Choosing Window Treatments For Your Home Office

Choosing Window Treatments for Your Home Office

With the coronavirus pandemic, there’s never been a greater time to focus on your home office. Many of us are working from home these days, and having a comfortable space to take calls or attend virtual meetings is paramount. A room’s lighting is one of the most overlooked aspects of design, but it’s impact on your home is extraordinary. Installing proper lighting and appropriate window treatments will make your home office feel more spacious and inviting. The perfect room ambiance can inspire creativity and better concentration, too. Here are some suggestions for choosing the right window treatments for your home workspace:

Get to Know Your Windows: Soft Vs. Hard Window Treatments

As you explore window treatments for your home office, you’ll notice that there are soft and hard treatments for windows. Soft window treatments include:

• Drapes and curtains
• Valances
• Roman shades
• Sheers

Hard window treatments include:

• Blinds 
• Shades
• Plantation shutters

There are many varieties and styles of both types of window treatments. Interestingly, some homeowners even choose to combine both soft and hard window treatments for a layered look. For example, custom plantation shutters with custom drapes. 

All window treatments have pros and cons. Some window treatments, like blinds, tend to wear down quickly, while others are long-lasting. Soft window treatments, like curtains, require cleaning that can sometimes be time-consuming. Hardwood plantation shutters, meanwhile, are easy to clean and even increase the resale value of a home.  

Consider Your Window Type

The type of window in your home office can help influence your window treatment choice. Curtains, for instance, are usually too long for small windows. Some home workers enjoy shades, instead. Blinds, too, are a common choice for windows of all shapes and sizes. 

For larger windows, fabric options are traditional and provide you with a choice of patterns and styles to match your office’s decor. Of course, custom made plantation shutters are an excellent choice for windows of any size or shape. They can even be fitted on tiny windows (including sunbursts) and doors!

How Much Sunlight Would You Like?

Natural lighting is uplifting and helps boost your focus, but how much sunlight you prefer in your home office is really a personal preference. Some window treatments (like shades and curtains) are better at blocking out light than others, just as some window treatments (like blinds) are ideal for incorporating more sunlight into a room. When you’re working from home, you’ll likely want different things at different times. This is another area where plantation shutters really excel. With plantation shutters, you don’t have to choose between completely blocking out the sunlight or having too much sunlight. You simply use the louvers (horizontal slats) to control the amount of sunlight that you’d like in the room, getting the lighting in your home office just right every time.

Think About Your Design Scheme

Just like sunlight goals and determining your window’s size or shape, your office’s design scheme can help you decide on the right window treatment. If you’re wanting your window to blend into your office, then sleek, wooden window treatments may be a good idea. For window treatments that stand out, try a pop of color from curtains or drapes. You can also pick out specific fabric designs for your soft window treatments. 

Hard window treatments seem to make the most versatile choices. They’re easier to maintain than soft window treatments, and can be designed to stand out or blend into the scenery. Wooden plantation shutters pair especially well with other wood furnishings.  

Why are Hardwood Plantation Shutters the Best Window Treatment for a Home Office?

Hard window treatments, or even layered looks, are beautiful and functional choices for a home office. Blinds and plantation shutters both allow you to control the natural light in your office, but it is only plantation shutters that gives you detailed control over the sunlight filtering into your home. Hardwood plantation shutters hold up over time and really provide your office with a cozy, warm atmosphere. Plantation shutters also help block out noise, so that you can focus on your work tasks in peace. 

While all window treatments are a valid option, plantation shutters check every box on your home improvement checklist. 

Staying Productive When Working From Home

Fresh window treatments, enjoyable decorations, and well-stocked office supplies will remind you that you are at work in your own home. This all makes staying productive a whole lot easier. If you don’t usually work remotely, designating a specific space in your home solely for the purpose of work will help you build an association between your home office and your job.

Maintaining a pleasing home office space and a regular schedule can help keep you from getting distracted throughout your workday. Even getting dressed as though you’re headed for a day at the office can help you keep an appropriate work-life balance as a remote employee. While it might be tempting to work from your bed while wearing pajamas, it’s easy to lose focus when your job doesn’t actually feel like a job. 

Ready to Install Plantation Shutters in Your Office?

Shenandoah Shutters has been installing plantation shutters in homes across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C for decades. We’re local to Richmond, Virginia and craft all of our plantation shutters by hand at our woodshop. We use real, high quality American woods and a silken lacquer finish to build our plantation shutters. Choose from stains, creams, and custom colors for the ultimate home office window design. You can even choose from traditional plantation shutters to our own, contemporary Softedge design. With the Softedge, the hinges are hidden in a style that is similar to European cabinetry. It’s a perfect design for tilt-ins and casements. 

Are you ready to spruce up your home office this spring with a brand new window treatment? Contact us today for more information on installing plantation shutters in your home. You can also visit our frequently asked questions and check out our online photo gallery.