In today’s blog post, we’re going to shine some light on the world of window treatments!

Window treatments are a unique part of a project because they’re so functional – after all, their real purpose is to manage the sunlight that’s filtering into a space. But who here loves those all-too common plastic blinds that are efficient, but far from elegant?

American architect Louis Sullivan (perhaps more well-known by his protégé, Frank Lloyd Wright) famously said, “form follows function—that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one.” Simply put, something can be functional and attractive at the same time! At Emily June Designs, we’re all about achieving that balance with window treatments, which are just another opportunity to breathe energy into a space.

There’s a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing window treatments. Some of our favorites to use for our clients are drapery panels and Roman shades. While both are effective at controlling light and elevating a room, these two soft window treatments have completely different looks!

drapery panels (also known as curtains!)

A drapery panel is a long piece of fabric which is hung from a horizontal rod. Typically two panels are hung in tandem, framing a window. Their long length can be trimmed to skim the floor, meet the floor, or for a touch of luxury, “pool” on the floor in elegant folds.

Drapery panels often feature decorative, pleated “headings” (the hemmed portion across the top of a drapery panel). The pleats create fullness at the top of the panel and help a drapery panel hang uniformly. If pleats aren’t your style, some frequently used non-pleated drapery panel options are grommeted and rod pocket panels.

draped in color

Here, Emily chose these peppy drapery panels to frame a bright, wide window. Their bright, warm tones continue the parade of color to the neutral walls behind it, balancing out the neighboring accent wall. Their length draws the eye downward to the neutral sofa, where more patterns and colors delight the eye!

Design by: @emilyjunedesigns
Photo by: @kerrykirkphoto

elevated elegance

These gorgeous spring green drapery panels are mounted above transomed French doors, with their tall floor-to-ceiling height taking the eye all the way from the room’s crown molding to the mirrored millwork above the baseboards! The effect is stunning. We also love the way this designer added a variated pink tassel trim to the drapes that carries pops of pink across the room, from the wallpaper to the doors!

Design by: @mallorymathisoninc
Photo by: @jeffherrphoto

This simple yet bold window treatment can be customized with a variety of fabric styles, lighting considerations (from sheer to light-blocking fabrics), and a smattering of pleat styles. Drapery panels can be further elevated by using decorative finials at the ends of the drapery rod. A drapery panel is a go-to window treatment in any space, but is especially common in living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms.

As mentioned earlier, there are a variety of styles available for drapery panel pleating. Some of our favorites are box pleats, goblet pleats, inverted box pleats, pinch pleats, and tack top (or Euro) pleats.

Illustrations by: @jackievontobel

These images are the property of Jackie Von Tobel and have been reproduced and recolorized from The Design Directory of Window Treatments for educational purposes.

browse the links below to shop some of our favorite drapery panels:

roman shades

A Roman shade is a shorter, corded shade with rods set horizontally in the back to give the shade various folds (or pleats) when raised. (If you’re wondering, this window treatment traces its roots back to the one and only Ancient Rome! and the building of the Coliseum! For a more in-depth history lesson, check out this great article by Daily Dream Decor.)

Roman shades are designed to be easily adjustable, allowing you to let in more or less light (and warmth) throughout the day. For this reason, they’re often used in very sunny spots and their short size even makes them a great option for glass doors! They’re easily customizable, though they do require a bit more labor to create than the simple drapery panel. Their clean rectangular shapes can bring a taste of refinement and minimalism to a room.