Colonial vs. New Construction: Choosing Window Treatments for Your Worcester County Home

Westborough's homes fall into two very different camps. Classic colonials with tall, multi-pane windows sit a few streets away from the area's growing collection of upscale new construction, with its walls of glass and open great rooms. If you're not sure which window treatments actually work for your home, you're not alone — it's one of the most common questions we hear.


The good news: your home's style points you toward the right answer faster than you'd think.

What Window Treatments Work Best for a Classic Colonial?

Beige building with a double-door entrance, small bushes, snow, and a Christmas tree; cloudy sky.

Colonial homes were built with formality in mind. Tall, multi-pane windows and defined rooms — a proper dining room, a separate living room — call for treatments with real presence.


Custom draperies are a natural fit here. Rich fabrics like Kravet, Stout, and Kasmir add warmth and weight to a colonial's formal proportions in a way that off-the-shelf panels can't match.



Plantation shutters are the other classic pairing. They echo the millwork already found in most colonials, and they hold up beautifully through New England's full range of seasons.

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Built-in window seat with navy cushion and pillows, flanked by bookshelves and cabinets. Window with a leafy valance.

What Window Treatments Work Best for New Construction Homes?

Newer Westborough homes tend to prioritize light and openness — expansive windows, vaulted great rooms, fewer walls between spaces. That calls for a different approach.


Window shades work well here, especially solar shades that manage glare without blocking the view a big window was built for. Clean lines suit the architecture better than heavier drapery.


Motorized options are especially popular in new construction. Hunter Douglas PowerView and Lutron motorized shades let you control light across a whole open floor plan from your phone, or set them to a daily schedule — a practical solution when a single room might have six or eight windows to manage.


Ready to see how these options would actually look in your home? Request your free in-home consultation and we'll bring the samples to you.

Can One Home Have Both Styles?

More often than you'd expect. A colonial with a newer great-room addition, or a renovated kitchen with a modern glass slider, needs treatments that respect both halves of the house.



This is where working with a designer — not just a dealer — makes the difference. Coordinating window treatments across a whole home, room by room, means every choice works with the others instead of feeling like an afterthought.

Room with curved windows; patterned curtains, white shades, desk, chaise lounge, and wooden cabinet.

Why Local Expertise Matters for Worcester County Homes

Kendra Weldon brings more than 20 years of interior design experience, including years with Boston Interiors and Ethan Allen, to every Westborough project. As a fully authorized Hunter Douglas dealer and an active member of the IFDA and WWCA, she and the Simply Windows team bring a level of design partnership that goes beyond a typical window treatment dealer.


We also bring the showroom to you. Kendra and our team arrive with a van full of fabric samples, shade options, and hardware finishes, so you see exactly how each choice looks in your own home's light — not a showroom's.



Learn more about how we serve homeowners throughout the area on our Westborough location page.

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Dining nook with round table, four chairs, and blue and white patterned roman shades.

Ready to find the right window treatments for your Worcester County home? Request your free in-home consultation — Simply Windows brings the showroom to you.

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F.A.Q.'s (Frequently Asked Questions)
  • Q: Do colonial homes need different window treatments than new construction?

    A: Often, yes. Colonial homes typically have tall, multi-pane windows suited to custom draperies and plantation shutters. New construction homes tend to have larger, more open windows that work well with shades and motorized options.

  • Q: Can I mix window treatment styles in one home?

    A: Absolutely. Many Westborough homes combine a colonial structure with a newer addition. A designer can coordinate treatments so both parts of the home feel consistent.

  • Q: Are motorized shades worth it for a colonial home?

    A: Motorization isn't limited to modern homes. Hunter Douglas PowerView shades can be added to colonial-style windows too, giving you the same convenience without changing the room's traditional look.

  • Q: How do I know which window treatments are right for my home?

    A: The best way is an in-home consultation. Kendra and the Simply Windows team will assess your home's architecture, light, and room use before making recommendations.