Side panels highlight windows like a frame

DEAR DESIGNER: My wife wants to put curtains on our living room windows just for the look. They do not function or cover the glass; they hang on each side of the glass. Why would anyone do that? -- Clarence

DEAR CLARENCE: The draperies your wife is speaking of are interchangeably called accent panels, side panels, decorative panels or stationary panels. There are several reasons why stationary panels can be the right choice for your windows.

In our current economy, many homeowners are considering cost before any other factor. It takes a lot of yardage to cover an entire window. When you consider that the amount of fabric required for custom draperies is figured at three times the width of your window, you are talking about a lot of fabric. Multiply the yardage by the cost of fabric and you may come up with prices that make you sweat. Side panels are a professional trick used to save dollars without giving up quality. Used on large windows and in rooms that have lots of windows, your savings on fabric alone can be in the thousands of dollars.

We are fortunate to live in a state where temperatures, although extreme in the summer, do not reach extremes in the winter. In the Northern and Eastern parts of the U.S., layers of draperies that cover the entire window and trap the air are recommended to help keep out the brutal cold of winter and the heat of summer. The savings in heat and cooling bills, over time, will outweigh the cost of fabric.

But, windows dressed in full draperies are more than just an energy saver. Rooms where there are layered draperies give an emotional feeling of warmth. That's another wonderful benefit in colder parts of our country but here in Las Vegas we try to create a feeling of coolness for most of the year.

Side panels create the illusion of space, making your room feel larger by letting the outside view in. This is the reason model homes use accent panels exclusively. By allowing a lot of light into the room, your room feels larger.

Stationary panels softly frame a magnificent view much like a frame around a treasured piece of art. If your view is amazing, keep your accent panels simple so they don't shift attention away from the view. If you are using side panels as a decorative focal point in your room, be more creative with the fabrics and design.

Side panels are used to add a sense of completeness to basic functional window coverings like shutters and blinds. And when a room has a lot of hard surfaces like tile, wood flooring and/or stone, fabrics help to absorb sound making your room feel warmer and quieter.

If you feel that accent panels are an unnecessary expense, please consider them an inexpensive way to accomplish the subconscious warmth of coordinated design which gives you a priceless feeling of comfort in your home. Well-placed decorative panels go a long way in making a room feel inviting and well designed.

Cindy Payne is a certified interior designer with more than 25 years of experience, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, as well as a licensed contractor. E-mail questions to her at deardesigner @projectdesigninteriors.com or send them to her at Project Design Interiors, 2620 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 189, Las Vegas, NV 89109. She can be reached online at www.projectdesigninteriors.com.