Taking Windows from Blah to Ooh La La!

Now that we have defined what to call these scrumptious pieces of fabric hanging from our windows, lets dive right in and see how we can spice up your decor with window treatments!

Remember, you do not have to be a professional decorator to apply some of these ideas to your own space. You can do it yourself by getting a little creative or of course, if you are in the area, you could always hire me. Ha ha!

See this valence? It is just a simple box pleat valence but it looks anything but simple. Why? Because we used more than one fabric and added two types of trim. Yummy!

See the cute tassel trim? It brings in all of the colors from both fabrics and is the icing on the cake. Just by adding trim you can take your windows from blah to ooh la la!
Now, here is a formal dining room. There are three specific things we did to glam up this room and take it from just another dining room to a room right out of the covers of a magazine.

1. Using silk is an instant way to glam up a room without spending much. You can get really nice dupioni silks that don't cost too much. Dupioni silk looks and acts like expensive silk, just a fraction of the cost. But be careful, when you are looking at silks, not all are created equal. Be picky about the "cheap" silk you use.



2. We used more than one fabric. I am going to sound like a broken record, but using more than one fabric gives a window treatment an instant custom look.



3. We used trim! Trim adds instant texture and interest and again...makes the treatment look custom. Windows are boring without trim!!! Are you seeing a pattern yet? (we used a goblet pleat on the panel to dress it up even more)

So, I figure everyone falls into one of two categories. Either you have the means to hire a professional or you are stuck doing the work yourself! Both situations have pros and cons. But if you are on a budget and you need to get creative, here are some ideas!

1. Purchase a pre-made set of drapes/panels and add trim to the bottom or the edges. I actually purchased zebra drapes from Target that I plan to do this with....don't tell!

2. Purchase a pre-made set of drapes/panels and add at least 12" of another fabric to the bottom of the panel. Just remember the two fabrics have to compliment each other.

3. Have Fun! Think of it as an adventure...add a little trim, get a new look! If you don't like it, you can always change it!

Special Note: all windows shown designed by me and/or Foxy Roxy!

Anyone else have some good ideas on dressing up windows???