What if you like the calming effect of horizontal lines, but you can’t stand cleaning Venetian blinds? Here is a great solution. The Roman blind is not a dust trap like the slotted Venetian blind, and is more durable, with no rotating, and nothing to get bent. Cotton canvas and wood are a practical pair. They are also an attractive pair. This blind comes in seven colors to match your decor. The lighter shades, like this one in the photo, are translucent, while the darker shades are opaque. All provide privacy.

This design is versatile. You can include this shade in a Japanese style room, as it reminds one of a Shoji screen, but the blind will look equally at home with a rustic country decor, an ultra modern decor, or a beach home with models of sailing ships. You can even work them into a children’s room decor. They are not overly busy looking, and will help create a restful sleeping environment.

The great thing about this brand is that they come in five sizes to fit your windows.  If you have several in one room, they look good because the horizontal lines at the same height lend continuity, and subconsciously create the sense of looking out over a great distance. being able to retract them as much as you like, allows for you to reveal as much of the window as you prefer at any given time. In this way, you can cut the glare from the sun while allowing a breeze to enter.

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Look closely at this window film by Artscape. It looks just like rice paper, doesn’t it? Great detail! This is perfect for creating the look of a traditional Japanese Shoji screen. If you have a series of small square framed windows, or long panel shaped windows, this rice paper design will transform them to look just like the real thing.

The company makes this window film in long narrow strips, but you can merge them seamlessly like wall paper to cover larger areas, and trim them down to fit your window size and shape exactly.  The film is self- adhering without the use of adhesives, so you can take it off easily, without damage or mess, even after years of use. The film filters out UV rays, and is not harmed by heat, cold, steam, or humidity.

You get the benefit of a translucent material that is not transparent. Your window will still let the light in, while giving you privacy.

The Shoji screen design instantly gives your room an understated look of elegant sophistication, and the clean lines that inspire tranquility and peace in your home or office. This would be perfect for a studio or meditation center as well. We should all be so lucky as to have such a serene environment to live in.

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Are you designing a white or cream color decor theme? The trick is to layer the room with texture, and then keep the lighting soft, both of which will prevent the color from seeming flat and lifeless. Here’s a great start. These curtains are the perfect touch. They will add romance, subtle opulence, and and an antique look like no other. You’ll feel like a noble.

Ivy lace and vine scrolls are hand printed by artisans with wooden blocks, creating a cream on ivory background, two toned, textured look. Made of lovely voile cotton gossamer, the sheer fabric is translucent, and creates an ethereal yet warm light to bathe the room. It also allows you privacy, as it is not transparent.

The curtain measures 84 inches by 46 inches and has a tab top hanging array. It comes with a matching tie back, in case you want to gather it to the side in a sweeping draped fashion.

Continue the theme by adding throw pillows with textured white and cream colored fabrics. Green plants make a good color accent in such a room, because the leaf pattern on the curtain print will be echoed in the form of such plants as the Wandering Jew, which incidentally loves the diffused light, provided by the curtain.

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Excellent! Not only do you get the beauty of bamboo blinds, with their warm tasteful color and texture, and their understated elegance; you also get the beauty of a traditional Chinese brush and ink painting of bamboo on the shade, which turns your closed window into a portal to a lovely forest or garden. Perfect combination!

From the point of view of a Feng shui consultant, this is an impeccable choice. The bamboo material and image will enhance your positive “Chi” (vital energy) and cure “Sha Chi” (negative energy), as bamboo is very auspicious and said to have magic properties that aide in healing.

Even if you simply like the way it looks, you’ll enjoy the peaceful serene feeling you get with this image.

The first thing your guests will notice is your good taste and your sophistication. Not only are these beautiful, they also help the environment. Bamboo is a quickly renewable resource, not requiring pesticides.

This blind would look lovely in a room with bamboo or rattan furniture, and bamboo wood floors.

The blind is even available in a variety of sizes: 2 ft, 3 ft, 4 ft, 5 ft, or 6 ft wide.

This makes a great house warming gift!

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Wisteria is so lovely, and the look of stained glass gorgeous. This window film has a repeating pattern that allows you to seamlessly join the panels top, bottom, left and right, just like wall paper. It is also easily trimmed. You can make this film fit any window shape or size by adding panels or trimming them.

The film is translucent but not transparent, so you’ll still be bathed in natural light, while protecting your privacy. The design is visible on both sides, so you can enjoy the beauty of the window from either view.

Imagine if you had a window that looked over something ugly. This film would give you an instant country garden view instead. Applied to a glass shower stall, this film creates a privacy screen, while surrounding the bather in beauty. Can you imagine how dreamy your bathroom would be if this was your shower stall? Can you imagine how romantic your bedroom would be, and how quaint your kitchen would be with these windows?

Artscape window film is self adhering without adhesives, so you can remove easily without damage or mess, it even after years of use. It blocks the UV rays, and is not damaged by heat, cold, humidity, or steam. The film is so easy to apply, you can do it yourself in minutes.

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Here’s a great way to insulate your home without making it feel dark and heavy. You’ll save lots of money on your electric bill with this attractive thermal shade to keep the air-conditioned or heated air from escaping, and to keep either the summer heat or the winter cold out. Unlike some thermal shades, this company makes them soft and drapey.

This shade comes in sky blue, chocolate, burgundy, beige,  and gold, all with the attractive hotel stripes, for a classy look. As you can see from the photo, the affect can be very light and not at all overbearing, and yet when drawn, the shade blocks 99% of the light.

This is perfect for people who work on a computer and need to cut the glare, as well as children’s rooms where napping needs to happen in the day time.

The way the shade gathers and ties up is also very attractive. The shade has a pocket to slide the rod through, and measures 63 inches by 42 inches. Thermal curtains by Best Home Fashion are machine washable. You’ll love the convenience.

This vertical striped pattern would go well with a lot of old fashioned lace, reminiscent of the combined fabrics used to make old-fashioned striped dresses that had lace petticoats peeking out from underneath.

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Here’s a great idea for saving money and getting better sleep. Thermal curtains insulate your windows so you spend much less on heating and cooling your home. They also block 99 percent of the light, so you can really sleep deeply enough to produce life saving melatonin. This is perfect for shift workers, napping babies, and anyone who wants to see a sharper image when watching movies.

The nice thing about these thermal curtains, is that they are soft and drapery, not stiff like some others are.

They are available in black, chocolate, burgundy, beige, navy, and dark olive. The curtains measure 104 inches by 84 inches, panel: 52 inches by 84 inches. There are 6 grommets per panel, each 1.6 inches in diameter.

How do you create decor around such a large block of solid color? That’s easy, just employ symmetry and texture. The window becomes a focal point, so you put matching furniture on either side of it. For instance, matching dressers in a bed room, or matching console tables in a parlor. Place matching frames on the walls on either side of the window, and display a pair of pictures done in the same color pallet and of the same style.

An example would be amber monochrome photography of relatives, in wooden frames, placed over antique console tables with long narrow legs to contrast with the solid block of chocolate colored drapes in the middle. Then on the console tables place taupe colored items that have a variety of textures. This will contrast with the curtains even as the taupe combines with them harmoniously.

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Here’s a cool decor idea, go black. The drama and elegance of a mat black curtain can be stunning in the right place. Imagine a Gothic style bedroom where you can truly darken the room and sleep in the daytime. Hung on a rod like the one in the photo, this makes a very beautiful yet clean line, and the aged silver colored metal is the perfect accent.

Now picture an ultra modern dining room with Japanese Raku pottery or sushi plates, and a black porcelain Neko cat for good luck. The table is set with a row of transparent slender vases featuring single stemmed red flowers. Your guests are amazed and impressed by your sense of style and sophistication…..like this fantasy? Make it come true with this daring black curtain.

What if you need two layers of curtains, one as a blind, and the other as a decoration? Layer this tab top black curtain behind your decorative curtain, and viola! You can gut the glare in the living room so your movie images are sharper, and yet keep the decor coordinated. This curtain is very practical and versatile.

The curtain measures 95/96 inches, and is made of cotton fabric that is machine washable.

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Remember the charm of gingham? This blue and white plaid design is the perfect way to make a room feel wholesome and homey. It conjures up memories of picnics, mom’s apple pie, and a simpler time of innocence. This is the perfect accent for country decor themes.

Olive kids brings you this in 100% cotton, 180 count thread, like the good old days. It’s machine washable for easy care, and the valance measures 44 by 16 inches. You can pair it with the curtains or use it separately.

Originally intended to match the rest of a set for a child’s room featuring trains, planes, trucks and tractors, Olive kids offers many accessories to design a transport theme room, that uses this blue and white gingham for a border design. You could easily coordinate the whole room with their set, or use the glue and white gingham separately as a part of your own home decor concept.

Imagine an old-fashioned porcelain washbasin and stand in a bathroom or dressing room flanked by white eyelet curtains and this gingham valance. In the kitchen, these curtains will look right at home alongside old fashioned wooden cooking utensils and decorated tins.

Where ever you decide to use these curtains and/ or valance, you’ll create a little piece of a Norman Rockwell fantasy of yesteryear.

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This is a wonderful design idea. The clean lines and serenity of bamboo are elegant and beautiful without being gaudy. The color is perfect for rooms featuring a sand colored pallet. Blond wood looks right at home with this window decor.

Window film by art-scape self adheres without adhesives, so it can be easily removed even after years insitu. The white background and golden bamboo are translucent but not transparent, so they allow the room to be bathed in beautiful muted natural light, while providing privacy. The design is visible from both sides, so you enjoy the look of stained glass in more than one location. The pattern repeats like wallpaper, so you can add panels top, bottom, left, or right, and it and can be trimmed to fit your window size and shape.

Bamboo is a powerful Feng Shui remedy, so using this window film could raise the positive “Chi” (vital energy) in the rooms, home, office, clinic, or studio where it is used. It also makes a good privacy screen for a glass shower, as the wood energy helps to balance the excess water energy and compensate for the drains.

Even if you simply enjoy the Asian Aesthetic, and appreciate the peaceful and relaxing feeling you get with the Japanese decor , you’ll be glad you chose this window film instead of curtains.

The film filters out UV radiation, and stands up well to heat, cold, humidity, and steam.

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Look how cute these dinosaur curtains and valance are! They are colorful without being overbaring. You can easily match them with your room decor. They keep the room feeling light, airy, and whimsical.

The valance measures 44inches by 16 inches, and coordinates with the matching curtains and bed set. Olive kids makes lots of matching accessories.

The fabric is 100 % cotton, and boasts 180 thread count.

Since original dinosaurs never go out of style, your child will enjoy these for years. Paleontologists may also enjoy this valance. The dinosaurs are true to form, not Barney knock offs. Is someone in your family doing research on dinosaurs? Surprise them with this thoughtful gift!

You don’t have to be an academic to enjoy these. Baby’s will appreciate the parade of colorful creatures, and their rainbow of footprints.

The valance maybe used on its own as a fun accent piece. It can be combined with your preexisting curtains if they are of a solid color, or white. The greens, blues, pinks, yellows, and reds will compliment those colors used elsewhere in the room, like the solid colored bed sheets, stuffed animals, and a single wall painted in a light shade of one of those colors.

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Here is a great way to add luxury while keeping the room’s temperature stable. Velvet curtains feel so soft with their plush pile, and they add a sense romance to the room. If you enjoy the finer things in life, consider velvet curtains.

As you can see from the picture, they do not darken the mood of the room, even though they do block the light. This makes them ideal for bedrooms and living-rooms where you watch movies. They would also be fantastic on a canopy bed, especially if you are going for the fairy princes with privacy decor in light pink, or the sophisticated couple in sage green, or the “on fire” love nest in hot pink.

The white velvet would be a perfect way to add texture to a white on white decor theme. Adding texture is important in a monochrome room, as it prevents the room from looking flat and lifeless.

The curtains measure 58 by 84 inches, and they have a nicely tailored pocket to slide the hanging rod through, providing a  clean finished look.

Here’s an idea for the ultimate romantic room: Combine the light pink and sage green velvet curtains, and fill the room with pink flowers on green stems. You will want to write ballads in this room!

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The white shade is shaped like a paper fan and will create an elegant understated look that will not dominate the room. It will add atmosphere and an Asian flavor without demanding attention. The pleats are a perfect way to add texture in a white on white decor theme, and therefore avoid the flat look you get when a monochrome room lacks texture.

This 36 by 72 inches window shade is so easy to install, you can stick it on instantly when you need privacy or to block the light. The shade can be trimmed down to fit even a window that is 36 inches wide, or left as is for a window that is 72 inches wide. It comes with a self adhesive holder for windowsill mounting, and can be installed in seconds. The shade is made of durable paper, and can be easily removed. This is an economical way to shade a half circle shaped window.

Here’s a suggestion: Use this fan shaped shade on the window, and then add a few Asian accent pieces around the room. Try a Japanese theme, with an iron tea pot and Raku glazed ceramic cups. Add a floral arrangement of cherry blossoms on long thin branches, and throw in a white porcelain Neko cat for luck.

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The Magnolia design window film by Artscape is the best solution for your budget. Create the elegant beauty of stained glass, without staining your wallet, or altering your windows themselves. This is absolutely lovely, and will remove the need for drapes.

Here you have a 24 by 36 inch panel that repeats its design like wall paper so that you can add panels on top, bottom, left, and right, as one seamless design. It can be trimmed to fit any shape and repeated to fit any size. The film is self adhering without the use of adhesives, so even after years in place you can just peel it off with no residue or damage.

The film is translucent, but not transparent. Like stained glass, it provides privacy while allowing light to enter. The cheerful soothing colors will improve the look of any window, and give you something to hide behind in the shower, at your front door, or anywhere you’d like to enjoy the feel of looking out at nature with sunlight streaming through petals.

The film filters out UV rays, and will not fall apart in heat, cold, or steam.

The design itself is so pretty, it provides the perfect solution for windows that look out onto ugly views. With this film, there could be a junk yard outside your window, and you’d never know it. Instant country garden! Excellent decor idea.

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Here’s a great idea for city dwellers! If your nursery window faces something ugly, like the wall of a neighboring building, and you can’t really grow your own window box garden, because the weather or time won’t permit it, you can use these lovely wind flowers to create a beautiful colorful view that dances in the breezes and requires no care. The windflowers are made of plastic, so you won’t need to worry about the weather, and the rods will insert into a window box or any potted plant base. They remain erect and upright, so your precious little bundle of joy will always be able to see them when s/he looks at the window.

The colors are so cheerful and the shapes so delightful, that gazing at the wind flowers will encourage happy thoughts and sweet dreams.

Check out the rest of the HABA decor items for your baby’s room. They are gorgeous, and will easily match these wind flowers to create a unified decor theme for your nursery. Why not combine them with the Mia line bean bag and fabric wall shelf ? There are mobiles with the butterflies and mobiles with the blossoms, all done in soft cloth. Your baby’s room will be a delightful environment to grow in.

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If the architectural elements of a room are pleasing to you, and you want to accentuate them, you should choose blinds or panels that reinforce the lines in the space.

When you chose curtains or blinds, don’t forget to consider how they will look when drawn at night. The block of color or pattern, will become a large decor feature, and must fit the decor theme.
If your windows are double glazed, they will insulate the room without needing heavy fabric. In such a case, you chose drapes based solely on aesthetic and safety considerations. Sheer light weight fabrics that float on the breeze, or are translucent are viable options when you have double glazed windows.  Organic fibers like bamboo silk and organic cotton are non toxic and non allergenic. Mixing cotton and voile will provide privacy while still allowing natural light through. The combination of matte with sheer is a winner!

In a room where you want a linear orderly feeling, Japanese Shoji panels that alternate between one matte colored panel and three sheer panels will help you create those long straight lines. They are also very versatile. Since they attach with Velcro, you can change them seasonally, or as the mood strikes you.

Drapery finials and rods must be consistent with the room’s decor, and help to tie it all together.

Of course, when it comes to decorating the children’s room, curtains and window treatments are as essential as they are with decorating any other room. A touch of fabric can add so much to any room, and that added softness is even more important when it comes to the children’s environment.

When it comes to a boys room, blue is a classic, even if a tad cliche, of a choice.  A favorite character is always nice to have, and Thomas the Engine is always popular with young boys.

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Sized 20.5″ by 14″ it can be used as a pretty focal point in your design. While the Victorian style itself is rather eclectic and “heavy” and may not be right for a modern home, using elements such as these can add interest to various room themes.

This panel is actually designed and made by hand by American craftsmen. They do have other designs, so you can opt for a different one, while maintaining the beauty and uniqueness of handmade crafted stained glass.

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Formal enough with their easy-on-the-eyes dark chocolate stripes, the soothing baby blue hue is relaxing and can really open up a room. They bring in some color into the room, without being overly dominant, and can easily play into many color schemes, either in the browns, creams or blues. Their sheer size, at 42 x 84 inches, can really create a strong visual effect, enough to freshen up any room. Check out the product page here on Amazon: they have more items in this set, if you really want to coordinate the room’s colors.

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Good looking window treatment does not have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be expensive either. These blinds are made, believe it or not, of white paper. Durable paper, yes, but paper all the same. Do not expect it to last for generations to come, but for its price, it certainly does deliver both in terms of providing gentle shading and in giving your window of choice an elegant clean appearance.

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