Choosing the perfect color for your window treatments

If you're trying to revitalize your living room for spring or are simply in the midst of a full-scale remodeling, window treatments are one of the easiest ways to breathe new life into your home. Interior designer Elizabeth Hassé recently gave journalists from the Montreal Gazette a tour of a private showroom open to design professionals only to show some of her tricks of the trade.

Hassé suggests picking a drapery and window covering first before choosing a paint color for your space. She believes that combining window blinds and shades in conjunction with draperies are perfect for places where you want to show off your windows.

"Ripple folds are very in right now," Hassé told the news source. "They give the curtain a very sleek, contemporary look. And valances are back in style. The most popular combination is a patterned fabric on the valance and a solid fabric for the drape."

Above all, homeowners should consider the fabric for their draperies. If they are opened or closed frequently, a more durable fabric will be needed to handle the stress. To complement these window coverings, solar screen shades can work beautifully to add additional insulation and light-filtering ability to your living space.