Window treatments or dressings are considered to be any item or combination of items which frame, cover or obscure the view from the outside or inside. They also protect and preserve your furniture, rugs, walls and accessories from the sun, whose rays can cause a bleaching effect and even deterioration, in some cases. They comprise shades, shutters, blinds, curtains and drapery. Yes, curtains and drapery are two separate items although they have been used interchangeably lately.

Knowing what to spend on and what to make do without, is that constant battle where the victor is never truly established, except in situations where it’s a need versus a want. DIYers have been on the frontline of this battle for decades and a common handicap for many is the wounds inflicted by carpal tunnel and arthritis, as we age.