Window dressing has changed to reflect modern living, with pared-back styles more likely to be in the frame these days than the high drama of heavy drapes.

But there is still room to put your personal stamp on your home through the window treatments you choose.

You’ll need to consider the shape of your windows, the style of your interiors, the need for privacy and how much light you want to allow in, as well as how the room is used.

The requirements of a kitchen window will differ to how you dress a living room or bedroom, but all give you the chance to use colour, materials and styles that suit your home.

Blackout curtains, or roller blinds with blackout lining, are a good idea for bedrooms to stop light spoiling your sleep, while sheer voile curtain panels will allow light into other rooms. Easy to clean Venetian blinds may be the way to go for kitchens and bathrooms.

Shutter blinds are a more expensive option but certainly add a classy feel to a room, as do elegant drapes.

The wide range of fabrics available, from silks to cottons, traditional to contemporary, provide great scope for eye-catching curtains and blinds. Co-ordinating everything in a room with the same material has gone out of fashion, but it doesn’t mean you have to be bland either.

Decorative poles and tiebacks, plain or fancy pelmets, pencil or pinched pleats, there’s much to consider. You can go for formal or relaxed looks, but choose a treatment that suits the proportion of your room and the atmosphere you want to create.

Sunlight will fade fabrics over time. Neutral colours are less likely to fade than other colours and more likely to blend into a room’s décor. Some fabrics can help keep out the cold through their weight and this may be important to you.

Ready-made curtains or blinds will be cheaper, but custom-made may be the only option to get exactly what you want or if you have windows that are not standard sizes.

So do your research, check out different looks in magazines and online, and order swatches of fabrics that catch your eye. It’s advisable to go into shops to get a feel of the materials and ask for the staff’s help as they can guide you in your choice. Some companies offer home consultations which are worth considering too.