Choosing Window Treatments in Cincinnati for a Contemporary Room

When you’re decorating a room in contemporary style, you need your window treatments to reflect that style too. We sat down with Jane Cunningham, principal designer at Room Resolutions, to better understand how customers should choose the right window treatments for contemporary rooms in Cincinnati.

Contemporary décor includes a range of styles which are influenced by the last half of the 20th century. It’s built on softer, cleaner lines. According to Jane, everyone has a slightly different definition of contemporary. The majority of the time, people want to open the space up. Her clients have said things like, “I don’t have to have 15 items on the counter of my house.” Or “I don’t need an ottoman by every chair.”

Contemporary rooms “give you the freedom to move.” Even if you live in a small condo, you can bring the outdoors inby expanding your view of the sky, the rain, and the sun in Cincinnati.

The first step is to unclutter your windows. If you think about your grandparents’ windows, they probably had multiple layers. There were shades on top of sheers, draperies, and shutters. It feels claustrophobic. Let go of layers. By picking window treatments that offer clean lines, you can get the contemporary look you want.

Contemporary Window Treatment Options In Cincinnati:

Shutters For Contemporary Rooms

Plantation shutters are great for contemporary spaces in Cincinnati. They have wide 4.5” louvers which complement a contemporary style. And when you add a rear mount tilt rod to their wide louvers, your shutters create clean lines across the window.

Shutters offer you control over the level of light. The panels can be swung open to the side so that you’ll see through your entire window. You can also choose to mount divided shutters where you can have light coming in from the top.

They’re also easy to clean, which is handy if the windows are usually dusty. Contemporary décor shines best when everything is polished.

Cunningham recommends Polywood shutters to homeowners who want window treatments for contemporary rooms. They’re her preference because don’t warp over time and they don’t get dingy.

According to Cunningham, more contemporary rooms feature reclaimed wood shutters. They have a bit of nostalgia. They show off the rustic look of hardware. They accentuate hardwood flooring to tie in the entire décor of the room. With reclaimed wood shutters, you can take something from the past, revisit and reuse it. And the new application of reclaimed wood as shutters plays into the contemporary style.

Modern Barn Doors

Barn doors are a full scale piece of art on the wall. Choose as funky of a color as you want. You can get the restorative look. You can design it to look like a traditional barn door. And you can make it look contemporary that matches the hotel you just stayed at.

Modern barn doors become room separators in spaces that traditionally don’t have full doors. An example would be when you want to close off your kitchen at certain times.

Barn doors as window treatments look amazing on large windows with big enough wall space. Shaker doors display an openness that is reminiscent of a more contemporary style. Hardware makes a large difference. Pick stainless steel to make it look more contemporary. Or paint a barn door a bold color. For example, if the entire room is differing shades of white, a bold red barn door would pop against the wall and enhances the space.

“Barn doors add a conversation piece. The next gathering you have, I guarantee someone is going to have a comment. That’s because people aren’t expecting a barn door on a window.” - Jane Cunningham

Over the years, Cunningham has learned that our homes are part of who we are. They’re also an experience we can share with our guests. And a barn door is a portion of that experience - and something your guests will be talking about.

Roller Shades

Roller shades are a great solution for contemporary rooms that have big windows and doors that fold into themselves. They’re neatly tucked away, yet let you bring in the outside view.

If you prefer to sleep in total darkness so you can have a full night’s sleep, roller shades can include room darkening options. If you want to block out unwanted noise, pair them with draperies that can be hidden from sight by tying on the window’s sides.

Window Film

Most contemporary rooms we’ve seen in the Cincinnati area feature large windows that are often 25-30 feet tall. And when they face towards the west, the sun wear down the furnishings and carpet.

Jane recommends window film to homeowners with rooms that have large windows. It allows you a wide view of the outdoors, which is exactly what you want for a contemporary room.

The film also blocks UV rays. This means your carpeting and furniture hold true to their color longer. It also helps your home be more energy efficient.

Find Contemporary Window Treatments For Your Cincinnati Home

Give us a ring at 513-216-9740 to schedule your free in-home design consultation. Our window treatment experts will show you samples of the contemporary window treatment options you’re interested in. Then you’re ready to choose the window treatment that goes with your home!

To read more about Jane Cunningham and Room Resolutions, go to RoomResolutions.com today.