5 Tips for Window Treatments in a Humid Room
Posted on: 13 May 2016
Whether you are decorating a conservatory that needs window covers to help keep warmth inside during the winter or a bathroom that needs privacy curtains, you may be wondering what concerns you should have when choosing window treatments for a humid area of your house. Below are five tips for picking stylish window treatments that will stand up to a humid environment.
1. Be Aware of Condensation
Condensation forms on the inside of windows when the internal temperature of your house is higher than the exterior temperature. Condensation will usually build up until droplets of water run down your window to the window frame. This can cause issues if you have wooden windows or if the water reaches your drywall. Window quilts, also known as thermal window shades, are one of the best options for dealing with condensation if they are sealed around the window frame with hook and loop tape or magnets. This is a great option for conservatories, where you will likely only use the window shades during cool weather to keep your heat inside.
2. Weigh Natural Materials against Synthetic Materials
In general, synthetic materials can create a more waterproof layer between your home and your window, and they also tend to dry faster than natural materials. However, they also hold scents longer and are often more difficult to wash than natural materials such as linen or cotton. They also may not absorb condensation, meaning while it might not reach your window, it may drip down your curtain towards your floor. For these reasons, it is important to identify your main goals when choosing your curtain material. In most cases, a lightweight, fast-drying cotton or linen would make an ideal high-humidity curtain if insulation is not an issue.
3. Pick an Easy-to-Wash Material and Print
In humid rooms, you may want to wash your curtains more often. This ensures that mold or mildew is unable to take hold in the fabric. It is a good idea to have two sets of curtains for these types of rooms and switch them out once a month, washing the set that you take down. If you can, select a material that you can wash in hot water and/or use bleach with. This will kill any mold spores that may have found their way to your fabric. For this reason, you may want to stick with plain white curtains in a sturdy material, such as cotton or linen.
4. Minimize Fabric When Possible
If you do not need drapes in a humid room, you may opt to forgo them or at least minimize them. For example, as privacy curtains in the bathroom you can install cafe curtains as opposed to full-length curtains. You can also opt for curtains that hang straight without deep pleats. Additionally, you can choose frosted glass instead of clear glass. In some bathrooms, heated glass can help reduce condensation problems. All of these helps reduce having fabric that can hold water and allow mildew to grow.
5. Give Your Fabric Time to Dry Occasionally
Even if you are trying to keep the humidity in a room relatively high, such as in a conservatory, you should still give your curtains time to dry out. This can be accomplished by providing extra ventilation along the windows or by taking down your curtains and hanging them outside to dry occasionally. This can be paired with your monthly washing of the curtains or done on its own if your room is excessively humid and you notice that your curtains are regularly damp.
A stylish drapery treatment can make any room look more sophisticated. However, when dealing with high-humidity rooms, it is important to take the above details into consideration. Contact a company like Sylvans & Phillips Drapes and Blinds to get started with your window treatments.
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