In a room as functional as a kitchen, which is packed with metal appliances and wood cabinets, window treatments might be the only source of softness and embellishment in the entire space. Here are the four things you need to consider when choosing kitchen window treatments. Everything In This Slideshow Window treatments bring the pretty. In spaces outside the work core, such as breakfast nooks, none are better at this task than floor-length curtain panels, which offer big doses of color and pattern when they flank a large bay window or set of sliding doors. On a smaller scale, a swag of floral chintz draped over a single window can also make a bright statement. Roman and roller shades reveal texture and pattern when they are lowered, and stationary valances and cornices are like accent marks over windows you want to draw attention to. For the most decorative effect, choose fabrics that have eye-catching hues and designs, and have fun with trims, tassels, fringe, or bold banding to give the treatment a finished look.

You might be tempted to forgo window treatments in your kitchen until you realize the neighbors can see straight into your breakfast nook. When you’re reading the Sunday paper wearing your favorite fluffy robe, this might be a problem. For temporary privacy issues, which occur only when you’re feeling shy in your PJs, consider quick-draw curtains, or blinds and shutters, which close at the tilt of a wand. For consistent privacy needs, look for screening materials that let you see out and allow some daylight to pass yet block views in; try cellular shades and roller shades made from translucent or woven materials, or try sheer fabric curtain panels. However, perform a quick check before choosing: Turn on the lights in the kitchen one night, then run across the street and see what you can see through the windows with the blinds or curtains drawn. Sunlight, particularly UVA and UVB rays, is damaging not just to our bodies but our homes, as well. Direct, harsh sunshine can raise interior temperatures, fade wood floors, dull cabinet finishes, dry leather, and wash out fabrics.

To protect your kitchen space from too much sun, look for window coverings that advertise their protecting abilities. Many sheer treatments, such as cellular and solar shades, will disclose how much of the UVA and UVB rays they screen while still allowing in some light. best deal on miele vacuum cleanersFor complete control, choose an opaque window treatment. air duct cleaning equipment for truck mountWhen closed, the slats of shutters and blinds (wood, vinyl, or metal) block the sun. leather cleaning kit sofasBlackout shades and curtains are lined with a light-prohibiting layer. air duct cleaning needed

For added protection, the windows themselves can have sunlight-filtering qualities; consider installing new windows with a low-E coating, or lining old windowpanes with an adhesive or static-cling film.best hardwood floor cleaning mop Keeping window treatments clean in a kitchen is a must—anything near a stove or sink will soak up splatter and odors from foods, cooking oils, dishwater, and more. best small vacuum cleaner malaysiaThe material makes all the difference in how easy it is to maintain your window treatments. For example, you can simply launder and rehang fabric valances and curtains, and you can wipe down vinyl blinds, solar shades, and shutters with soapy water. But it gets more tedious when you move to real wood blinds, which have to be cleaned with wood cleaner. Elaborate fabric treatments, such as Roman shades or any panel with lining and trim need to be dry-cleaned.

Cellular shades are only supposed to be vacuumed to keep them dust-free, so just install these in the breakfast nook, as far away from splashing liquids as possible. Easiest Window Treatment Ever With an iron and a couple of tension rods, you can create a beautiful window treament! More About Window Treatments Learn the basics of window-treatment styles. Discover how to pick the best window treatments. Browse the Kitchen Gallery! If you're looking for more kitchen decorating inspiration, visit the Decorating Gallery to browse hundreds of kitchen photos. Ideas for Multiple Windows Built with beauty and energy efficiency in mind, Cellular Shades complement any décor with style and versatility. Full, rich pleats - that best describes the appearance of our cellular shades. Many of our fabrics feature a patented D-cell design that maintains a dimensional fullness throughout the entire length of the shade. Though all shades are affected by the pull of gravity, our cells are shorter on the back by design so only the back side flattens, allowing the front of the shade to maintain its fullness from top to bottom!

Our shades offer a consistent appearance day in and day out. Crisp polyester fabric repel dust and dirt Superior energy and sound insulation Over 250 designer colors including bold hues and neutralsQuick Tips: How to Clean an Accordion or Pleated ShadeBlast them with a can of compressed air -- the kind used to clean computer keyboards. Woman: Blast them with a can of compressed air, the kind used to clean computer keyboards. At Viking Blinds, we specialize in finding the best custom made window treatments to suit your lifestyle, budget and aesthetic preferences. Whether it’s custom shades, blinds, or shutters we’ll help you figure out what kind of window treatments will work best for your windows. There are four Viking Blinds showroom locations in the Twin Cities, making it convenient for you to come shop our wide variety of styles, fabrics and options. And if you can’t make it to one of our showrooms, we’ll bring it to your home. And our excellent services don’t end there.

At Viking Blinds, we make it a point to be available to our customers every step of the way. From measurements to installation, we offer flexibility in our services to meet your specific window treatment needs. We offer free home consultations, through which you can shop our sample books of blinds, shades and shutters. In addition to helping you find the perfect window treatments for your home, our professional, experienced staff can take the hassle and headaches out of measuring and installing. If your window coverings aren’t so new anymore, they could probably use a thorough cleaning. Rather than dedicating tedious hours trying to clean your own window treatments, let the professionals take care of it for you. If you’ve got unsightly stains on your blinds, shades or shutters, bring them by any of our four Twin Cities showroom locations. The professionals at Bright Blinds will give your window coverings an ultrasonic cleaning. Not only will you escape the burden of cleaning your own window shades, they’ll come back cleaner than you ever could have gotten them.

At Viking Blinds, we also offer repair services for broken blinds. Don’t make the mistake of prematurely replacing your window coverings if they can be fixed. Bring in your broken blinds and our technicians will let you know if they are fixable. If repairs can be made, our skilled technicians will make them. They’ll do what it takes to get your window treatments back in the best shape possible. And for all you do-it-yourselfers, we have a large stock of parts that could be used to refurbish your window blinds, shades or shutters. Bring in the broken parts of your window coverings and we’ll see if we’ve got the parts you need. If you’re looking to find the finest quality window coverings for your home in the Twin Cities area, Viking Blinds won’t disappoint. Find the shades, blinds or shutters you’ve been looking for at one of our four showroom locations. Or call us for a free home consultation. We can take care of all your window treatments needs. Find out how much you could save with our sales and specials, and then pop in for a visit or contact us today.

What could be better than a family-owned company that specializes in tailoring high quality window treatments to suit your unique needs, offers professional guidance in finding the right fit for your windows, handles every aspect of installation, and is always available for any repairing and cleaning you may need in the future? We do all this and more. And we do it with a customer-oriented mindset. With four different store locations, Viking Blinds makes it convenient for everyone in the Twin Cities area to find the perfect blinds, shades, shutters and more for their windows. Visit one of our showrooms in: And if that’s not convenient enough, we’ll come to your home and offer you a free consultation. Shop from our sample books, and get advice from a friendly industry professional. We specialize in helping you find just the right treatment fit for you and for your windows. We start by carrying only the highest quality brands, such as: Hunter Douglas, Redi Shade, T-Handles and more.