- Jabot window treatments finish the look of a swag, which is the horizontal element draped across the top of a window. Jabots are the fabric that drapes vertically from the sides of the window. The total window dressing can include as many as three pieces.
- Jabot window treatments are formed either as pleats, gathered or folded. They can vary in length and width, but they are rarely used as floor-length window dressings. Jabot window treatments should always be lined. They can be self-lined or lined with a contrasting fabric.
- Jabot window treatments offer visual interest and can be made from the same fabric as the swag, a complementary fabric or a contrasting one. Jabot window treatments are draped across, on top, underneath or over the horizontal swag to finish the look of the window.
- Jabot window treatments are most commonly used as decorative elements. Because they are located along the edges of a window, jabot window treatments can also aid in climate control by blocking the flow of cold outdoor air from infiltrating the room or by helping trap heat or air conditioning inside the room.
- "Today's jabot window treatments are more often used with panels underneath them or as a trimming for hard window coverings like wooden blinds to give them a modern edge," says Judi Smith, an interior designer with Ethan Allen located in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
- Smith says jabot treatments are most successful when hung in proportion to the swag and the size of the window being dressed.
