Bathroom
Ideas

Bathroom Window Treatment Ideas

Creative bathroom window treatment ideas can balance several of your needs in this area of your home. While a bathroom window is an important source of ventilation and air flow, a window can also compromise privacy if it isn't covered by a blind, curtain or another type of treatment. A bathroom window is also a source of daylight, which gives you the illumination you need for grooming, bathing or showering during the day. With growing concern over energy usage, homeowners are looking for ways to maximize natural light in bathrooms.

When it comes to bathroom window treatment ideas, you aren't limited to the traditional curtains, shades or blinds. Although these treatment ideas can be attractive, versatile and convenient, you should feel free to explore other ideas when you're looking for ways to dress up your bathroom windows. Compare options by looking for ideas and inspiration in home design magazines, online galleries or decorating books. You might be surprised at some of the original ideas that homeowners come up with when they're planning a bathroom window treatment.

Combining Light and Privacy

Bathroom window treatment ideas should protect your privacy while giving you adequate light and a reliable source of air flow. Without ventilation, you run the risk of moisture accumulation, which can promote mold and mildew growth. Your treatment ideas should take these needs into account, while considering the color, style and materials that will best complement your bathroom decor.

Traditionally, frosted glass has been used to provide privacy for bathroom windows. Frosted glass allows light to pass into the room while protecting the occupant from view. However, many homeowners find that frosted glass looks outdated. Stylish, sheer pull down blinds can offer an attractive alternative to frosted glass. A sheer fabric treatment offers just enough privacy to shield the interior of the room while admitting plenty of light.

The style of your decor should inspire your bathroom window treatment ideas. In an elegant master bath, semi-sheer drapes with valances and fabric ties give your treatment a dressy touch. Flowing, gauzy fabrics don't interfere with airflow, yet they obscure the room from outsiders. Combine semi-translucent drapes with pull down blinds to maximize privacy and provide insulation on cold winter mornings.

Horizontal wooden blinds with a natural finish or woven pull down shades complement an exotic decor. While you're bathing, showering or getting dressed, you can close the blinds to increase your privacy. When you're ready to start your day, you can roll up the blinds or open the slats to maximize air flow. Combine wooden blinds or shutters with an elegant ceiling fan, teak bathmats, woven wall coverings and other touches of the tropics.

A section of glass brick provides illumination and privacy at the same time. Convert an extra conventional window into a partial glass brick wall to create a semi-opaque source of daylight. Glass brick inside a shower enclosure can create the feeling that you're taking a shower outdoors. To enhance this effect, replace a traditional shower head with a waterfall shower and arrange potted palms or ferns on floors and windowsills to turn this space into a rain forest. You may find that your bathroom window treatment ideas affect the theme of your decor.

Leaving Windows Uncovered

In some bathrooms, your bathroom window treatment ideas may lead you to leave your windows uncovered. Drapes, shades or blinds aren't always necessary, especially if you live in a remote area or in a high rise building where no one is likely to see you while you're showering. If this is the case, shift your bathroom window treatment ideas to ideas for making your windows more aesthetically pleasing. Replace frosted glass with beveled designer glass, or old double hung windows with multi paned casements for a romantic touch.

While bathroom window treatment ideas can lend style and beauty to this space, they can also interfere with daylight transmission. A skylight can flood a room with daylight without compromising privacy. Inoperable skylights simply expand your source of illumination, while operable skylights can also improve ventilation and air flow. Tubular skylights have become a popular addition to many residential bathrooms. These features are energy efficient and relatively easy to include in bathrooms or other areas of the home.

Bathroom window treatment ideas are an important part of decorating this space. Whether you decide to dress up your windows with blinds, shutters, shades or simply leave them uncovered, the way you treat these design features will affect the comfort level and energy efficiency of the room. A decorating scheme isn't complete unless it takes these practical details into consideration as well as the aesthetic appeal of your treatments. Create a space that's both beautiful and efficient by balancing form and function through your window treatments.

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