To order window coverings from Select Blinds, use my special link and enter code INSP1RE5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the best available price.
Over the past year we’ve been gradually shaping our home’s architecture to match our style. This summer we installed woven wood shades in the living and dining rooms. We expected to like them, but we were delighted by how dramatically they changed the feel of the rooms.
Remember where this room started a year ago? While the room isn’t finished yet, the woven wood shades were an important step in making the house feel like ours. Painting the fireplace was another small makeover that helped reimagine the space.
Painting the brick exterior recently made a major stylistic difference as well. We’re also planning a coastal farmhouse kitchen remodel and cottage-style Dutch doors that will further shape the home’s personality this fall. Today, though, I want to focus on the shades.
The shades we chose are the Good Housekeeping Woven Wood Shades in Bali Abaca, a medium-to-light warm straw tone with subtle gray. We avoided very dark shades, preferring color and texture that would add interest and balance with the other organic elements in the room.
What mattered most was the overall feeling the room would have once the shades were installed with the other elements. These shades make the room feel just right.
You can see the selected sample among other contenders (it’s the Good Housekeeping sample in the second row, second column). Some options were too light, some too dark; the Bali Abaca offered the perfect balance.
While bare windows can look clean and beautiful, I prefer rooms that feel cozy, private and layered with organic texture. Wood or bamboo shades always give my heart a little flutter; I’ve used them in several homes because they’re a classic choice whether on their own or paired with curtain panels.
Style is personal—choose a window treatment that makes your space feel the way you want.
Our shades in the previous home are shown above.
In our previous house we also used bamboo shades for privacy and a finished layered look. This home gets even more sunlight, so window coverings are essential in living areas. The living and dining rooms face sunsets, mountains and water, which are beautiful but can create glare and heat.
In winter those large windows are vital for daylight in our Seattle home, but they can feel chilly or exposed. Even if privacy isn’t a major issue, shades make the rooms feel snugger and more comfortable when needed.
We chose wall-mounted blinds so they sit above the window and offer more view and light when raised. Ours were installed slightly below the ceiling, leaving room for crown molding or a curtain rod if we decide to add one later.
The shades are divided into sections so we can lower only the parts needed to block glare. Even partially lowered, they make the room more comfortable and will help retain warmth in winter.
Our new shades are cordless, which I love. Cordless operation is safer for children and pets and provides a cleaner look. They raise and lower smoothly with a single grip at the center back.
We also chose a white blackout liner. The liner looks crisp from the outside, adds privacy and helps control light and heat without making the room feel gloomy. During the day we can lower only the sections facing direct glare, so the room stays bright when we want it to.
Our blinds are the Good Housekeeping Woven Wood Shades in Bali Abaca. Use code INSP1RE5 at checkout for an extra 5% off.
The shades were custom made to fit our large and uniquely configured windows, including a corner installation. I was initially concerned about sizing, but Select Blinds’ customer service was helpful with measuring and placement. I ordered samples, sent photos of the room, and they produced shades that fit perfectly.
Installation was straightforward, even for reluctant DIYers. We still have more windows to cover, and I’m already planning additional orders.
Select Blinds offers a variety of styles, including shutters, so you can personalize window treatments for any room.
Woven wood and bamboo shades look great with or without curtain panels.
This is our updated space with curtain panels that soften the room.
HOW TO ORDER WINDOW COVERINGS:
To order window coverings from Select Blinds, use my special link and apply discount code INSP1RE5 at checkout to receive an additional 5% off the best available price.
Thanks for following along as we make our house cozier and more personal.
Related Posts:
10 Questions and Answers about My Bamboo Blinds and Curtains
9 Ways Blinds and Window Coverings will Transform Your Home
This post contains an affiliate link and the blinds were provided by Select Blinds.