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By: Natalie Elmhurst
Updated: 9/3/2024
We know you LOVE your home’s oversized windows. From the breathtaking views to the sense of spaciousness, you wouldn’t trade them for anything. Large windows are often the centerpiece of a room, if not an entire house.
But you also find yourself overwhelmed by too much sunlight in the mornings, or the room gets overheated on summer afternoons, or you sometimes wish you had a tad more privacy in the evenings.
Sometimes you just wish you had more control over your large windows. You want to enjoy the positives without letting the negatives get you down. In that case, window treatments designed for large windows are what you need. In this article, we’ll look at window coverings for large windows and how you can know which styles are best for you.
If you have oversized windows, you’re likely already familiar with some of their pros and cons. Let’s go over some of the reasons large windows need special consideration in comparison to their smaller counterparts.
Sunlight: Large windows that receive direct sunlight can make a room very unpleasant when the sun is shining right in your face. If you want to use the room when it’s receiving direct sunlight, you’ll want to find a treatment that can manage that light.
UV rays: The UV rays from sunlight are incredibly damaging to your home’s furnishings. Large windows will amplify this problem.
Privacy: The big views from big windows also mean that everyone outside can see into your home.
Energy efficiency: Whether it’s letting heat-causing sunlight in during summer or allowing your home’s heating to escape in winter, windows aren’t much better than an open door when it comes to insulating your home. This problem is only compounded with larger windows.
Now that you’re familiar with the drawbacks of large windows, it’s time to determine what you’ll need most from your large window coverings.
Coming up with a list of window treatment ideas for large windows begins with determining your needs. Light management may not be as much of a concern for north-facing windows, for example, and you may instead want treatments that insulate your home in the summer and winter. We recommend you start your search with writing up a list of your priorities. These can include:
Each of these are important points that will guide your search for the perfect window treatments for large windows. Better yet, you don’t have to choose just one of them. Jot down several in order of importance and we’ll help you find the best ones for you.
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We’ve scoped out our catalogue and carefully selected a handful of the best window treatments for large windows to highlight. Each treatment has certain benefits in terms of functionality and aesthetics, offering our customers choices in finding the perfect window coverings for their homes.
Vertical blinds are often maligned as being clunky and out-of-date, but we’re here to challenge that. Vertical blinds have come a long way. New technology and a renewed interest in design have given vertical blinds improved light control and privacy management. And a new sense of stylishness has infused vertical blinds with a coolness that is light years ahead of those of the past.
The slats on vertical blinds from Stoneside employ an innovative “S” shape to ensure that each slat locks into the adjacent one. This gives our vertical blinds a unified look that’s attractive and more effective at blocking light and protecting your privacy. You can also select cordless options to ensure your window treatment doesn’t pose a threat to small kids and pets.
Our vertical blinds have several material options, including a softer fabric material as opposed to the classic vinyl. And with hundreds of colors and patterns to choose from, you’re bound to find one that suits your preferred aesthetic.
Looking for a window treatment that’s adaptable, has modern stylings, and may even pay for itself? Cellular shades are one of the best window coverings for large windows thanks to their unique design and super-insulating capabilities.
Cellular shades can come with a top-down, bottom-up option, letting you manipulate them as you see fit. That way you can let some light in from the top while keeping the bottom raised to protect your privacy.
The adaptability of cellular shades is huge, but it’s really their insulating properties that set them apart. The hexagonal, honeycomb shape of cellular shades makes them better than any other window treatment for insulating your home. This structure can be turbocharged with a dual-layered cellular shade option, as found in our Olympus line, to create the most energy-efficient home.
With cellular shades, your home will stay cool in summer and warm in winter, resulting in energy savings that will pay dividends.
You can never go wrong with ever-versatile and sleek roller shades. Particularly suited to modern spaces but unobtrusive enough for traditional homes, roller shades are always a favorite. They practically disappear when raised, preserving your large window’s view.
Roller shades provide a flat, clean look that can be tweaked with different colors, patterns, and materials. And with options for different levels of opacity, you can select sheer materials to let light in or opaque versions to darken your space.
Like the look of roller shades but don’t want to lose that million-dollar view? Solar shades look much like roller shades… until you draw them closed and realize you can still see out your window. If you’re looking to manage sunlight while keeping your window’s view, solar shades may be your best bet.
Depending on the level of “openness” you select, you’ll be able to enjoy your large window’s view while still blocking UV rays, glare, and heat transference. Solar shades are one of the best window coverings for large windows with a great view and lots of sun.
Why settle for a single window treatment when two work so much better? Drapery, in addition to being timeless, has the unique benefit of being easily layered. This means you can have an opaque, heavy set of drapes to block out light and insulate your home at night, while also employing a set of sheer drapes for the daytime.
When you opt for a longer window treatment that extends below your windows, as drapery does, you capitalize on the look of your windows whether your drapes are open or closed. This is especially true with elegant sheer drapery, which invites drama and depth into your room.
Manipulating window treatments on large windows can be cumbersome and, depending on their placement, a literal pain. With smart home motorization, those large window treatments can be opened and closed with the touch of a button, tap on your smartphone, or smart assistant voice command.
Smart window treatments make your life easier and are one of the best window covering options for large windows. Better yet, you can add motorization to almost any window treatment type.
Window treatments for large windows don’t have to take away from all that you love about your oversized windows. No matter what kind of functionality or aesthetic you’re looking for, our team of experts here at Stoneside will help you find a style you love. Schedule a free design consultation with us today and get started on shopping for large window treatments with confidence.
