Just when you thought: “I won’t need to cover up those skinny windows at my door”, your kids’ friends are peering in, the sun is destroying your beautiful area rug and you just want something simple to cover the windows. You’ve searched and discovered that “something simple” is not as simple as you thought! Sidelight windows for the most part will flank either side of the entryway door, however, any skinny vertical rectangle window opening is considered a “Sidelight”. If you’re looking for the best of the best in covering your sidelight windows, like a pro! read on as our window covering specialists cover the dos and don’ts of treating sidelight windows.
Do you suffer from Skinny-Minny Window Syndrome?
Yes, ‘Skinny-Minny Window Syndrome’ is real!
You’ll want to consider the following window treatment solutions.
Photo: Duette honeycomb shades with the cordless LiteRise operating option by Hunter Douglas.
The most versatile of all window shades is the honeycomb shade (aka cellular shade). Remarkably noted for its energy-efficiency, options also include vertical applications, specialty-window applications and room darkening fabric selections as well.
For the narrowest of window shades, the Duette honeycomb shade comes in at just four-inches as a non-operable shade and becomes operable with a 6-inch or wider-width which is available in a cordless top-down/bottom-up option.
Not all sidelights are skinny
If you’re lucky enough to have wider-width sidelight windows, then your options for operating window shades just got better.
Photo features our Hunter Douglas Duette honeycomb shades with the DUOLITE option. Duolite brings two shades into one headrail providing optimum light control with selections of light-filtering and room-darkening all in one shade.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Sheers
It’s possible that you’ve moved in the direction of adding sheers to your sidelights by purchasing some bag of sheers off the shelf of your home decor store and here you are still trying to make them fit right, still learning more than you ever wanted to know on how to remove wrinkles from fabrics, and, oops! they’ve become a bit tattered from being caught in the door….. ahhhh, those simple solutions sometimes end up costing us more. Read on for our sheery solutions.
Do, and then again, Don’t
We love the look of sheers for sidelights; the beauty of transformed light and the softening effects they bring are the most popular treatment for sidelights.
DO: When you want a sheer drapery, go with a custom treatment. You’ll achieve the perfect fit and have a larger selection of fabrics to choose from.
DON’T: Puddling sheers at the doorway, as pictured, looks beautiful when all dressed out, however, these sheers are sure to get tattered and torn when any breeze catches them and they snag in the doorway. They also make for great bug-catchers…. hahaha.
Tip: To protect your custom sheer drapery at the doorway, always add a tieback. A tieback can be fabricated out of the same material as the drape or you can select drapery hardware tiebacks that coordinate with the rods.
Privacy Sheers
A simple solution when you want sheers at the doorway, but you want privacy too.
Luminette Privacy Sheers
Yes! There is a sheer drapery that is structured, provides privacy, and is available in a narrow-width, tilt-only operation of eight inches which can be inset into to your window opening or installed as an outside mount.
The Luminette pairs beautifully with our Silhouette Window Shading, shown below, and is available in the same sheer fabric selections for a whole house solution.
Silhouette Window Shadings
This ‘Skinny Minny’ shade is tilt-only operational at six inches. Tilt the fabric vanes open to illuminate your entryway and close the vanes when you want privacy. At twelve inches the shade becomes fully-operational and coordinates beautifully with all the other window shapes and sizes in your home.
Classic & Timeless
Plantation Shutters
A favorite solution for specialty windows is the Plantation Shutter that can be made to fit any size or shape window. Considered as furnishings, custom plantation shutters are the only window covering that is included in a home’s appraisal. Crafted to enhance the architectural design of the window, shutters provide endless options in finishes of stain and paint colors, and custom moldings. To learn more on specialty window coverings click here.
Custom Drapery
With custom drapery you can specify your size, choose panel fullness, lining options, hardware, and tieback options, and an endless selection of fabrics to choose from.
DO: Work with a drapery professional! A drapery professional will provide all the information you need for a perfect fit.
DON’T: For sidelight windows we know the temptation is great, but walk-away from the bagged up drapery panels! Our own customers take-aways on these purchases are always a wrinkled, non-fitting mess.
Roman Shades
Valance..Roman Shade..Valance..Roman Shade. Check all of the above! When you choose a custom roman-fold shade, you’ll enjoy the look of a valance when the shade is raised and reveal the entire fabric pattern and fabric folds when lowered.
DO: Line your shades with a thermal-quality lining to ensure lasting beauty.
DON’T: Order roman shades on-line. The patterns are not matched between panels, and the colors represented are not always what you get.
DO: Consider working with a local interior designer and support your small business community!
Wider Width Sidelight Windows Get All The Love
When you’re lucky in love, it must be that your sidelight windows are at least twelve inches wide! Wider-width sidelight windows open up to many operating options and specialty features
There are many ways to save on window coverings with Knight’s! Click the pic to see our current promotions.
Count The Ways To Save With Knight’s
Rebate Savings Events that happen all year long
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What Can We Help You With?
Do you have questions on which window covering will work best for you? Our team is happy to be of service providing personalized consultations for all your window covering needs. From the sale to the installation, working with a window covering professional ensures a perfect fit.
We look forward to working with you.
Happy Decorating!
Sheryl and Gordon Knight