Decorating Windows When You are Broke (like me)
Author: Maxine T. Perez
Referring to something as ‘window dressings’ is to reduce it as trivial and beside the point. However, window dressings are anything but as they contrast and compliment the natural light that is let into a home, as well as becoming a main feature of any room when it gets dark and they are drawn to provide privacy and warmth. However, quality curtains and such can be expensive to come by. So the following are a few suggestions on decorating your windows on the cheap.
Curtains are often the most affordable option when it comes to window dressings as they are the ones most easily made by hand. In college, when the blinds on our front window broke my roommate took it upon himself to duct-tape up a bed sheet. While certainly effective, it didn’t really do much for the ambiance—though it serves to demonstrate how cheap exactly curtains can get. If you are quite handy at sowing why not try your hand at making your own curtains? You will be able to pick the precise fabric you like and won’t be restricted to the patterns provided by retail curtain makers.
Blinds are a bit tricky to make yourself (impossible-pretty much) so this tends to be a bit pricier than curtains. Cheap blinds can be purchased on the cheap, but my experience is that they have a tendency to break, and unless your goal is strictly utilitarian (i.e. you don’t give a fig about how they look) they are fairly ugly. If money were no object, my personal favorite option for blinds would be wooden ones—however, since money is the object here I would otherwise opt for a compromise of faux wood blinds.
Shutters seem like something of an anachronism, but they are very effective in keeping light out and heat in when utilized. An additional benefit is that they act as a barrier deterring anyone thinking of breaking into your home from doing such. On this latter point, when one thinks of shutters one inevitably thinks of gingerbread house wooden things that break loose and bang around in storms, however, modern shutters are sturdy metal contraptions like you see on store fronts and are very secure indeed—though rather expensive to buy and have installed. They could however, lower your home insurance premium so check with your insurance company. Otherwise, the wooden variety could be easily made and installed by hand.
The last option I came across is something called ‘window film’. These are basically large stickers stuck over windows that simulate frosted glass. The good thing about them is that they are a cheap way to provide privacy while letting in loads of ambient light. The down side is that you wont ever be able to actually see out the windows you stick these on.
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