Why Install Window Treatments in the UAE: 7 Reasons
Bare picture windows have a certain allure. Think clear glass in a frame overlooking a spectacular view.
However, if you live in the United Arab Emirates, you may want to consider covering all your windows. You can still have your picture windows, maybe even large bay or floor-to-ceiling ones, but install window treatments on them. Blinds, shades, and curtains in the UAE serve aesthetic and functional purposes. Curtains are even culturally significant.
The Cultural Significance of Curtains in the UAE
Curtains are a part of traditional Emirati culture. The country’s nomadic Bedouin tribes live in desert tents called beit al shaar, which translates to “house of hair,” as they are made primarily of woven goat or sheep hair. Inside the tent, the communal living area is divided into two using a ma’nad, a curtain that is probably also made of woven animal hair (goat, sheep or maybe even camel hair). The interior curtain created two distinct spaces: maharama or women’s area, mag’ad or men’s sitting area and guest reception.
The cultural significance of curtains aside, here are some reasons you may want to install curtains, blinds, or shades in your home.
Cut down the sun’s glare.
The UAE has (almost) year-round sunshine, which makes it an excellent winter destination for people in the northern hemisphere. If you live in the United Kingdom or the United States and find the winter cold overwhelming in your country, you can fly to the UAE and experience its relatively cool but still sunny winters.
The UAE has plenty of natural light, which is generally a good thing. However, the glare of the sun can get tiresome, too. What if you want to nap during the day? Maybe you have a bad migraine and need a cool and dim place to rest. In either case, curtains, blinds, or shades on your windows can help you control the amount of light streaming into your living spaces.
Keep your home private.
The Bedouin tribes use curtains to ensure their women’s privacy. Today, curtains (and other window treatments) can do the same for you. They can keep your bedroom and other living areas hidden from prying and curious eyes.
This can be particularly important in high-density areas. Residents of a high-rise apartment building can see into your house, especially at night when your lights are on.
Some may scoff at this idea, but it’s possible, and it happens. Some voyeurs equipped with high-power telescopes, cameras fitted with powerful telescopic lenses, or drones can see into your home.
Curtains, blinds, and shades help guarantee your privacy.
Decorate your home.
Window treatments can be an important component of your interior design. They can become a room’s visual anchor, tying together the paint, furniture, and other design elements in your space.
For instance, suppose you have a minimalist space with walls in beige or some other neutral color paint and furniture in a similarly nondescript shade of white or cream. In this case, thick and luxurious shot-silk or jacquard-weave curtains in cinnamon or tangerine can add a pop of color and liveliness to your room.
Keep your home energy-efficient and cool.
Air-conditioning is a 24/7 requirement in the UAE, which translates to high energy consumption. You must do what you can to reduce your energy bill.
Window treatments can help. Choose layered, thermal, tight-weave curtains and UV-blocking blinds and shades. You want insulating materials that can help keep the heat out and the cool in to keep your electricity costs down.
Protect your home from dust.
Dust can get through the smallest gaps. Window treatments, especially curtains, can act as a stop-gap layer or an additional barrier against the dust and fine dirt from outside.
Improve your sleep quality.
Window coverings help control the amount of light that can get inside your home. They play a particularly crucial role in the bedroom.
If you live in a busy area in the UAE, the city lights may be too bright and prevent you from resting comfortably. Likewise, in the morning, the early-onset sunrise can cut your slumber short.
Window treatments can prevent both issues. You can even automate your window covers so they close at a particular time in the evening and open at a specific time in the morning. The former will make sleeping and resting hassle-free and convenient. The latter ensures you’ll have a natural alarm every morning: the sunlight streaming through your windows into your room.
Reduce noise.
Is noise a problem where you live? Window treatments can help. Thick and layered curtains can block a significant amount of noise from outside. Cellular shades can also do the same. Roller blinds are particularly effective at reducing noise, too.
Why Install Window Treatments?
Consider installing curtains, blinds, and shades in your UAE home. Window treatments offer light, noise, and privacy control. They can serve as the visual anchor of your interior décor, help improve your sleep quality, and keep your house cool and dust-free.
