Window Treatments for Philippine Homes

In the Philippines, where the weather is hot and humid most of the year, windows are super essential. They give a home a warm glow, and are crucial in letting in natural light. Plus, they're a much needed feature for ventilation.

Windows are more than just basic architectural features, though. From the outside, they are a "window" into the home; from the inside, windows are an important interior design feature. They can benefit from a variety of window treatments. However, in the Philippines, there are certain window treatments that are particularly fitting for our climate and culture. Here are a few, which you can try out in your own home.


1. Cloth curtains. There are several kinds of cloth curtains. These can either make your windows look soft or heavy, depending on the treatment you choose.

• Ruffled: These types of curtains are very popular in Western-style decorating. They give windows a very feminine, frilly look. Sometimes, they can get overdone, especially when you don't have a trained eye in interior design. But with the right fabric and materials, ruffled curtains can actually be classy. The only drawback to these curtains is that they can be very warm for our climate here in the Philippines. 
• Sheer: These sheer curtains can really bring in a lot of light while obscuring views from the outside. They are ideal for our summery climate. However, they don't allow for much privacy. 
• Tab and tie curtains: Tab and tie curtains have become quite popular lately. These types of curtains involve simply running a long piece of fabric across a curtain rod. You can see the rod, which makes it also a decorative feature. These can make great additions to great rooms, living rooms and any room with tall windows, as they give off an illusion of height, and add a certain formality to the room. Ties are less formal, and look good in bedrooms, kitchens or breakfast nooks. 

2. Blinds. There are several kinds of window blinds, too.

• Roman shades: These are made of fabric, and work by stacking up evenly when they are being opened, creating a cascading effect. They are not bumpy like typical shades or blinds. They are opened using a cord mechanism, which allows the user to adjust the height of the area that is covered. 
• Venetian blinds: These type of blinds use horizontal slats, one above another. These slats can be made of metal, plastic or wood, such as bamboo. usually referred to as wood blinds or bamboo blinds. They are suspended by strips of cloth or by cords; these enable the slats to rotate in unison. When rotated, the slats overlap with one side facing inward and then in the opposite direction in an overlapping pattern. 

In choosing window treatments, curtains or blinds, you first need to make sure that your room has a particular look or theme. It's easier to choose window treatments that way. For example: If you have a country-style room, using modern fabrics or plastic shades will not be in-line with your décor. The same applies if you have a minimalist, modern home: You don't want ruffled, romantic-looking curtains to jar the modernity of your look. It's best to consult an experience interior designer when deciding on window treatments so that you get the exact look you need for the space you're thinking about!