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Plantation shutters in a great room

Finding the Perfect Great Room Window Coverings in Minneapolis

November 29, 2016

Contemporary home design hinges on functionality. More than ever, homeowners in Minneapolis are subscribing to the design philosophy that each part of your home should not only look great, but also should serve a purpose too. And if it might serve more than one purpose, even better! That’s why great rooms have become a more common fixture in homes, serving as a combo family room, living room, dining room, and more.

Minneapolis great room with mounted television and arc windows. 

A useful, flexible space should have those same traits in its window treatments. So let’s go over how to choose the optimal window covering for your great room, Minneapolis.

Great Room Window Treatment Priorities

Light Control - Great rooms tend to be the largest room in the home, which means that they most likely have the largest windows. Therefore, it’s vital to have control over the amount of light that comes into your home so you can set the mood in your space regardless of the weather outside.

Energy Efficiency - Similar to light, those large great room windows tend to allow heat to come in and out fairly easily. A window covering that impedes energy loss can do a lot to maximizing your comfort and saving you money on your home utility bills.

Looks - Since the great room serves multiple functions, it’s usually going to be the room guests see most often. Make a long-term impression with a beautiful window covering that fulfills the functions mentioned above too.

Usability - Many great rooms reside in multi-story homes with open concepts, which might mean high-ceiling windows that are harder to operate. The ability to open and shut your window coverings easily and quickly can make for a more functional space.

So now that we’ve gone over our “must-haves,” which window coverings accomplish them?

Plantation Shutters for Great Room Windows

Minneapolis great room with classic shutters and tile floor.

Check, double check, quadruple check–plantation shutters pass our test with flying colors. Plantation shutters offer the most discriminating light control, with the adjustable louvers able to sit totally open, closed, or anywhere in between. In addition, they offer some of the most effective thermal protection your windows can get, and you have an energy efficient window treatment which reduces heat transfer by almost half.

Even if those windows have some height to them, they’re still easy to use, with the use of an adjustment pole that telescopes out and can give you fast access to the tilting mechanism.

Last but not least, plantation shutters add all this versatility with the looks to impress any guest. Not many furnishings can add the same sense of class to your house as shutters.

Other Great Room Window Treatments

Though plantation shutters are our first recommendation for fulfilling each of your great rooms’ needs, there are a number of other window coverings that can help out in some of those areas.

Cellular Shades - Cellular (also known as “honeycomb”) shades can offer some light control and decent insulation, all while offering a variety of colors to pick from to go with your space. If you purchase motorized shades, they can also be installed on hard-to-reach windows for easy adjustment.

Minneapolis great room with natural wood blinds and full-length draperies. 

Draperies - Floor to ceiling draperies in a Minneapolis great room can be a stunning addition to your personal decor. They’re fairly easy to open and shut while providing great light control, depending on your material. Their heat-blocking ability is where they lack however, making them fairly weak in the area of energy efficiency. For that reason, it’s common to see Polywood shutters paired with draperies.

Greatness Awaits Your Great Room, Minneapolis

We want to help you make your great room even greater, so let’s talk. Drop us a line at 952-856-8130 today to set up your free home design consultation. We’ll measure your windows, and walk you through all your options for fantastic great room window treatments.