Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store
05/11 Design Tips

Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store

Everything you need to know about custom window treatments

The right window treatments can make all the difference in the design of a space…

but we know first hand that choosing them isn’t easy! With so many options and things to consider, doing it all on your own can feel overwhelming.

After years of selecting window treatments for clients and recently choosing them for our own home, we’ve learned a lot about how to make the process smoother.

Today, we’re partnering with our friends at The Shade Store to share some of our favorite tried-and-true tips for choosing window treatments, and give you an inside look into the process of deciding on our own in The McGee Home!

Product note: The material used for the Waterfall Woven Wood Shades has since been discontinued, the most similar style is Monterey or Beacon.

 

Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store

Tailored Pleat Drapery in material “Luxe Linen” and color “Oyster”

We used window treatments from The Shade Store throughout our entire home and we absolutely love them. They are hand-crafted in the US and the best quality. Plus, they do everything custom, which makes the world of difference.

Here are some of our top recommendations:

Start with considering functionality

Before you choose colors, textures, or styles, it’s best to start with considering the functionality. We often get asked if you need to select the same window coverings throughout your home, and the answer is no!

Each room has different functions, and therefore, different needs when it comes to privacy, light, and aesthetics. When we work with clients to choose window treatments, we always start by considering their needs in each room individually.

Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store

Tailored Pleat Drapery in material “Luxe Linen” and color “Oyster,” over our Waterfall Woven Shade in material “Seaview,” and color “Dune.”

In The McGee Home, we have different window treatment functions in nearly every room! When choosing the treatments for our bedrooms, we started by selecting motorized shades with a blackout liner for maximum functionality and privacy. When we want to pull them down or roll them up, all we have to do is press a button.

In Syd’s office, our garage, and a few other spaces where we still wanted privacy but didn’t need the maximum amount, we chose Waterfall Woven Shades with a privacy lining instead of a blackout lining. In our dining room, we skipped the shades altogether and used Tailored Pleat Drapery instead to make sure we got as much natural light as possible.

Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store

Waterfall Woven Shade in material “Seaview,” and color “Dune.”

One of the great things about working with The Shade Store is that all of their options are completely customizable, so you can get really specific about the functions and privacy levels of each treatment, making ordering that much simpler.

Designer tip: In a new build, it’s best to choose window treatments right away so that you can be sure to wire for certain functions before it’s too late!

Decide on the style

Once you’ve chosen your function, it’s time for the fun part! Deciding on the style of your window treatments can be tricky because although you don’t need to use the same ones throughout the entire home, you do want to make sure they all flow together.

Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store

Tailored Pleat Drapery in material “Luxe Linen” and color “Oyster”

In The McGee Home, we made sure everything was cohesive by using repeating textures and tones throughout the space. We typically repeat either the color, material, or, in some cases, both.

For example, every time we used a Waterfall Woven Shade in The McGee Home, we used the material “Seaview,” and the color “Dune.” Every time we used Tailored Pleat Drapery, we used the “Luxe Linen,” material, but chose different, complimenting colors for each room.

Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store

Tailored Pleat Drapery in material “Luxe Linen” and color “Oyster,” over our Waterfall Woven Shade in material “Seaview,” and color “Dune.”

When deciding on materials and colors, we like to consider what the room needs to look complete. In our master bedroom, we wanted to add more texture and dimension without darkening the space, so we layered Luxe Linen Drapery in “Oyster,” over our Woven Shades to give it some extra visual interest.

In Syd’s office, we wanted to bring out the depth and drama of the room’s moody color scheme while still letting natural light in, so we layered the Luxe Linen Drapery in a darker “Taupe,” color over our Woven Shades .

Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store

Tailored Pleat Drapery in material “Luxe Linen” and color “Taupe,” over our Waterfall Woven Shade in material “Seaview,” and color “Dune.”

It’s important to select options that, even if they are different, feel like a good fit when traveling from room to room. The best way to make sure everything is cohesive is to order swatches of the different materials and colors you plan to use so you can place them all side-to-side and adjust accordingly.

The Shade Store makes it so easy to do order swatches, and they have over 1,300 fabric samples, so you better believe we ordered A LOT so we could choose the perfect ones.

Design tip: Choosing neutral colors that blend with your furniture allows your eye to relax on the window treatments, allowing them to add to the room instead of taking away from it. 

Don’t forget the hardware

Often, window treatment hardware gets overlooked, but the rods make a big difference, too!

When deciding on finishes and styles of hardware, we like to choose simple tones and styles to create a seamless, classic look. Although we don’t always use the same rods in every room, we do make sure they work together and compliment the other finishes in the space.

Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store

Tailored Pleat Drapery in material “Luxe Linen” and color “Oyster”

In The McGee home, we chose a Wrought Iron Rod in Black for both our dining room and Syd’s office, and in our master bedroom and bathroom, we used Steel Rods in Oil Rubbed Bronze and GunMetal for added interest.

The Shade Store has some of the best window treatment hardware options around, making it a great one-stop-shop.

Make sure you know your measurements

Last but most certainly not least, make sure you know your measurements! Not every window is created equal, and there’s nothing more distracting to the eye than window treatments that don’t fit perfectly.

We use custom treatments in all of our projects, and it makes an impactful difference. We love working with The Shade Store because they help with every step of the process, making it so easy to do custom window treatments with clients both nearby and long-distance.

Choosing Window Treatments With The Shade Store

Waterfall Woven Shade in material “Seaview,” and color “Dune.”

They have consultants in showrooms nationwide, but for The McGee Home, we actually used their virtual consultation process. Once you decide on your orders, a professional measurement and installation team comes out and makes sure that your window treatments fit perfectly. It’s the best way to be confident in your purchase, and we couldn’t recommend it enough!

When you have the right custom window treatments made to fit your windows just right, the results are so much better than what you might get with a premade product.

If you’re designing a home or looking to update your window treatments, check out The Shade Store’s guide to getting started here. 

You can shop Studio McGee’s top picks from The Shade Store here.

Show Comments
36 Comments
Studio McGee

  1. The master bedroom webisode says the bedroom drapes are the "oyster" color, but here you’re saying "beige". So confused!

    Reply

    1. I am pretty sure oyster is in the Kitchen and Beige is in Master bed ! Hopefully she will comment 🙂

      Reply

    2. I noticed this discrepancy too. I have oyster in my living room and they are a light cream. The dining room ones look more like mine.

      Reply

  2. Great post. One thing I would love addressed is cohesiveness of window treatments when looking at a home from the outside. For instance, when shades are down, should you strive for a uniform look — at least on the same plane of the house? Is that partly why you chose all the same Roman shades throughout?

    Reply

    1. Hi Julie! Yes, that is something we consider and one reason why we chose the same Roman Shade throughout!

      Reply

  3. Hi Shea,
    Loving all the webisodes on your home. They are incredible. I can tell you I ordered from the shade after posted your bathroom on Instagram awhile back. I just had my drapes installed and i guess I expected perfection for the price I paid. I am waiting to here back from the Shade Store because several stitches were missing from the drapes along with fabric having discoloration in spots. Your experience seems to have been better than mine.
    Thanks again for sharing your house with us.

    Reply

  4. Are the shades in the office, with the very dark lovely walls, also the same blinds (dune) as throughout the house? If so they are indeed versatile! I’ll be running to buy them ..

    Reply

    1. Hi Liz! Yes! They are, and they are so versatile! We love how well they work in every space.

      Reply

  6. Hi there, great post! Can you share the name/brand of the floors here in the dining room? I’ve been searching the blog in hopes to find the source. They are beautiful. Thank you,
    Erin

    Reply

  8. Hi! Just curious about the drapes in your dining room and bedroom. Are they stationary or fully functional?

    Reply

  9. This was so helpful!!
    I’m not able to use drapes (cats and super high windows not practical at this time).
    For maximum light where privacy not a concern, Would you use the same woven shades with no liner??
    ☀️??
    Thank you so much

    Reply

  10. for the shades you used "Seaview" material but would love to know the colors in each room that you chose (master specifically)

    Reply

  11. I love these Seaview / Dune woven waterfall shades so much that I purchased them for our bedroom. Curious though if you experienced crooked / hand cut edges. I’ve purchased woven shades from another company before and the edges were pretty meticulous but these have a definite raw edge to them.

    I’m curious if this is something that’s to be expected with this Seaview material or perhaps I have a defective order??

    Reply

  14. Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware
    of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people think about worries that they plainly
    do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also
    defined out the whole thing without having side effect ,
    people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get
    more. Thanks

    Reply

  15. Your style is very unique in comparison to other people I’ve read stuff from.
    I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I’ll just
    bookmark this web site.

    Reply

  16. Attractive component of content. I just stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to claim that I acquire in fact loved account your blog
    posts. Any way I will be subscribing on your augment or even I achievement you access constantly quickly.

    Reply

  20. Generally I do not learn post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very compelled me to take a look at and do so!

    Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, quite great article.

    Reply

  21. It is in point of fact a nice and helpful piece of information. I am
    glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  24. Hi, I do believe this is a great web site. I stumbledupon it
    😉 I will come back once again since i have saved as a favorite it.
    Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

    Reply

  25. Your style is so unique in comparison to other folks I’ve read stuff
    from. Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess
    I’ll just bookmark this page.

    Reply

  29. Every weekend i used to pay a visit this web site, for the reason that
    i wish for enjoyment, as this this web page conations really pleasant funny information too.

    Reply

  30. That is a great tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
    Short but very accurate information… Thank you for sharing this one.

    A must read post!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

Design Direction: Styling a Great Room
Design

Design Direction: Styling a Great Room

Configuring great rooms can be tricky, we’re here to help. Read More
Fall Dining Refresh with Studio McGee for Target
Design

Fall Dining Refresh with Studio McGee for Target

A dining table overhaul for cooler weather with our latest collection drop Read More
Loading Next Post...