• You can make your own drapes.Lilli Day/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Window treatments can have a strong impact on a room's look. They can add color, filter light and fill a large empty space on the wall. Drapes, valances and other treatments can be pricey, but there are options that are more cost-effective and don't require sacrificing a visually stunning room design.
  
  

Leave Them Alone

• If you have attractive, large windows, consider not covering them at all. This works especially well in the spring and summer when you don't need to worry about keeping heat in. If you have properly installed windows, it works in the winter as well. Letting light in means a lower electricity bill and less chill in a cold room. House plants enjoy the extra light as well.
  
  

Make Your Own

• You can make your own treatments simply by purchasing muslin or another natural fabric, like cotton, and sewing a set of curtains yourself. Making curtains from other fabrics can be cost-effective as well, depending on the fabric, so compare fabric prices before you decide on this option. To make the curtains, cut the fabric to size, hem around the edges, and sew a tube of fabric at the top for the curtain rod. If you feel uncomfortable using a sewing machine, you can use fabric tape and simply iron the edges and loop. To vary the style, run ribbons through holes at the top of the curtains and hang those from the rod instead of making a loop.
  
  

Winter Window Treatments

• Save money on heating costs just by making some adjustments to your window treatments. Checking your windows for needed repairs or sealing is the first step. Look for a draft and seal the leaks with foam, caulk or heat-shrinking plastic. While switching from single to double-paned windows is expensive, it can be cost-effective if you're already planning on replacing the windows.
  
  Adding insulated shades can also help. You can make your own treatment called a window quilt, which is essentially an insulated quilt you hang in your window. This type of quilt utilizes a polyethylene vapor barrier, bubble wrap or other insulating material to insulate the window. The insulating materials are placed between two fabric panels, and the layers are sewn together.
  
  

Use Shutters

• Install simple shutters. They give your window a smooth, tailored look and pair well with crown moulding. They provide the same benefit as other window treatments in terms of allowing natural light in but also allow you to black-out a room, something you cannot do with sheer or translucent treatments.