Window treatments for new construction homes are one of the last things most people think about — and one of the easiest to get right with a little planning.
Most new construction homeowners get to closing day with everything planned — furniture ordered, paint colors chosen, movers scheduled. Then they walk into their new home and realize every window is bare.
It’s one of the most common finishing mistakes in new builds. Not because people don’t care about window treatments, but because they didn’t know when to start. Custom window treatments aren’t something you pick up at a big box store on move-in weekend. They’re made to order — and that takes time.
Here’s exactly when to start, what the timeline looks like, and what happens if you wait too long.
The Short Answer: Order Window Treatments for Your New Construction Home 4–6 Weeks Out
Order your window treatments 4–6 weeks before your scheduled move-in or close date.
That window gives your designer time to come out for a consultation, place the order, and have everything manufactured and installed before — or right at — move-in. If your home has a large window count (30+ windows is common in Douglas County new builds), give yourself the full six weeks.
That’s it. That’s the answer most people spend months wishing someone had told them earlier.
Why Custom Window Treatments Take That Long
Unlike furniture you can buy off a showroom floor, custom window treatments are manufactured specifically for your windows after you order them. Every shade, shutter, or drapery panel is cut to your exact measurements in your chosen fabric, color, and configuration.
Here’s what the timeline actually looks like:
Week 1 — Consultation and measurement A designer comes to your home, measures every window, shows you samples, and puts together your quote. For a full home, plan on 1–2 hours.
Week 1–2 — Order placement Once you approve the quote, the order goes to the manufacturer. This is where the clock officially starts.
Weeks 2–5 — Manufacturing Most custom window treatments take 3–5 weeks to manufacture depending on the brand and product type. Hunter Douglas products, for example, are made in the US and typically run 3–4 weeks. Specialty items like motorized exterior screens can run closer to 5–6 weeks.
Week 5–6 — Installation Once products arrive, installation is scheduled. A full home installation typically takes 4–6 hours depending on window count and complexity.
Start to finish, you’re looking at 4–6 weeks minimum. That’s why the clock needs to start before closing, not after.
Already Moved In? We’ve Got You Covered Too.
Post-move-in is actually one of the most common times people call us — and it’s still a great time to get it done right.
If you’re living with bare windows, builder blinds, or temporary paper while you figure out what you want, no problem. Elevation offers temporary shade solutions to keep your home comfortable and private while your custom treatments are being manufactured. You get the light control you need now, and the finished look you actually want in 4–6 weeks.
There’s also something to be said for designing after you’ve lived in the space. You know which rooms get brutal afternoon sun. You know where you need blackout and where you want light. You’ve seen how the Colorado light moves through the house at different times of day. That lived-in knowledge makes for better decisions.
Whether you’re calling us six weeks before closing or six months after move-in — the process is the same. We come to you, we bring samples, and make it easy.
The Real Cost of the Builder’s Window Package
Most production builders offer window treatments through their design center — and some of the options are actually quite good. Premium shades, motorized blinds, shutters. The problem isn’t the product. It’s the price and how you’re paying for it.
Builder design center markups on window treatments are significant — often more than 50% above what you’d pay going direct. And because it’s bundled into your new construction contract, it rolls into your mortgage. That means you’re financing window treatments at your mortgage interest rate and paying them off over 30 years.
A $10,000 window treatment package rolled into a 30-year mortgage at today’s rates costs you considerably more than $10,000 by the time it’s paid off. For something you could have purchased separately, at a better price, from a specialist who carries more brands and has no incentive to upsell you.
Elevation Window Designs is independent. We carry seven premium brands — Hunter Douglas, Norman, Alta, Graber, Pro Design, Carole Fabrics, and SunPro — and our pricing is transparent at the consultation. You pay for what you choose, nothing more, and it doesn’t follow you into your mortgage.
When to Schedule If Your Close Date Keeps Moving
New construction close dates slip. It’s one of the most consistent things about the process. If your builder has pushed your date before, plan for it to happen again and build buffer into your timeline.
A good rule: schedule your window treatment consultation when your builder tells you you’re 6-8 weeks out, even if you’re not sure the date will hold. Consultations are free and no-obligation — there’s no downside to getting the design done early and placing the order when you’re confident in the timeline.
If your close date moves after you’ve already ordered, most manufacturers can hold or adjust delivery timing. Your designer can coordinate that for you.
Window Treatments for New Construction Homes in Castle Rock, Parker and Lone Tree
Elevation Window Designs specializes in new construction homes across Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Parker, Lone Tree, and Highlands Ranch. We work with homeowners in The Canyons, Montaine, Macanta, Pradera, Lyric at RidgeGate, and Looking Glass — and we understand the specific light, architecture, and window sizes common in Douglas County new builds.
We come to your home — or your nearly-finished new build — with samples from seven premium brands: Hunter Douglas, Norman, Alta, Graber, Pro Design, Carole Fabrics, and SunPro. You’ll see real options in your actual space, with transparent pricing at the consultation.
If you’re 4–6 weeks from closing, now is the right time to book.
New Construction Window Treatments in Castle Rock and Douglas County
Elevation Window Designs specializes in new construction homes across Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Parker, Lone Tree, and Highlands Ranch. We work with homeowners in The Canyons, Montaine, Macanta, Pradera, Lyric at RidgeGate, and Looking Glass — and we understand the specific light, architecture, and window sizes common in Douglas County new builds.
We come to your home — or your nearly-finished new build — with samples from seven premium brands: Hunter Douglas, Norman, Alta, Graber, Pro Design, Carole Fabrics, and SunPro. You’ll see real options in your actual space, with transparent pricing at the consultation.
If you’re 4–6 weeks from closing, now is the right time to book.
Ready to finish your new home — before move-in or after?
Whether you’re 4–6 weeks from closing or already moved in and living with bare windows, Elevation Window Designs has you covered. We’ll come to you, bring samples from seven premium brands, and have you from overwhelmed to finished before you know it.
