| |
| |
|
Home Improvement Information |
|
|
|
Physiological Response to Window Coverings
Nothing soothes the brain like Mother Nature, whose intrinsic scenery relaxes and refreshes us, consciously and subconsciously. Therefore, a view of nature should never be completely covered up during the day. During daylight hours, windows should let in as much light and scenery view as possible, because people who can't see out of their windows during daylight hours get depressed. A view of nature, trees, plants, sky, clouds, and birds diminishes stress, promotes general physical health, and contributes to psychological satisfaction. Factors such as natural light, fabric color, pattern, and tactile quality will also affect the presence of the room. Fabrics with a soft, tactile quality are good choices for creating a romantic, elegant ambiance, but mini-blinds are hard to clean and look severe. Pleated shades are softer, while shutters have rounded edges, can be repainted to change decor, and will last forever. Window Coverings as Backgrounds Window coverings that span a large expanse require the same color considerations as walls, since they become backgrounds for people. Too many patterns on windows will detract from both individuals and furnishings, and small prints in large spaces tend to get lost while adding busyness to a room. Many windows are really no more than picture frames for views, so it's important that window treatments should complement the view. In general, the better the view, the plainer the window treatments should be. For view windows that don't need coverings for privacy or temperature control, consider lighting the exterior space and leaving the windows uncovered. Architectural Considerations Houses with lovely architectural details surrounding the windows need window treatments that don't hide the home's character. For example, magnificently-fluted moldings around windows shouldn't be covered. Use spring tension rods to hang treatments inside the molding instead. Where windows are perfectly placed throughout a room, accentuate their lines with bold treatments. You can camouflage the size and position of windows that are too small or poorly placed by adjusting the placement of window treatments, such as hanging the coverings higher to visually create taller windows. Elegant Window Dressings Window treatments can be plain, functional, or opulent. Formal rooms with exquisite window treatments are fun. Layers of damask, lace, sheers, silks, and overlapping swags can create an aura of richness and refinement. Other elegant details might include scalloped trimmings, fringe, cords, cording, tassels, and rosettes. On the other hand, if you need to tone down a too-opulent scheme, use a rough-textured trim, because lush and lustrous fabrics can be overwhelming without an element of roughness as a balancing factor. Puddled window drapes, typical of the Victorian period, can add fullness and warmth to cold rooms. Draperies that are allowed to "pool" or "puddle" on the floor add elegance and rich feelings to a room. The drawback is that too much pooling on the floor will cause the bottoms of puddle draperies to get sucked into vacuum cleaners. Each house is different, of course, but no matter what your home's style or composition, you'll want to give careful consideration to your choice of window fashions if you're going to create a warm and happy feeling for yourself, your family, and your guests. (c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved. Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm
MORE RESOURCES:
Home-Improvement - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Laminate Flooring Basics Laminate flooring resembles the look of hardwoods but offers easier installation and stronger durability. You can use laminate flooring in any room in the house, including hallways, foyers and family spaces, bathrooms, and kitchens. The Mighty Dust Mite and How To Deal With It A Closer Examination of the Dust MiteThe dust mite's mouth parts are grouped in front of the body, resembling a head. Their body is oval and covered with fine striations. The Science of Architecture You're told to take vitamins, drink plenty of water, get a good night's sleep and exercise, but has anyone ever told you that the design of your home and office can impact your health? You wouldn't be alone in raising an eyebrow and questioning how this could be so, but thousands of years ago, the ancient seers of India spent entire lifetimes observing how man-made structures impact humans beings. Their findings were compiled into a body of knowledge called Vastu Shastra. A Guide to Home Dehumidifiers It can be difficult to choose from among the countless home dehumidifiers out there. First, determine the square footage of the largest room you plan to dehumidify. Portable Air Conditioners Ensure Economy And Convenience Small is beautiful and convenient and so is the portable air conditioner as it can be shifted from one place to the other very easily. Read on to find out all the other advantages. Duvet Covers Are Easy to Make Yourself Duvet covers are rather versatile when you think about it. If you want something that is really different for your bedroom, you may find expense is an issue in fancy, unique, well made fabric. Why Hardwood Flooring is a Good Investment Hardwood flooring has a timeless air of qualityHardwood floors have decorated some of the most exclusive mansions and estates in history and still exude a feeling of permanence and classic quality compared to manufactured floors.Hardwood floors are naturalHardwood floors bring the natural outdoors inside, and do not contain man-made chemicals in the wood itself. Lighting and your Kitchen - How to Design a Lighting Plan that Cooks! Your kitchen, more than any other room in your home, needs a good well thought out lighting plan. Today's kitchens have many more functions than just cooking a meal. Building a Home Addition Besides providing your home with more living space, a home addition can be a terrific investment. However, before embarking on such a project the homeowner should first consider several important items. Deck Design - Why Firm Foundations Are Essential Preparing a deck design for your backyard is all the rage as a home improvement project for this summer, however there is great temptation to build a pallet like structure that just sits on the ground outside your back door.Yes there are many ways to prepare the ground so that an unconnected deck design structure will sit level to the ground, for example by using concrete slabs in four corners. Remodeling Your Home: How Much Is Too Much? The classic way for homeowners to increase the value of their house is by remodeling existing rooms or adding on to its current plan.Some choose to build recreation rooms and studies while others add new appliances, fixtures and cabinets to enliven rooms and make their home more attractive to future buyers. Do-it-Yourself Roofing, Is It Advisable? Some Tips and Guidelines Many do-it-yourselfers pride themselves in their handiwork, you can just see their garages filled to the brim with tools for those all around jobs. But ask any of them, installing roofs or repairing them is an unexciting and trying job, but someone has got to do it. How To Give Your Home More Space Have you been wondering how to free up space in your home? Do you live in a dorm or an efficiency where every inch of space counts?Maybe you're tired of trying to come up with ideas on how to reduce the clutter? Or don't know where to start?If you don't know where to start and feel like you're backed into a corner then maybe this is your solution to the problem.Let me introduce you to the top-to-bottom-strategy. A Healthy Home Your home is your castle. You decide, possibly together with family members, what to make of it. Kitchen Remodel - How to Survive You have decided to make the plunge and begin to plan your kitchen remodeling project. There are so many questions and you're not sure where to start. Hot Tubs Create a Backyard Oasis What would you like in the backyard that is great for entertaining, would be a focal point and can be enjoyed by the whole family? Hot tubs could be what you are looking for. Immersing in hot or warm water goes back centuries to Greek, Japanese and Roman texts. Lakeside Patios - The Water Makes Decisions For You If you are putting in a new patio on a lakeside, you have unique considerations that other homeowners do not have when it comes to purchasing patio furniture.We built a new patio on a 700 acre lake and I had to look around for just the right outdoor furniture. Planning Permission Tips UK - Loft Conversions in UK Properties - Do They Add Value? We get a great many requests to view the potential of Loft conversions. This type of extension has remained fairly popular since I first started designing property & is perhaps even more in demand now than ever before - especially in dense urban areas where the alternative choices for that fourth bedroom are somewhat limited. Feng Shui Your Home, Work and Life For Balance and Harmony Feng Shui describes the communication that takes place every day between you and your environment, be it your home, garden or work. This discipline investigates the universal feelings and reactions of human beings to all environments, including our world. Buying Replacement Windows While most buyers of double glazing are looking for replacement windows to help reduce their energy costs, or because their old windows are rattling in their frames, there's a whole class of buyers who are 'trading up' - replacing perfectly good window frames for the sake of having the windows they want. They may be looking to replace all of their windows with a different style, or trying to restore their home to its architectural period.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
