Many people consider window treatments as finishing touches to the room's decor, and usually pay little or no attention to this interior detail. Sometimes when you start improving your blinds or curtains, the budget often runs low. However, window treatments should never be neglected, as they play an important part in emphasizing the individual character of the place.

In modern apartments, especially in lofts and penthouses with large windows, window treatments should be given a lot of attention, at the earliest possible design stage. Choosing the right color and style of window treatments will make the room not only welcoming and comfortable, but will also highlight its size and ambience, giving perspective to the place.

White is often a color of choice for many decorators, because it is really hard to go wrong with white. Timeless and versatile, white provides a unifying base for the most window designs. Remember, though, that there are different kinds of white, which a skilled decorator may mix in one room altering the feel from warm to cold to increase the impact from your window blinds or curtains.

Today home decorating makes a comeback from the minimalist era when whites and beiges were abound putting a long-time spell of pure minimalist designs. The most sought-after design of modern window treatments is fresh, minimal, translucent and light-colored, but today people seek window curtains and blinds that can give real character and individuality to the room.

Variety of paint shades and fabric textures allows blending blinds and curtains perfectly with the furniture to match the apartment's light and mood. Venetian blinds are now available in a range of vintage-inspired muted colors or even in bright plain colors. With carefully placed color accents, you can avoid making the room too impersonal.

In terms of decor trends, curtains have gone in two opposite directions: they became either more ?feminine? made of embroidered and patterned fabrics with rich draping; or minimal as Calvin Klein suit, made of natural fabrics in neutral tones. To add a personal touch, you may choose to place curtains on elaborate cast metal rings or find an antique details in flee markets.

When choosing the color of your window blinds or curtains, think about what light is your apartment getting from outside. The light in apartments changes throughout the day and through seasons as well. In a single apartment, when choosing window blinds or curtains, thought should be given to the orientation of rooms and the warmth of light that will enter them. Rooms that receive light early in the day, or not at all, usually need some warming up with color. Rooms that benefit from the afternoon or sunset sun will receive reddish light and therefore need less artificial warmth. The new finishes on blinds, such as brushed aluminum, produce a nice cool effect on windows that need cool light from the outside.

There are some optical tricks that have to be considered when you pick your window curtains or shades. Denser window treatments, such as Venetian blinds, curtains and vertically striped fabrics can improve the look of the room with low ceiling. Roman and Venetian blinds can create a warm relaxed atmosphere.

Expert decorators say that window treatment must receive the same attention and investment as any other piece of furniture, especially if your windows overlook a spectacular landscape. If the view from your window leaves little to imagination, you can improve the situation by decorating the window with forgiving blinds in carefully chosen colors.