Seattle Specialty Window Treatment Guide
Every Seattle home is unique, each with its own aesthetic and individual needs. Similarly, each of the windows in your Seattle home are unique too. Their dimensions, shape, the direction they face and more will differ and affect which window treatment suits them best.
But more than any other factor, the style of window is typically the most important for finding your ideal window treatment. These are our picks for window treatments to match the specialty window varieties found in Seattle homes.
Window Treatments for Sidelight Windows
Sidelights are the tall, thin windows typically found on either side of the front door in Seattle homes. Choosing a great window treatment for sidelight windows is distinctly important for a few reasons. One, sidelights are a focal point of your home, as most people's gaze is naturally drawn to the front door when looking at a house. Two, people–from your mail carrier to guests to traveling salespeople–will see them up close, which makes a great window treatment all the more important to make sure you maintain your privacy.
What we recommend for sidelight window treatments: Plantation shutters. Shutters don’t just give your home classy looks and unmatched privacy, but they’re also easily custom-built for tall, thin sidelight windows.
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Window Treatments for French Doors
What we recommend for French door window treatments: Plantation shutters. As they’re able to be installed directly onto the frame and are very sturdy, shutters are a great window treatment for French doors. Their timeless style and energy-efficiency are added benefits for your French door.
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Octagon Window Treatments
Octagon-shaped windows are some of the most interesting and attention-grabbing windows we see in Seattle homes. With their unique shape, you would be remiss to cover them up with a square window treatment like curtains or blinds. Rather, choose a window treatment that’s able to be customized to the window’s unique geometry so you’ll always get the benefits of your octagonal window.
What we recommend for octagonal window treatments: Plantation shutters and window film. Shutters are custom manufactured to fit perfectly within an octagonal window frame, bolstering its unique shape and appeal. Similarly, window film applies directly to the glass pane, keeping the awesome shape of your octagon window on full display.
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Window Treatments for Wide Windows
What we recommend for wide window treatments: Roller shades, panel tracks or plantation shutters. Roller shades operate easily, and their simple look works well with especially wide windows. Panel tracks are a kind of shade with large panels of fabric that slide back and forth on a track that are perfect for wide windows. Plantation shutters add a tad more privacy and energy efficiency than shades do, so if a cool home is a priority, shutters might be your perfect solution.
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Rake & Angled Window Treatments
Angled or rake windows are popping up more often in Seattle home design. The problem with rake window treatments, similar to octagon windows, is getting one that fits your unique window geometry. Keep in mind as well that many angled windows are in spots that are harder to reach, such as where the ceiling meets the wall at a corner, so a window treatment that doesn’t need to open and close often is usually best for rake windows.
What we recommend for angled and rake windows: Plantation shutters. In addition to being 100% customizable to fit the exact angles and shape of your rake windows, but plantation shutters can usually be set at a single, ideal angle without ever needing to be readjusted - perfect for windows in awkward spots.
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Window Treatments for Sliding Glass Doors
Similar to french doors, the window treatment you pick for a sliding glass door needs to allow you to open and shut the door without any hassle whatsoever. Additionally, a sliding glass door treatment needs to be durable and able to withstand the frequent action a sliding door sees. Finally, sliding glass doors are some of the least energy-efficient window types, since they not only let heat transfer through the glass but through the door opening as well. A window treatment that can reduce energy transfer should also be a big priority for sliding glass doors.
What we recommend for sliding glass doors: Plantation shutters or panel tracks. Panel tracks and shutters both make operating a sliding door easy. Panel tracks also give you an array of designs and textures to choose from, freeing up your options and giving you the ability to take your designs anywhere. Plantation shutters can be built in multiple configurations to fit any sliding glass door, and offer the most energy efficiency of any window covering available.
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Window Treatments for Bay Windows
Bay windows are unmistakable. The tall panes, concave layout, and extensive view offered by bay windows are distinct from any other window, so they require some special consideration when shopping for a window treatment. Seattle homeowners should look at window treatments that complement a bay window’s attention-grabbing layout, protect your privacy, and look beautiful in your living or family room. Fortunately, there are a couple of window treatments that meet all these requirements.
What we recommend for bay windows: Roman shades, cellular shades, or plantation shutters. Both cellular and roman shades function well with bay windows as each shade can cover a single pane, granting you a lot of flexibility in how much window area you want covered. Likewise, plantation shutters can be installed on each individual pane on your bay windows, but can still give you even more adaptability in window coverage with their easily adjustable louvers.
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High Ceiling and Tall Window Treatments
Regardless of their shape or style, windows that stretch close to your ceiling can be hard to put window treatments on. Typically, the window tops are outside normal reach, and getting the stepladder out every day becomes a hassle. That means that Seattle homeowners with high ceiling windows might want to go with a window treatment that can either stay in a single position, or open and close from far away. It would be a bonus if that window treatment was also able to effectively block outside light from coming through.
What we recommend for tall & high ceiling windows: Motorized shades or plantation shutters. Motorized shades can open and close with the easy flip of a switch, eliminating any hassle whatsoever. On the other hand, with plantation shutters most homeowners opt to tilt the louvers to a single perfect position, and rarely if ever need to reposition them. Both options tackle the biggest problem of tall windows!
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Eyebrow Window Treatments
What we recommend for eyebrow windows: Plantation shutters. Basically any other window treatment has serious disadvantages when put on eyebrow windows. Drapes, blinds, and shades hide the interesting shape and a long window treatment can cover the empty space between the eyebrow window and the square window beneath it. Since shutters are custom-made to seamlessly fit in the frame of your window, they’re definitely the best option for this unique window style.
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Casement Window Treatments
What we recommend for casement windows: Plantation shutters or shades. Plantation shutters can be installed on the wall around the window opening to make room for a lever or crank–which lets you open and close your window without any hassle. Both Roman and cellular shades can also pair well with casement windows, but you may have to pull aside the fabric when you want to open or close the window.
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Get More Seattle Window Treatment Recommendations
There is always more to think about than just the type of window when looking at window treatments in Seattle. Take a peek at our choices for window treatments for each room in your home with Sunburst’s Ultimate Room Guide, or get some in-person tips by setting up a free in-home consultation by calling 360-464-2277 now.
