Window Treatments in Tuscan Style

The rustic style of Tuscan decorating style comes from the rural lifestyle most people in the countryside of Tuscany, where most people had little money and had to make use of materials such as stone, hand-made, unpainted rustic wooden furnishings and local crafts that were readily available for barter.

For those Tuscan folks who owned a Podere (a small piece of land with a modest home), the lavish style of a country villa or castle would have been beyond consideration; just putting enough food on the table could be difficult.

You may choose either the simple, rural look of a modest Tuscan country home or the more decorative and lavish feel of an expansive Tuscan villa when decorating your kitchen, bedroom, sitting room, bathroom or other room in the “Tuscan” style.

Depending on which of these routes you choose, you’ll want to plan your window coverings accordingly.

For a very distinctive feeling of Tuscany, a window-less wall can be faux-painted to depict a view of the Tuscan countryside.

Window Treatments in Modest Tuscan Country Style Decor

When designing a room in the more modest Tuscan style, the main thing to remember is keeping it simple.
A Tuscan style kitchen, bathroom or any other interior space should feel natural, in keeping with the natural look of a home in the Tuscan countryside.

Aside from style however, you also want to consider functional requirements for privacy and light control. In a room that doesn’t require a lot of privacy and in which you want lots of light, the best approach may be to leave the window bare and decorate the windowsill with some terra cotta accent pieces or perhaps put up a simple curtain rod and hang sheer curtains in white or a colour which complements the colour scheme of your room.

Layered Window Coverings in a Tuscan Room Décor

If privacy and light control are important, you can apply a simple layered window treatment, using pleated blinds or roller shades for an effective under treatment. This will provide a means of blocking out light and making the room completely private without being intrusive when raised. Then, you can use fabric panels, toppers or other window treatment elements to complete the Tuscan style.

Ideas for Window Treatments in the Style of the Tuscan Villa

Now, if you are trying to achieve the look of a Tuscan country estate or castle, then you may take an entirely different approach when designing window coverings.

In the Italian rococo style villa, it is common to find a number of large windows, which lets more light into the room, lending grace and drama to the space. The rooms often have windows, wall panels, mirrors, and arched doors that reach from the floor all the way to the ceiling, helping accentuate vertical space and giving them a more expansive feeling.

If you are fortunate to have such features in your Tuscan-style room, then rich fabrics and ornate window hardware will be in keeping with the more ornate and luxurious style of interior design common to Tuscan Villas.

Again, the layered window coverings will provide you with both the style and convenience you are trying to achieve. If you have barreled or expansive arched windows, you might want to consider shades with motor-operated controls for under treatments.

Choose draperies in colours and patterns such as a soft floral pattern or a warm-tone, neutral colour that match the rest of your room’s theme and colour scheme, using tie backs, toppers or other decorative elements to complete the look of your stylish window coverings. Something like an Italian Fortuny fabric for draperies or Tuscan silk curtains will give your Tuscan window treatment the authentic, elegant look of a country Villa.

Tips and Ideas for Tuscan Style Window Treatments

• While simple and natural are the keys to a successful Tuscan window treatment, this doesn’t have to mean boring or predictable; you want your window coverings to give life, colour and a breath of fresh air to your room. A few ideas that will give your window a Tuscan style include:
• Roller shades in warm, earthy tones can give your room old-world Tuscan charm
• Terra cotta accent pieces such as vases, urns or others placed around a window frame or in the window sill help lend a Tuscan design element to almost any window
• Make your own toile Tuscan window treatments using window art panels to give a rustic, country feeling
• Roman shades or blinds in the cool tones of the sea, such as azure blue or green can also work in a room with a Tuscan theme
• If you have a window-less wall, you might try a faux painting treatment that depicts a simple Tuscan window with a view of the rolling hills of a Tuscan countryside

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