Open concept homes remain one of the most popular design trends in modern construction and remodeling. By eliminating walls that can make rooms feel confined and isolated and instead creating large, connected living spaces such as kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms, open floor plans make homes feel brighter, larger, and more inviting, and they are ideal for people who like to entertain. However, these expansive layouts often come with a unique challenge: managing light, privacy, energy efficiency, and aesthetics across multiple spaces at once.
Choosing the right window coverings for an open concept home requires more thought than simply selecting blinds or shades for individual windows. Because the kitchen, dining room, living room, and other areas are visually connected, window treatments should work together to create a cohesive look while meeting the practical needs of each space as well as defining the character and style of each space.
Best Blinds & Awnings, with shops in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and the LC Valley, is a locally- and family-owned business serving businesses and homeowners in communities throughout the Inland Northwest. In North Idaho and Eastern Washington, open concept homes are very popular because they allow residents to enjoy the view of mountains, lakes, and rivers that dot the landscape.
If you’re designing a new home or updating an existing one, understanding your window treatment options can help you create a comfortable, beautiful environment that complements your open floor plan.
Why Window Treatments Matter in Open Concept Spaces
One of the greatest benefits of an open concept home design is how you can take advantage of the abundance of natural light. Large windows, expansive sightlines, and connected living areas can make a home feel airy and welcoming throughout the day. At the same time, however, all that glass, as well as variable ceiling heights, can create challenges, including:
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Excessive glare on televisions and screens
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Inconsistent temperatures throughout the home
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Reduced privacy
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Fading of furniture and flooring
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Difficulty coordinating multiple windows
Because many open-concept homes feature numerous windows visible from a single vantage point, poorly chosen window coverings can disrupt the overall design and feel. The goal is to strike a balance between functionality and visual consistency when selecting window treatments that will work in the open space.
Start with a Unified Design Strategy
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is selecting completely different window treatments for each room. While individual spaces may have unique needs and even individual styles, window treatments should still feel coordinated and intentional.
However, this doesn’t mean every window must have identical coverings. Instead, focus on creating a unified appearance through:
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Similar and compatible colors
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Complementary fabrics
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Matching hardware
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Consistent operating styles
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Coordinated textures
For example, you might use roller shades throughout the main living room, but use roman shades in a formal dining area with a coordinating color and the same fabric texture. The functionality and feel differ, but the visual continuity remains intact. A cohesive approach helps the entire home feel purposefully and professionally designed.
Consider Light Control Throughout the Day
Natural light is one of the defining features of open concept homes, but too much sunlight can quickly become uncomfortable or make you feel like you are in a fishbowl.
Large west-facing windows can create intense afternoon glare, while south-facing windows can contribute to significant heat gain during warmer months. Window coverings should allow you to manage changing light and heat conditions without sacrificing the bright, open feeling that makes these homes appealing. Popular options include:
Sheer Shades: Sheer shades gently filter sunlight while preserving views and maintaining a soft, elegant appearance. They are ideal for homeowners who want natural light without harsh glare.
Solar Shades: Solar shades help reduce heat and glare while allowing occupants to enjoy outdoor views. They are particularly popular in homes with large picture windows with expansive vistas.
Dual Shades: Dual shades combine light-filtering and privacy fabrics in a single system, allowing homeowners to adjust conditions throughout the day.
Depending on the look you want to achieve, wood blinds and banded shades may also be suitable. The best solution for you often depends on the home’s orientation, window size, and the amount of sunlight that comes in throughout the year.
Don’t Forget About Privacy
Open concept homes usually feature large windows designed to maximize views and natural light. While beautiful, however, these windows can also expose interior spaces to neighboring homes, streets, or public areas.
Privacy needs can vary depending on the location of each window. For example, a living room facing a backyard may require different solutions than a front-facing dining area. Some excellent privacy options include:
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Cellular shades
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Layered shades
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Wood blinds
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Faux wood blinds
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Light-filtering roller shades
The right choice can provide privacy without making the home feel dark or closed off.
Energy Efficiency Matters More Than You Think
Another factor to consider with open floor plans is that large expanses of glass and high ceilings can impact heating and cooling costs throughout the year. No matter how well your home is insulated and how many panes of glass separate you from the outside, window coverings serve as an important layer of insulation and can help regulate indoor temperatures.
In this part of the country, we experience very hot summers and very cold winters. During summer, the right window coverings can reduce solar heat gain, and during winter, they help limit heat loss through windows. For this reason, cellular shades are an especially popular option for homeowners concerned with greater energy efficiency. Improved energy performance can make large, open living spaces more comfortable while reducing the weather’s impact on utility expenses.
Motorized Window Coverings Are Ideal for Open Concepts
Another common feature of open concept homes is high windows that can be out of reach. When that is the case, motorized window treatments are a desirable convenience.
Motorization allows homeowners to adjust multiple window coverings simultaneously using a remote control, wall switch, smartphone app, or smart home system.
With motorized blinds, you are able to control window coverings that are out of reach without long, messy, and dangerous cords, and you don’t have to give up on the idea of covering high windows. When you can cover all the windows in your home, you have complete control over the amount of light you let in.
But motorization is also a boon for any window, whether out of reach or not. Motorization allows you to open or close your blinds at the touch of a button, and you can pre-program your system to open and close at set times even when you are not home, so that you don’t have to monitor your windows or run around the house adjusting the brightness.
Work with a Professional to Create a Comfortable and Beautiful Open Living Space
Selecting window coverings for an open concept home involves balancing aesthetics, functionality, privacy, energy efficiency, and budget. Because these spaces are visually interconnected, your design decisions can have a significant impact on the overall appearance and feel of your home. Take the time to carefully consider your options. One of our window treatment professionals at Best Blinds & Awnings will be happy to come to your home to help evaluate your space, recommend products that suit your lifestyle, and ensure all treatments work together cohesively.
Open concept homes offer incredible flexibility, natural light, and a welcoming atmosphere, and they will look their best with thoughtful window treatment solutions. By focusing on coordinated design, light control, privacy, energy efficiency, and ease of operation, homeowners can create spaces that are both beautiful and highly functional.
Whether you’re building a new home, remodeling an existing one, or simply updating your window treatments, choosing the right coverings can enhance every aspect of your open living space. Contact Best Blinds & Awnings today to explore customized solutions that fit your home’s style and your family’s needs.