Window treatments not only protect your privacy they can also play a big role in the energy efficiency of your home. The same barrier that they create to prevent your home from feeling like a fishbowl also keeps the cold weather out in the winter and the hot weather out in the summer.

And because they play such a big role in keeping your house comfortable, you may want to consider changing your window treatments at the same time the weather changes.Winter Window TreatmentsWinter window treatments are any window treatments that are heavy and create a good barrier between your window and the inside of your home. They can include blackout curtains, window shades, shutters, and blinds. These types of treatments are the best you can have up to keep your home warm in the winter, give you privacy and even keep your home cool in the summer.If you already have good window treatments up, like blackout curtains, that work well to keep your home comfortable you actually don’t need to change them when the weather gets colder.The only reason you would really need to change to winter window treatments is to replace treatments that are flimsy and don’t do a very good job in keeping the cold out. It could be that light and airy curtain you have over your bedroom window, the one that flutters beautifully whenever there is the slightest breeze coming through the window. You may have this type of curtain up because it is pretty and the window is in the shade most of the day, so you don’t need much to block the sun out, but it does little in the way of keeping the cold air out.Don’t Want to Switch Window TreatmentsIf you are particularly fond of your window treatments and don’t want to take them down for better winter ones, then get better windows. Energy-efficient windows are created to act as a barrier to keep the sun and heat out of your home during the summer and the cold air out during the winter, just like a window treatment.For maximum benefit, match a winter window treatment with energy-efficient windows and you will be amazed at how much warmer your home is in the winter without having to use the heater so much.