Choosing the Best Great Room Window Coverings in Austin
Great home design is all about functionality. An increasing number of homeowners in Austin are adopting the design philosophy that every part of your home shouldn’t only look appealing, it should serve a purpose too. And if it can serve more than one function, even better! That’s why great rooms have become widespread in homes, acting as a combination of a family room, dining room, living room, and more.
A functional, versatile space needs those same features in its window coverings. So let’s learn how to pick the perfect window covering for your great room, Austin.
Great Room Window Treatment Priorities
Light Control - Great rooms are typically the largest room in a given home, meaning they usually have the largest windows. Therefore, it’s important to have control over how much light comes through your windows so you have the ability to always set the perfect mood.
Energy Efficiency - Just like with light, those large great room windows tend to allow heat to come in and out without much of a fight. A window treatment that blocks energy loss can do a lot to enhancing your comfort and slashing your energy bills.
Beauty - Because the great room serves a lot of functions, it’s most likely going to be the space guests see the most. Create a lasting impression with a beautiful window covering that accomplishes the functions mentioned above too.
Ease of Operation - Many great rooms reside in multi-story homes with open concepts, which might mean high-ceiling windows that are a hassle to operate. Being able to operate your window treatments easily and quickly makes for a better functioning space.
So now that we have our list of “must-haves,” which window coverings accomplish them?
Great Room Plantation Shutters
Check one, check two, check three, check four–plantation shutters pass our checklist for great room window treatments. Plantation shutters give you the most discerning light control, with the adjustable louvers’ ability to stay fully open, completely closed, and every angle in between. In addition, they offer some of the greatest thermal protection available to your windows, and you get an energy efficient window treatment that reduces heat transfer by almost half.
And if those windows have some height to them, shutters are still easy to use, as we can provide an adjustment pole that stretches out and collapses in and gives you easy access to the tilting mechanism.
Lastly, plantation shutters offer all this practicality with the looks that are sure to impress any guest. Not many furnishings can add the same sense of class to your home as shutters.
Other Great Room Window Coverings
Though plantation shutters are the number one suggestion for filling all your great rooms’ needs, there are a few other options that can help out in many of those areas.
Cellular Shades - Cellular or “honeycomb” shades can offer some light control and decent insulation, all while offering a range of colors to pick from to match your space. If you purchase motorized shades, they can also be installed on out of reach windows for easy adjustment.
Drapes - Floor to ceiling drapes in a Austin great room can be a stunning enhancement to your home design. They’re typically easy to operate while giving you tight light control, depending on the fabric. Their heat-blocking ability is where they lack however, which means they’re fairly weak in the area of energy efficiency. For that reason, it’s common to see drapes paired with Polywood shutters.
