Finding Window Treatments in Minneapolis for a Contemporary Room

When your home’s style is contemporary, you want your window treatments to mirror that style as well. So we spoke with Jane Cunningham, Room Resolutions' principal designer, to better understand the process of choosing window treatments for contemporary rooms in Minneapolis.

Contemporary design covers a range of styles that are influenced by the second half of the 20th century. It features softer, cleaner lines. In Jane’s experience, everyone has a slightly different definition of contemporary. Most of the time, people are looking to open the space up. She’s heard her clients say things like, “I don’t have to have 15 items on the counter of my house.” Or “I don’t need an ottoman by every chair.”

Contemporary homes “give you the freedom to move.” Even if your living space is small, you can bring the outside inby opening up your view of the sun, the rain, and the outdoors in Minneapolis.

The first step is to unclutter the windows. Your grandparents’ house had windows with a lot of layers: shades on top of shutters, valances, and sheers. It’s often claustrophobic. Let go of layers. By going with window treatments that offer clean lines, you can have the contemporary look you desire.

Options For Contemporary Window Treatments In Minneapolis:

Shutters For Contemporary Homes

Plantation shutters are great for contemporary rooms in Minneapolis. The 4.5” louvers reflect a contemporary style. And when you combine their wide louvers with a rear mount tilt rod, your shutters create clean lines across the window.

Shutters provide you with light control. The panels can be swung open to the side so that you’ll have an open view of your entire window. Another option is to have divided shutters where the light comes in through the top.

It’s easy to clean them, which is important if the space quickly gets dusty. Contemporary décor looks its best when all the items are tidy and polished.

Cunningham recommends Polywood shutters to customers who are looking for window treatments for contemporary rooms. They’re her preference because they don’t get dingy and they don’t warp over time.

She also notes that reclaimed wood shutters are becoming popular in contemporary rooms. They give a bit of nostalgia. They show off the rustic look of hardware. They accentuate hardwood flooring to bring together the entire décor of the room. Reclaimed wood shutters let you find a new way to incorporate an element from the past. The novel idea of using reclaimed wood as shutters is the epitome of the contemporary style.

Modern Barn Doors

Barn doors are a full scale piece of artwork on the wall. Choose as bright of a color as you like. You can have the restorative look. Or you can make it look just like a traditional barn door. And you can give it a contemporary look similar to the hotel you just stayed at.

Modern barn doors act as room separators in spaces that often don’t have full doors. This is particularly the case when you want to block off your kitchen part of the time.

Barn doors as window treatments work well on large windows with big enough wall space. Shaker doors exhibit an openness that matches a more contemporary style. Hardware makes a big difference. Pick stainless steel to make it look more contemporary. Or choose a bold color of paint. If you had a room that was decorated primarily in differing shades of white, a bright red barn door pops against the wall and adds to the room.

“Barn doors add a conversation piece. The next gathering you have, I guarantee someone is going to have a comment. That’s because people aren’t expecting a barn door on a window.” - Jane Cunningham

Cunningham knows from experience that our homes are part of who we areand also an experience our guests can share with us. And a barn door is a portion of that experience. Your guests likely will be talking about them.

Roller Shades

Roller shades are a wonderful option for contemporary rooms which have large scale windows and doors which be folded into themselves. They’re discretely tucked away and allow you to bring the outside view in.

If you enjoy sleeping with total room darkness so you can have a restful night’s sleep, roller shades can come with room darkening options. And if you need acoustical help to reduce unwanted noise, pair them with draperies that can be hidden from sight on the window’s sides.

Window Film

Many contemporary rooms that are in the Minneapolis area feature large windows that can be 25-30 feet tall. And when they face west, the sun wear down the items inside.

Jane likes to suggest window film to anyone with large windows. It allows you a full view of outside, which is just what you want for a contemporary room.

The film blocks UV rays, which means your furniture and carpeting retain their color longer. And it contributes to the energy efficiency of your home.

Find Contemporary Window Treatments For Your Minneapolis Home

Contact us at 952-856-8130 to set up your free in-home design consultation. Our window treatment experts bring you samples of the contemporary window treatments you’re interested in and their options. Now you can buy the window treatment that fits your rooms!

To read more about Jane Cunningham and Room Resolutions, go to RoomResolutions.com.