Congratulations! You've added new windows, sliding glass doors, or a beautiful front door to your home.
Your next step is to address your window treatments. You realize that recycling your old ones won’t complement your recent home improvements.
Your instincts are wise.
Your blinds, shades, and drapes have more impact on a home's street appeal than most consumers realize.
Window treatments can make or break your curb appeal.
1. First Impressions Happen Fast
Walk through any neighborhood and you'll notice which houses look cared for and which don't.
- Bare windows? That house looks empty or neglected.
- Thoughtful window treatments? That's a home where someone pays attention to details.
Real estate agents will tell you the same thing—cared-for exteriors help with property values, and improved property values create happy homeowners.
PRO TIP: Your window treatments should create a cared-for appearance.
2. What Should Your Neighbors and Those Who Drive By See?
We’ve all seen homes where mismatched window treatments kill an otherwise beautiful exterior. Your street-facing side must be consistent, whether your exterior window trim is white, beige, red, green, or the trendy black window frames that are currently in vogue.
- For most homes, a neutral color is the best decision. You can go bold with navy or forest green inside if you want, but what shows through to the street typically needs to be neutral.
- Not only does color have to be uniform for the street-facing side of your home, but the type of hanging style needs to be consistent as well.
For example, avoid using a curtain with a valance when all other front windows have pinch pleated drapes. You want the same design and neutral color for each front-facing window.
By far, the biggest mistake you can make is mixing too many styles. Sheers in the living room, shutters in the dining room, and bare windows in the foyer look scattered. Pick a consistent approach for what people see from the street, even if you go wild with variety in the back of the house.
- You can use different fabrics of the same color in the front of the home, as long as the texture appears consistent.
PRO TIP: Use neutral colors and uniform design for the street-facing windows.
3. The Height and Width Trick
Want to make your windows look bigger and more expensive from the inside? Consider hanging your rods higher and wider than the actual window frame. Interior designers refer to this as optical framing, a magical technique for enhancing rooms.
When you do this consistently across all your front windows, your home appears professionally designed. Even if your windows are different sizes, this trick makes everything look intentional.
PRO TIP: Your front windows may not all be the same size, but your treatments can create the illusion that they are
4. Lighting
Some fabrics let in beautiful light during the day and create that warm, welcoming glow in the evenings when your lights are on. It's the difference between a house that looks cold and one that looks inviting.
PRO TIP: Identify the look you want for your lighting and have your window treatments incorporate your preferences.
5. Match Your Treatment Style to Your Property
In Chester County, we see a diverse range of architectural styles.
Passers-by will slow down and admire your home when window treatments complement your home’s architecture.
Examples:
- Modern house or minimalistic style with clean lines? Consider crisp, sleek roller shades.
- Farmhouse? Bamboo, rattan, and jute shades, as well as barn-style shutters, would all look great.
- Craftsman or transitional style? Wood blinds, woven wood shades, or Roman shades work well.
- Traditional colonial? Interior shutters complement your home’s style.
- Eclectic or bold homes? You might pair a bold pattern shade with a solid-color drapery, both with a neutral lining for your front-facing windows.
- To elaborate, an 1880s Victorian home is not suited for stark flat-panel blinds or very simple, unadorned roller shades. Drapes, Roman shades, shutters, and lambrequins are better suited for a Chester County Victorian home.
Every home requires careful consideration, especially when it comes to the front, but avoid running the risk of spending money and being disappointed.
PRO TIP: Only two types of homes won’t benefit from a professional consultation for window treatments: lighthouses and igloos
6. Don't Stop at 90%
Have you ever seen a home where people invested in beautiful windows, doors, and siding, only to hang their old window coverings or whatever inexpensive blinds they could find at the local hardware store?
PRO TIP: Don’t serve cold French fries with caviar.
The Bottom Line
Window treatments do more than control light and privacy—they're part of your home's personality.
If you want real curb appeal:
- Keep street-facing sides neutral.
- Use consistent designs across front windows.
- Match your home's architectural style.
- Don't try to DIY if you want to do it right the first time. A professional will save you money in the long run!
Using a professional may seem like a luxury, but the right professional can help you maximize your budget (luxury or not) while also helping you avoid unnecessary mistakes.