Design Notes
Windows are one of the most essential elements in any home—yet they’re often the most overlooked. Gone are the days when windows served a purely functional role. Today, they do so much more than provide natural light and fresh air—they enhance energy efficiency, connect us to the outdoors, and contribute significantly to a room’s overall design and mood.
Whether open or closed, windows allow us to enjoy nature from the comfort of home. But their impact doesn’t stop there. With the right window treatments, you can transform the feel of a space, improve insulation, increase privacy, and even boost the value of your home.
In this blog, we’ll explore what window treatments are, the various styles available, and how they can bring both beauty and benefits to your living space—for you, your family, and your home.
What Are Window Treatments?
In simple terms, a window treatment is any covering or modification applied to a window to enhance its appearance and functionality. While their primary purpose may be practical—offering light control, privacy, and insulation—window treatments also serve as a key design element that helps complete a room’s overall aesthetic.
Window treatments fall into three main categories, each bringing its own unique features and advantages:
1. Hard Treatments
These are made from structured materials like wood, vinyl, or metal. Common examples include shutters, blinds, and shades. Hard treatments are typically more durable and offer excellent light control and privacy.
2. Soft Treatments
Made from fabric or other pliable materials, soft treatments include items such as curtains, valances, swags, and Roman shades. They add texture, softness, and elegance, and are ideal for layering or creating visual warmth.
3. Combination (Layered) Treatments
A combination treatment uses both hard and soft elements, such as pairing wood blinds with flowing drapery panels. This layered approach offers the best of both worlds—combining function with style to create depth and visual interest.
Before choosing a window treatment, it’s important first to consider the purpose of the room. Is it a private retreat like a bedroom, a functional space like a kitchen, or a gathering area such as a living room? Defining the role of the room helps guide your choices in both materials and style, ensuring that the final result is both practical and beautiful.
Browse our Graber gallery to see multiple examples of the different categories, including combinations, and find the inspiration you need.
Why Window Treatments?
While curtains are undeniably beautiful and hold a timeless place in interior design, window treatments go beyond just being attractive fabric accents or functional accessories. They expertly blend aesthetics with performance—offering tailored solutions such as privacy control and protection from harmful UV rays without compromising style.
Our design approach prioritizes creating spaces that are as functional as they are visually appealing, and that includes thoughtful attention to your windows. Today’s vast array of window treatment options means you can find the perfect solution that not only complements your personal style but also meets the specific needs of your lifestyle. With so many choices available, customization is truly at your fingertips.
What Are The Benefits Of Window Treatments?
Customization
One of the greatest advantages of custom window treatments is the extensive range of options available. Whether you have a specific color, pattern, or texture in mind, customization ensures you get exactly what you need to perfectly complement your design vision—without settling for the limited selections found in most retail stores. This is especially important for unique window shapes and sizes such as bay windows, French doors, sliding doors, picture windows, or large expanses of glass. Custom treatments can be tailored precisely to the width, length, and depth of any window, giving you full control over your project and allowing the design to truly reflect your personal style.
Quality Workmanship
While custom window treatments may carry a slightly higher upfront cost compared to off-the-shelf options, their superior quality and craftsmanship provide lasting value. A custom installation fits perfectly and looks flawless—eliminating common issues like poor fit or rushed workmanship. In the long run, this investment can save you money by reducing the need for replacements or repairs.
Energy Efficiency
Windows can account for up to 30% of a home’s heat loss, which can significantly impact your energy bills. Custom window treatments allow you to optimize insulation by controlling the amount of heat and cold entering or leaving your home. Properly fitted treatments help maintain a consistent indoor temperature, improving comfort while reducing energy costs.
Greenbrook DesignMaking the decision to open our own showroom was not done overnight. It began as the answer to a need for our clients. They needed a place where they could come and explore the possibilities that awaited them for their home renovation. It was important to our owners, Travis and Stacey Walker, that their clients could see and feel the products, enhancing their design experience. As the idea became a reality, the Walkers realized the added benefit of having more than just cabinets featured in the showroom. Greenbrook Design is proud to be an authorized dealer for not just four lines of cabinetry but multiple home furnishings and decor companies like Europe 2 You and Moe’s. Get a peek inside the showroom here and listen to Stacey share her vision of the showroom.
We have all witnessed the transformation this past year, bedrooms become offices, kitchen tables become classrooms, and your basement doubles as a home gym. The problem is that most of these spaces were not ready to accommodate double duty. Multifunctional means one area of the home can handle multiple duties, while this sounds great, no one wants it to look like it’s a three-in-one, which is where good design comes into play. Selecting furniture pieces that can serve several purposes or planning a layout that can fulfill multiple needs is key to creating a home that suits your family’s unique lifestyle and routine. Let’s discuss what goes into designing these spaces and how you can make the most of the space you have.
Walker WoodworkingDesign is more than just creating a layout that is functional and beautiful; it is about turning a house into a home that has an atmosphere just right for you. A functional home is good, but a home where you feel at home is best, which is the end goal for every designer. One way to have a welcoming environment is to draw inspiration from nature, which is a trend that is gaining momentum in the design world.
Walker Woodworking When you think of a closet, you envision a space within a room that opens with a door. For some, it means enough room to hang up clothes or store larger items. It has, however, evolved to become much more than a mere stash and go-to spot for necessities. From hall closets to pantries to linen and bedroom closets, they serve multiple purposes. Today, it can be a mini dressing room, a place to keep all the kids’ sports equipment, and even a place of meditation ( really, it’s a thing). It is a great way to gain extra storage in the bedroom for personal items and is considered an extension of the home.
Walker Woodworking Are you feeling like something needs to change inside your home? Tired of the same old decor pieces greeting you when you come home? Maybe your taste in style has changed, and you’re looking for a little update? The good news is you don’t have to do a full-blown renovation to achieve your goal; sometimes, it takes a little freshening up to update your home.
Walker Woodworking