In Part 1 we dealt with the 5 functional questions you need to
ask yourself in the process of selecting the perfect window covering.
Let's review these questions.
- What are my needs for privacy?
- What direction does the window face?
- What are my needs for light control?
- How does my window open and do I open them often?
- What is my budget?
Now, let's consider the decorative side
of dressing the window by asking yourself these questions:
- What feeling do you want to create in your rooms?
Is your dream a room that is
elegant, soft and romantic, casual and comfortable, clean and
contemporary, classic and traditional, or, maybe, cluttered and
personalized? I have found most consumers have a gut feeling about what
they want this room to say about them. This is elementary because it
happens before you even know color or style.
- What color are you thinking of using?
When I ask consumers
what their color scheme is I generally hear just two colors. For
example, purple or green. Now, this is not a wrong answer, but most
prints are designed around three colors. Think about a triadic color
scheme, an analogous or split complementary color scheme. All use three
colors to create harmony. What you have is a base color, a contrasting
color and an accent color. 
What qualifies a color as
an accent? It is the least used color in the room but it adds such
pizzazz. You need a plan. Remember the purple and green? How about
adding a soft gold to the mix? It would be magnificent! For a color to
qualify as an accent color, it must be used at least three places in the
room. Places you could add an accent color include pillows, matting on a
picture frame, floral arrangements, a vase or decorative accessories.
Your window covering color could qualify, too. When selecting colors for
your windows, think what effect you want to create. If you want the
window to add drama and be a focal point, use contrasting colors to the
wall color. On the other hand, if you want to make your window look
larger, blend or coordinate your window and wall colors. At Hunter
Douglas we have every color you could possibly want, and others you
could only dream about.
Just remember, if you want a color to
qualify as an accent color, you must use the color at least three places
in the room. Less than three times it's not an accent it's an accident!
If you have a room that is "blah", create visual interest. Take a good
look at your room; can the introduction of a new color add the punch it
needs?
- How much texture do I need?
Do you understand the theory of
texture? Use your imagination for a moment. Imagine fabrics and surfaces
that are smooth, sleek or shiny. Think of silk, satin, crystal, mirror
or marble. The feeling that results from these objects is dressy. Think
now of fabrics and surfaces that have a lot of texture. Think of Berber,
stone, brick, corduroy, basketry or pottery. This feeling is more
casual. If you want to dress up a room, introduce smooth, sleek or
shiny. If you want a more casual atmosphere, introduce texture.
 Hunter Douglas has a beautiful
product called Luminette Privacy Sheers®. It's available in two fabric
choices, Angelica and Linea. Angelica is a smooth sheer, perfect for
dressing up an area. Linea, with its striations, has a more casual feel.
Don't just think of Luminette for its beauty and texture. It can fit
just about any window. It's available up to 120" in height and 192"
panel width or 384" for a center draw. Or look at verticals. This
beautiful texture of crystal would be great in areas where you are
trying to create a cozy feeling. Or if a dressier look is wanted, try
silx, available in 8 colors.
Next month, we will deal with
the burning question: where do I start? What is my roadmap? Do I start
with the flooring, and work my way up? We will also discuss mixing
patterns and adding colors. We will start a decorating portfolio. That
will help you decide what style you are, and will save you many dollars in
the long run. We will look at the steps in decorating so you won't feel
overwhelmed, whether you are dressing one window or moving into a new home
that needs everything. Whatever the situation, Sally's column is the place
to start!
Part 1: Function
Written By Hunter Douglas' Design Expert Sally.
View more articles by Sally
Visit the Hunter Douglas Website
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