Often window treatments are not thought of in great detail until well into a project. Get on to it early with these key things to consider.

Ideally, you should be discussing window treatments in the early architectural design phases of your build or renovation. You don’t need to choose the exact colour or fabric just yet, but deciding what system can go where is vital to avoiding disappointment at project completion.

Think on these questions. Would you like to take advantage of views during the day? Feel cosy in the evening? In what spaces will you require privacy, filtered light or full blockout? What kind of treatment best suits you: drapes, sheers, roman blinds, roller blinds, venetians blinds, vertical blinds, honeycomb blinds, shutters, or a combination of these? And lastly, how would you like to operate these treatments? You can opt for home automation, hard-wired power source, battery operation, or hand operation.

Any number of these treatments can be stacked off windows for unobstructed views, fixed inside door and window reveals, or recessed into ceiling cavities. Having a clear plan for any building or wiring allowances ensures you’ll get what want.

Not all spaces have the same requirements, and a good designer experienced with window treatments can save you time and money in the long run by having these conversations early on. Creating a clear plan then allows you and your designer to have fun with the style, colours, and patterns of these functionally gorgeous design elements.

Anna Dick is the whole-house interior designer behind Anna Margaret Interiors. Check out her projects and get in touch to talk about your design needs at annamargaret.co.nz.