Window Treatments Flashcards
Major reason for treating windows. Critical for bedrooms or bathrooms.
Privacy
Regional climate affects drapery. Layering window treatments provides insulation in both hot and cold climates.
Energy Conservation
Window direction plays a major role in light control. Multi-layered treatments help filter out light and glare.
Light Control
Framing a window with curtains and drapes will add to the beautiful view that could be seen outside. It can also reduce the harsh, straight lines of the window frames. Can help cover up views that are not aesthetic.
View Enhancement
Helps control noise and temperature. Fabrics and woods absorb sounds, reducing noise both inside and outside.
Acoustics and Noise Control
Covers or conceals defects on walls. Decorates the wall in a certain style. Relieves the monotony of unbroken wall space.
Aesthetics
Also called Glass Curtains. Made of a very thin fabric and is nearest to the glass when at least 2 sets of curtains are used. Provides the maximum amount of light to enter when the curtains are drawn but the least amount of privacy.
Sheers
Diffuses light for a little privacy. Thicker than sheers. During the day, people will not be able to see in the room, but at night when the interior lights are on, people will be able to do so.
Semi-sheers
Provides partial blockage of light when the curtains are closed. At night, only shadows can be seen from the outside.
Semi-opaque
Also called Black-out curtains. For privacy and maximum light blocking. Has a rubbery lining or backing. Includes hard window treatments and lined curtains.
Opaque
Uses a thick kind of fabric and is made with pleats. Used for privacy and elimination of light.
Draperies
Also called Side drapes. Stationary draperies used on either side of a window with other window treatments between. Can be straight or tied back.
Over drapes
Can be pulled across the window. Uses a traverse rod. Operates or draws by opening and closing with a cord.
Draw Draperies
Generally shirred or smocked or have headings attached to rods. Usually a term for informal window treatments.
Curtains
Short in length, each about 1/2 of the height of the window they are to be hung. Often used in kitchens and baths. Has a homey, country feel.
Tiers
Invention of a French restaurateur. Allows seated patrons privacy beside the window while allowing passersby a glimpse of the tempting atmosphere. Only the lower portion of the window is covered.
Café Curtains
Sometimes known as brise-bise, a French term roughly translated as windscreen. Gathered and hung with 2 rods that cannot be drawn. Usually installed in casement windows or French doors.
Stretch or Sash Curtain
Similar to stretch curtains but is permanently tied with a tie-back in the middle. Made of sheer fabric. Usually installed on French doors.
Hourglass Curtain
Curtains that are designed to be gathered at the side of the window and held by a decorative tieback, sleeve, or cord.
Tie Back Curtains
Also called Casement Curtains. Tops are usually shirred, which forms a pocket through which the fabric is then threaded onto a pole or rod.
Rod Pocket Curtains
Rod pocket curtains with extra length so that the sides can be gathered with tiebacks to create multiple poufs and they often puddle on the ground.
Bishop’s Sleeve
Curtains that hang behind the main curtains.
Under curtains
Generally drawn up from the bottom.
Fabric Shades
Fabric-covered shades of horizontal panels with wooden slats inserted horizontally at intervals down its entire length. Raised and lowered with a pull cord and it gathers to soft folds.
Roman Shades
Pulled up like ordinary shades using cords. Vertical shirring transforms into soft draping scallops. Scallops are seen from top to bottom. Heavy fabrics are not applicable for this type.
Austrian Shade
Made of soft fabric with cords placed vertically along the shade to hold the fabric in place. Has straight sides and lower hem. Creates puffs along the bottom edge when the cord is pulled.
Balloon Shades
Finished bottom edges of drapery. Weighs down and helps draperies hang better. Sheer fabrics would require a bead tape to give fabric weight and stabilize them.
Hems
Hems at the top of the draperies.
Headers
Loops of separate fabric sewn onto unpleated flat drapery. Highlights the decorative hardware used to hang them. Not to be used where they will be drawn frequently as these don’t move easily over poles.
Tab Tops
Small strips of fabric attached to the head of the fabric which are used to tie over a curtain rod holding the curtain in place. Creates an informal look and is used for sheer and lightweight fabrics.
Tie Top Curtains
Also known as Grommets. Have metal grommets fixed onto the head of the curtain at regular intervals.
Eyelets
Used on eyelets.
Grommet Tape
Uses double or triple rows of puckers created by a line of stitching through the fabric. Certain points are stitched together to form X or diamond patterns.
Smocking
Also called Gathered Curtains. Created by a row of gatherings on a rod. Requires triple fullness for a full effect.
Shirring
Folds of cloth sewn into place to create fullness.
Pleats
Flat symmetrical pleats formed by folding the fabric back at each side of the pleat.
Box Pleats
Box pleat in reverse. Two straight fabric folds that face each other.
Inverted Pleats
Round 2”-2 1/2” pleats filled in with cotton or paper to hold the shape. 2-3” spaced apart.
Cartridge Pleats
Also called Pinch Pleats. Composed of 3 folds made by dividing one fat pleat into 3 smaller ones.
French Pleats
Tucks are secured only at the base forming a short cup. The cup is stiffened with a rolled-up piece of interlining.
Goblet Pleat
Has single pleats grouped into twos, threes, or fives. Similar to pinch pleats but are looser. Uses lightweight to medium-weight fabrics.
Pencil Pleats
Created by sewing a length of tape to the back of the fabric and pulling cords on either side to pucker the material.
Puffball Pleats
Evenly spaced vertical folds that run the entire length of the drapery. Created using stiffened fabric or sewn-in plastic stiffeners. Usually used in modern settings.
Accordion Pleats
Looks like French pleats but has only two folds.
Butterfly Pleat
Also called straight pleats.
Knife Pleat
Takes the form of goblet pleats linked along their base by a hand-sewn cord.
Flemish Headings
Consists of horizontal panels that open and close at right angles.
Horizontal Blinds
Usually made of lightweight metal coated with paint. Has 2” wide slats held together by a 1” wide cotton braid ladder or nylon cord.
Venetian Blinds
Only has 1” wide slats.
Mini Blinds
Only has 1/2” wide slats.
Micromini Blinds
Same as Venetian Blinds but slats are made of wood strips. Example: Bamboo Blinds from Hunter Douglas.
Wood Blinds
Made of vertically aligned vanes with side-draw operation. Slats can be made of PVC, fabric, wood, painted aluminum, or polycarbonate plastic. Stacks neatly against the wall when not in use but can break easily.
Vertical Blinds
4” width blinds made of fabric.
Vertical Woven Blinds
A roll of material attached to a spring-wound tube or roller mechanism that hangs on the window. Has two ends: the pin and blade end. Comes in 36”, 45”, 54”, and 72” precut lengths. Originally made of vinyl, used as black-out shades.
Roller Blinds
Made of narrow horizontal strips of wood, bamboo, or tortoise shells connected with a thread woven on both sides.
Wood Shades
Made of accordion-pleated fabric, raised and lowered with cords like a blind. Permanently pleated so it folds neatly when drawn up.
Pleated Shades
Also known as Honeycomb Shades. Consists of two or more sheets of accordion-pleated reinforced fabric bonded together. Multiple air pockets within the shade provide insulation.
Cellular Shades
When closed, solid-panel shutters block all the light. Louvered shutters and lattice screens allow varying amounts of light to enter.
Shutters and Screens
Wooden hinged or solid panels that may be folded across a window to diffuse light and add privacy. 8-12” normal widths of panels.
Shutters
Example of wooden shutters used for privacy and light control.
Plantation Shutters
Examples of decorative and functional window coverings that allow partial visibility.
Lattice and Pierced Screens
Example of an intricately designed screen often used in Asian interiors.
Pierced Oriental Screen
Traditional Japanese screens made of Japanese paper, measuring 15” wide per panel.
Shoji Screens
