Dressing Your Wooden Windows

Over the next three months I am working with the Wooden Window Alliance (WWA) to bring to you lots of stunning imagery, fact and tips about wooden windows, starting off with my thoughts on how to enhance them through their dressings.

Would you believe, I have never lived in a house that didn’t have wooden windows? So I think you can tell then, that I love and recommend them.  For people who perhaps are sceptical of the durability, how about this for a fact.  WWA wood window frames are expected to last twice as long as their PVC-U counterparts. My current fairly modern home has 20-year-old wooden windows, and with a little TLC every couple of years they always look as good as new.

They will apparently, as standard, last 60 years or more.  They can also be much easily be repaired than their plastic counterparts. You don’t get the same kind of discolouring and brittleness that UPVC are prone too through sun damage.  This is just one of the many reasons why people go for wooden windows, along side maintaining the character of a building, preferring the overall look that they have.  You may live in a conservation area, and importantly may prefer to use a natural product.

So lets move onto how I would dress a window of this kind.  I think for me, wooden windows have a beauty of their own, and a window treatment should be there to enhance that.  Take a simple roman blind for example. Now of course there is a practical need for a window covering, privacy, heat insulation and changing the amount of light that comes in.  Think about using natural fabrics, and simple design for roman blinds.  Often fussy design take away from the symmetrical style of them.  Don’t forget to look at whether to add the blind within the recess or from above the window, allowing in the day for the whole window to be admired.

Curtains have many benefits, as a window treatment.  As with roman blinds, think about where you place them.   You can really elongate and trick the eye to thinking the room looks taller, the higher you go.  You can really add drama, luxury, print and pattern in the fabrics you choose with curtains. Think and plan this carefully though, as unless you are able to buy off the peg or even make them yourself they can be a large investment, especially if you make a mistake you regret.

I think my favourite of all the treatments would be to leave them fabric free, great if you have a room that isn’t overlooked.  Think of all that light pouring in!  Or by adding shutters, you still have the ability of closing it off when you are away, want privacy, or at night-time.

Of course the colour of the windows also affect the whole look at feel, and because you can change the colour of the frame it offers you lots of flexibility during the windows life time.  Whether you go for a simple white, or blend it into your scheme so that it matches the walls, or as above go for a more natural wood feel. Now that’s much more than you could get from UPVC!

If you like me love wooden window, or want to hear more, please follow #WindowsForLife and @woodwindowall.

This post was written in association the Wood Window Alliance.