We often have customers come into our retail store, the Curtainshop of Maine, and ask for guidance when it comes to selecting new window treatments. We figured online shoppers probably have many of the same questions as our in store customers, so we hope to answer those questions here. Instead of tackling the whole house at once, start with one room. Often the appropriate style of window treatment will depend on the room you are decorating, so it is important to consider each room individually. Café or tier curtains, valances, and swags are ideally suited for kitchen nooks, entryways, and mudrooms. These types of partial window coverings can also be appropriate for family rooms since they provide privacy on the bottom half of the window while allowing light in through the top half. These window treatments are often available with coordinating accessories for your kitchen or dining room, like placemats, napkins, dinnerware, lamps, and more. Grommet top, pole top, pinch pleated, sheer, and lace curtains are ideally suited for living rooms, formal dining rooms, and bedrooms. Roman and cellular shades are also great options for these spaces. These types of window coverings provide full window coverage when desired and can be opened to let in as much light as possible. These guidelines are meant to help you choose the best window treatments for you home, but not to restrict you. You must select curtains, blinds, or shades that you love the look of, regardless of what is traditionally done. When selecting window treatments of any type, one must consider the size of their windows. For more information about measuring for window treatments, check out our resources page. Once you have measured your windows and know what style of window treatment you are looking for, you can start looking at the options available. At this point it is also important to consider if there are additional characteristics you are looking for in your window treatments. Some examples include, blackout, insulated, sheer, lace, or room darkening. If you are looking for treatments with one of these characteristics, that can help narrow down your search. Check out our blog post on blackout and insulated window treatments for more information on these styles. Finally, now that you have narrowed down your search criteria, think about the type of fabric, the color, and the design you are looking for. Often window treatments fit into a space best if they complement the wall color or the furniture in the room. Once you have landed on the perfect window treatments, they will bring each room in your home together, making it feel homey and complete.