Although you may find it hard to love your energy efficient windows any more than you already do thanks to their beauty, longevity, and eco-friendliness, it turns out you can do even more to make your windows work for your home. There are a lot of accessories and add-ons that can not only make your eco-friendly windows more attractive, they’ll also help further protect and insulate your home during winter. Below, we’ve listed our four favorite ways to compliment your energy efficient windows with easy upgrades.
Insulated Drapes
Although energy efficient windows are unmatched in their ability to keep your home warm and the cold air out during the winter, insulated drapes can provide even more protection against that chilly air. What sets these panels apart from regular heavy curtains is that they contain a thermal liner that helps block drafts and moisture and reflects heat back into the room. Plus, they come in nearly every color and print imaginable, so you should have no trouble finding just the right look for your space.
Wood Finish
Wood windows are prized for their natural beauty, but they require a lot of maintenance and can crack and warp in severe weather. Nowadays, energy efficient windows come in realistic wood finishes that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. So, if you’re planning on installing new energy efficient windows, consider going with this natural look. You can also consider switching the interior cladding to real wood. Wood is a great insulator and can help add beauty and thermal protection inside while the energy efficient portion does its job protecting your home from the elements.
Shades
Many windows, energy efficient included, now come with integrated shades sandwiched between the glass panes that can be raised and lowered by external cranks. Or, you can choose to simply install shades inside your window frame. Both options help insulate your home and can add a great decorative touch that really ties the room together. From minimal honeycomb to elegant roman panels, shades are available in all sorts of styles, colors, and materials to match the look and feel of your home. Plus, shades offer privacy whenever you need it — simply pull them down and you’re done!
Decorative Insulated Glass
Another great way to enhance a window is with decorative insulated glass. This feature consists of two or three panels of glass with argon gas trapped between. The panes have a low-emittance coating on the surface, which further helps control heat transfer in all seasons. Nowadays, insulated glass comes in a variety of decorative patterns and textures that can create a great accent piece in a doorway, add beauty to front-facing windows, or add privacy for bathroom windows.
There are lots of great ways to enhance the beauty of your energy efficient windows and help them further increase the eco-friendliness of your home. Whether you’re still deciding on the energy efficient windows you want to install or you want to enhance your existing windows, there are tons of customization options available. What accents do you prefer for your energy efficient windows?
