Window dressing

What’s a room without windows? A  prison-like claustrophobic room. The humble window that lets in the sun and air can be turned into a beautiful style statement  with  a little imagination. Furnishing of a house is not complete if attention is not given to the windows or the window space. Dressing up the window gives a distinct touch to any interior.

Today there are varieties from cotton and silk to jute, denim, muslin, khus khus , bamboo beads and even sea shells that make for curtains with a difference. “Designing one’s home is an intellectual diversion; you want to apply what you think to make your living space better,” says Rana Garg, an interior designer from New Delhi . “With a little effort you can do wizardly things, like transforming a dull curtained window space into a focal point of creativity,” says Garg.

Not all windows, however, require curtains. Some are beautiful by themselves There are fixed and sliding windows that have a ledge which you could use to  display your collectibles as the sliding panes will not knock them off . You could dress them up in short frilly curtains coming down by only 15 inches or so  for  privacy and light , especially if the apartment is in a high-rise.

Bay windows project from the wall of a building and form an alcove of a room .A cosy sitting area set in a bay window offers an ultimate sense of space for gatherings or relaxing on a lazy afternoon. If you cleverly use this angular space for a built in window seat, the potentially awkward angle would turn into a nice sunny breakfast area. Hang some chimes and some potted plants, and enjoy ! “Bay windows lend a lot of character to your living space,” says Tara Kunzru, a homemaker from Lucknow. “It gives extra space and a strong character to your room.”

French windows are a pair of windows that have many small panes that reach to the floor and open in the middle, like doors. Roman shades, rounded or flat are a good alternative to blinds or drapes for such windows. Some, however, prefer keeping them bare because they say that the beauty lies in the window itself; so why cover it?

Casement windows are the usual open and shut windows with a square / rectangular shape. They do not offer much option but one could try natural fibre shades that could blend with grass cloth wallpaper for an organic feel. A textured and stained glass window can be one- of- its- kind design for the window. “A simple window shade can get a makeover by adding accessories to the bottom like shells, frills etc.,” says Rati Duggar, a homemaker  from Mumbai who likes innovative décor ideas . She tried making window shades with ordinary jute sack cloth and has not regretted ever. “It keeps my room cool and gives it an earthy effect,” she says.

The bow window which is basically a rounded bay window could just have an etching or a frosted effect or simply tie the curtains with a French ribbon to give the  window a casual country feel . Use the space that it offers for plants, collectibles or for a low table-chair set.

Cornices can be covered with fabric till one third of the length of the window , instead of full length ,thereby  allowing maximum light from the window to flow into the room . “This is a new trend and many of my customers want to introduce this in their homes, “ says Bahman Baheti of Vishal Furnishings shop in Kolkata .

It is important to do some soul searching too what one wants. Are you bohemian, eclectic, traditional, or do you like rustic design style?

Similarly when it comes to choosing your curtain style, ask yourself if you  want functional or stationary panels for your curtains . Functional panelled curtains are used for privacy and light control and require more material, are easy to pull and draw ; stationary ones on the other hand, are strictly decorative and are used to either highlight or soften a windows hard edges and like the name suggests, are difficult to draw. Cartilage pleats is pleating to a specific design style and an ideal fit for traditional, formal and informal interiors generally with hooks, rings or with springs; scalloped style is more formal and brusque with pinched pleats .

Think out of the box if you like adventure. If you have space your windows can have a waterfall view with a rockery or a  flowering shrubs

Place a couple of decorative pot holders with herbs growing on your kitchen windows. They are functional and offer a visual appeal they do not need strong sunlight either.  The bathroom window sill can look inviting with small pots with ornamental varieties that you get in the market .Hang puppets shells and photo frames with pictures of plants and pets, or get frosted glass with green hints.