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If you have been fortunate enough to design and build your own home, no doubt the windows and other architectural features are located exactly where you need them. In most cases, homeowners have to design around existing windows and walls that are not always conveniently situated. When tearing out and boarding up oddly placed windows is not an option, find creative and attractive ways to work around them.
The bungalow style house, which emerged in the early 1900s as a synthesis of several architectural movements of the time, is a one-story house with a low-pitched roof, unfinished basement, finished or renovated attic space and lots of windows. Early bungalows usually had outdoor chimneys made of brick or cobblestones. The many windows gave the homey bungalow an open air feel. The bungalow is part of the Craftsman architectural style, which emphasizes simplicity, clean lines and artisanship. The simple beauty of natural light is key to decorating the windows of a bungalow style house.
A well-designed salon display window will create a welcoming and professional impression as people pass or enter the salon. Ideally, it will also inform potential customers about your salon's products and services. By painting the name of your store on the inside of the window and setting up an attractive display on the counter inside the window, you can attract new customers and give existing customers new ideas about how your salon can help them.
Dormer windows are typically small windows located in the attic. Beadboard is a product made from wood, medium density fiberboard or plywood that contains strips of wood in a tongue and groove pattern, often used as wainscoting. Putting beadboard on the inside and outside portions of the window allows you to add a decorative touch and elegance to your dormer window. Beadboard can work to transform your easily forgotten window into a dramatic focal point.
In a home, the den is usually a place to go for relaxation after a long day. Instead of leaving your den windows plain, decorate them to fit with the style of the rest of the room. Whether you want permanent window decorations or ones that change seasonally, you have a wide range of options.
Arched windows assist in the overall decorating of a room, because they generally look fancier and somewhat more formal than regular squared ones. Windows with curved tops are often larger than their standard counterparts and, therefore, attract more attention when someone first enters a room. Decorating a window's arch accentuates it and makes it stand out more than it otherwise would. This requires care — the arch is often too high to reach without assistance — but the results are worth the extra effort.
Sheers are a type of see-through curtain that add privacy to a room without blocking the light. They allow filtered light in, and people outside can only see silhouettes of inhabitants, depending on the lighting. You can use sheers in different ways to decorate your home. Sheers add a soft, romantic touch to the home as well as functionality. Use floor-length sheers on your windows for a finished look.
Room symmetry is an important part of decorating your house. It provides cohesion and balance to every room. When one window is offset, the symmetry of the room is thrown off balance, making decorating the room more difficult. However, using a bit of creativity with decor grouping can help mask the asymmetry the offset window creates.
Unlike traditional windows, casement windows have their hinges on the side. Casement windows also use a handle or crank to open and close. That difference in design can reduce the number of decorating options you have available, since traditional curtains and blinds designed for traditional windows will not work on the casement variety.
Egress windows provide an important safety feature in your home by allowing inhabitants to leave through the basement in case of an emergency. They are sometimes required for your home to be up to code. While it's important to keep the window free from any obstructions to avoid inhibiting escape, an egress window can also serve a decorative purpose with the addition of color, surrounding building materials and decorative images.
A window above your bed can be a tricky decorating work-around or an appealing addition to the focal point of your room. Maintaining balance and a centered feeling are key components to creating functionality and ease with a window and a bed together. Whether your room is in a small apartment or large master suite, a window can add interest to your bedroom and become a dreamy composition in sheer fabrics or a pseudo headboard with light-blocking dressings.
Enhancing a window with gel decorations is an inexpensive way to give your home a festive appearance. Gel decorations come in sticky shapes that adhere to nonporous surfaces such as clean glass and mirrors. The self-adhesive decorations feature a variety of festive designs, such as hearts, pumpkins, Christmas trees and Easter eggs, so you can use them to decorate for each holiday. Avoid putting the gel decorations in direct sunlight as they may melt. If that happens, you can remove the residue with basic cleaning supplies.
Crepe paper streamers bring to mind birthday parties, showers and school dances -- celebrations when an ordinary room is transformed, if only a little, into a haven of festivity. Streamers might not be the first material you think of when it comes to everyday window decor, but they're an inexpensive way to add a touch of whimsy to an otherwise dull area. Because crepe paper is not washable, it's a temporary window treatment. If you want to keep it long term, replace the streamers periodically.
Deciding how to decorate the church or venue for your wedding is often one of the final decisions you need to make when organizing your wedding. Whether you need to add color and beauty to a simple wedding venue, or you simply prefer the romantic ambiance of decorated windows and pews, do-it-yourself decorations are generally less expensive and give you the freedom to choose exactly what you want and where. A well-decorated venue will create the romantic backdrop for your special day.
If you are looking for an attractive yet inexpensive way to decorate your home, window-mounted wreaths can be an excellent choice. The beauty of window-mounted wreaths is that they can be placed virtually anywhere. You can use wreaths to decorate for the holidays, creating an ever-changing gallery of home decor for your windows. Or you can simply hang wreaths with a timeless design from your windows for a consistently beautiful look.
Invoking a feeling of an Americana spirit doesn’t have to be limited to hanging a flag outdoors. Even the windows in your home can capture the look to celebrate the American way of life and heritage. The Americana style embodies patriotism and looks rustic. Set a comfortable and casual Americana tone from your walls to windows.
When you have a window that you plan to eliminate, filling in the space with brick may be cheaper and less time consuming than creating an entirely new wall. The brick-filled window creates a distinctive architectural feature. Decorating the bricks makes them stand out even more and turn the former window into an attractive work of art. Wait until the window is bricked in before decorating them.
The decorations for a wedding work best when they suit the theme for the rest of the occasion. Whether the event is intimate or elaborate, give special attention to the decorations. When planning a wedding, it can seem like there are endless items to consider when adorning the church or hall where you'll exchange your vows. Marriage ceremonies take on as many personalities as do people, so choose decorations that are consistent with the rest of the nuptials.
Elliptical or oval windows pose a challenge for home decor because most window treatments are designed to fit rectangular windows. While traditional drapes and cornices might not work for your oval window, consider unconventional treatments that can highlight its attractive shape and make it an asset in your home.
Dormer windows are an architectural feature that give your home an old-fashioned ambiance. Often they are added during remodeling an attic space or adding a second story to your home. This provides extra interest to the interior and increases exterior curb appeal. Some homeowners add an alcove around the dormer window instead of sealing it off in the interior of the home. This provides an area that can be a large asset to the space if decorated properly.
A recessed window is a type of window that is cut into the wall -- usually just a few inches. This leaves a pronounced sill area around the window, as well as a depression before the actual glass of the window starts. This area is typically considered dead space in a design, but with a few techniques you can turn a recessed window into a showpiece in your room, making it the focal point of your design.
Many homes have windows that look like cookie-cutter shapes and seldom bear outlines other than standard rectangles and squares. A curved window is an architectural detail that lends your living space a high degree of uniqueness and provides distinction. A traditional curved window refers to a window where the glass has a slightly bent shape, unlike the standard flat appearance of most other windows. Curved windows usually follow the lines of the house or structure that they're in, and you'll often find them in rounded structures, such as turrets. Decorate such windows in a way that highlights their shape and…
Where better to position a couch than in front of your windows, unless you look out at a blank brick wall? It's a quiet place to read, snooze in the sun, curl up with a cushion and watch the world go by, or get down to some serious communing with your cat as she supervises the local wildlife through the window. Make your couch a sanctuary or an elegant focal point, but whatever you do, make the most of its position and capitalize on the window light.
Using lace panels to decorate a window creates a feminine, soft effect that provides privacy while allowing light to pass through at the same time. Lace panels can either be gathered into full pleats or used flat against the window to create a look reminiscent of a blind. Both full curtain lengths and narrow lace strips make effective window decorations, and can be used either individually or both together depending on the type of look you wish to create.
Mismatched windows in the same room add charm to a living space. You can make them look more uniform by decorating them with matching items, such as valances, potted herbs and vinyl stickers. Disguise the shape of mismatched windows with valances, and use other accessories to add a sense of uniformity to the space.
Windows are an important area of the home to decorate at Christmas. By doing so, the outside world sees that you are celebrating this important holiday. How you decorate your windows indicates something about the people living within your home. For instance, when you showcase decorations depicting cartoon characters, people might assume children live within the home or are otherwise an important part of your life.
Christmas tree lights don't have to be confined to the tree alone. Use Christmas tree lights to brighten your windows with the help of a holiday lighting professional in this free video.
Whether you're having a sophisticated Halloween soiree or a fun party with lots of children, decorating the windows can complete the look. Poster board can be made into creatures that seem to peer into or out of your windows. Or it can be cut into smaller shapes that hang from a curtain rod. Fetch some cheesecloth from your kitchen or sticks from the backyard for a more subtle but still spooky look.
Transform your everyday window treatments into festive Christmas displays that you and everyone passing by your home can enjoy. Windows provide an opportunity for indoor and outdoor decorating because of their transparency. Dress up your windows this Christmas, along with the rest of your home, with some fresh holiday decorating inspiration.
Window boxes aren't just for spring and summer -- they can also brighten the look of your house in the winter. Include your window boxes in your Christmas decorating plans. Not only will your home look more festive with brimming, colorful window boxes rather than empty sills, cleaning out the boxes to receive the Christmas decorations will help keep mold, mildew and pests from overwintering in stale soil.
Many merchants count on the Christmas holidays for much of the business they expect to do for the year. One of the ways they prepare for the holiday is to create eye-catching window displays. These not only usher in the Christmas feelings, but also alert window shoppers of the wares inside. With enough thought, it's possible to create a beautiful display for the window that provides the shop owner with a soft sell approach to Christmas window decorating.
Whether this is your first year using outdoor Christmas decorations at your home or you've been doing it for years, adding Christmas lights and other outdoor decorations will make your home shine during the holiday season. From simple white lights to elaborate wreaths, there are a wide variety of outdoor window Christmas decorations from which to choose. For the most magical results, plan your design ahead.
Decorating a large picture window for the holidays is a great way to give your home curb appeal during the Christmas season. Many neighborhoods have informal competitions to see who can decorate in the most creative ways during the holiday season. Displaying your favorite Christmas decorations in the picture window will spread the joy you feel throughout this holiday season. It is sure to bring delight to others viewing the holiday decor as they drive or walk by.
Hand-crafted Christmas garland can make windows stand out and are popular in arched windows because of their swag. Garlands are easy to make for most people, and their designs range from simple to extravagant.
The beauty of a high-placed transom window is often overlooked when decorating a home for Christmas. This small architectural feature can be the highlight of your classically decorated home during the holiday season, and holiday decorations might even inspire you to find ways to dress up your transom window all year long.
In the summer, most homeowners create window boxes that explode with color. Flowering vines cascade over the sides, and brightly colored flowers crowd the center. As winter arrives, however, some homeowners neglect their boxes, and they fill up with old leaves and, worse, bugs. If you have a window box, don't leave it empty during the Christmas holiday, especially if you decorate the rest of your house. Instead, use the unique space it offers you to add some Christmas cheer to your home.
Preparing for the holidays involves decorating the house inside and outside. Get in the holiday spirit and hang Christmas lights. Constructing a simple window display of Christmas lights provides a festive appearance for your house. Outlining a window with Christmas lights creates an attractive location to showcase your Christmas tree. Safety comes first, so double-check all procedures.
Decorating a window with Christmas ornaments is best done using lightweight ornaments tied up with thick holiday ribbon. Tack the ribbon to the wall above the window with helpful tips from a professional caterer and event coordinator in this free video on Christmas decorations.
Christmas is a wonderful season that includes putting up beautiful decorations around your home. One spot that you shouldn’t miss decorating is your windows. Window decorations can greet guests as they arrive and strangers will see them from the street. It’s also nice to come home after a long day at work and see decorated windows as you approach your home. Christmas decorations have a great way of putting a smile on the face of everyone who sees them.
Christmas ornaments are so gorgeous that it seems a shame to hide them among the pine needles. But the tree's not the only place for decorations.
