The Advantages of Installing window Blinds At Home

By themselves, windows are essentially gaps in walls. However, add window coverings such as blinds, shades or shutters and you are in control of privacy, the amount of light that enters the room and a room that looks better. If you’re choosing window treatments for a single window or the entire house it is important to think about the shape and size of your windows and the way you will use the space and the amount of light you’d like to let in and block out.

Blinds can be purchased at furniture stores for homes and home centers, as well as paint and tile stores , and through an interior designer. They all let you see and feel the product and, in many cases, these stores offer samples and swatches (for an additional fee) to allow you to test the blinds in your home. If you’re worried about accurately measuring your windows, decorators and certain retailers can do the task. If the blinds aren’t fitting correctly, they’ll fix adjustments at no cost.

Blinds purchased from catalogs for mail-order or via telephone (many home magazines have tiny ads that offer “direct from the manufacturer” prices) is a responsibility to ensure the precision of your measurements. If the blinds aren’t fitted correctly, that’s your issue. Although you may save money by doing this however, the quality of the blinds may vary. Beware of brands that aren’t well-known and inquire if the blinds are of first or second-rate. There may not be the same selection of blinds as you would at a home centre. Check out return policies and warranties carefully before purchasing. Before you buy it is important to be aware of what you are buying.

Not Only For Windows

Blinds and shutters live outside of the windows. They can be joined by tall shutters that can be used as roomdividers. Hanging from the ceiling, blinds can be used to separate rooms and hide messy laundry areas or work spaces.

Honeycomb Shades

Made from spun polyester, honeycomb shades are very flexible and therefore a great option for windows with an unique shapes. They are available in single, double , or triple combs (see the image below). The combs give this shade their distinctive appearance, but they also hold air, which makes these shades sound and good thermally insulation. For instance, Hunter Douglas’ triple-cell honeycomb has an R-value of 4.8–at the middle of the shade. Honeycombs are light in weight and can be put in vertically or more commonly, horizontally. They also provide varying levels of control over light. For windows that face west, you may want to completely keep out light on hot days. If your bedroom is facing east, you might prefer keeping the early morning sun from your eyes. For other windows, translucent or sheer shades might be better.

Sizes for pleats start at about 3/8 inch. and can go to as high as 2 inches. With their clean, refined lines honeycomb shades look great in modern settings and windows that do not have molding. A lot of people love the soft appearance of honeycomb shades that are a perfect match for the color of the walls however, you can also create an impressive effect by contrasting the shades’ color to the walls. If you prefer a more soft look, go for fabric-like shades and match them with strikingly decorated draperies or an draped curtain.

Horizontal Blinds Horizontal

Although these blinds can be difficult to keep tidy, their louvers that can be adjusted provide excellent light control. The more slats per feet and the smaller number of light sources that be able to pass into the window. Blinds that have cord holes in the back of the slats are more secure. This is a characteristic to look out for if you need them to be light-tight. As for cleaning, some newer products have a factory-applied antistatic-electricity treatment to keep dust from building up.

The vanes of blinds are available in wood, metal and vinyl, with a variety of shades and finishes. Ladders- the nylon lift cords that are positioned across both sides of the blind– can be left in their natural state or adorned with tapes of decorative design that match with, or contrast with the blind or colour scheme of the room.

Horizontal blinds made of faux wood and wood that are more expensive than vinyl and metal counterparts, are extremely sought-after these days. They look equally good in rustic or traditional paneled homes as well as more contemporary spaces. Blinds made of wood intended to be used in rooms with high humidity must be warp- and mildew-resistant.

Select the slat width that is proportional to the dimension of your window. A 1/2or 1 in. slat is ideal for smaller or average windows, whereas the 2-in. vane is ideal for larger windows or for a more striking look. The best blinds are slim in stack when they are opened. Many brands have designs where the headrail completely hides the louvers, which is ideal for modern interiors.

Window Shadings

A fairly new combination of horizontal and honeycomb blinds Shades are made of opaque louvers that are sandwiched between sheer fabric panels. They let light in and keeps glare to a minimal. Shades are especially useful for windows facing either east or south. When the shade is completely lower, the slats that are ladder-free can be tilted, opened to filter light and a partial views, or closed for total privacy using the cord. With an inside mount, they can be inserted into windows with arch or angled tops.

While they’re stylish, the shades can be adapted to different styles, from informal to formal. They can be hung by themselves for an elegant, minimalist look. To add more drama you can layer them over curtains, just as you would with normal sheers.

Roller Shades

Prior to the introduction of mini-blinds, roller shades were the norm for simple, quick window blinds. While they’re available in transparent films and fabrics , as well as opaque traditional materials, they’re not the most effective option for lighting control. Shades can be either upwards or downwards, and offers little or no direction of light.

However, there has been some advancements. The spring-loaded roller from the past is now updated with a clutch mechanism as well as a continuous pulley and cord that allows for more precise placement of the shade, without the snapbacks that are awkward and unwieldy. The installation options now include a reverse roll which means that the shade material is placed on top of the roller, obscuring it , giving it an elegant appearance. Shades made of rollers give rooms an airy, retro feel that evokes a rustic weekend cottage. Prices differ based on the type of material used to create the shade.

Vertical Blinds

Most often, they are used on sliding glass doors Vertical blinds can also be suitable for high casement windows, fixed-glass windows or bow windows and also with the arch-top and angular windows. Long typecast is a popular commercial window blind, vertical blinds are able to add a touch of drama to any room due to their striking lines. In addition to any other window treatment they increase the ceiling height of rooms, something to consider when you have low ceilings within your house. Fabric, vinyl or metal, or even matched to wallpaper (by sliding strips of the material onto the front of its) Vertical blinds permit excellent air circulation and are a great option for protecting against UV rays which are a concern in south and west-facing windows. The decorative vanes are placed inside plastic backs to shield them from sun damage and give an even appearance to passers-by.

Free-hanging slatsthat are placed on a bottom that is weighted to ensure they are in order, are an alternative. To conceal their hardware, you can cover vertical blinds with an edging that matches the vanes.

Shutters

Shutters, with their distinct design, add an element of personality into the space. The size of the slats have much to do with the appearance. Vanes can be as wide as 5 1/2 inches. (these are referred to as “plantation shutters”) and as low as 3/4 inches. Solid-wood stained or painted versions are the most common choices. White louvers that are smooth, usually made from vinyl, are more modern, particularly when they’re installed in an angled- or arched-top windows. The majority of shutters are flat with the ends cut at 90deg. If you want something more unique, choose shutters with rounded edges and beaded blades and S-shaped. With louvers that can be adjusted rods, control rods can be offset, centered or concealed away from view.

Hinged shutters are typically used on windows, however as door treatments they’re usually hung on a track that allows them to roll or fold away. Framed shutters provide a more elegant look to the installation. If you’re looking for shutters with an unorthodox finish or paint, be aware that it’s a difficult painting task; Pinecrest offers this service to its customers at an additional cost. Due to the lower sun levels during winter shutters can block out more light than you’d prefer; consider installing shutters only on the lower portion of the window, instead of the entire length. They require little maintenance, a simple dusting is all they require. Shutters are priced in a variety of ways in the form of square inches or square foot, or by the panels.

Measuring and mounting

If you choose to measure the openings of blinds on your own, you’ll need to first decide to put them in either an inside mount and outside mount. Inside mounts show off the window’s casing as well as its form, akin to the distinct look of bay windows. Outside mounts can hide windows with different sizes by bringing them together and even balancing their appearance. For a precise result make use of a tape measure using a rigid metal rule.

Cord Safety

Beware of the dangers of strangulation accidents caused by cords that hang from the ceiling blinds manufacturers have dealt with security concerns in a variety of ways. Break-apart tassels such as Hunter Douglas’ Break-Thru (shown) break apart under pressure. Another innovation is the single-cord control, where loops are removed. Wand controls can also take the over the loops of cords. The best option is a blind controlled by a remote that comes with an automatic stop feature, like garage doors. If your blinds do not have one of these features, ensure that you install an cleat that is high enough to keep loose cords out of the reach of children.