Color plays a big role in determining the mood in a room. As a guide, allow your main color to occupy 75% of a room (including floor and wall space), with 15 to 20% for your secondary color and 10% for an accent color. To visually expand a room, keep the color contrast between wall and window low. To make a room feel cozier, create a high contrast. As a general rule, use neutral- and pastel-colored window treatments when you want other furnishings-a prized painting, say, or sofa-to make bold statements. Also, neutral and pastels colors not only invoke a sense of calm but create an illusion of height. Conversely, bold colors play down a room's loft; select bold colors for your window treatments if you want them to be the room's coordinating feature or its chief attraction.
The size and shape of your room is obviously an important consideration when selecting a window fashion. Some basic guidelines to keep in mind: vertical window fashions can add height and dignity to a room, while horizontal ones often suggest relaxation and informality. Also, fabric window shadings with gentle folds can counterbalance the rigid lines of a room's design, especially if the room features boxy window grids and moldings.
