by Dorrie Simon

©Learning ZoneXpress 

uncovering common window coverings 

by Dorrie Simon, 

Studio 122 

1

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Form and function are both considered 

when choosing window treatments: 


– Variety of functions: 

• control light in the room 

• block the sun (UV) 

• control sound 

• insulation (cold and heat) 

• ensure privacy 

– Strictly decorative purposes: 

• add color and pattern 

• focal point/drama 

• style (formal, informal, country, etc.) 

Introduction

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Traditionally windows were treated 

with: 


– a sash curtain (to filter light). 

– a draw curtain (to block out/let in light). 

– an over-drapery (purely decorative). 

– a cornice or valance (to hide the 

hardware). 

The modern tendency: 

– Curtains are unlined and of a variety of 

fabrics and lengths. 

– Draperies are lined, made of mid- to 

heavyweight fabrics, extending to the 

floor and draw to completely close off 

the window. 

– Shades and blinds often serve the 

purpose of controlling light, sound, cold 

and heat, and ensure privacy. 

Soft Window Treatments

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Curtain/Drapery Panel 


– A piece of fabric finished on all sides and hung 

from a rod to cover a window. 

– Typically two panels, or a pair, per window. 

Soft Window Treatments 

– The heading is the top of the panel and can 

vary in depth. There are different styles of 

headings or ways a panel is hung from the rod. 

Pinch Pleats 

– A style of pleat used at the heading, usually 

triple folded, for a more formal look. 

– Most often mounted on a traverse rod to draw 

the panels open or closed. 

Rod Casing/Pocket 

– A pocket or casing that runs the width of the 

heading in which the rod is inserted. 

– A header is additional fabric above the rod 

casing/pocket that forms a ruffle.

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Tab or Ring Top 


– Tabs or rings on the panel heading hold 

the curtain or drapery on the rod. 

– Less formal, modern look. 

– Various styles, including button tabs, 

ribbon tied tabs, rings, clips, etc. 

Sheers 

– Panels made with sheer fabric or lace 

that allow daylight in while providing 

limited privacy. 


– Often layered under curtains or draperies 

that are drawn or tied back.

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Café Curtain 



– Single pair of short panels installed on a 

suspension or café rod halfway down the 

window, leaving the top half open 

(installed at the height of a glazing bar). 

– Often combined with a valance, they are 

an economical way of screening the 

lower part of a window for privacy while 

allow light into the room. 

– Ideal in kitchens. 

Hourglass Curtains 

– Single panel with a casing and rod at the 

top and bottom and a tie in the center. 

– Typically in sheer or lightweight fabrics. 

– Often used on glass doors where freeflowing 

panels can get caught in door.

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Ruffled or Priscilla Curtains 


– Panels of sheer and semi-sheer fabric 

with fuller gathers and ruffles on two or 

three edges. 

– Most often have an attached matching 

valance and tie backs. 

– Traditionally in kitchens, but also used in 

bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms. 

Trimmings 


– Ornamental trimmings can be added to 

most soft window treatments to enhance 

the look or add a personal touch. 

• Decorative trimmed edge on panels. 

• Fabric tie backs with bows, rosettes, and 

braided tie backs with tassels. 

• Decorative hardware and curtain holders.

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Balloon & Austrian Shade 


– Despite the name, these are curtains of 

shirred or gathered fabric drawn up into 

billowy folds. 

– Made longer than the required finished 

drop, the extra fabric forms scallops at 

the bottom. 

– Pulled up from the bottom to the top by 

means of cords attached at the back. 

– Typically lightweight fabrics, they block 

more light if lined. 

– Balloon Valance is hung on the top of 

the window and is stationary. 

– Austrian Shades are shirred between 

the vertical rows for a blousy, billowy 

effect. 

Soft Window Treatments

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Valances 


– The most common window topper. 

– Mini curtain that covers the top and sides 

of the window frame or curtain 

track/rod. 

– Can stand alone or be mounted over 

curtain or drapery panels. 

– Utilized in many curtain heading styles 

and can be straight box pleats or 

embellished with lace, fringe, ruffles, etc. 

– When blinds are used, they can soften 

the window. 

– Generally shirred on a rod but can be 

draped over a rod. 

Window Toppers 

valance with 

drapery panels

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Swags 


– An ornate valance that drapes in billowy 

folds across the top of a window. 

– Often, swags serve no function, and are 

decorative and dramatic. 

– Can have one swag draped across the 

width of the window or a number of 

smaller swags butted or overlapped. 

– A scarf swag is a length of fabric loosely 

draped over a rod or held in place with 

swag holders on the window corners. 

– Fabric is often pleated and attached to a 

board with deep folds for a formal style. 

– Used alone or to top off other window 

treatments. 

– Can be finished at each side with pleated 

or gathered “tails” to cover the window 

frame or rod end. 

Window Toppers

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Festoon 

Jabot 


– A decorative valance of draped or folded 

fabric that hangs in a graceful curve, and 

frames the top of a window. 

– Often embellished with trim or beads. 

– A decorative vertical end or “tail” that 

usually finishes a horizontal festoon. 

– Is usually pleated or folded and comes in 

varying lengths. 

Cascade 

– A rippling or showering “tail” of fabric 

that drapes down vertically from the 

corners of a swag. 

– Similar to a jabot but the fabric loosely 

falls and tapers downward. 

Window Toppers

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Cornice/Pelmet 


– An ornamental horizontal molding or 

frame used to conceal curtain 

tracks/rods at the top of a window. 

– Constructed of wood or other rigid 

material that will hold a shape and can 

be mounted on the wall. 

– Stained, painted or wallpapered, but 

more often covered with fabric. 

– May be very tailored and simple with 

straight lines or more decorative with a 

scalloped edge and trim. 

Varieties of Cornices/Pelmets 

– Button hole, Crescent, Scalloped, 

Sculptured, Tapered, Puff or Padded. 

Window Toppers

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Self-Pelmet/Valance 


– A piece of fabric stitched to the top of a 

panel to make it appear to be separate. 

– It often does not conceal rod or the top 

of a window casing, as it draws with the 

curtain. 

Lambrequin 

– A pelmet which extends down the side of 

the window. 

– Constructed of wood or other rigid 

material that will hold a shape and can 

be mounted on the wall on the top and 

sides of window casing. 

– Often used to make a window appear 

larger by extending beyond the window 

frame. 

Window Toppers

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Function: 


Blinds, Shades & Shutters 

– Light Control - Flexibility from lightsoftening 

to room-darkening. 

– Privacy - very flexible, including the 

new Top Down feature. 

– UV Protection - block ultraviolet light to 

avoid fading of your home furnishings. 

– Sound Absorption - reduce noise levels 

in your home. 

– Energy Efficiency - help control your 

energy costs. 

Visual Appearance: 

– Many styles, colors and materials to 

choose from to accent any décor. 

– Custom sizes and shapes for the perfect 

fit for any window.

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Offer a great deal of light and privacy control 

options because the vanes can be tilted or 

the entire blind can be raised or lowered. 


– Especially complementary to modern rooms, 

but their clean lines can go anywhere. 

Blind Anatomy: 

– Slats: The horizontal pieces which tilt open 

and closed creating variations of light. 

– Vanes: The slats on a vertical blind. 

– Ladders: The vertical cords that thread 

through each slat to hold the blind together. 

– Fabric Tapes: A form of ladder that hides 

route holes allowing for more privacy and less 

light penetration. 

– Head Rail: The hardware at the top of the 

window treatment that contains the 

mechanical operational parts. 

– Bottom Rail: The heavy horizontal piece at 

the bottom that anchors or weighs the blind 

down and keeps it hanging straight. 

Blinds

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Also called aluminum blinds, mini 

blinds, macro blinds, or micro blinds. 


– Aluminum is the sturdiest and often most 

expensive Venetian blind. 

– Can be mounted inside or outside 

window casing. 

– Wide variety of color selections. 

– A cord or wand control tilts the slats of a 

blind to a closed or open position. 

– Some offer a cordless lift control for child 

safety. 

– Top down option offers optimal light and 

privacy control. Leaving light in the top 

of the window while keeping the bottom 

of the window covered. 

Venetian Blinds

17 

Made from natural American 

hardwoods, they are very good natural 

insulators. 


– Faux wood blinds are recommended for 

bathrooms, kitchens, and other humid 

areas. 

– Matching wood head rails often used for 

a finished look. 

Finishes: 

– Stained 

– Painted 

– Sandblasted (textured) 

Wood Blinds

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Work like Venetian blinds and cellular 

shades in one. 


– Vanes are made of fabric and are 

suspended between two sheer fabric 

facings. 

– They offer a soft-filtered light or can be 

pulled up for full view. 

– Like aluminum and wood blinds, some 

models offer a cordless lift control for 

child safety. 

– Top down or bottom up options offer 

optimal control of light and privacy. 

– Offer more insulation value than wood or 

aluminum blinds. 

Sheer Window Shading

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Made of fabrics, vinyl, wood, or 

aluminum and are a popular choice for 

large windows and sliding doors. 


– Vanes attached to a head rail and pivot 

at the top or bottom to let in light. 

– Drawn to one side or side-to-side split 

for a full view. 

– Used alone, with a top treatment, or as a 

foundation for a more elaborate look. 

– Vanes provide good insulation. 

– Variety of colors, fabrics and textures. 

– Offered in light filtering or room 

darkening. 

Vertical Blinds

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One of the most economical, versatile 

and practical window treatment. 


– Made of vinyl or fabric attached to a 

cylindrical roller to roll up and down 

for light control. 

– Pulls down from behind the roller 

to lay flat against the window. 

– Can be mounted inside the window 

casing or outside on window trim. 

– Broad range of fabrics from sheer 

light filtering to opaque and room 

darkening. 

– Coordinating fabrics, embellished with 

a decorative pull or decorative hems: 

scalloped, wave, Greek key, fringe, 

etc. 

Roller Shades

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Woven Wood/Grass Shades 

The most unique and natural look of all 

window shades. 

– Raises and lowers like other shades, but 

lays flat when lowered and neatly tucked 

behind when raised. 

– Offers various degrees of light and 

insulation control depending on material. 

– Fitted with a fabric liner for maximum 

privacy and light control. 

– Most have an attached valance. 

– Broad range of colors and materials.

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Made of fabric, pulled up into soft 

horizontal folds using cords attached 

to the back. 


– Clean, sophisticated lines are one of the 

most stylish ways to dress a window. 

– Standalone fitted outside the window or 

inside the window recess and combined 

with curtains or top treatments. 

– Made from light to medium weight 

fabrics and are usually lined for optimum 

light control. 

– Custom fabrics can be used to coordinate 

any room décor. 

– Two styles: 

• flat fold for a streamline look. 

• rounded edge for an elegant look. 

Roman Shades

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Made of fabric with crisp, evenly spaced 

horizontal pleats. 


– Less expensive alternative to honeycomb 

or cellular shades but provide less 

insulation with only one layer of fabric. 

– Stacks compactly for maximum view and 

tucks away in head or bottom rail. 

– Unlike honeycomb or cellular, they have 

a visible cords running through them. 

– Light filtering or room darkening liner. 

– Custom fit for specialty windows such as 

a skylight or paladin-style windows. 

– Top down/bottom up option, cordless 

lift, remote control, timers and sensors. 

– Variety of colors. 

Pleated Shades

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Cellular/Honeycomb Shades 

One of the most energy efficient shades 

with a honeycomb shape that traps air. 

– Front and back fabric are pleated and 

connected to form air pockets (cells) 

between the pleats. 

– Because of the air pockets, they 

have great insulation ratings. 

– Unlike pleated shades, there are 

no visible holes or strings. 

– Single cell, double cell and triple cell, 

the more cells, the higher the insulation 

and sound control factor. 

– Wide range of color selections. 

– Top down/bottom up option as well as 

cordless lift, remote, timers and sensors. 

– Light filtering or room-darkening.

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A traditional window treatment use 

because of their classic look. 


– The louvers tilt up or down for light 

control and shutters open or close for 

privacy. 

– Made from hardwoods such as poplar, 

aspen and ideally basswood. 

– Poly-wood or vinyl are less expensive 

and recommended for bathrooms, 

kitchens, and other humid areas. 

Finishes: 

– Painted 

– Stained 

– Sandblasted (texture) 

– Piano (high gloss) 

Shutters

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Select new window treatments for your bedroom. 


You’re the Expert! 

Complete one of the following projects: 

– Use photos from a catalog, magazine or the internet to show the type 

of window treatment you selected, including color swatches and fabrics. 

– Be prepared to present to the group how you came to your decision, 

including considering such things as light, sound and privacy control. 

Create a sell sheet for a specific window treatment. Include a 

picture and all its features and benefits. 

Show how the same room can look very different with different 

window treatments. 

– Sketch and color different window treatments for the same windows. 

– or use photographs from a catalog, magazine or the internet and paste 

different window treatments on them. 

Write a paper on the importance of sun blockers in window 

treatments. Include the different ratings for UV protection.

27 

1. Name at least three functions of window treatments. 

2. Draw a diagram of each of following window treatments: 


a. Café Curtain 

b. Hourglass Curtain 

c. Priscilla Curtain 

d. Balloon Shade 

e. Single Swag w/Cascades 

3. What is the difference between Venetian and vertical blinds? 

4. Name the five main parts of a blind. 

5. What is the difference between a pleated and honeycomb or 

.cellular shade? 

Quiz

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Window Treatments 


– www.homedecorators.com 

– www.denverfabrics.com (go to curtain fabrics) 

– www.jcpenny.com 

Web Resources 

– www.lowes.com (go to Home Decor > Window Treatments) 

– www.smithandnoble.com 

Blinds, Shades & Shutters 

– www.hunterdouglas.com 

– www.theblindfactory.com 

– www.graberblinds.com 

– www.comfortex.com 

Please note that web sites are constantly changing and being updated. 

You may need to revise this list. 

Photography Credits: www.hunterdouglas.com & www.jcpenny.com

by Dorrie Simon

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