And there are special considerations to make when it comes to selecting and designing window treatments in the living or family room, since these rooms tend to have larger windows than others in the home, making the choice of window blinds, cellular shades, curtains or draperies especially important.

Often, there will be a media center or television viewing and privacy needs to consider as well, in which case you need window treatments that will be flexible and easily adjusted to allow more or less light into the room.

Matters of color, texture, patterns and decorating style also play a large factor in the type of window treatments you select in your living and family rooms.

In a modern style living room like this one, neutral color window shades or simple curtain panels are in order.

To help you decide what window treatments will work best in your family room or living room, try following these tips:

• If you are decorating your living or family rooms with new an all new theme, color scheme, furnishings and accessories, don’t leave the selection of blinds or shades as an afterthought; make this an integral part of your interior design planning.
• If your family room or living room has already been decorated, then your window treatments should complement the existing décor, colors and patterns in the room. Often the best choice may be to go with neutral blinds or cellular shades if you are in doubt about what to install; you can always add a decorative valance or curtains that match your wall colors or pick up accent colors in your furniture upholstery, area rugs or throw pillows.
• Always consider function first and window treatment styles second; those traditional full length draperies with linings may look great, but if they darken the room and prevent you from being able to open a large picture window up when you want to enjoy a great view or let in the sunlight, you may find yourself disappointed with the results.
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  Elegant patterns and rich colors work nicely when designing window treatments for your traditional style living or family room
  Window treatments can either be understated so as not to diminish the design elements in your family or living room, or in some cases, can become a grand design statement that sets the overall tone of the room; especially true if you have an extremely tall and large window space that commands attention and serves as a focal point in the room.
• To create a bold window treatment that is also highly function, a layered approach works well; you can use neutral color cellular shades as a base level, providing extremely versatile light and privacy control, with rich, deep fabric colors and/or patterns in draperies over the shades. Add swagging, a cornice, tiebacks or decorative hardware to give the window treatment a complete look and feel.
• Be sure your window treatments are in keeping with the theme and style of your room décor. For instance, in a country style family room, window treatments should match the style; you might use tabbed curtain panels, simple panels with retro fabrics, or frilly lace curtain panels. In a modern style room you would more likely want the clean look of wood or fauxwood horizontal window blinds with larger slats like three inches, with a neutral colored or natural wood grain finish.
• Interior wood shutters will give your living or family room an elegant, understated and clean look and work very well in room decors from contemporary or modern to more traditional styles equally.
• When selecting family or living room window treatments, you can leverage colors, patterns and textures to either play up or down other features in the room. For instance, if your room décor features bright, bold colors, then a subtle color choice makes sense for window coverings.
• If your living or family room uses neutral wall colors, the window treatments can be a great means of introducing a splash of accent color and pattern into the room and are easily changed later if you change your mind; without having to repaint the walls!
• Use a color wheel, pick up some color samples at your local home improvement or decorating center and try them at home before making your final color and pattern choices; you want to settle on a primary and one or a couple of secondary or accent colors and have a firm color scheme in mind for your family room or living room décor. This will guide you in selecting the right colors to use in your window treatments.

And if you are going to the expense and trouble of designing your contemporary home decor, careful consideration is required when choosing window coverings that complement and enhance the contemporary style of the room.

Aside from the pure functional purposes of privacy and light control, a contemporary window treatment should be in aesthetic harmony with all design elements that make your interior decor both modern and unique.

Modern window fashions have evolved significantly in recent years, with myriad choices available to the interior designer and consumer, from contemporary window shades and blinds, to curtains and window fashion hardware and accessories you can combine to create something that stands out from the dull look of ordinary drapes or mini blinds that were once thought of as merely functional items used to provide privacy and darken a room.

Uncluttered and open, this contemporary bedroom features full length drapes in a dark neutral tone that contrasts against the white wall paint and bedding.

Contemporary Window Covering Considerations

Aside from decor, contemporary window treatments must be designed appropriately to the purpose of your room. While white wood shutters would look great in your living room or library, you would be well advised not to use real wood in a bathroom, where humidity and moisture can warp and ruin your investment!

And in your home theater room, you will want something that is versatile enough to block out unwanted glare that negatively affects the picture quality of your expensive high definition television set or projection screen.

In the kitchen you may want to choose a contemporary window treatment that can be opened up to brighten the kitchen decor with plenty of natural light, so pleated or roller shades can be a good choice.

A plain and neutral wall color is offset nicely by the bright orange accents of an area rug, bedding and roll up shade in this contemporary kids room decor.

A paisley fabric topper isn’t likely to give your room a very modern feeling, but a checked or wide striped pattern may do the trick.

Most modern style rooms will not be adorned with embroidered fabrics, decorative tassels, lace or frilly fringes. Remember that clean lines are more characteristic of contemporary design, leaving the room uncluttered and minimalist.

Contemporary Room Themes and Color Schemes

Theme is an important part of creating your room decor as well. You might choose a theme like the sea, using blues-greens to echo the colors of water and sky, with the warm beige or off white of sand on the beach.

If you pick Tuscan style, then try a palette that incorporates the natural colors of the earth and verdant greens that echo the colors of the grassy hillsides of Tuscany, with accents of blue turquoise.

Retro or ultra modern design is best achieved with more neutral wall colors and splashes of bright color for accents. Cherry red, vibrant yellow and other saturated colors characterize the stylish retro look, which has become quite popular again in contemporary home decor.

This loft apartment uses a very unique, custom window treatment superbly matched to the contemporary interior design!

Once you have an idea of the theme and color scheme you want to use for your contemporary window coverings, it’s time to consider the type and style of treatment that best fits the aesthetic and practical needs of your room.

You have a lot of possibilities, so here following is a complete run down on the many contemporary window fashion options to consider:

Contemporary Window Shades

The lines between window shades and blinds have become more blurred as manufacturers have introduced a variety of styles and designs, but window coverings with slats are generally referred to as blinds, whereas shades typically come in pleated, cellular or honeycomb and Roman styles.

Pleated Shades

Pleated shades are compactly stacked when raised, keeping them largely out of view, which complements the uncluttered feeling of your contemporary room decor and provides a full view from the window.

The pleats are typically about one inch and there is a wide variety of fabric textures, colors and styles available. Solid tone pleated shades are a great choice for a contemporary look.

Cellular or Honeycomb Shades

Simply designed for convenience, with top down, bottom up and several other configurations available, cellular or honeycomb shades are the epitome of contemporary window coverings and feature insulating qualities that are far superior to other types of window coverings.

The accordion-style cellular shades come in single, double or even triple cell varieties for maximum energy efficiency. The more cells, the more air is trapped to keep either warm or cool air from escaping your home’s interior when needed. Pleats can range from about three-eighths of an inch to two inches, depending on the look you want.

Newer models also featured pull cords and mechanisms that are unexposed for a singularly clean and uncluttered appearance!

Roman Shades

Made with either traditional cotton or other fabric, Roman shades offer an attractive window covering alternative.

Roman style shades are hung from the top of your window opening with the fabric loosely folded in four to six inch pleats when raised. The folds may be flat or teardrop in shape, with the flat-fold variety tending to give a more contemporary look.

Woven Wood Shades

Woven wood refers to a fabric that is made using natural materials such as bamboo matchsticks, hemp, jute, woven reeds or grasses. Woven wood shades do not stack as tightly as pleated or cellular shades, so they are more apparent to the eye when raised.

Choosing the natural texture and warmth of woven wood shades can accent and enhance your contemporary interior design quite nicely and goes well in a room with natural hardwood or bamboo flooring as well as contrasting nicely with stone, stainless steel or other metal materials typical of a contemporary decor.

A striking contrast is achieved between vibrant the green wall color and striped pattern of these contemporary window shades.

Window blinds featuring either vertical or horizontal slats remain a popular choice in contemporary and modern rooms. You have a vast array of styles, materials and colors from which to select.

Venetian Blinds

Whether you select wood or faux wood, venetian blinds are timeless window covering options that offer convenient operation and the added benefit that you can raise and lower them partially or completely in addition to angling the slats for added flexibility in controlling light, glare and privacy as needed.

Venetian blinds are characterized by slats that are wider than mini blinds, typically about two inches in width. White or another neutral color will be the best bet for a modern looking venetian blind.

Mini Blinds

If you want something cheap and versatile, the modern mini blinds may suit your contemporary interior perfectly. With slats that are typically less than two inches in width, you can find mini blinds in a variety of metallic or colored finishes.

Vertical Blinds

For sliding glass doors and windows that open and close horizontally, vertical blinds are quite functional. Available in vinyl, wood or covered with fabric, vertical blinds are an excellent option for the contemporary interior.

While some people do not like the look of vertical window blinds, they are both economical and practical. With their long vertical lines, you can also use vertical blinds to accent other design elements in a modern decor and make a small space appear larger.

Contemporary Shutters

With clean lines and smooth surfaces, interior shutters made with real wood or vinyl make an excellent window treatment for the contemporary room, and are available stained for a natural wood finish or painted to match almost any color.

Typically, interior shutters will be finished in the same color as the window casing and trim.

In contemporary and modern design, it is typcial to use neutral primary colors, with a bold accent color leading the eye to spectacular features in the room like this bold, deep red chair.

While lace fabrics and billowing curtains are not exactly contemporary in style, modern curtain panels can work nicely in neutral colors and with crisp pleats.

You can either select curtains that match the height of your window or opt for drapery panels that hang all the way to the floor, adding a feeling of height that enlarges the look of your window opening.

Contemporary Toppers

A topper adds depth and style to your window treatment and typically includes decorative elements such as a valance or cornice. While traditional styles can be quite ornate, with swags or scarves, for a contemporary topper you can use a wood cornice, finished naturally or painted to match your room’s color scheme.

You could also select a plain or patterned fabric and cover your topper to match other design elements used in your furniture upholstery, throw pillows, area rugs or other accent pieces.