Ideas for Interesting Window Treatments – Part II – Skylights and Sidelights

There are often many types of windows in a home. aren’t more choices.  That said, there are slightly
My previous article offered ideas for windowmore choices for sidelights than skylights including,
treatments for standard window types, such as patiowoven wood shades (also known as bamboo
doors and other typical sizes.  This article will offershades), cellular shades and sheer shades.  Woven
ideas for two of the other window types that youwoods come in a huge variety of materials and
may have in your home:  skylights and sidelightsweaves.  The material choices include bamboo,
(windows beside a door).grasses, rope, reeds, matchsticks, and wood planks. 
Starting with skylights, here are some windowThese materials are often woven together in different
treatments options for you to consider.  First, I wouldcombinations and range in appearance from casual to
highly recommend cellular shades.   You probablyelegant but all with a bent towards a more
already know, but cell shades add insulation to yournatural-look.   Woven woods can also be purchased
window.  They come in single, double and triple cell,with optional liners for additional room-darkening and
the latter offering the greatest amount of insulation. privacy.  Sheer shades are a versatile and elegant
That said, cell shades are attractive and come in achoice for sidelights.  They are versatile because they
wide variety of colors to compliment almost anyare like two shades in one combining the functionality
décor.  Also, cell shades can be purchased with aof a blind with the soft light filtering of shades.  Sheer
motorized function which is especially useful forshades for sidelights have horizontal blinds (fabric
skylights which are often out of reach.  If you want avanes) with two sheer fabric facings over the fabric
slightly less expensive option consider pleated shadesvanes.   When the vanes are open the sheer fabric
which essentially look the same as cell shades but dooffers soft light-filtering and when closed offer privacy
not have the excellent insulating properties.  Bothand light dimming.   Cellular shades, as mentioned
cellular and pleated shades come in a variety ofbefore, are attractive, come in a wide variety of colors
light-filtering options from sheer to room darkening soand offer good insulation which is important for almost
you can choose how much light you want to beany home.  For the sheer variety of fabric and other
filtered.  Lastly, both of these shades come speciallymaterial combinations, I would recommend looking into
designed to work with skylights and come with sidewoven woods but, they may not compliment every
tracks that hold the shade in place but allow it to opendécor, whereas, cellular shades and sheer shades
and close.have more universal appeal.
Next up are sidelights.  Now not every home hasIf you are looking for window treatment ideas for
sidelight but for those that do, choosing the rightsidelights or skylight shades, I hope this helped.  Look
sidelight window treatment can really make afor the next article in my series which will deal
difference as it can make the entry way in your homewith window treatments for French doors and
really beautiful and functional.  Sidelight shades needoversized windows.
to be available in narrow widths, that is why there