If you’re looking to buy new treatments for your home, you could spend a long weekend visiting big-box retailers and sorting through endless choices. Or, you could have a trained member of the Peoria, Illinois Hoffman’s design team visit your house and help you make the best decision.

Over the years, we have learned that customers love having our design consultants come out to visit. Here are three of the most important reasons why:

#1 It Lets us Better Match Your Style

It’s one thing to talk about your style, or even to see a photograph; it’s another thing to actually see a space with your own eyes. By evaluating things like color and decor firsthand, we make it easy for you to get the perfect treatments in the first try.

#2 We Can Find Out About Lighting and Placement

Buying treatments isn’t just about matching colors and fabrics – there are also issues of light, warmth, and insulation to consider. These added factors are much simpler to work with when we can see exactly how new treatments will fit into your home.

#3 It’s Just More Convenient

Would you rather drive to pick up a pizza, or have it delivered straight to your front door? Most of us love the convenience of in-home service, whether it’s to get dinner or receive a bit of expert advice on choosing new treatments.

Looking for expert help in choosing the Peoria, Illinois window treatments? Call Hoffman’s today at 309-688-0523 to schedule an in-home consultation.

If you have children and pets is your home, you will want to make sure that you have safe window treatments in every room. The Window Covering and Safety Council warns against strangulation hazards and recommends use of non-corded window coverings.
Fortunately, there are many options for safe window treatments – here are a few of the options:
• Sheers and shadings – light filtering, light dimming, they come in assorted colors and patterns.
• Honeycomb shades – soft fabrics with light control and insulation
• Solar shades – reduce glare, UV light and heat transfer
• Roman shades – clean look with soft beautiful folds
• Roller shades – light filtering and available in many colors and fabrics
Hunter Douglas now offers Powerview Motorization, which moves your shades throughout the day so you don’t have to. You can coordinate movement with sunrise and sunset and control the movement of your shades in each room with the Powerview app on your smartphone or tablet. This feature is offered with many of the shades mentioned above.

How do you decide which style of window treatment is right for your windows? Window treatment terminology can be overwhelming, so here is a short description of some of the more popular styles:

• Rod pocket – the drapery rod slips through a pocket
• Tab top – the drapery rod slips through a loop of fabric
• Pinch pleat – the drapery pleat is tacked or stitched only at the bottom
• French pleat – the drapery pleat is tacked only at the top
• Box pleat – forms a box at the top

Traverse rods are used for draperies that move. Tie backs may be used to pull draperies to the side, particularly if your draperies are stationary. Consider whether you need sheer or lined draperies, whether you want to allow a lot of light or none at all. There are options available for your every need.

Your draperies will appear elegant and professional if you know the correct way to place them. Regardless of the material you choose and type of draperies, always extend the draperies at least 3 inches beyond each side of the window frame. Hang the draperies a minimum of 4 inches and a maximum of 12 inches above the woodwork for a well-designed look. Press or steam the draperies for the finishing touch.
There are plenty of options for hems also – while it is common to barely graze the floor for operational draperies for cleaning, depending on the look you desire, there are some other options:
• A trouser kick breaks 1-2 inches on the floor
• A puddle breaks a minimum of inches on the floor
The length should not stop at the window sill unless it is over a tub, sink or window. While curtains are generally, lighter, unlined and less formal, draperies are formal and lined or include inner lined curtains. They can be operative (able to move) or stationary. Valances can add a decorative touch and hide decorative hardware. Cornices are like valances only hard rather than soft and are usually upholstered onto a board. Cornices can add depth and character to a small room. Swags are formal and hang horizontally, jabots are the pleated portion down the side.

Basement windows are generally a challenge when it comes to window treatments since these windows are usually high on the wall, are wider than high and are spaced at intervals. However, there are some creative options that you can use to improve the look of this space:
• Draperies – keep them light and airy and a similar color to the wall. These can be used even if there are no windows – giving the illusion of larger windows.
• Shutters – look neat and clean and disguise the size of the window. These can be layered with draperies.
• Blinds or window film – high contrast works in certain situations.
• Furniture below the windows to break up the long, empty walls. Shelves, cabinets or a TV would work to fill the space.
• Paneling to reach the windows is another option to break up the empty space.
Other decorating tricks, such as mirrors below the windows or on an opposite wall, is another option. Use your imagination and you will be amazed and how great your room looks.

Check out some of the ideas on Pinterest.