Windows are said to be the eyes to your home–and we think there’s nothing truer. However, windows are also often neglected when it comes to home decor. Sure, you might add some nice curtains, you might give it a little clean now and then and you might even (at least, the very dedicated among you) remember to give them a good wash now and then!
Like many parts of our home, windows can get dirty, our blinds and curtains can get soiled and they’ll generally look worse over time if you don’t look after them. So to give you a helping hand, we’re going to show you just how you can take care of your windows and make them look fantastic all the time. It’s going to take a little bit of elbow grease and planning, but you’ll get used to it and the results will be well worth the effort.
Start by giving them a good clean
Windows suffer from soiling, dirt, grime and other nasty stuff just like every other part of our home. Your kids might splash food stains over them, they might get caked in dust or they might even be splattered with bug droppings. There’s a good reason why you need windows in your home; it’s to protect you against the outside!
Let’s start by giving your windows a good clean. You can use a regular window cleaner or you can use a natural solution. If you’re worried about toxic chemicals and allergies, then you might want to try a 50/50 mix of distilled vinegar and tap water. Yes, this might make your room smell of vinegar for a little, but the smell will quickly dry out. If you simply can’t stand the smell, mix in a couple of drops of essential oils (lemon is lovely!) and it will mask the smell.
This will give you a streak-free clean and make your windows sparkle. However, if you have really thick resistant spots and grime stains, then some heavy-duty soapy water and water can help you cut through the grime. Once you’ve cleaned it with soapy water, give it a nice little spray with the 50/50 distilled vinegar and water mixture and a wipe down to finish it up.
But wait! That’s not all!
You’ll also need to clean the outside of your windows as well! It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at just how fantastic your windows can look when you remember to clean both sides. This is often forgotten because of either laziness or because you live on a floor where you can’t exactly reach the outside.
Contact your landlord to see if there’s a window cleaning service first. If not, then you’ll need to purchase a telescopic window cleaner (if you need to clean windows on the first or second floor) or you’ll need to be special gadgets that can help you clean the outside of your windows while in the comfort of your home. Whatever you do, DO NOT climb out of your window to clean them!
Lastly, make sure you remember to clean your blinds and curtains. Curtains can often be washed in a machine and blinds will need a little polish and wipe with a microfibre cloth.
Decorating your windows
Once they’re nice and clean, you can pretty much just leave it at that. However, to upgrade your window decor to the next level, we’d recommend a couple of changes.
For starters, learn more about Silent Gliss Curtain Tracks and replace your current ones. Good curtain tracks can stand out because they’ll allow your curtains to glide more easily and they won’t be at risk of snapping or breaking off if you have heavy curtains. It also means that you can replace the curtains with heavier ones which is perfect for keeping the winter chill out or even blocking sunlight.
Next, we’d recommend changing your curtains as well. Complimentary colours are great, but there are also fabric choices to be made. Length is also important (you don’t want your curtains to sag too much) and you can personalise your choices if you have some inspiration. There are far too many ideas to list, so we’d recommend checking out Instagram or Pinterest for some unique colour-matching combos and inspiration.
And that’s it! Hopefully, this article has given you some great advice on how to pretty up your windows and make them look amazing all-year round.