Windows. Portals that let you see out. And lets the sun, and prying eyes, in. The latter two are good enough reasons to cover those windows up ASAP. But how, you ask? Brick up the windows, you say? Don’t be silly. With curtains, drapes, shades, and blinds, of course!  

So, whether it’s because you’ve got a body to hide, or sun-sensitive vampire skin, or habit of spying on your neighbour’s cat, here’s a guide of the what, when, and how to pick between the 4 types of window treatments. 

Photo by: Carpenters 

Curtains 

Want an ultra-unique look? Look no further than curtains. Typically sold in pairs, curtains are essentially fabric panels that is customisable in every way, shape and form. Pick your choice of width, length, fabric type, colours, patterns… the options are practically endless. For that reason, curtains are at home in any room. 

And it’s not just the fabric choices that’s endless; the rods and hanging alternatives are too! Rods designs can range from plain vanilla to garishly decorative. The manner of hanging them? You’ve got metal grommets that are super slide-y; rings or hooks to attach to the rod; or even fabric tabs that hide the rods (think floating curtains).  

Because of their versatility, curtains are often paired with other window treatments shown in this list. 

Works best in: Any room 

Made of: Fabrics – silks, organza, linens, cotton, poly-cotton, acetates, nets 

Light control: Sheer to blackout 

Photo by: Medina Design & interiors 

Drapes 

Drapes are like curtains but… extra. On most fronts, the two aren’t really that different – come in pairs, lots of hanging options, and myriad of colours and patterns. The extra is in the choice of fabric. Heavy, stiff and, usually, lined.  Velvet, damask, and silk the most common and are so dense that they block most, if not all, external light sources. 

Where curtains typically hang just below the window sill, drapes prefer to hang all the way down to the floor. Whether it ends just above the floor or puddles into it is a matter of preference. Either way, it’s all very formal and elegant. Want more formality? Add pleats.  

Incidentally, its thick and heavy nature also makes drapes excellent thermal and sound insulators. Home theatre, anyone? 

Works best in: Bedrooms and home theatres 

Material: Heavy fabrics – velvet, damask, silk 

Light control: Moderate to blackout 

Photo by: Much Room Interior

Shades 

Shades. Mostly made of fabric and covers windows just like curtains and drapes. And that’s where their similarity ends. Unlike their cousins, shades prefer single life; they are normally sold individually, not pairs. And while they also come in fabrics, they come in vinyl and bamboo varieties too. 

By and large, shades confined to fit within a window frame, not below the window sill the way curtains and drapes do.  

These cool covers don’t just come in one flavour – they come in four: 

 ●  Roller shades. The most inexpensive, these roll material around a rod at the top. 

 ●  Roman shades. A step up from rollers, these pull up material into fancy pleats. 

 ●  Balloon shades. Determined to one-up roman shades, balloon shades poof up into balloon-ish shapes when raised 

 ●  Tie-up shades. A real classic among shades, these are fastened with a fabric tie to hold them up. 

While dressy on their own, many choose to pair them with curtains for more lighting options. 

Works best in: All rooms 

Material: Fabric, vinyl, bamboo 

Light control: Moderate to blackout 

Photo by: Free Space Intent 

Blinds 

Blinds are similar to shades in the way drapes are similar to curtains. They are raised and lowered like them and occupy the same space within the window frame. The real difference is in the form of the material - slats (a.k.a. louvers) in 1/2 inch, 1 inch, and 2 inch in depth. 

A fun feature for blinds is their ability to tilt the slats open and closed for more visibility or more privacy, without raising or lowering the entire thing. For this reason, blinds offer unparalleled light control that other window treatments can only dream about. 

With a name like “blinds” you’d think they’d be excellent at blocking out light. But, alas, there are gaps between the slats. That less than perfect seal means that some light tends to seep through. Homeowners often pair these with curtains to mitigate the problem. It also has the added benefit of softening the look of the room; blinds tend to look rigid 

Blind slats are often found in the horizontal position, but vertical ones exist too. These work best with sliding patio doors or large sliding windows. 

While blinds come in a variety of colours and materials, then rarely ever have patterns. 

Works best in: All rooms 

Material: Vinyl, wood, aluminium 

Light control: variable from moderate to high  

Conclusion

Now that you’ve got the lowdown of how to get those windows treated, it’s time to get these windows covered. 

Posted on 24 March 2023 

Kenny Tan,

SIXiDES Editorial Team