Picking the Best Great Room Window Treatments in Chicago
Contemporary home design is based on functionality. More than ever, homeowners in Chicago are adopting the design philosophy that every part of your home shouldn’t only look great, but also should serve a purpose as well. And if it is able to serve multiple functions, even better! That’s why great rooms have become widespread in homes, acting as a blend of a family room, dining room, living room, and more.
A useful, multi-purpose space needs those same traits in its window treatments. So let’s go over how to find the optimal window covering for your great room, Chicago.
Great Room Window Covering Priorities
Light Control - Great rooms are usually the biggest room in your house, meaning they typically have the biggest windows. That means it’s vital to be able to control how much light comes into your home so you have the ability to set the mood in your space regardless of the weather outside.
Energy Efficiency - As with light, those oversized great room windows tend to allow heat to come in and out without much of a fight. A window covering that impedes energy loss can go a long way to enhancing your comfort and decreasing your utility bills.
Looks - Because great rooms serve more than one function, it’s typically going to be the part of the home guests see most often. Make a long-term impression with a gorgeous window covering that accomplishes the aforementioned functions too.
Usability - Many great rooms reside in open-concept, multiple story homes, which might mean tall windows that are a hassle to operate. The ability to easily and quickly operate your window coverings makes for a more functional space.
So now that we have our list of “must-haves,” which window coverings accomplish them?
Plantation Shutters for Great Room Windows
Check, check, check, and check–plantation shutters pass our checklist easily. Plantation shutters offer the most discerning light control, with the adjustable louvers’ ability to stay totally open, closed, or anywhere in between. Add to that some of the most effective thermal protection your windows can get, and you have an energy efficient window treatment that reduces heat transfer by nearly 46%.
Even if those windows sit high on the wall or are very tall, they’re still easy to use, with the use of an adjustment pole that stretches out and collapses in and gives you easy access to the tilt rod.
Lastly, plantation shutters offer all this practicality with the looks that are sure to impress any visitor. Very few furnishings can add the same sense of beauty to a home as shutters.
Other Window Options for Your Great Room
Though plantation shutters are our first recommendation for filling all your great rooms’ needs, there are a couple of other window coverings that can help out in some of those categories.
Cellular Shades - Cellular or “honeycomb” shades can offer some light control and decent energy efficiency, all while offering a wide array of colors to choose from to complement your space. If you opt for motorized shades, they can also be placed on out of reach windows for easy operation.
Drapes - Wall-to-wall drapes in a Chicago great room can be a stunning boost to your personal design. They’re fairly easy to draw and shut while providing great light control, depending on the material. Their heat-blocking ability is where they lack however, so they’re fairly weak in the energy efficiency category. For that reason, it’s common to see draperies paired with Polywood shutters.
