Kitchen Window Treatments

Window treatments for the kitchen present a challenge for decorating. How do you pair good looks with suitability to withstand dirt, grease and cooking catastrophes?

Any fabric should be washable in the kitchen. It needs durability as well, including being able to withstand moisture – obviously, silks are out.

We love matchstick or bamboo shades for kitchen windows, and they are a budget friendly option when decorating your kitchen. They look particularly nice in more casual kitchens, and for a bonus – if you use natural tones, you can’t see the dust!

If you have a kitchen that opens into the great room, coordinate window treatments to relate to each other, not necessarily matching, but relating.

We love shutters in the kitchen as well, you can’t get much more durable than wood to simply wipe down. If you’re looking for a way to add warm wood to your kitchen, and you have kitchen cabinets that you had to paint, shutters can do the trick. To soften the look and add interest, pair shutters with a topper - a valance, pelmet or cornice to soften the look and perhaps introduce an accent color to the room.

Café curtains are a kitchen standard that provide privacy while letting in the light. Covering the bottom portion of the window, they’re hung approximately halfway up the window. Typically, a matching valance is used at the top for a more finished look. You can have some fun with the rod for this look, using a shellacked tree branch for rustic or country looks or wrought pieces with decorative finials for more modern appeal .

If you’re tempted to go with the least expensive window treatment of roller blinds, at least choose a decorative blind, or decorate it yourself. A homemade fabric shade will upgrade the look exponentially, but the fabric will need to be one that can be wiped down easily, as it cannot be washed.

Pleated shades are oh-so suitable for the kitchen, offering privacy and allowing light. Pick durable materials that can withstand regular cleanings.

Outfitting your kitchen with window treatments is certainly a budget solution to a dull kitchen. One thing you want to consider, kitchens have lots of straight lines - appliances, counters, and tables - add some curves to make the room look larger, a curtain topper can fit the bill.