Whether it is better to leave your blinds open or closed depends entirely on the season, your need for privacy, and whether you are trying to keep your home cool or warm.
Layered window treatments remain a defining trend in 2026, but the focus has shifted toward creating greater visual depth and flexibility within a space. By combining multiple window coverings, homeowners can achieve dynamic light control while adding dimension to otherwise flat architectural surfaces.
Ditching shades has a lot of upsides regardless of who you are. Uncovered windows bring in natural light, boost well-being, and offer a view of the world outside. The trade-off, of course, is that they also put those inside on display to passersby, and in the summer, they channel heat.
It may come as a surprise that closing blinds or shutters can actually make your home feel warmer instead of cooler. The trapped heat inside the room leads to an unintended consequence, resulting in increased temperatures that counteract the desired cooling effect.
Keep curtains and blinds open while you're away – closing them gives the impression that no-one is home. Use a timer to turn lights on and off in the evening. You can buy simple timers that fit into plug sockets that schedule lights to come on for a couple of hours, giving the impression that someone is home at night.
For starters, they improve your privacy; if you're worried about the security of your home, closed window blinds will stop passers-by from looking in and getting a good view of your valuables.
Thankfully, Stewart was quick to ease our curtain concerns. She says, “They're beautiful, I don't have anything against them, I just don't live with them… I like to look outside. Every window [in my home] looks out to something nice, and it's just all open to the view.”
Some of Stewart's homes utilize interior blinds for light regulation and privacy. Others feature windows framed by exterior shutters, operable versions of which can also be used for light control, ventilation and privacy.
If it's winter and likely to be sunny, open the window coverings in the morning to allow the sun to heat your home through the day—especially those that receive direct sunlight. In the summer, you may want to keep window coverings closed to reduce heat gain.
The largest source of heat loss in a typical house is uncontrolled air leakage (drafts), accounting for up to 38% of lost heat. Warm air escapes through hidden cracks and gaps, while the following structural areas are the primary culprits for escaping warmth:
Window blinds must be open during landing (and takeoff) as a critical safety measure. Because the majority of aviation incidents happen during these phases, open blinds allow flight crew and passengers to instantly spot exterior hazards (like fire, smoke, or debris) and let your eyes adjust to the outside lighting to avoid temporary blindness during an evacuation.
Ninety percent of the world's millionaires share a commonality in real estate. They typically own physical property, whether as a primary residence or as an income-generating rental property, to build tangible long-term wealth.
The most significant "curtain" (or veil) in the Bible is the heavy barrier in the Jerusalem Temple that separated humanity from God's presence. Its tearing represents the removal of the barrier of sin, allowing believers direct access to God.
2026's Best Blinds
6 Curtain Styles Designers Avoid—and What They Use Instead
Joanna Gaines’ window treatments prioritize organic textures, warm neutrals, and maximizing natural light. Her signature modern-farmhouse style focuses on framing views instead of hiding them by hanging curtains high to make ceilings feel taller, utilizing light-filtering materials, and incorporating custom wooden elements.
Because they do not use standard grid electricity or conventional electric and gas furnaces, the Amish heat their homes using off-grid, self-reliant methods. The most common systems include wood- or coal-burning stoves, propane and kerosene heaters, and natural airflow home designs.
No, 68°F is not generally considered cold for a house in winter. In fact, experts at the U.S. Department of Energy recommend 68°F as the ideal, energy-efficient temperature for the winter months while you are awake.
It takes time for your home to warm up and cool down. If you're not sure how long it takes, try turning the heating on about 30 minutes before you need it. You should turn it off 30 minutes before you'll stop needing it.
Germans open windows in the dead of winter for a practice called Lüften (airing out). It involves briefly opening multiple windows wide to completely exchange stale, moist indoor air with fresh, cold outdoor air. This ritual serves several practical purposes:
Insulated Cellular Shades
Cellular shades are the most insulating shades on the market. They're available in a variety of styles, from traditional honeycomb to cellular shades that combine the look of a roller shade with a cellular shade.
Trending Window Treatment Ideas for Every Room
Martha Stewart, 83, has nothing to hide. She's always been unabashedly candid about her life and career, including her divorce and her 2005 stint in prison for insider trading. And now, the lifestyle guru is opening up about being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease vitiligo for the very first time.
Curtains usually look cheap because of flimsy, unlined fabrics, insufficient width (looking like a "flat sheet" when closed), or a length that stops too short above the floor. Additionally, plastic hardware and visible metal grommets often detract from an elevated design, making budget curtains stand out negatively.
Martha Stewart's energizing morning routine
While many of her retired peers are leaning into leisurely retirements, Stewart treats her mornings as a launchpad to gain energy for a full workday, despite only getting four hours of sleep a night. “I read the entire New York Times,” she said. “I do all the puzzles.