Time has a way of catching up to your home’s décor and many people have found that in a rebounding economy, there may be a little money in the budget for a makeover.  The kitchen can be one of the most challenging rooms in your home, especially when it comes to your windows.  Is it time for your kitchen windows to get a little love?  Here are a few ideas that you may want to consider.  If you are going to give your kitchen windows the treatment, you may want to consider giving them a good washing inside and out before you start.  Replace any screens that are damaged or clogged and give those shutters a fresh coat of paint.  Once all of the external problems are out f the way, take a good long look at your window treatments in the kitchen.

A Beating in the Kitchen

The room that we cook in takes a beating that we really cannot always see.  Smoke and food particles drift through the air and cling to walls, furniture, and your custom window treatments.  You will realize just how much this film of food can build up when you try to wash your windows.  By the way, now is a good time to change that filter in your oven hood, while you are thinking about it.  When it becomes clogged with gunk is when your custom window treatments and paint job takes their worst beating.

Take a Whiff of Your Curtains

The fabrics of your custom window treatments may look clean, but give them a good long whiff.  You can smell the grease that has built up in them and this also means that they are alive with bacteria.  This is part of what makes your custom window treatments ideas so challenging in the kitchen.  This is the one room in the house besides the bathroom where less is more.  Rather than decking your kitchen windows out with the full on treatment, try semi custom window treatments instead.  This reduces the amount of fabric you have to wash and still creates a beautiful décor.

Valances Are a Great Fix

While there are dozens ideas for your custom window treatments online, you may want to consult your kitchen before you make your final decision.  What color are the floor, walls and appliances.  Are your appliances new or will you be replacing them soon?  If so, you may want to put your kitchen custom window treatments on hold until you know exactly what colors you will work with.  In the meanwhile, valances for windows are a great temporary solution to your custom window treatments dilemma.