Q: My living room has a lovely big window, but right below is a big air conditioner. It's a necessary evil in the New York summer, but as a renter I'm at the mercy of where my landlord has installed it — which is dead-center, right beneath the window sill, making the entire bottom part of the wall basically useless. How can I decorate around this thing? —Amy P.A: Amy, one of my favorite things about the interior design business is our ability to "control" things. As we work our way through any large (or small) project, I can micro-manage everything detail from the metal finish on every toilet paper holder to the placement and illumination of a piece of artwork from England. We spend hours and hours here at our offices dealing with "the details." But when I go home each evening, like you, I'm a renter, so I often have to check my "control freak" at the front door.Our particular challenge here in San Francisco are the Victorian radiators littering (and randomly placed in) most period apartments.

But whether it's heating or cooling, the best way to look at the problem is head on. Part of the trick here is disguising the unit without blocking the view. As I see it, your choices can either be long-term or short-term — based on the number of years you see yourself living there.1. The tough news is that you can really only fix architecture with architecture, and since you can't relocate the air conditioning unit yourself, we need to pull your eye away from it. Let's start with the good news: You have a large window and a beautiful view, so let's give it some importance! Proper custom window treatments will give your view a perfect frame — make sure to keep those hems long so you could use them in another apartment. I might even layer the view with a bamboo roman shade (with an inside mount) to make a big design statement. Maybe place a pair of upholstered arm chairs with the skirted table between them in front of the window so you can one, block the view of the air conditioning unit;

two, not block your view out the window; and 3, create a marvelous place to sit and enjoy your window on the world.2. If you feel like you're going to be in the space much longer, you have a few more options. You could talk to a local contractor or cabinet-maker and design a window seat that incorporates the air conditioning unit into the base of the seat. Use some sort of grille-work (or lattice-work) as the structure, you should still get good air circulation through the front and create a little retreat. Again, I would recommend window treatments to make this space into a visual "destination." You're going to have to invest some funds into the room, but, if you're planning to stay there for a while, I always think any investment that you make into your living situation is going to be well-rewarded.As I often say in these missives, you're almost always better served by making a serious, declarative "design statement" rather than mumbling a half-baked design idea. The more interesting your room is the less likely you are to notice its flaws.

It doesn't need to be visually dense to be interesting — just look at all the details and make some intentional decisions to make your space come alive.Maybe use this charming little nook from designer Krista Ewart as inspiration: It's visually bold and inventive (and some open lattice across the front would give you good circulation!) ge thru wall air conditioning unitsPlus, it gives one the perfect spot to recline and enjoy the outside — safely from an air conditioned retreat!stand up ac best buy Scot----See More:How Do I Choose Art for a Gallery Wall? ac package unit specifications>>16 Things a Man Should NEVER EVER Have at Home >>How Windows Changed the Design of This Small Apartment >>Great Decorating Ideas for Your Living Room >>

A window unit can create an eyesore in your room without proper decoration. In the winter, window air conditioners can be hidden behind bookshelves, other furniture or folding floor screens. In the summer, however, the front of the air conditioner must be free of obstruction to allow the cool air to flow into your room. Drapery can help disguise the unattractive air conditioner and make it fit in with your room's decor. The fabric can also help insulate the window slightly to keep the room cooler. Hang long drapes from the top of the window to the floor. Hang two drapery panels on the window, and pull the sides back with ties or drapery hooks. The hooks should sit about halfway down the air conditioner so the top corners of the air conditioner are covered by the fabric but the blower is left unencumbered. Provide a little extra length to the drapes so you can create a swag above the hook. This allows the drapes to puddle slightly on top of the air conditioner for a more dramatic look. In the winter, you can close the drapes and hide the air conditioner completely.

Hang cafe curtains about 1 inch above the window unit so they hang over the unit, covering it. When the air conditioner is in use, pull the curtain panels to the side so the air can blow into the room. When they sit on the side of the air conditioner, the curtains create an attractive frame. When they are closed, they hide the unit completely. Attach Roman shades to the window instead of traditional blinds. These are fabric window coverings that raise and lower like blinds, blocking light and adding color to your window areas. Use a bright color or bold pattern. Rest the bottom of the blinds on the air conditioner to make the air conditioner less conspicuous by bringing your eye to the colored fabric instead. If you use Roman shades made of the same material as thermal curtains, it can help keep the room cool in summer and warm in winter. How to Decorate a Window Air Conditioner With Drapery While window air conditioners are more attractive than the original gray metal units of the 1950s and 1960s, they still don't beautify a room’s décor.

You can decorate a window air conditioner with curtains, even when it's in use. Draperies help to camouflage the unit when you're not using it, and to merge it with the décor when you are. If you choose solid color or patterned drapes to match the shade of your air conditioner, it will blend more with the surrounding environment when the drapes are open. For example, if the air conditioner is a bone color and the walls are green, then choose draperies with bone as either the background color or the predominant pattern color. Floor-length drapes will completely hide the unit when it's not running. If colors in the room clash with the air conditioner, then you need more than draperies. Hang a layer of sheers behind the draperies. When you turn on the a/c unit, open the draperies but leave the sheers closed. Thin sheers will only have a minimal impact on the airflow, yet they do a nice job of hiding an old air conditioner. However, if you have a reverse cycle air conditioner, do not leave the sheers closed when you turn on the heat.

Sheers are not fire resistant. Roman shades fit snugly inside the window, generally with a 1/4-inch clearance on each side. Choose from many colors and designs to bring the line of vision up to the curtain and away from the air conditioner. Roman shades offer privacy and energy efficiency even when the air conditioner is running. If you have a newer air conditioner that's flush with the inside of the window, then you probably don't need extra length to hide the a/c unit. Otherwise, calculate how many extra inches you need when providing measurements to the sales person. Improve energy efficiency, which lessens the load on your air conditioner, by purchasing thermal draperies. They have an insulation layer, also called a vapor barrier, which lessens the exchange of inside and outside air. You can buy both Roman shades and full-length draperies with thermal insulation. University of Wisconsin Extension: Energy Conserving Window Treatments: Insulated Shades and Draperies Energy Efficient Window Curtains: Insulated Drapes