Window Treatments - creative ideas?
I have two windows and a pair of sliding glass doors in my family room. The windows face the street so I have them covered with red rosin paper attached with blue painters tape at the moment. That’s only one step worse then ghetto curtains (an ugly old bed sheet – preferably with a faded cartoon character on it.) So here’s the deal. I’ve got very little money and I want creative ideas for these two windows and the sliding glass doors. I want light and privacy from the two windows, and something that little children or dogs can’t easily destroy. There are baseboard heaters beneath both windows, so long drapes that puddle on the floor is just not happening (and wouldn't anyway because of the amount of free agent dog fur that roams my home.) And I hate vertical blinds – so that is what I won’t be doing on the sliding glass door to the back deck. Thankfully, we have a lovely view out the back, and privacy at times would be good but for the most part our back deck is private enough that it doesn’t really need much in the way of cover. Plus, this time of year the morning sunshine is welcome. The room was designed to be a two car garage, but they made it a living room instead, thankfully there is no garage door. Any creative ideas? OH, did I mention it needs to be cheap?
Comments
Done right, it could be really cute, and you wouldn't have to worry about dust and dog hair quite as much.
On the blinds end- you can try shopping around, some places have bamboo slat sun blinds for porches that would probably work for the sliding doors, and if you buy them at the right place they can be cheap (My brother got some at the World Market once).
Um... okay, I'm tapped. My brain is fried this morning.
Oh, I've also seen people take plastic shelf liners and roll them up windows. The wrong one can be really, really tacky- but there are some clear ones with subtle patterns that can be cute.
Another idea for you since you are artsy- the stained glass paints that you can make "leaded glass" window clings out of. There's one that is thick black for the "lead" and then various translucent colors. I did these in a bathroom that I wanted privacy but light .
The other thing I've seen are large window-sized sheets of plastic with printed designs, that stick to the window using static. I have no idea where to find them, though.
One cheap idea: I found a board in the basement and I've cut it to fit the two windows and I made a shelf out of it with some cheap brackets from the hardware store. So in the top section of the window I'll display some art glass that will be visable from inside and out. I think that sounds kind of cool. Hopefully I won't be sacrificing too much privacy doing that. Beyond that I'm not certain. And I haven't even thought about the sliding glass windows yet.
WalMart sells inexpensive rods and sheers for doors-- where you do the idea Mello had and have both top and bottom of sheers anchored for less issue with the kiddies and pooches. I actually have this in my garage windows so that the entire front of the house looks put together.