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Minimalist Window Treatments For A Minimalist Design In Seattle

October 08, 2019

Minimalist design provides a simplistic harmony to homes through orderly lines, soft colors, and large, open spaces. The goal is to strip down your attachment to unimportant personal items, furniture, and room elements until you’ve peeled away the decor to the essentials. When you only surround yourself with functional, uncomplicated items, you create a serene environment where you can live simply without distraction.

Naturally, light is important in a minimalist design. When you bring in natural light through your windows, you make the room seem larger and get a tranquility that’s tough -- if not impossible -- to find with artificial light. Of course, your window treatments will still want to block sun glare and provide privacy when appropriate. A good deal of minimalists in Seattle use plantation shutters or sheer cellular shades over fabrics found in curtains or drapes.

Plantation Shutters Look Great In A Minimalist Design

White shutters in a minimalist bedroom in Seattle.

When you need to cover your windows with a minimalist treatment, look for the clean lines and multi-use practicality of plantation shutters. Aesthetically, they sit snugly within the window opening without dusty fabrics or unwieldy cords hanging down. This creates an ordered aesthetic, where your coverings are lying flush with the rest of the wall.

Plantation shutters are known to be functional, which fits the other criteria of a minimalist style. While light is fundamental for minimalists, uncontrolled sunlight can cause problems like sun glare and privacy concerns. With plantation shutters, just lift the louvers when sun glare is too much for your eyes until you discover the right angle. You can even close them completely to block out everything to get the energy-efficiency benefits.

Reclaimed wood shutters surrounded by brick wall.

Here are some plantation shutter options that can work well in your minimalist decor. For instance, you might try shutters constructed from reclaimed wood. These shutters have the same expert craftsmanship of a wood or faux wood plantation shutter but they also give a more natural element to the space. If you want a more energy-efficient window covering, may want to use our Polywood® shutter. These faux-wood plantation shutters come in different shades of white, are moisture and pest-resistant, and are some of the most energy-efficient treatments you will find.

Alternative Window Coverings For Minimalism

While some homeowners may choose plantation shutters for their unfussy style and practicality, there are some alternative window treatments that you may like:

Cellular shades in a minimalistic apartment.
  • Sheer cellular shades: Cellular shade hang close to the window and are available in a variety of colors and patterns. Some minimalist designs call for sheer cellular shades so you can block out the harsh sun glare while still letting in light.

  • Barn door shutters: A barn door uses an overhead track, completely shutting off the window or door frame. As each treatment is just a large panel, barn door shutters work well within a minimalistic design.

  • Panel tracks: Panel tracks also glide on an above track and use long panels that overlap as they slide back and forth. These coverings are exemplary at shielding a sliding glass door or assuming the role of a simple room divider that can separate off areas when needed.

What To Stay Away From In Your Minimalist Design

White shutters in Seattle dining room.

There’s some window coverings that will enhance minimalist design, but you can find some treatments that do not. Beware of bulky treatments like drapes, as they will disturb the minimalistic style of the space. Curtains or layered window coverings should also be avoided for the same reason. Ornate treatments will make your decor seem uneven, with the focal point pointing to the window coverings.

Blinds are also an iffy treatment. There are instances where a blind fits the essential lifestyle, but only if they are of exemplary quality. The main problem is that they thump and thud against the window, disrupting your peaceful mood. And any missing slats or cumbersome cords from a discount blind just makes your windows look messy and disorganized.

Sunburst Can Help You Find Your Window Treatments For Minimalist Design

As you simplify your space to the essentials, call on Sunburst to help you find the best window coverings for your minimalist design. We will bring samples to your home and offer you our lines of Polywood and reclaimed wood plantation shutters, and some additional treatments that are functional and stylish. Contact your rep at 360-464-2277 or fill out the form below.