Why One Covering Isn't Always Enough

Ashley's standard recommendation for most rooms in Utah is two layers: a sheer or light-filtering shade on the inside track and drapes on the outside. The reason is specific to Utah light. At 4,500 feet elevation, the sun is more intense than most people expect: fabrics fade faster, rooms heat up faster, and glare is stronger. A sheer layer gives you daytime diffusion while you still capture the mountain views. The outer drape handles the rest when you need complete control.

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As a professional interior designer with Salt City Interiors, she's also particular about one thing most people overlook: rod placement. Hanging the rod as high as possible (close to the ceiling) and extending the rod well beyond the window frame makes the room feel taller and the windows larger. It's a detail that costs nothing and changes how the entire room reads. Most clients don't realize their drapes look "off" because the rod is mounted too low and too narrow.

Some rooms need maximum light control (nurseries, bedrooms), so a blackout drape paired with a sheer underneath gives you options throughout the day. Other rooms just need softness. The key is designing for how you actually live in the space.