. If you like the idea of shutters, but also want motorization, check out the Palm Beach collection.
- Roll or stack (rollers vs romans), liners (for privacy/blackout), dual shades (day/night)
- Motorization for tall or hard-to-reach windows; scenes for morning/evening
Layer Your Look
Whether you choose soft, hard, or a combination of window coverings, you can always enhance your design with layers! Drapery is an excellent way to add personality and even more control at the window. Take a look at our recent blog focused on pairing shades with drapery.
Layering boosts function (privacy/blackout/insulation) and adds dimension.
- Try roller + drapery, sheer + blackout drape, or roman + side panels.
- Match hardware finishes to room metals (black, brass, nickel).
Layered look: roller shade with custom drapery panels
How to Choose: A Quick Guide
- Need view + UV? Sheer or solar roller
- Best sleep? Room-darkening/blackout with outside mount or drapery layer
- Energy savings? Cellular/honeycomb
- Moisture areas? Faux wood or aluminum
- Hard-to-reach? Motorized window treatments with rechargeable batteries
Ready to Get Started?
Each room in your home has different needs for light control and privacy. We encourage our clients to mix and match to meet the needs of each room and to also allow for your personal style to shine. Our team of designers can help you coordinate your window coverings for a gorgeous look throughout your home. Ready to see fabrics in your lighting? Book a free in-home consultation—we’ll bring curated swatches and help you mix style, privacy and light control.