Washington DC Specialty Window Treatment Guide

Each Washington DC home is unique, every one with its own aesthetic and individual needs. Similarly, each of the windows in your Washington DC home are different as well. Their dimensions, shape, the way they face and more will vary and influence which window treatment fits them best.

But more than any other factor, the window style might be the most important for determining your perfect window treatment. These are our team’s recommendations for window treatments to fit the specialty window types found in Washington DC houses.

Window Treatments for Sidelight Windows

Sidelights are those long, thin windows typically found on either side of the front door in several homes. Getting the right window treatment for sidelight windows is distinctly important for a couple of reasons. First, sidelights are a focal point of your home, since most visitors’ eyes are naturally drawn to the front door when looking at a house. Second, people–from your postman to guests to traveling salespeople–are going to see them up close, which means that a fantastic window covering that much more important to make sure you maintain your privacy.

Our recommendation for sidelight window treatments: Plantation shutters. Shutters don’t just offer your home classy looks and unrivaled privacy, but they’re also easily custom-built for long, thin sidelight windows.

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Window Treatments for French Doors

Our recommendation for French door window treatments: Plantation shutters. As they’re able to be installed directly onto the frame and are super damage-resistant, shutters are a great solution for French doors. Their timeless style and energy-efficiency are also bonuses for your French door.

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Octagon Window Treatments

 

Octagonal windows are some of the most appealing and visually striking windows there are in Washington DC homes. With their special geometry, you would be remiss to mask them with a run-of-the-mill window treatment like curtains or blinds. Instead, choose a window treatment that can be custom-fit to the window’s unique shape so you’ll always get the benefits of your octagon window.

Our recommendation for octagonal window treatments: Plantation shutters or window film. Shutters are custom manufactured to fit perfectly in an octagonal window frame, preserving its unique shape and style. Similarly, window film adheres directly to the glass pane, keeping the awesome shape of your octagon window on full display.

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Window Treatments for Wide Windows

Our recommendation for wide window treatments: Panel tracks, roller shades or plantation shutters. Roller shades operate easily, and their simple look works great with wider windows. A panel track is a kind of shade with large fabric panels that move across a track–perfect for wide windows. Plantation shutters add a tad more energy efficiency and privacy than shades do, so if a cool home is a priority, shutters might be your perfect solution.

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Window Treatments for Angled & Rake Windows

Rake or angled windows are popping up more and more in Washington DC home design. The trouble with angled window treatments, like with octagonal windows, is getting one that fits your unique window shape. Keep in mind as well that many angled windows are in harder-to-reach spots, like where the ceiling and wall meet at a corner, so a window treatment that you won’t have to open and close often is often best for angled windows.

Our recommendation for angled and rake windows: Plantation shutters. Not only are they 100% customizable to fit the precise angles and shape of your angled windows, but the shutter louvers can often be set at a single, preferred angle so you won’t need to readjust them - perfect for windows in awkward spots.

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Window Treatments for Sliding Glass Doors

Like with french doors, the window treatment you choose for a sliding glass door should allow you to open and shut the door without any hassle whatsoever. Additionally, a sliding glass door treatment needs to be durable and able to withstand the frequent usage a sliding door sees. Finally, sliding glass doors are one of the least energy-efficient windows, since they not only let energy transfer through the pane but also through the door opening. A window treatment that can block energy transfer should also be a big priority for sliding glass doors.

Our recommendation for sliding glass doors: Plantation shutters or panel tracks. Shutters and panel tracks both make opening a shutting a sliding door easy. Panel tracks also offer a range of designs and textures to choose from, freeing up your options and giving you the ability to take your designs anywhere. Plantation shutters can be built in numerous configurations to fit any sliding glass door, and offer the most energy efficiency of any window treatment.

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Window Treatments for Bay Windows

Bay windows can’t be missed. The long panes, concave layout, and broad view you get from bay windows are unlike almost any other window, so they require some special consideration when deciding on a window treatment. Washington DC homeowners should focus on window treatments that enhance a bay window’s eye-catching geometry, protect your privacy, and look gorgeous in your living or family room. Lucky for us, there are a few window treatments that can do it all.

Our recommendation for bay windows: Cellular shades, Roman shades, or shutters. Both roman and cellular shades function well with bay windows as each shade covers a single pane, granting you a lot of flexibility in how much surface area you want covered. Similarly, plantation shutters are installed on each individual pane on bay windows, but are able to give you even more freedom in window coverage with their easily adjustable louvers.

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High Ceiling and Tall Window Treatments

No matter their shape or style, windows that are located close to your ceiling can be difficult to treat. In many cases, the tops of the windows are outside normal reach, and breaking out a stepladder every day is a hassle. So homeowners in Washington DC with taller windows might want to opt for a window treatment that you can either keep in a single position, or open and close from far away. It would be a bonus if that window treatment was also able to effectively block outside light from pouring through.

Our recommendation for tall & high ceiling windows: Automated shades or plantation shutters. Automated shades can open and close with the easy flip of a switch, without any hassle. On the other hand, with plantation shutters several homeowners opt to tilt the louvers to a single perfect position, and rarely if ever reposition the louvers. Both window treatments tackle the biggest challenge of tall windows!

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Eyebrow Window Treatments

Our recommendation for eyebrow windows: Plantation shutters. Basically any other window treatment has serious drawbacks when combined with eyebrow windows. Drapes, blinds, and shades mask the unique shape and a long window treatment may cover the empty space between the eyebrow window and the square window beneath it. Because shutters are custom-built to perfectly fit in the frame of your window, they’re easily the best option for this unique window shape. 

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Window Treatments for Casement Windows

Our recommendation for casement windows: Plantation shutters or shades. Plantation shutters can be customized with a cut-out to make room for the crank or lever–which lets you open and close your window easily. Both Roman and cellular shades can also pair well with casement windows, although you might have to pull aside the fabric when you want to open and close the window.

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Get More Washington DC Window Treatment Tips

There’s more to consider than just the type of window when shopping for window treatments in Washington DC. Check out our top picks for window treatments for every room in your home with Sunburst’s Ultimate Room Guide, or get some personal help by scheduling a free in-home consultation by calling 240-339-2588 today.