Interiors: Curtains and blinds have a big effect on your home’s ambience

A WINDOW is for seeing out of, right? Few windows in the home are there for purely decorative purposes (bathrooms excepted, perhaps) but with a window often being the main focus of a room it’s important that it enhances rather than takes away.

The right style and material can add character to a plain window, while a more unusual window arrangement can be enhanced.

Windows are about light too, of course, and when choosing curtains one of the key questions should be just how much light you want. Light fabrics without lining allow light through even when the curtains are drawn, while blackout lining and a heavy fabric block it out – particularly useful in bedrooms – and can even add to the room’s insulation, eliminating draughts.

Blinds, on the other hand, offer versatility. With no need for poles or drawback, they can be less obtrusive, more functional, but still an attractive feature. Bathrooms and kitchens typically have higher levels of condensation and humidity, so blinds tend to be the better option here as they withstand such conditions a lot better.

But what options should you go for? “I believe that personal taste is so important,” says Sheila Loudon, of Edinburgh soft furnishing specialists Dingwall Fabrics, “Following trends is all very well, but it’s you who has to live with your choice – so go with the colours and fabrics you like.”

Your idea of the perfect arrangement may not be entirely practical, of course, so consult with an expert and pore over their style and colour range.

A proper fit is hugely important too, which is why Sheila Loudon places great store by the tailor-made fitting service available at Dingwall Fabrics.

For those who don’t know whether they need a track or a pole or who don’t know their pencil pleats from their pinches, having curtains and blinds hung professionally is a must. Always look for a free estimate when it comes to measuring up. Dingwall offers this, and more besides – valances, pelmets and cushions, for instance – call 0131-452 9104 or go to www.dingwallfabrics.com

Finally, although windows might be for seeing out of, they’re for looking into as well. So consider how they’ll look from the outside too. Can’t have the neighbours talking…