Simple window treatments

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Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House.

Minimalism 101: How to Choose Simple Window Treatments

Somewhere between the IKEA boom and the Marie Kondo effect, minimalism started taking a major hold on the design world. It’s not that people want less, per se. It’s that we want more from less. Just like the smartphones we carry in our pockets, we expect our 21st-century homes to be – and, more importantly, feel – efficient. This requires that every knick-knack, nook and cranny in your home get pared down with great deliberation. 

Sound overwhelming? It’s not, especially when you focus on your home’s foundational features, first. I’ll walk you through the basics of minimalism, and then we’ll dive into how to choose simple window treatments that match this beloved design style. 

The Definition of Interior Design Minimalism 

“Minimalism” can be used to describe any number of things: architecture, fashion, art or even music. While simplicity is the common thread, there’s more to the definition than that. Specifically, when it comes to interior design, minimalism is all about function. Every chair, every picture frame and every coffee-table book serves a purpose. There’s no extra fluff – not one extraneous pillow. 

What you will see in high volume is loads of natural light, which helps highlight unique architectural features. Minimalist design also has a soothing visual balance that’s created by thoughtful proportions throughout the space. 

Characteristics of a Minimalist Interior Design 

• Layout: Open floor plans and clear sight lines 
• Color palette: Soothing neutrals, such as white and gray
• Flooring: Textured wood or natural stone
• Furnishings: Simple forms and low profiles (thank you, IKEA) 
• Lighting: Geometric shapes with sleek metal finishes 
• Accessories: Minimal but purposeful 
• Window treatments: Lightweight drapes and structured shades 

The Role of Window Treatments in Minimalist Design 

I mentioned before that window treatments are one of the foundational elements of a minimalistic decor scheme. Really, they’re a key piece in any design style. But here’s exactly what window treatments bring to a minimalist interior: 

They can kickstart your design – Because simple window treatments are so bare-boned, you can treat them like a blank canvas. Let them be the base from which you build something spectacular in your home’s interior. 

They are complementary – When you choose muted, monochromatic colors for your window treatments, you allow other elements in your home to take center stage. Instead of gazes going toward a lively pattern on your drapes, they’ll be directed to an artful light fixture or grainy hardwood floors. 

They create calmness – With a 24-7 news cycle and a steady stream of Instagram Stories, our brains are constantly turned on. Coming home to a space that is clean and simple can actually soothe your nervous system and induce a sense of calm. Dress that big bay window in the right drapery, and you’ll have the most idyllic comfort zone you can dream up.  

They are timeless – Talk about efficiency. If you redecorated every time the trends shifted, you’d have to take out a third mortgage. With minimalist window treatments, you can save yourself a lot of time, money and hassle. Their clean, classic designs have staying power. So, regardless of the current climate, your home will always look like it belongs. 

How to Choose Simple Window Treatments for Your 21st Century Space 

Now that you’re excited to create a harmonious, hygge-filled home, it’s time to choose the right window treatments based on your style. It’s not a difficult process, but you’ll want to be sure you consider all the following factors: 

Color

Neutral colors are the obvious choice for a minimalist’s window treatments. White, gray and shades of blue are the most popular, because they’re closely associated with divine serenity. Imagine a clear sky with puffy white clouds and you get the picture. 

At Everhem, we have a variety of neutral-toned fabrics for the picking. In fact, we have 26 fabric colors, ranging from dark to light and white to green. For simpler window treatments, however, you’ll want to stay on the lighter side. This will keep you aligned with the neutral color palettes of minimalist interiors. 

You also could go with woven woods, which have a natural earthy tone. Everhem’s Chestnut, Khaki or Seashell woven wood shades would be the best option for minimalism. These lighter tones fade into the backdrop, so you can place the emphasis elsewhere. 

See how the Goop’s East Coast office uses simple window treatments to offset their rose-petal wall color.

Fullness

Fullness refers to how much fabric is used to create a panel of drapery. Let’s say your drapes have a fullness of 3x. This means the width of the drapery panel will be three times as wide as the window width. Fullness directly relates to how the drapes hang over your windows. 

You might think less fullness is more appropriate in a minimalist design, but that’s actually not the case. A 1x fullness, for example, means the fabric is exactly the width of the window. As a result, you get a drape that hangs like a flat bed sheet. Doesn’t sound pretty, does it? It’s not. 

That’s why, at Everhem, we use a 2x fullness for all our custom drapery. It’s the perfect option, because it’s not too flat or too full. In interior design, minimalism should look elegant. And that’s exactly what you get with the beautiful folds of a 2x drapery panel. 

Pleat style

From a swagged fan pleat to a necktie heading, pleat styles can be very complex. In minimalism, those ornate folds would be a complete distraction, though. Instead, you want a pleat style that features straight lines – and not too many of them. 

Everhem drapery comes in only three different pleat styles to keep it easy: boxed, tailored and pinched. Though they’re all viable options for a minimal design, the box pleat offers the absolute simplest look. Of course, if you have room for a little texture, don’t shy away from the extra folds in the tailored pleat. 

Hardware style

With woven woods and Roman shades, there is no visible hardware to consider. But if you’re looking at drapes and curtains, you’ll have to pick a rod that makes sense for minimalism. French returns are a beautiful accent at the top of your windows, because the curtain rod returns back into the wall. It’s a direct route – no S-curves or kitschy finials to clutter the look. Everhem offers right angle return and curved return, which are both sleek designs and add a touch of character. 

That said, you can get away with a modest, geometric finial in minimalistic interiors. This would include a basic square or ball on either end of the rod. Everhem’s drapery hardware is a great example of a minimalist-approved finial. 

Hardware finish

You’ll notice that in Swedish-inspired minimalism, the finishes are matte black or bronze. In a room that’s so light and bright, these contrasting colors bring a sense of grounding. On the other hand, a lot of new construction features brass hardware, which can also be a nice pop of shine against simple window treatments and a neutral color palette. Brass is exceptionally warming, which many minimalistic interiors need to avoid feeling too stark. The oil-rubbed bronze is also quite comforting, especially when paired with a light-colored linen drape. 

At Everhem, we offer all three of the classic minimalistic hardware finishes: antique brass, matte black and oil-rubbed bronze. 

Type of covering

A minimalist interior may feature all different types of window treatments, with variations from room-to-room. Some of the more common types of window coverings, however, include ceiling-to-floor drapes, flat Roman shades and woven woods. These are all sophisticated window coverings that have the kind of structure you want in a minimalist interior.  

To guarantee that you get exactly what you’re looking for, choose custom-made window treatments. Everhem has a great selection of quality drapes and shades that will help jumpstart your move toward minimalism. Of course, if you need help choosing drapes, shades or hardware, don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing me at [email protected]. I know it’s not that simple to simplify – but it’s always worth it! 

Do-it-yourself care for plastic windows in winter

Windows and doors made from VEKA profile systems do not require special care. Nevertheless, like any product, even the highest quality metal-plastic window needs maintenance. It is not necessary to call specialists. You can easily take care of plastic windows with your own hands.

If you follow the following recommendations from VEKA, you will maximize the life of your new wonderful windows!

How to care for plastic windows?

Useful advice : if you are doing repairs and you already have metal-plastic windows, open them to a minimum, and after repair (if there was a lot of construction dust), be sure to call specialists to completely clean (with removal) and lubricate fittings.

First - plastic care: never use abrasive and aggressive chemical cleaners (containing chlorine, alcohol and other additives designed to actively fight dirt) to care for plastic windows. Even if at first it seems to you that nothing is happening with the plastic, after a while you may be unpleasantly surprised by the changed color of your once-white window. To care for the surface of plastic windows, you can use degreasing detergents, or a simple warm soapy solution. We also recommend using soft sponges.

The second is the care of double-glazed windows: a double-glazed window in a metal-plastic window does not differ from ordinary glass and you need to take care of it in the same way. Just a reminder: avoid getting detergents on plastic parts, and, very importantly, do not allow alcohol-containing products to get on the rubber seal.

Thirdly, maintenance of fittings: VEKA recommends that all moving fittings be lubricated once a year. Please note that many hardware manufacturers put “oiler” or “droplet” icons in the appropriate places. Use an oil free of resins and acids. Ordinary sewing machine oil will do.

Fourth - maintenance of plastic window seals: at least once every six months (at least in spring and autumn), we recommend cleaning the seal. This element of the window is primarily responsible for keeping the heat in your home, the absence of drafts, protection from street dust and noise. Wash the seal with a mild soapy solution and a soft sponge or cloth, wipe dry and lubricate with silicone grease. Silicone grease for automotive seals is also suitable for this purpose.

Fifth - drainage holes. If you open the sash, then there should be holes in the lower part of the frame - drainage channels. As it becomes clear from their name, these are drain holes, they serve to remove moisture, water outside the frame. Make sure they don't get clogged.

If you do not have the time and opportunity to take care of plastic windows with your own hands, you can invite specialists who will quickly and professionally carry out all the work for a moderate fee.

In addition, you can purchase sets of special care products for plastic windows either in specialized window sales stores or in building supermarkets.

Take advantage of our advice on the care of plastic windows, and they will serve you for many years!

Easy and simple - maintenance of plastic windows

Plastic windows in Astana enjoy well-deserved popularity due to a number of clear advantages. These are:

• high level of energy efficiency, sound insulation, tightness;
• aesthetic appearance;
• ease of use;
• strength and durability.

Thanks to plastic windows, heat is retained in the room with minimal heating costs, a comfortable microclimate is created at any time of the year.

The tightness of the windows allows you to minimize the level of street noise, as well as prevent blowing and penetration of dust and dirt into the room.

A variety of designs, a large selection of colors, makes it possible to decorate the interior in any style. Ease in leaving and operation creates the maximum comfort to users.

To become a happy owner of high-quality PVC windows, order plastic windows in Astana from the Factory Windows company.

Easy window care makes life easier

Plastic windows are much easier to maintain than conventional wooden structures. However, their performance characteristics and the length of their service life will depend on the quality of care. Even if you order high-quality plastic windows in Astana from the leading Factory Windows company, but you cannot provide them with competent and proper care, the windows will soon fail. To prevent this from happening, use the recommendations of experts regarding the care of plastic windows.

PVC windows, unlike wooden ones, do not dry out in the hot season and do not swell from moisture in the winter, so they do not require constant seasonal renewal and painting.

All you need to do to prolong their life is to properly care for plastic windows.

How and when to clean?

Wash windows as soon as they are dirty. The glass of plastic windows is very easy to clean, so experts recommend not using alcohol-containing products and other special liquids, which include acids and other chemically aggressive components. It is enough to wipe the glass with a soft cloth dampened with soapy water, and then dry it.

To ensure that plastic windows do not change the color of and last for a long time, it is also not recommended to use aggressive household chemicals when cleaning external surfaces.

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