Bamboo may have one of the longest decor histories available. Used in ancient China over 7000 years ago, bamboo has been used as tiles for the floor, paper, room partitions, and coverings for the window to prevent the heat and rain from coming in. Woven together, bamboo is a powerful force to recon with Mother Nature. It can not only hold weight, but can be tightly woven together enough to withstand moisture as well. The bamboo plant itself can re-generate quickly after being cut, so it’s easy to understand the benefit it has to the environment.

Once you decide that you’d like to utilize bamboo in your home, the possibilities of how to incorporate it become endless. One of the more popular uses is bamboo window coverings. For indoor use, you may opt to purchase bamboo shades. They come in a variety of styles, include woven shades that keep out the cold or heat and are woven tightly enough to provide a darkened environment in your room. You can also purchase bamboo roman shades, which is in the roman blind style but features woven bamboo instead of fabric. Outdoor use of bamboo blinds is also very fashionable now. If you have a large deck that gets direct sunlight and no privacy, hanging bamboo blinds along the deck to block the light and the neighbors is a great decor alternative.

When decorating an outdoor area with bamboo blinds, you may wish to consider carrying on the theme and adding a large outdoor bamboo area rug. Natural material area rugs in bamboo, jute, or seagrass are an excellent way to cover a deck. They tend to be easy to clean and resist water, so you can go straight from your hot tub to your house without worrying about cleaning up a mess. Create your very own eco-friendly oasis with some well-placed patio furniture, a variety of live plants, and perhaps a water feature.

In tying your bamboo blinds and floor coverings together to create a stylish home, be sure to continue your eco-friendly focus by using environmental friendly paint products, materials with natural fibers for throw pillows such as hemp, and accessories with a green feel. You can purchase a wide variety of candles, recycled bottles, or wooden handmade decor that will complement your home beautifully.

Changing the way you decorate even one room in your home can open up a world of design possibilities for the rest of your space. The prospect of changing your lifestyle to one that is better for the environment can be daunting, but it’s the small steps that we take that can make a world of difference.

If you want your room to exude these qualities, then white curtains will complement your decor, leaving other decorative elements, shapes and form take the center stage.

White curtains are often found in a country home interior, either plain or with decorative lace. White curtain panels with clean, sleek lines also work quite well in a modern home interior. They even work well in a Victorian decor, often with more ornate draperies or swags in patterns and colours to complement the room.

Whether you are decorating a room with white furniture for a monotone or just looking for a window covering that doesn’t compete with the rest of the interior, you can put up white curtains in many styles and textures; sheer and luminous, opaque and rich, or shiny and bright.

Dark draperies keep out the light, but white lets the light in, making your space bright, open and airy. White curtains truly open up a space, making a small room feel much larger and less crowded.

Soft and romantic, layered white curtains and sheer fabric canopy work nicely together in this bedroom decor.

Sheer white curtains are a good choice in rooms where privacy is not a concern. For bedrooms and bathrooms, where privacy is paramount, an opaque white fabric is desirable or you can use layers of sheer white fabric and lace to add depth and flexible control over privacy and light entering the room.

You can also use white lace or sheer curtains under fabric panels that can be closed at night for additional privacy.

For an informal room, use white curtains that are about the same length and width as your window opening. For a more formal room, hang full length white curtains, letting the fabric gather a little on the floor, with tie-backs to keep them open.

Fabric choice should match your room decor as well, with heavier fabric or layers of sheer white fabric giving a formal look, while a single white curtain makes for an informal window covering. White linen curtains will give your room a very clean look, perhaps with embroidery to give a bit of added texture.

If you prefer to add colour to your window treatment, you can add a swag or valance in a fabric colour that matches your wall color, furniture or other decorative elements. Beads, lace, embroidery, piping, curtain tie backs with decorative tassels, curtain rods and finials and scallops or other design patterns can also add interest to your white curtains.

Whenever the weather allows, open your windows and let the breeze billow your white curtains, transforming your room into a romantic scene from the movies. And in winter, when sunlight is sparse, your white curtains will keep your home feeling bright, with a fire in the fireplace to add some warmth.

Traditional and classic, white curtains remain an excellent alternative to the hard lines and surfaces of most window blinds. Whether you use them alone or to enhance your blinds, white curtains will surely complete your window treatment and make your space feel clean, simple and inviting.

In a modern home interior, white curtains offer clean lines and do not distract from other visual elements.

Whatever may be the purpose of blinds on your windows, Roman Blinds offer the perfect window covering option for many windows.

Available in different colors and design, Roman Blinds are one of the cheapest modes of decorating the windows of the room.

If you purchase Roman Blinds from a reputed blinds company, chance are that you will spend considerable money on your purchase.

However, just making the Roman Blinds yourself can easily save on expenses.

With a bit of patience and basic sewing skills, you can make your own roman shades and save the expense of buying these simple-to-make window coverings.

It’s not too much of an effort as it seems, yet you must clearly follow each and every instruction to come up with a beautifully crafted blind.

1. First things first! Measure the windows for which you want your Roman Blinds. The height and width of the window must be measured from inside the window frame if you just want to cover the windows. However, you might like the look of some extra covering. Make suitable measurements as you like your Roman Blinds to be.
2. Now, cut the blinds material 2½-inches wider and 4 inches longer than the actual measurements. Similarly, cut the curtain lining fabric the same width as the blinds fabric and 2 inches longer.
3. And now, the mathematical part! Generally, a roman blind has 6 inches pleats. So divide the length of your fabric – 4 inches by 12 since 6-inches pleats would have the channels spaced 12 inches apart. Therefore, for a window of height, say 60 inches, cut the fabric to 64 inches. Now, just divide the original 60 inches by 12, i.e., the size of each channel, which gives you a total of 5. This figure is the number of pleats that are required in your Roman Blinds.
4. Now, mark the lining 1¼-inch up from the bottom edge with a hemline and 2 inches down from the top-edge. Now, mark the channels for your Roman Blinds by making 2 lines spaced 2½-inches apart starting 6 inches above the hemline.
5. After making first set of line, measure up another 12 inches and make another set, again spaced 2½-inches apart. Now, form the channels by bringing the 2 lines together, pinning them and then sewing them to form the channel for the lath.
6. Now, put the fabric and lining with right sides facing each other and matching lower edges. Remember to stitch the lower edges together. Now, turn the right side out and sew across the blind at the hemline.
7. Then, pin the lining and Roman Blind fabric together along the channels and stitch them together. Baste and stitch the sides together making sure not to stitch up the channels.
8. Finally, slip the laths into the channels and proceed to stitch the openings. Sew the plastic rings on the lining 4 inches in from the ends of the laths on each side. Now, cut the 2 pieces of nylon cord twice the length of the blind plus the width.
9. Tie a cord onto each of the bottom rings and thread up through the rest of the rings to the top of the Roman Blinds. Just let hang loose. And you are done with the pleats!
10. You’re DONE! And ready to install your own Roman Blinds!

And if your older home or apartment has drafty windows, living comfort is also a concern, especially for those us who live far north (or south) of the equator, such as the UK or the northern states of the US.

But regardless whether you live in Alaska or Arizona, Belfast, Ireland or the Costa del Sol, Spain, outdoor temperatures can range from freezing to over 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit).

Without adequate insulation your home can feel uncomfortable during periods of extreme cold (or heat) and windows are one component of any home which tends to conduct cold (or heat).

Installing thermal and/or insulating window treatments can help keep cold air from entering your home in the winter and block the sun from overheating living spaces in the summer, helping lower energy costs all year long.

Benefits of Thermal and Insulating Window Coverings

Now I know the thought of buying new window shades may seem counterintuitive to ‘saving money’ since you are investing, not saving. But if you amortise the cost of thermal/insulating window coverings over a long period, the costs you save on heating and cooling can easily outweigh the initial investment.

And if you don’t have window coverings or need to replace yours, then the incremental cost of these energy efficient treatments over less costly blinds or shades will easily save you money in the long term. Consider the following benefits:

1. Energy Savings – Inefficient windows may increase heating costs by 10 to 25 percent in the winter and air conditioning costs by as much as 75 percent in the summer! A cellular/honeycomb shade blocks as much as 60 percent of the heat transfer through a window pane; those extra costs really add up over the years!
2. Living Comfort – A typical window blind is R-1 value, while insulated/thermal window coverings can increase the R-value of a single-pane window to as high as R-6, making your home far more comfortable when the weather is either extremely cold or hot outside.
3. Home Value – Making improvements to your home will increase its value, especially if the improvements enhance your home’s energy efficiency.
4. Conservation – Every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity we use releases about two pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, so saving energy not only reduces consumption of valuable carbon fuel sources but also helps reduce the greenhouse effect believed to be the primary cause of global warming.
5. UV Protection – Window coverings also protect your home’s interior, flooring, furniture, artwork, etc. from the harmful effects of UV rays.

What are the Differences between Thermal and Insulating Window Coverings?

Throughout this article we’ll refer to both thermal and insulating types of window treatments. While these two features may be combined the difference is in how your window covering actually works to increase energy efficiency.

A thermal window shade or drape reflects radiant heat, blocking warm air from escaping from your home by directing it back into the room. This effect is reversed in the summer, when a thermal window covering reflects the heat and UV rays of the sun from entering your home, keeping things cooler inside.

Insulating window shades on the other hand actually trap a layer of air between multiple surfaces of the window treatment. The trapped air acts as a barrier that prevents cold air from entering your home by way of conduction through the window glass.

Cellular (Honeycomb) Shades

The most efficient type of window covering is the cellular or honeycomb shade. The insulating quality of these window shades increases, depending on whether you install single, double or triple cell shades; the more cells, the more air is trapped, stopping the cold or warm air draft from the window and improving the insulating value of the shade. Accordingly, the cost of a cellular shade increases with the number of cells.

Attractive and functional, cellular shades come in a wide variety of colours and styles, offering varying light control, from semi-opaque to completely opaque ‘blackout’ materials, to meet your style preference and functional requirements.
By trapping the cold air, a honeycomb shade minimizes the amount of heat being drawn toward, and thus out, a glass window pane. The cellular/honeycomb shades have R-values ranging from 2.0 to 4.8, with a shading co-efficient ranging from 0.44 to 0.21.

Thermal and Insulated Roman Shades

If you prefer a softer look in window coverings but still want energy efficiency, Roman shades are available with thermal/insulated treatments. Today’s thermal Roman shades make a great compromise between style and function.
Made with an insulating liner, Roman shades give your room a more luxurious feeling than window shades without sacrificing on energy efficiency and living comfort. Flannel interlining or a rubber backed lining are typical. The lining doesn’t show and you can select from a wide range of fabrics.

Thermal backed Roman shades are available in fabrics such as heavy linen, cotton, chenille, silk and many others, giving you a nearly endless choice of colour combinations and prints from which to choose. Be sure your Roman shades are custom-fit to your windows snugly; a tight seal along each edge the shade keeps air from coming in contact with the window surface, preventing it from cooling air inside the room.

Construction and quality varies widely. On the ‘warm’ side of a quality shade, a vapor barrier made from vinyl, Mylar or plastic keeps warm air from passing through the shade to prevent condensation from forming on the inside of the window pane. This helps keep the room warm and dry, preventing any problems such as mildew from occurring.

Roman shades thermally lined using these manufacturing methods can increase efficiency to R-values ranging from 3.0 to 5.0; R-value will depend on the weight of the fabric your choose, the material used for the lining, how the shade is pleated and fitted. In some cases magnetic strips are applied to get the best seal possible.

Insulated / Thermal Drapes and Curtains

If traditional draperies or curtains are best suited to the style and décor of your room, you can also get these lined to increase energy efficiency. A two-layer drapery or curtain can greatly increase efficiency. This has the added benefit of giving you complete flexibility in choosing the colour and pattern of the inner layer that faces the inside of your room, which the heavier, insulating liner facing the window and will be hardly noticeable.

The disadvantage of insulated drapes or curtains is that a skilled work room is needed in order to construct this type of layered window treatment. Another option is to use a cellular shade under the curtains or draperies to provide the insulating layer; this can substantially reduce the cost while still resulting in a layered, semi-custom window covering.

Draperies can be thermally lined to produce R-values ranging from 3.0 to 5.0; as with thermal Roman shades, the R-values depend on the fabric, lining, fitting, etc.

Plantation Shutters and Wooden Blinds

While less energy-efficient than the other options we’ve covered, if you prefer the look of wooden venetian blinds or interior shutters, you do get decent insulating value when the blinds or shutter are closed. Wood is a good insulating material and composite or vinyl blinds and shutters can increase energy efficiency further. Hardwood shutters or wooden Venetian blinds have R-values in the range of 2.77 to 3.17, with shading co-efficient somewhere from 0.35 to 0.21.

Energy-Saving Home Window Tips

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that other factors play a large part in how energy efficient your windows will be. Here are some tips to make your windows more efficient:

• Check the caulking around your windows; a well-sealed window is critical to preventing cold air drafts and moisture from entering your home, regardless what type of window coverings you install.
• Older homes with single pane windows are always good candidates for window replacements; window technologies including double-glazed windows with low-E coatings, argon or krypton gas filled multi-pane windows and other technologies will greatly improve the comfort and efficiency of your home, especially if you live in a climate where below-freezing temperatures are common during the cold seasons.
• Window blinds and shades should be installed as flush to your window panes (inside mount preferred) as possible without preventing them from correct operation.
• If cost is an important factor, your best choice will probably be cellular shades; if you like the style then this is generally the most cost-effective solution.

Bamboo Blinds does not sell window coverings; we provide this site simply to help you decide what kind of window treatment is best for you and how to select, purchase and install your new blinds or window shades, saving time and money.

If you searched on Google or another search engine you found 100s of window fashion retailers, all advertising “cheap window blinds” or “discount window shades”, but they don’t want you to know more about how to actually find a fair price for window coverings suited to your needs.

If you are a student or anyone just starting out in new rental apartment, flat or home you need window coverings just like anybody else, but you probably don’t have a lot of money to shell out in order to cover windows! Even people who can afford quality window treatments may not want to invest a small fortune just to control light and privacy in their home. Read on to learn about some window covering options that won’t break the bank.

Paper Window Shades

Did you say paper? That’s right. Many home improvement centers and discount retailers sell cheap window shades made of paper. Now these aren’t going to make your home a designer showcase, but you might be surprised how good these paper window coverings look.

And, like much more expensive pleated fabric blinds, they will create a soft glow in your room when you lower them to keep direct sunlight from overheating the room on a hot day! One of the best known brands of cheap paper window shades is Redi Shade.

The Redi Shade original pleated shades are made of high quality recyclable white paper, which allows light to filter through them. They come in 36" and 48" widths, with a 72" drop. They are easy to trim to fit your windows and cost about £5. If you need something really cheap or temporary these are a great alternative.

Pleated Shades Made with Fabric

Stepping up from the Redi Shades, you can also find a wide variety of pleated shades made with fabric or linen. These will last longer, look far more stylish than the temporary paper shades and can still be purchased for about £40 to £80 in the more common ready made sizes.

One disadvantage of the paper and fabric pleated window shades is that they aren’t completely opaque. This means that if you have lights turned on inside your room at night, they don’t provide complete privacy from prying eyes looking in. Some fabrics are more opaque than others so if you are buying pleated textile shades for a bedroom or other room that requires complete privacy be sure to look for a pleated shade made with a heavier, opaque fabric.

Roller Blinds

Roll up blinds are another option if you need a cheap solution to cover your windows. And with cordless operation roller blinds are simple to operate as a practical window blind. You can choose from a wide range of materials, including blackout roller blinds if you work at night and need to sleep during the day. Look for woodweave or bamboo roller blinds if you want something a bit more stylish. For smaller standard window, you can find roller blinds starting at about £20.

Mini Blinds

If you need complete privacy, another cheap window covering option is the mini blind. These are usually horizontal blinds with narrow louvres (typically less than 2” wide) that stack easily with pull cords. Mini blinds are typically made with aluminum or faux wood material.

The style isn’t always quite as nice as a wider Venetian blind, but a mini blind is lightweight, easy to operate and provides flexible control over light and privacy since you are able to lower and raise it partly or entirely and you can also tilt the louvres to let in more or less light as desired.

Mini blinds are available in a variety of colours to match your décor taste and ready made sizes fit most standard windows; if you need a non-standard size mini blind, look for made to measure models. Most online retailers give you instructions on how to measure your window correctly for inside or outside mount blinds and all you really need to install them yourself is a cordless drill; you can probably borrow one from a friend or neighbor if you don’t have your own.

Mini blinds are quite affordable, with prices starting as low as £25 in ready made sizes.

Single Cell Honeycomb Shades

Now, if you are willing to pay just a little more, then cellular (also called honeycomb) shades may be the right option. Cellular honeycomb shades look very similar to pleated shades but the single cell honeycombs trap air inside, which gives them great insulating value to keep the room cooler on hot days and warmer during the winter.

The extra money you pay for cellular shades may actually save you money in the long run since your heating and cooling costs will be lower and you’ll be more comfortable too! The honeycomb shades start at around £60 for a 36 inch width.

Hopefully you will find these ideas and tips valuable as you shop for the right window blinds or shades. Look around our web site and you’ll find we give you literally thousands of ideas and tips on window coverings, curtains, shutters and other window fashions products. Happy shopping!

But doing it yourself doesn’t have to be impossible for most people; if you have basic tools like a tape measure and cordless drill, you can buy and install your own window shades and blinds, saving money and having the satisfaction of doing the job yourself!

Most online window blinds retailers and suppliers publish their catalog and peddle their wares; they may have a few basic tips on how to measure windows for blinds, but that’s about it. Here at Bamboo Blinds we are dedicated to providing unbiased, detailed information, tips and ideas for you the consumer.

Since we get hundreds of questions each month by email, we decided to publish the most frequently asked questions people send in, along with the answers! We’ve linked each answer to more detailed information on the topic so that you can easily learn more about anything that interests you:

Window shades, shutters or blinds not only offer privacy and light control but should also add style and beauty to your home or apartment!

Question: I have recently moved into a new home or apartment and need window coverings. What is the first thing I need to know if I want to buy the ideal blinds or shades?

Answer: To begin, consider your functional needs when considering what type of window coverings to purchase; privacy, light control, ease-of-use, style and budget are the basics. Next, prioritize your home or apartment room by room. This way you can start to make trade offs in terms of how much you are willing to spend to cover windows in each living area. You might, for example, decide to splurge on an elegant layered window treatment for your sitting room while going with something inexpensive such as mini-blinds in the bathroom.

Pleated shades, cellular shades or Roman shades work well in a modern style interior. Sheer window shades like these let light in while protecting against fading that UV rays can cause.

Question: Where should I buy window shades and blinds?

Answer: It used to be that you had to purchase window coverings at specialty shops or through a professional designer. Now, you have a wide range of retailers and suppliers from which to select. Shop around at home improvement stores and discount retailers for the best deals; however you may find the quality and selection are limited, especially if you don’t live in a major urban city. The Internet has revolutionized the window fashions industry in recent years; you can now shop online for an amazing variety of window shades and blinds at discount prices; whether you need custom window shades or have standard-sized windows suited to made-to-measure blinds you can save money and time by shopping online.

Question: I have a room with large picture windows that receive a lot of direct sunlight. How can I protect my furniture and décor from fading due to harmful ultra-violet rays in without ruining the views?

Answer: If you are lucky enough to have large picture windows with a great view in your home or flat, rejoice! You have plenty of options to control how much light enters the room. First, consider whether you want to cover a large picture window at all; if not, you can leave the window bare so that you get full advantage of the view; have your window(s) tinted with protective UV window film to ensure your flooring, furniture and other belongings don’t fade. On the other hand, if you also need privacy in the room sometimes, then Venetian blinds or cellular shades make the most sense; when lowered they will protect your room from direct UV rays and when the sun is not beating down on the window(s) you can simply raise them as desired. When raised completely, a horizontal blind or cellular shade stacks neatly and is hardly noticeable. Many window shades are available in a top-down, bottom-up configuration for ultimate flexibility in controlling light and privacy! Horizontal blinds offer even more flexibility since the louvres can be tilted as needed to filter and soften direct sunlight. Shades will give your room a nice soft glow when closed but may not darken the room entirely, depending on the type and weight of material you select.

Question: What type of window covering is best in my bathroom which looks out toward a neighbor’s facing windows?

Answer: If you are lucky enough to have windows in your bathroom, you’ll want to take advantage of the natural light they offer. But the special concerns of privacy, moisture and humidity really have to be considered when selecting window coverings in the bathroom. For the most part, wooden Venetian blinds or interior shutters are not recommended for use in the bathroom, since the louvres can warp, crack or split over time; look for wood blinds that are specially treated with a moisture-resistant finish or select faux wood blinds made of vinyl or else consider aluminum blinds. If you prefer window shades, look for shades made with a moisture-resistant material that is easy to clean.

A layered window treatment will give you control of privacy and light control while also enhancing the designer appeal of your room decor.

Question: I have kids and/or pets; what type of window treatment is best?

Answer: This is one of the most common questions we get. Obviously, kids and pets tend to be tough on window blinds and shades, so you have two strategies from which to select; purchase something durable, which will cost more or go with something very cheap, knowing you’ll probably need to replace window coverings sooner. Kids love to play with those pull cords, so first of all, be sure you get blinds with safety tassels (nearly all pull cord systems now include this feature) or choose window coverings that feature cordless operation. Avoid metal blinds if you have kids or pets as these can too easily be bent. Vertical blinds are also a good choice if you have a glass slider.

Question: I like the ease of use and versatility of window shades or blinds, but I want something more elegant with a ‘designer look’. What are my best options?

Answer: Many people like the contemporary look of Venetian-style blinds or pleated and cellular window shades. However, if you want the more formal look of curtains or drapes, you can dress your window treatment up by layering. One popular option is to use a simple window shade as a base layer. Over this base you can then install curtains or full length drapes. With either shades or window blinds, another way to give your window treatment a more formal look is to add a window topper; a custom cornice board or valance will add style, colour and give your window treatment a more complete and finished appearance.

Featuring panels of fabric attached from top of the window frame, Roman shades are controlled by a pulley cord system that allows you to raise and lower them to easily adjust the look and how much natural light enters the room.

When raised, the fabric gathers into a waterfall of soft folds or flat layers depending upon the style of Roman shade you select. And when lowered, your Roman shades lay flat and smooth, adding wonderful colour and pattern to your room décor.

Roman Shade Styles and Features

There are two main types of Roman shades, with many variations of each; a ‘flat’ Roman shade lays smooth when lowered whereas the ‘relaxed’ styles remain lightly gathered when lowered.

Roman shades are made in a wide variety of materials, from bamboo to suede and hundreds of textile materials. This makes them suitable to almost any style of interior design and more practical and easier to operate than many styles of curtain panels or draperies.

Roman shades make a perfect compromise between window blinds or shades, which may not always match a room’s design aesthetics and curtains or draperies, which tend to be less functional and flexible.

Making Your Own Roman Shades

Roman shade pull-cord kits are readily available for those who have sewing skills and wish to make their own window coverings or you can select from a myriad of pre-made Roman shades in any style, colour scheme, pattern and fabric weight desired. Look online or in your local craft or home improvement store for Roman shade patterns and templates if you choose to make your own.

Fabric weight should generally be on the lighter side so that it will gather correctly into soft folds that are so characteristic of a Roman shade. Additional features such as blackout linings or a reverse top down/bottom up pulley system add further flexibility to your Roman shade selection options.

Be sure to read our tutorial on how to make your own Roman Shades for complete how-to instructions!

Roman Shade Styles Galore

With clean, classic lines, Roman shades are made in such an amazing variety of styles that choosing the right ones for your home décor can be challenging and confusing. Here is a break down on what to look for in Roman Shade styles:

Classic Roman Fabric Shades

Classic Roman fabric shades are always popular, with inverted, seamed folds that are well-defined when raised and clean horizontal lines when lowered. Classic fabric Roman shades offer good insulating value and flexible light control.

Soft Roman Fabric Shades

With elegantly draped, overlapping folds that fall at neatly spaced intervals, soft Roman shades can be topped with a fabric valance for a true designer look. The softer look of these Roman shades is accentuated by even folds when raised and a full look when lowered.

Flat Roman Fabric Shades

Flat Roman fabric shades are perfect for the casual, modern décor, offering a clean, uncluttered look. The flat Roman shade will hang flat when lowered and fold up neatly at the top when raised.

Solar Roman Shades

If you want a Roman shade that protects your interior, furnishings and upholstery from the harsh UV rays of direct sun, a Roman shade made with solar material fits the bill. The semi-sheer look of solar material gives your room a soft glow, keeping the room light and airy while still offering solar protection.

Blackout Roman Shades

If you need to darken a room completely, look for Roman style shades with a lining made with special blackout material.

Relaxed Roman Fabric Shades

With a relaxed swag on the bottom hem, a relaxed Roman fabric shade will give your room a comfortable, casual look. When lowered, the fabric falls smoothly and evenly, while the swag at the bottom adds a stylish decorator touch.

Natural Woven Flat Fold Shades

Nothing offers the natural warmth and texture of a woven shade. Choose from bamboo or woven blends to give your window treatment a warm and inviting look. When raised, the woven shade stacks neatly into flat folds and when lowered it lies flat and smooth. Woven flat Roman shades make a great alternative to regular bamboo or woven wood blinds.

Additional Roman Shade Variations

The variation of styles and materials is what makes Roman shades so attractive to homeowners and consumers looking for a unique, affordable window covering alternative. In addition to the styles mentioned above, look for these additional styles and variations:

• The Fresno style Roman shade incorporates a fabric end that is flared and fan-shaped at the bottom.
• The Belaire style Roman shade is finished with a curved arch shape. Typically the Belaire shade features a vertical pleat that runs up the middle of the shade.
• A Roman shade can also be fastened with decorative ribbon or cloth ties when rolled to the top of the window, enhancing its look and making it easy to fasten in place when raised.

So why would you choose a darker colour such as burgundy, navy or black? The answer is usually relative to the colours you have selected in decorating the room.

Rich, dark colours can give your room décor a dramatic look and you wouldn’t choose white or off-white blinds in a formal room appointed in a style like Victorian or Colonial. Casual and modern rooms more often call for a neutral or lighter-coloured window blind.

Factors that Affect Natural Light in Your Room

Just because you go with a dark colour when choosing your blinds doesn’t mean your room has to be overly dark. In fact, with most window blinds the colour of your slats actually does very little in determining how dark or light the room will be. A darker colour blind will ‘tint’ light entering the room and can thus give it a warmer or cooler feeling depending on the colour of the finish you select for window blinds.

Correct measurement and fitting will allow you to darken a room completely if you so desire; a properly fit blind should allow very little light to enter the room when you lower the blind all the way and angle the slats to their full closed position.

And, if you want the ability to darken the room completely, choose a ‘blackout’ blind, which is specially designed to prevent light from entering through gaps around the edges of your window frame. With these specialized blinds applications, a track helps guide the slats and block light from entering along the top/bottom/sides of the blind.

Also, you can darken a room more completely by selecting an outside mount blind that is properly installed so that a slight overlap exists and the slats are tight against the inside of the wall along the edges of your window.

Lighter Color Blinds Brighten a Room

On the other hand, you may have a more casual room that lends itself to a white, off white or other light colour window blind. You can still darken the room sufficiently if the factors mentioned above are met. But, since lighter colours reflect more light, a white or off-white blind reflects light from lamps and other light sources inside the room.

By selecting a light colour window blind or shade you can close the blind for complete privacy without having to make the room completely dark; turning on lights inside the room will leave the room brighter since light is reflected from your lighter-colour blinds.

You can also angle your blinds for privacy while still letting in natural light; the slats will reflect natural light from outdoors into the room, giving it a brighter, more cheerful mood than if you have a dark-stained wooden blind or other dark finished material.

Cellular or Honeycomb Shades Can Brighten Your Room

Another option to consider would be pleated or honeycomb blinds made with a sheer material. Both colour and weight of the material you select will influence how much light enters the room.

For a room with predominately north-facing windows, cellular shades in a warmer colour such as off-white, taupe, yellow or red will help warm the room. Rooms with south-facing windows can benefit from a cooler colour shade such as blue or green, which cools the direct sunlight entering the room.

Keep these tips in mind when choosing window blinds or shades and you’ll be sure to match the colour of your window blind or shade to the décor of your room as well as the functional needs for privacy, light and temperature control inside your home!

Regardless what style of window fashion you choose, the design approach will be basically the same; window coverings need to be practical and functional as well as enhancing the beauty of your home.

Applied Design Elements

This ‘applied design’ process revolves around applying the tried and true principles of good design, including the fundamental elements of line, form, space, texture and colour. All of these elements should be well balanced in order to work together correctly.

In the case of window fashions, design also requires understanding how various types of window blinds, shades, curtains and drapes operate so that the appropriate functions of privacy and light control are suitable to a given application.

The Element of Line

The most fundamental element is that of line; using vertical lines in your window treatment adds height to your room, directing the eye upward and helping disguise a square box-shaped window. Vertical lines can be used to create a bold look.

Horizontal lines on the other hand give your room a broader feel and can help break up elements of verticality such as intricate crown moldings and other trim work. Horizontal lines tend to give a room a more casual feeling.

Diagonal lines attract the eye and typically are used to highlight and accent a window treatment; diagonal lines should not be used as a primary element in most cases when designing window treatments.

Curved lines are graceful and can be used to repeat architectural features such as arched doorways in the home or arched windows. If you have a normal rectangular-shaped window you can use curve to soften a square or rectangular window.

You can emphasize the use of line in designing a window treatment by employing elements such as borders, trim, bands, scallops and contrasting fabrics.

Form and Shape

When you join lines together you create shapes. The most common shape in designing window coverings is the rectangle, since that is the shape of most windows. But you can also transform a window that is square into a vertically-oriented rectangular shape by using full length drapes; again, this will add a greater sense of height to the window.

Form denotes three-dimensional shapes; you can add depth to your window treatment by layering elements. This avoids the typically two-dimensional appearance of most window treatments, creating a design that enhances its form.

Curves and diagonal lines can also be used to break up the ‘stiff’ look of a rectangular window opening, softening the look of the window treatment.

Space

Use boundaries to create a sense of space with your window treatments; walls, windows and ceilings bound the room. These boundaries can be greatly altered by the balance, rhythm and scale of window coverings. In some cases, less is more; you wouldn’t want to design an intricate layered window treatment in a modern or casual room. On the other hand, if the furnishings, upholstery and other elements in your room are formal, say in the Victorian or Baroque style, a plain cellular shade without couture touches will look quite out of place.

Texture

Texture is not always obvious in the overall effect achieved by window coverings; fabrics that are coarse will absorb more light and darken a room, while sheer or shiny fabrics reflect and refract light, helping give a room a more airy look.
Materials such as bamboo have become increasingly popular for window blinds and shades because of the natural grain and texture of woven wood shades or blinds made with bamboo instead of wooden slats.

Colour is the Key

Choosing the colour scheme for your window treatment is of paramount importance; be sure to decide on window covering colours when designing the overall look of the room. Too many people make the mistake of leaving window fashion as an afterthought rather than making it an integral part of the interior design process.

Contrast is a critical part of colour choice; you can either blend the window treatment into the wall by selecting similar colour shades or create bold contrast by using dark on light or vice versa.

Colour also plays an important role in determining how natural light affects the look of your room throughout the day; sheer fabrics can be used to ‘tint’ light entering the room and to create interesting effects such as a soft glow or dappled light and shadow playing from your window across the interior of the room.

Use warm tones to warm the room and give it a cosy feel or cooler tones to create a more peaceful feel. Warmer colours such as red, peach or coral work well in rooms with north-facing windows while cooler colours can work well in rooms with predominately south-facing windows.

Creating Balance: Visual Weight, Proportion and Scale

Now that we have the basic design elements well in mind, its time to consider how to balance everything; formal rooms employ symmetry to create visual weight while asymmetry gives a room a more casual feel of spontaneity.

Balance and visual weight refer to the amount of space various design elements in the room carry. You can make a window treatment the focal point of a room by balancing the design so that it is a central element of the overall room design.

Be careful though; if you have created a focal point such as a fireplace, important grouping of furniture or other elements, you can end up detracting from that focal point by ‘over designing’ the window treatments, giving them too much emphasis.

Proportion and scale are important in designing window treatments; the window coverings should not be out of proportion to furnishings, walls or other elements. In general the larger the room, the more formal and intricate your window treatment design can be, while a smaller space typically demands a simple approach in order that the window treatment does not overpower the rest of the room.

Hopefully you will find these design concepts useful as you plan and design window treatments in your home. Be sure to look in magazines, visit showrooms and consult others as you consider what design will work best!

When choosing window blinds, shade, curtains or draperies for your home or office there are a few things to consider when it comes to colour selection:

1. What Type of Window Covering will Work for You?
2. Window Treatment Colour Selection
3. The “Shades” in Your Colour Scheme

Whether you decide on bright colours or neutrals depends on your room decor, personal tastes and the style you want to achieve.

What Type of Window Covering will Work for You?

It all depends on taste. But, you have to keep in consideration that climate plays a huge role. When you are in an area with dry climate you should stay away from wooden blinds because it will bend, crack and shatter.

A great alternative for this would be faux wooden blinds this is a cheaper and more affective type of blind. With faux wood blinds you get that natural wood grain effect without the added cost and potential disadvantages of wooden blinds.

Another thing to consider is the window itself for which you are thinking of putting up curtains or blinds. With a sliding door a vertical blind would be better option than say a Venetian blind because you have the option of opening it halfway and still have the cover for the other part of your door.

The Natural Colour and Warmth of Woven Wood Blinds

Bamboo blinds are great type of blind and very beautiful, but once again it won’t work for a bedroom. Most not all bamboo blinds are see through and at night if u put your lights on passers by will be able to see you because you can see through it.

Some bamboo blinds are “black out”, meaning you can’t see through them, and these types of blinds will work in a bedroom. Where there are animals or small children in a house you should consider blinds which are more durable, such as vinyl finishes.

Vertical blinds are one of the types of blinds which may be less durable, since the bottom chains can break if your child plays with them and also could pose a safety issue. Venetian blinds, constructed from stronger vinyl/plastic materials, can be stacked to the top of your window opening out of harm’s way and also look very sleek and modern.

Window Treatment Colour Selection

The colour you choose depends on your house or office; choose colours that match walls, trim and finishes; door handles, skirting, cupboards, etc. Your window is a rounding off of your room/s so you should match it too the other off rounding in the room.

Do not match a blind to your wall; you will just be taking this image through the house or office and therefore you will get a dull effect. Some colours are great for any room if it is office or home.

Silver is very hip very at the moment; being a neutral, silver goes with almost everything, although there are some cases where this is not true. Like black and white, silver is an all-matching colour but it all comes down to personal taste; don’t make the mistake of blindly letting someone choose colours for your room, even when it’s a interior decorator, or you may be sorry later.

The “Shades” in Your Colour Scheme

Choosing specific colour shades is also quite important. From soft and muted pastels to bright and cheery primary colours, you will greatly impact the look of your room by selecting colour shades that coordinate properly.

Let’s say for example you have chosen silver; you still have to select the right shade and finish! Just because it is an "all matching colour", if you get the wrong shade of silver, it still won’t work. You can get a number of shades of silver in aluminum window blinds, but your three main shades are matte silver, stainless steel or some combination of the two silver finishes.

If you choose a matte silver see that it matches with you’re off rounding as we said a stainless steel goes great in a bathroom, kitchen, and some office blocks it basically depends on your taste once again.

If you are in doubt, you may be better off to just go with white or off-white window blinds or shades since these neutral window coverings will work in most any room. If you want something bright and playful, you can match your blinds to the colour shade of your walls, fabrics, window and door trim, etc.

You don’t have to have a super eye for colour or be an interior decorator; you just have to follow basic colour matching rules and follow your own tastes. Following your personal taste is best when choosing shades of blinds; just be sure to use complementary colours and colour shades for the most part.

In short once you know what will work for you. That’s the type of blind that fits your specific needs and you have gotten a colour in mind.

But the cost of real wood, along with growing concern over worldwide hardwood forest sustainability, has caused many people to reconsider wood alternatives when selecting their window blinds.

Cheap doesn’t have to mean low quality or inferior appearance; in fact the composite materials used to create today’s ‘faux’ or ‘alternative’ wooden blinds produce cheaper window treatments that look almost as good as real hardwood products! Read on to learn why faux wood Venetian blinds are one of the best values in window coverings today.

Benefits of Faux Wood Window Blinds

The most obvious advantage of alternative wood window coverings is lower cost, but the list of benefits also includes:

1. Faux wood blinds do not warp, making them the perfect choice to cover windows in humid environments such as a bathroom or kitchen or where direct sunlight beats down on the window a majority of the time. Especially if you live in a more humid climate, faux wood blinds will outlast real wood products by far!
2. Faux wooden blinds are easier to clean than real hardwood blinds; you can dip them in soapy water to deep clean faux wood products whereas real wood blinds require manually cleaning each slat individually. This makes preventing grime, mold or mildew from building up on your window blinds simple with periodic dusting and wiping the slats with a mild cleaning solution.
3. A wide range of simulated wood grains, colours and finishes is available in both made to measure and custom window sizes, making it easier than ever to fit and install your own faux wood blinds.
4. Vinyl and other materials used to manufacture faux wood blinds do not show nicks and scratches the way painted wood blinds do since the color runs all the way through the vinyl composite materials used to make faux wood blinds.
5. Faux wood blinds are lighter weight than real wooden window shades or blinds, making them easy and safe to install.

An Affordable Alternative to Wood Blinds

Practical, easy to operate and providing superior privacy and light control in any room in your home, the faux blinds offered today by major manufacturers also add insulation to keep your room cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They increase your home or apartment’s resale value and enhance your home décor.

You can leave your blinds bare or add a decorative top treatment such as a cornice or valance for a true designer look. You can also enhance the appearance of cheap faux blinds by adding decorative curtains or drapes to complete your window treatment in high style.

Buying ‘cheap’ blinds doesn’t have to mean suffering poor quality, fit or finish! Faux wooden blinds should look as good as real wood blinds without the expense or associated ecological, maintenance and longevity concerns.

The added durability of composite materials make faux wood window blinds a great choice for households with young children or pets. Other names for these affordable window coverings include alternative wood, simulated wood, Poly Wood and vinyl window blinds or shades. But, when you talk to a retailer, designer or installer about them, everyone will know what you mean when you say ‘faux wood blinds’.

How are Inexpensive Faux Wood Blinds Manufactured?

Alternative wood products are made using either vinyl or a composite of vinyl and wood materials. The only real drawback to these high tech materials is that they feel like plastic to the touch. For people who just can’t bear to touch their window treatment and feel plastic instead of the wood grain texture of real wood its worth paying a premium for the real thing.

Personally, I don’t really care what my blinds ‘feel’ like so the discount faux wood blinds are a perfect, more economically sound choice. You’ll have to decide for yourself how important ‘touch’ is in selecting your window blinds and shades!

The important thing is that you now have more choices in window fashions today. If you choose a fine quality, painted finish for your real wood blinds, you will pay a premium price but you’ll know you have the natural beauty and warmth of real wood. However, if the difference in texture and touch is a minimal consideration, you’ll save 25% or more by selecting an alternative wood blind or shade.

Faux Wood Blind Styles

Because of the manufacturing process and lighter weight of alternative wood products, you don’t have quite as many options as you do with real wood. For example, with vinyl products, the slat widths tend to be smaller to make them easy to angle. This means the blind will require more ladders (slats) in the stack for a given drop than for a similar wood blind.

If you want slats wider than 2 inches, look at the composite vinyl/wood products. The wood content in these composite materials adds weight and rigidity to the slats, making them more similar in appearance and operation to real wood slats. This adds a little to the price but gives you a look that can be very similar to real wood while still saving you money.

The style and slat width of your blinds is completely a personal choice. The theme and décor of your room can also help you determine whether wider or narrower slats are appropriate. If you have a more contemporary, modern or transitional style of room, the narrower all-vinyl faux wood blinds in white or another colour finish look right at home.

For more traditional décor styles, the wider slats are popular, especially in naturally stained wood grains such as cherry, maple or other hard woods. Obviously the look of real wood is harder to match with natural finishes versus the look of painted wood finishes, which can be hard to tell from vinyl or vinyl/wood composite finishes since wood grain and tone are less important factors.

Faux Wood Blinds Shopping Tips

• Look for blinds made by the major manufacturers such as Bali, Hunter Douglas or Levolor; these will offer the best quality ladders and operating controls. You can often find these brands on sale in large retails stores and home improvement centres at discounted prices.
• Check the warranty. Even if you buy a major brand, the various product lines and distribution channels in the window fashions industry means that price points, quality and product guarantees vary widely. You want to buy from a discount retailer to save money, but not at the cost of inferior customer service!
• Does the warranty cover operating controls or just the materials? The quality of the opening/closing/angling mechanisms, pull cords, wands, etc. are more likely to fail than the materials used to make the slats!
• What is the returns and exchange policy? If you accidentally order the wrong size or get your faux wood blinds home and realize the colour or finish is all wrong, can you return or exchange them?
• Be sure you have complete and accurate measuring instructions before you order faux wood window blinds; every brand and style varies in terms of mounting hardware, operating controls, inside vs. outside mount, etc.
• Since most of the major brands make faux wood blinds and shades, you have a lot more options than even a few years ago. And they continue to make advances in the quality, durability and style of faux wood products. Unless you can find a REALLY good price on no name or generic blinds, stick with the better brand names and shop around for the right deal.
• Every maker has various lines, so what is high end in one brand may be middle of the road in another. Check specifications and quality of the product to compare faux wood blinds ‘apples to apples’.

When the thermometer goes above 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) your home can become uncomfortable warm, especially if you don’t have air conditioning inside or are like most of us trying to cut down on our utility expenses.

Fortunately, the window fashion industry offers you several ways to keep your home cool without spending a fortune on your air conditioning bill!

The first is to install efficient cellular shades or window blinds on all your windows.

Solar shades can really keep your home cooler, especially if you have large windows with a southerly exposure.

The second is to consider installing solar shades or tinting your windows; especially ones that face a more southerly direction and are likely to receive direct sunlight throughout much of the day.

Window Coverings Offer Thermal Insulation

If you don’t think window blinds or shades are necessary in some rooms of your home, either because privacy is not critical in these rooms or because you like having a lot of natural light in the room, it’s still worth installing window coverings that will insulate your windows, keeping cool air in on hot days and warm air in during the colder winter months.

Cellular Shades Keep Your Home Cool

Cellular shades are the most efficient type of window covering available on today’s market; the honeycomb design of these shades traps air, providing excellent thermal insulating capabilities. Attractive and affordable, pleated blinds are available in a wide range of colours and come in single, double or even triple cellular material, depending on just how efficient you want your window shades to be!

Roller solar shades offer UV protection and keep your room cool when the sun beats down, but roll up nicely out of the way when you want to let in light and have a full view out the window.

Solar Shades Block Direct Sunlight

Solar shades are typically roller blinds made of a material that blocks UV rays and keeps heat from entering the living space in your home or flat when direct sunlight beats down on the window. You can choose from a variety of semi-permeable mesh fabrics or tinted plastic when buying solar shades. They are also great for keeping your conservatory or sun room cool and can be fitted not only to the windows but also to the glass roof windows, making your conservatory cool and comfortable even on the hottest days.

Easy to Operate Shades for Your Conservatory

Available with motorised controls, cellular and solar shades are also easy to operate so that you can let in as much light as you want on an overcast day to brighten your conservatory and get away from the darker, drearier confines of rooms that have small windows or windows facing Northward, which tend to be quite dark when the sun is obscured by cloud cover.

Tips to Keeping Your Home Cool on Hot Days

Attractive cellular and pleated shades offer great thermal efficiency and can be dressed up with toppers such as this decorative valance.

• Close your windows and lower the shades or blinds during the heat of the day
• Open your windows and raise the shades or blinds at night to let the cool air in; the whole idea is similar to the concept of an ice box, using the natural cooling and heating cycle of day and night to maintain a nice, steady cool temperature inside
• Use ceiling fans and/or portable fans to create a nice cross breeze through your home when you open things up in the evening; the key to cooling a living space is adequate ventilation
• Install window awnings or plant shade trees over South-facing windows to help keep the direct sun off them
• Avoid strenuous activity during the heat of the day and stay inside when the temperature outdoors is at its hottest
• Don’t run appliances such as your clothes washer and dryer, dishwasher or oven during the middle of the day; save these chores for evening when things are much cooler

Affordable, versatile and decorative, blinds can be used for many purposes, whether you have an unsightly storage area to hide, want the ability to divide a space into multiple rooms or block an open doorway between two rooms.

Read on to learn some creative uses for blinds when decorating your home.

Using Blinds as Room Dividers

While blinds are great for keeping unwanted sunlight out of rooms when installed to cover windows, but they can also be used as room dividers, giving you a simple, effective and affordable means of splitting a large room into smaller living spaces for enhanced privacy without the expense of adding permanent walls or more costly room dividers.

Check out vertical blinds, Venetian blinds or roller blinds as cost-effective solutions to dividing rooms.

Using Blinds to Hide Storage Space

If you have open cupboards or storage shelves without doors, you can cheaply and quickly cover the mess using inexpensive window blinds. For far less money than you will spend on plain doors, window blinds offer an inexpensive option to keep storage areas hidden from view.

Look at roller blinds in turret or wavy styles, available in a wide variety of colours as the perfect solution to covering up storage areas in your kitchen, bedroom or other living space.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep with Blackout Blinds

For people who work nights or have young children in the house, blackout blinds are the best way to darken a room. With a special lining that blocks out nearly all the light coming in from windows, these specialized window blinds will help you get a good day’s sleep!

Look for roller blinds or roman blinds made with blackout materials if you need to keep any room dark during the day!

Aluminum or PVC blinds work great in wet, humid rooms like the bathroom or kitchen.

Waterproof Blinds are great in Wet Places

If you have a window in your bathroom shower, next to the kitchen sink or any other place in the home that gets wet or humid, then aluminum or PVC blinds are the perfect solution.

Use care when choosing blinds for any room that gets steamy, since all that moisture in the air can cause warping and fading. Stay away from Wooden Venetian blinds especially in these rooms!

Blinds for Spare Rooms

If you have a study, extra bedroom or conservatory, blinds will help keep that spare room warm in winter and cool in summer; often people neglect to cover windows in these rooms, but adding blinds will make the space cosy and you’ll find yourself using that extra living space more often.

For affordable options in your spare room, consider installing Roman blinds, roller blinds or vertical blinds.

As we have seen, blinds can be used creatively for many purposes throughout the home and often make a more cost-effective solution than other options for solving the same types of challenges!

The home furnishings niche in window coverings and treatments has evolved to offer consumers a nearly endless array of rods, finials and finishes from polished metal to iron, ceramic, glass and many types of wood, meeting whatever theme and style of décor you choose.

With so many options availalable it can be a daunting task to select the right hardware when designing window coverings these days. In a previous article, we have presented the various types of window treatment hardware available on the market today. But in this article, we’ll show you how to match window treatments and hardware for a unique look that completes your interior design style and tastes to a perfect tee.

Visible or Hidden Hardware for Your Window Treatment

First you will want to decide whether to hide the hardware that allows you to open and close your window treatment. Do you prefer a clean and uncluttered look in keeping with contemporary interior design aesthetics? Or is something a bit more bold and stylish more to your liking?

For the modern look, you can select hardware that is concealed, allowing for clean lines and a simple, yet stylish elegant window covering. But for a more formal look, you can use hardware to accentuate and complete your window treatment in high style that matches the theme, furnishings, colour and textures of your room décor.

Function and Form are Equally Important

While the style of your window treatment hardware is worth careful consideration, you also want convenience and ease of operation. Try these tips when considering the type of hardware and how you want your window treatment to operate:

• Cordless window shades and blinds give you flexible light control without exposing lift cords that may not be in keeping with the look you want to achieve
• A double rod accommodates layered window treatments quite well; with a layer of sheers over drapes, or a valance over the top of drapes for example
• It is important to match the style and weight of the hardware to the draperies or curtains selected; use heavier, sturdy rods with heavy drapery fabrics or a lightweight, thinner rod with sheer panels or silks
• The modern cable systems available are especially desirable if you have large or extremely wide windows and work nicely in a contemporary style room with straight lines and a more minimalist look; these types of controls also increase the ease of operations and flexibility for controlling light and privacy in a room

Adding Texture to Your Window Treatment

Texture is something we typically think of when considering fabric and materials to use in window coverings, but you can also add texture by selecting hardware that matches the furnishings in your room.

For instance, if you have furnishings with ornate carvings, you might try and find finials for your curtain or drapery rods that match the design of your furniture.

If you have used wrought iron, wicker or other materials in your room décor, then it will make sense to look for similar textures and finishes when selecting your window treatment hardware.

Additional Window Treatment Hardware Tips

• Since you have so many options available when selecting window treatment hardware, try to keep the following ideas and tips in mind as you design your coverings:
• If you want draperies that can be opened and closed, you will want sliding rings or a draw cord system for ease of use; stationery panels can be simply gathered onto a rod or hung using tab tops or ties
• A layered window treatment offers the most flexibility; use blinds or shades as an under treatment for light and privacy, with more decorative panels on top to give style, colour and pattern
• Unique hardware, including rods, ties and finials are the key to separating your window treatment from the usual boring design; find finishes, design elements and styles that set your overall window treatment apart and complement the overall theme of each room in your home
• Don’t forget to keep things in scale; you wouldn’t want to use heavy cornices, finials or valances in a room with low ceilings for instance; simple, lightweight panels can help add verticality to a room with such low ceilings, while a large space with high ceilings will really benefit from the more decorative look of toppers
• You can also add height and a more vertical appearance to a room by installing the rod well above the top of the window frame, allowing you to use longer panels reaching from ceiling all the way to the floor
• Choose window treatment hardware that is in keeping with the theme of your room; a country style room may be decorated with simple rods made of rustic pine, iron or a painted white finish while a more formal room can benefit from carved wood, metallic or faux-painted rods with decorative finials and draperies with fancier rings

For those Tuscan folks who owned a Podere (a small piece of land with a modest home), the lavish style of a country villa or castle would have been beyond consideration; just putting enough food on the table could be difficult.

You may choose either the simple, rural look of a modest Tuscan country home or the more decorative and lavish feel of an expansive Tuscan villa when decorating your kitchen, bedroom, sitting room, bathroom or other room in the “Tuscan” style.

Depending on which of these routes you choose, you’ll want to plan your window coverings accordingly.

For a very distinctive feeling of Tuscany, a window-less wall can be faux-painted to depict a view of the Tuscan countryside.

Window Treatments in Modest Tuscan Country Style Decor

When designing a room in the more modest Tuscan style, the main thing to remember is keeping it simple.
A Tuscan style kitchen, bathroom or any other interior space should feel natural, in keeping with the natural look of a home in the Tuscan countryside.

Aside from style however, you also want to consider functional requirements for privacy and light control. In a room that doesn’t require a lot of privacy and in which you want lots of light, the best approach may be to leave the window bare and decorate the windowsill with some terra cotta accent pieces or perhaps put up a simple curtain rod and hang sheer curtains in white or a colour which complements the colour scheme of your room.

Layered Window Coverings in a Tuscan Room Décor

If privacy and light control are important, you can apply a simple layered window treatment, using pleated blinds or roller shades for an effective under treatment. This will provide a means of blocking out light and making the room completely private without being intrusive when raised. Then, you can use fabric panels, toppers or other window treatment elements to complete the Tuscan style.

Ideas for Window Treatments in the Style of the Tuscan Villa

Now, if you are trying to achieve the look of a Tuscan country estate or castle, then you may take an entirely different approach when designing window coverings.

In the Italian rococo style villa, it is common to find a number of large windows, which lets more light into the room, lending grace and drama to the space. The rooms often have windows, wall panels, mirrors, and arched doors that reach from the floor all the way to the ceiling, helping accentuate vertical space and giving them a more expansive feeling.

If you are fortunate to have such features in your Tuscan-style room, then rich fabrics and ornate window hardware will be in keeping with the more ornate and luxurious style of interior design common to Tuscan Villas.

Again, the layered window coverings will provide you with both the style and convenience you are trying to achieve. If you have barreled or expansive arched windows, you might want to consider shades with motor-operated controls for under treatments.

Choose draperies in colours and patterns such as a soft floral pattern or a warm-tone, neutral colour that match the rest of your room’s theme and colour scheme, using tie backs, toppers or other decorative elements to complete the look of your stylish window coverings. Something like an Italian Fortuny fabric for draperies or Tuscan silk curtains will give your Tuscan window treatment the authentic, elegant look of a country Villa.

Tips and Ideas for Tuscan Style Window Treatments

• While simple and natural are the keys to a successful Tuscan window treatment, this doesn’t have to mean boring or predictable; you want your window coverings to give life, colour and a breath of fresh air to your room. A few ideas that will give your window a Tuscan style include:
• Roller shades in warm, earthy tones can give your room old-world Tuscan charm
• Terra cotta accent pieces such as vases, urns or others placed around a window frame or in the window sill help lend a Tuscan design element to almost any window
• Make your own toile Tuscan window treatments using window art panels to give a rustic, country feeling
• Roman shades or blinds in the cool tones of the sea, such as azure blue or green can also work in a room with a Tuscan theme
• If you have a window-less wall, you might try a faux painting treatment that depicts a simple Tuscan window with a view of the rolling hills of a Tuscan countryside

Modern window shades are easy to operate, with either pull cords or cordless operation. Shades are great for windows or French doors, since they are nearly invisible when completely raised to let in the light and can be lowered as needed to control light and privacy quite flexibly.

Once you have decided on the type of window shade you want, you can shop around online or at local retailers for the best deal and save even more money by following our simple seven-step do-it-yourself guide to installing window shades.

Step 1 – Measuring and Fitting Window Shades

Be sure you measure correctly before ordering your window shades.

Cellular and pleated shades can be custom-cut to fit any size window.

Be sure to measure and write down the correct dimensions according to the type of shades you are ordering and whether they are the inside or outside mount variety. Inside mount shades offer a more finished look and are preferable in most cases.

To measure for inside mount window shades, first measure the distance between the side jambs; measure top, middle and bottom and use the smallest measurement of the three since they won’t always be exactly the same.

Measure the length (also called drop) from the bottom of the window head jamb to the top of the stool (or window sill) on both sides and at the center of the window.

As with the width, use the smallest of the three measurements.

Step 2 – Marking for Bracket Installation

Take down existing window coverings, curtains, hardware, etc. if needed; you don’t want anything to hinder operation of your new window shade. Check to be sure you have all the required hardware to install the shade.

Read your manufacturer’s instructions completely before beginning installation as the exact steps may vary slightly, depending on the mounting brackets and hardware.

Measure approximately two inches in from the side jambs and mark each side on the bottom side of the head jamb over the window to center the brackets properly.

You may want to have an assistant hold one of the metal mounting brackets up against the head jamb to keep it aligned with the pencil marks; if you are stead enough to do it yourself you can do the installation without an assistant but if your shade is very large it will be too heavy to install alone.

Be sure the bracket is square and the front edge is lined up along the head jamb where you want to install; depending on the depth of the jambs, you may want to line it up with the front edge of the jamb or closer to the window pane, toward the rear of the head jamb.

Mark the holes with a pencil or awl and repeat for the other bracket(s).

Step 3 – Drilling Pilot Holes

Use a cordless drill with a 1/16-inch-diameter bit to drill small pilot holes where you have marked on the head jamb, being sure the bit is straight when drilling. If you are drilling into masonry or stone, use a 1/4-inch-diameter masonry bit and insert lead anchors into the holes.

If your window is wider than 44 inches you should install a third bracket in the center for added support; again check your manufacturer’s directions and included hardware to ensure that your window shade will be adequately supported.

Installing your own window shades is a simple do-it-yourself project. A cordless drill, tape measure and level are about all the tools you need!

Hold the bracket in place, aligned with your pilot holes in the head jamb and fasten it in place with pan-head wood screws, which should be included with your window shade hardware. Repeat to install additional bracket(s).

If your window has any type of obstruction such as a window handle to open and close it, you may need “extension” brackets so that the shade can be raised and lowered freely.

Step 5 – Leveling Window Shade Brackets

Use a level that is long enough to check whether the brackets are level. If your level isn’t long enough, hold a straight-edge board up to the brackets and place the level against that to check whether they are level or not.

If the your brackets are out of level by more than 1/8 inch, insert a wood shim or between the bracket and head jamb to level it and trim off excess shim material with a utility knife once you have the brackets leveled and securely fastened by tightening the screws. Anybody who has installed doors or windows knows that shimming is more an art than an exact science; take your time and shim the brackets until you are satisfied they are level.

Step 6 – Installing the Shade into the Brackets

Now you are ready to actually install your new window shade; most units have a small brace screw which needs to be loosened before you lift the shade into place. Hook the front edge of the head rail of your window shade onto the lip of the brackets, which protrudes slightly and swing the rear of the head rail back toward the window pane.

Once you have the head rail in place, tighten the brace screws using care not to over tighten them or accidentally pinch the shade fabric. The head rail should now be fastened in place securely.

Step 7 – Testing Your Window Shade

Now it’s time to test your window shade! If your shade is a cordless model, grasp the center of the bottom rail and pull it down straight all the way to the sill or stool. Push it back up, stopping at several points to test whether it stays in place each time you stop. Use the pull cord to test a corded shade.

If your window shade doesn’t seem to lower all the way to the window sill or stool, try leaving it lowered for a day or so and let the fabric stretch and relax a bit.

For a smaller window shade, the entire installation process should only take a few minutes, but take your time to be sure you drill the holes correctly, get the brackets level and install the shade properly. You should get years of use from your new window shade and can rest easy knowing you saved money by measuring, ordering and installing window shades yourself!

Look in any designer magazine and you’ll notice that window treatments are a significant feature in nearly any successful home interior design.

Who wants monotonous, boring window coverings? But buying expensive designer blinds gets costly if you don’t know what to shop for.

These days, it’s easy enough to find great deals on your window blinds and shades. Whether you decide to purchase blinds locally from a discount retailer or measure windows yourself and buy online, you can find great deals by shopping around.

Read on and learn how to outfit your windows in style without spending a King’s ransom on window blinds!

What Type of Window Treatments Are Right for Your Home?

• Modern – simple and sleek, a modern window treatment will have clean lines and are easy to operate. Choose roller blinds for a less expensive, easy to use window covering solution.
• Functional – while you want window blinds that look great, you also want them to be suited to the room in which you will install them. Window shades in a variety of sunshine fabrics, cellular shades materials and other options abound.
• Natural – choose the window blinds that will look most natural in your home. If you like the natural look of wood grain, bamboo or woven wood, then bamboo matchstick window shades will be cost effective and stylish.
• High Tech – if you want added convenience, look for blinds with motorised operation that you can open, close or adjust at the flip of a switch or push button remote control!
• Environmentally Friendly – if you prefer the look of real wood but want some more eco-friendly, why not choose stylish faux wood Venetian blinds? You’ll save money while also getting a product that can be manufacturing using some recycled materials!

Choosing fashionable window blinds can be affordable if you know how to shop around and what to look for!

Selecting a Fashionable Style of Window Blind or Shade

• Panel Blinds – panel blinds are one of the popular new styles in window treatments, combining some of the features of pleated blinds and roman shades in new, more versatile designs that can look very unique in either a traditional or more contemporary room décor. Panels are great for floor-to-ceiling windows, French patio or sliding glass doors.
• Roman Blinds – the stylish, classic look of Roman blinds complements many types of room décor and an endless array of fabric materials from which to select.
• Perfect Fit Pleated Blinds – popular in conservatories or most any room in the home, pleated blinds can be fitted to most windows, regardless of the size and shape.
• Venetian Blinds – always stylish, Venetian blinds remain one of the most desirable styles of window blinds for the home. Modern and uncluttered, Venetian blinds offer great control over light and privacy and are available in many wood and simulated wood finishes and colourss.
• Roller Blinds – one of Britain’s favourite window coverings, the roller blind is very well suited to use in the kitchen or bathroom. Choose a sheer fabric to give your room a soft, muted natural light or select a light blocking “blackout” material if you need to darken the room completely.

Window Blind Selection Tips

• Be sure to measure your windows according to whether you want to mount shades or blinds inside the window opening or outside; either application may be appropriate, depending on the clearance to walls, ceiling and floor and whether you will add a valance, swag or other window topper.
• Consider how much privacy you need. Sheer materials are nice to let in filtered light but remember that people may be able to see in at night when the room is lit inside!
• Decide how much flexibility you need in light control; Venetian and panel blinds are great because you can angle slats to adjust light and also open or close the blinds into a stack.
• Consider how the window operates when selecting blinds or shades; you want to be able to retain full operation of the window so whether it opens in, out or slides open and closed will be an important factor in choosing the best window covering.
• Think about the direction a window faces also; for North-facing windows you might want a cellular blind to help keep heat from escaping your home in the colder winter months, an East-facing window will get direct light in the morning, while West-facing windows get more sun during the hotter part of the afternoon and may need more complete coverage and South-facing windows get the most natural light, which you will want to have flexible control to let in more light on cloudy days and block most of the harmful UV rays of direct sunlight on hot days.

Minimalist, contemporary and cost-effective roman blinds remain one of the most popular home window fashions because they are simple, easy to clean and stylish.

Available in a wide range of fabrics, colours, patterns and styles, roman blinds provide versatile light filtering and control and can be made to match any room décor in your home or apartment.

A roman shade folds up accordion-style, either from the bottom up or top down, and operated either by lift cord or cordless lift system and attaches either inside the window opening or outside the window alcove.

Roman blinds and shades add a unique designer look to your room decor while also being versatile and easy to operate as window dressings!

Why Choose Roman Shades?

A roman shade makes a versatile, attractive window dressing with many advantages over other window coverings. When you raise your roman shade, it gathers at the top of the window opening, providing a decorative window top treatment and allowing as much natural light as possible into the room. Lowering the shade will filter or block out light, depending on the type and weight of fabric you select. Putting the roman blind down gives you privacy when needed.

Elegant and simple, the roman blind can be made in nearly any fabric you like; some provide light filtering while others are more suited to darkening the room. You can install a roman shade by itself or in tandem with other window treatment elements such as a valance, side curtains and decorative hardware for a unique designer look.

Types of Roman Blinds and Shades

With so many options from which to choose, selecting the right roman blinds can be a fun and challenging part of your interior design project. Follow these tips to select the style of roman shade that best suits your room décor:

Bamboo Roman Shades – give your room a natural texture and warmth with a roman shade made of thin bamboo canes, jute, grasses or other similar woven wood fabrics. Opaque, the bamboo roman shade will create a dappled effect of light on your walls and floors as the sunlight shines between the weave; choose a denser bamboo fabric to block out light and darken the room or a lighter weave if you prefer to let in more filtered light.

Roman blinds make an elegant window treatment in this traditional style home office decor.

Fabric Roman Blinds – fabrics can be selected to go with almost any home or room décor. From elegant silk or damask to floral prints, vibrant stripes or bold geometric shapes to solid colours, you have an infinite array of fabric choices when selecting panels for your roman shades. Some roman shades will have flat panels, while others may be hobbled or gathered to add depth and flowing curves.

Insulated Roman Shades – if you live in a very cold climate or have “drafty” windows, you may want to consider insulated roman shades to help keep your room cosy and warm on those cold days.

Relaxed Roman Shades – with a less formal shape and swag look, a relaxed roman shade is great if you have a country style room décor. Usually the relaxed roman shade will be chosen in a plain, light-coloured fabric since the style can be overdone if loud plaids or stripes are chosen.

Choosing Roman Shade Colours and Patterns

Most roman shades are available in either light filtering or room darkening fabrics. Coordinating colour and pattern with the weight of the panels selected will ensure you get the look you want and also enough light and privacy control to suit any room. Follow these tips when selecting your colours and patterns:

Stripes and Patterns – stripes and patterns fit in well with many décor styles, including transitional, contemporary or traditional. Pair them with solid-coloured draperies for a nice designer look.

Solids – choose solid colours to solidify or accent your room’s colour palette; if you have used a rich red or earthy brown in your furniture upholstery, you can pick up this colour and use it as a solid fabric colour for your Roman blind. Or, you might choose something bright that accents the room; be careful not to overpower the room though.

Textures – whether you use the look of woven wood fabric as mentioned above or you prefer the texture of brushed suede, a knitted pattern, smooth and shimmering silk or a translucent sheer fabric, texture play an important part in how well your roman shade matches the rest of the room décor.

Pair your Roman shades with decorative curtains to add style and light control to your window dressings.

Roman Shade Lift Controls

While traditional roman blinds are operated using a simple cordless lift, today manufacturers offer several lift options:

Cordless Roman Blind Lift System

• Creates a clean, finished profile and no dangling lift cords to distract the eye
• Just pull up on the handle to open and push down to close your roman shade
• Absence of lift cords provides enhanced safety in a home with children and/or pets

Top Down/Bottom Up Roman Blind Cordless Lift System

• Provides more versatile light and privacy control
• Lower the shade from the top down, bottom up or both to give your window a different look as desired

Top Down/Bottom Up Lift Cord

• Use a cord lift to lower the shade from the bottom up, top down or both
• Available in longer and wider variety of sizes for custom-sized or larger windows

Continuous Cord Loop

• No cords dangling; cord is the same length no matter the position of the shade
• Continuous loop operation makes it easy to open wider, heavier shades, making it a good choice for covering a large window opening

Roman Shade with 2-on-1 Headrail

• Made to accommodate very wide windows or multiple window openings along a single wall
• Has two roman shades hung on a single headrail unit, each operated separately.

Buy your custom roller blinds online and you can even design the pattern yourself by uploading your favourite picture or colourful drawing to be imprinted on the roller blinds. Affordable and stylish, roller blinds are available online in a wide range of made-to-measure sizes or you can have custom size blinds made as well.

Whether you need to cover the windows in your master bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, kids’ or guest bedroom, den or any other room in your home or apartment, roll up blinds are practical and easy to operate. Roller blinds offer great flexibility in controlling window light and privacy while adding colour and texture to your room décor.

Custom designer roller blinds are available in hundreds of colours, textures and patterns, or you can create your own unique texture online!

Design Your Own Blinds

So how do you design your own custom roller blinds? First, think about the theme of your room. If you have a nautical theme, then perhaps an image of sea shells lying on a beach will look nice. If your ten-year-old son loves movies or cartoons, you could use an image of his favourite action hero. Or, if your girl is wild about horses, why not use a photo of a horse galloping through a grassy meadow? Really, your options are limited only by your imagination and creativity!

Next, decide which online retailer to use. There are several highly reputable online window blinds retailers who cater to the UK market and several others who cater to the US market. Be sure to check the retailer’s shipping cost and delivery time to your home as well as their return policy before ordering.

Retailers like web-blinds offer you an online software tool that allows you to choose from one of hundreds of patterns and textures or upload your own image for that completely custom roll up blind design. Be sure to measure correctly based on whether your blinds will mount inside or outside the window opening and order accordingly; you don’t want to be disappointed when the parcel arrives and you are anxious to install your new custom roller blinds!

When selecting the pattern and type of roller blind you want, remember to consider these tips:

• Select colours that are complementary to the scheme of your room; choose from light pastels to bold, bright colours to darker, rich hues or even neutral white, off white or navy or black for a monotone look.
• Select a fabric that is appropriate to the functional needs of the room in which you will be installing your blind; a semi-opaque fabric will give your room a soft, diffused light while blackout materials will help darken the room completely.

Roller blinds with semi-translucent fabric create a soft, diffused light in your room.
• Remember to match texture of your roll up blind fabric to your room décor also. A woven wood texture will look good if your room has natural stone or wood grains. Something with geometric patterns may look good if your room décor is modern.
• Choose a texture such as stones, basket or cane for a more natural look.
• Choose an image of silk or other fabric to give your roller shade a softer look.
• A popular bathroom roller blind texture is bubbles and water scenes, while in the kitchen a chocolate rose image or your favorite cuisine could look interesting.
• For a romantic, exotic look, you can choose an image from some faraway place that evokes the mood of a Parisian café, an African safari or even your favourite tropical paradise.
• If you want to bring the feeling of nature and the outdoors into your room, try a picture of grasses, flowers, a nature or garden scene on your custom roller blind.

Many people make the mistake of planning window coverings in the bathroom just as they would for any other in the house, selecting blinds or other coverings based primarily on color and style rather than form and function.

But the reality is that bathrooms present special challenges for window light control, privacy, humidity and constant moisture, all of which should be considered when choosing bathroom blinds.

Unless you have a bathroom with no windows or your windows have a completely private view from outdoors, you’ll need to select something that covers the windows adequately!

Bathroom Privacy is the Primary Consideration

Your first consideration in selecting blinds or shades for the bathroom should be the matter of privacy. While sheer curtains or shades may look great from inside the room, consider that in the evening, when it is dark outside and your lights are on inside, what you think is private and hidden from view may actually be quite visible to your neighbors or passersby!

For this reason, window blinds are one of the best solutions when it comes to covering bathroom windows. Blinds, either in the Venetian style with their attractive wide slats, or the more affordable mini blinds offer great versatility since you may raise them into a neat stack when you want to open things up and air out your bathroom, or lower them and adjust the angle for partial privacy and light control.

While privacy and moisture resistance are important concerns when purchasing blinds for your bathroom, you dont have to compromise on decorative qualities.

Bathroom Windows and Moisture

Secondly, if you are planning a bathroom redecoration it’s always essential to choose window covering materials that are well-suited to a very damp environment and will resist mould and mildew. This is especially important in considering what type of blinds or other window coverings to purchase for your bathroom windows.

The bathroom will be far more humid and damp than any other room and must certainly be considered in your bathroom remodeling and decorating plans if you want to keep your new window blinds looking good rather than see them wilt or be ruined in the heat and humidity of the bathroom.

For reasons that are completely practical most people will move away from curtaining the bathroom area, although some who are less careful decorators will opt for this kind of window treatment and wonder why they are finding themselves presented each morning with a vast expanse of moulded or mildewed fabric hanging from the window each morning at shower time.

Fabrics which have not been treated properly with a sealant will more quickly present problems as it is constantly wet and re-wet, without a real chance to dry each day. The more occupants you have in your household to shower or bathe, the more problems you will have with dampness remaining in the room.

Horizontal Venetian or Mini Blinds in the Bathroom

A workable solution to the problem is a Venetian blind, horizontal preferably which are made of a water resistant type material, or those which have been treated to be waterproof. It’s probably smart to avoid vertical blinds in that when a fan takes them, or they are moved by any type of activity your privacy is still somewhat compromised by the opening of gaps in the vertical blinds.

Wooden blinds will probably not be a good option for you in the bath area due to the continuous wetting they will receive, particularly if they are closer to the bath or shower. If you go this route you will want to be certain that you choose one which states that it is waterproof, or failing that, the roll up type can be easily sealed with a polyurethane sealant prior to hanging them.

Be sure your bathroom blinds are water and mildew resistant or you may find yourself replacing them much sooner than anticipated.

There are vast amounts of plastic blind being made today that have the look of wood and the convenience of being waterproof. Wood type blinds, or faux wood, made of another material today are attractive and not the rather cheap looking substitution of the past.

Great improvements have been made in the workability of plastic and polyurethane, and although it is in some cases mocked as being an inexpensive way to go, it is also a practical way to go. Being limited in your choices of materials that you can use in this environment doesn’t mean that you are limited in design or dimension of decoration.

Aluminum Window Blinds and Roller Blinds

Aluminum is a super option for the bath and aside from being rust proof and waterproof, they are easy to clean and come in a variety of designs and colors. Roll up blinds made of vinyl are also a fantastic way to go because they stay out of the way, are colored to match your décor and are easy to wipe clean given that there are no individual slats to be cleared up when the dust settles, as it invariably will.

Keep these considerations in mind when remodeling or decorating your bathroom and you’ll be sure to get bathroom window coverings that last for years and give you the privacy to relax and enjoy your bath!

And while not everyone thinks of window coverings as creative, you can make or break a room design with the window treatments!

By combining window fashion elements such as curtains, blinds, shades, shutters and decorative hardware, there is no limit to how creative one can get with window treatments.

And with a little imagination and basic sewing skills, designing your own, unique window treatments can be a fun do-it-yourself project.

You can make window treatments simple or very elaborate. There are even some that do not involve sewing. Whatever type of window interior decorations you come up with, they should reflect your tastes and fit the function and style of your rooms.

The starting point in designing a do it yourself window treatment is deciding what you want to accomplish. Do you want to bring more light into the room or shut the light out? Do you need to add privacy? Do you want to retain views outside your window or block something outside from being visible? Do you need good ventilation or better energy efficiency? What window treatments best fit your decorating budget and style?

Once you have a basic idea what you want to accomplish, measure your windows using a retractable tape measure. A metal tape measure is best since it won’t have any slack like a cloth tape measure, so your results will be more accurate. Be sure to write down each window’s measurements on paper and check all your measurements at least twice. Accurate measurements are vital to making do it yourself window treatments come out the way you want!

Once you’ve measured your windows, you are ready to determine colours, patterns and fabric selection. When selecting your fabric types, patterns and colours, you’ll want to consider the style and theme of your rooms and furnishings. The colour and style of carpeting and other flooring materials, wall colours, and room accessories all need to be considered.

If you go with neutral window coverings in a room that also has neutral wall colours, it can help make the room appear to be more spacious. If you go with contrasting colours, your room will have greater visual impact and the eye will be drawn to the windows.

Window toppers or top treatments will add decorative style and give your windows a unique look. Top treatments can include features such as cornices, festoons, valances, swags, and scarves. You can also use toppers to help hide window treatment hardware or make windows appear taller.

Decorative window covering hardware can be used to add a finishing touch to your window treatments. Use items such as scarf holders, curtain rings, pins, rods, tiebacks and finials to accessorize your treatment. This is where you can really get creative and give your window coverings the personal touch!

Here are a few thoughts to consider when designing your window treatments:

Does your room get a lot of natural window light?

A layered window treatment provides the most versatile control of light. Use lined drapes or try putting shades under your curtains or drapes for flexible light and privacy control.

Does your room seem too dark and lacking natural light?

Sheer fabric curtains let in the light but do not always provide enough privacy. Another alternative is to use horizontal/Venetian blinds which stack nicely when raised to let in as much light as possible. When lowered, you can also angle the slats to adjust the amount of light entering your room.

Are the windows in your room out of proportion?

If you have a very short window, try mounting the treatment higher than the top of the window or add a valance to help lengthen the window. If you have a narrow window, use outside mount blinds or shades or hang curtains or drapes wider than the window opening to help add width.

Does your room have a particular design theme or style?

It goes without saying that window treatments should always match the style of your room decor. Full length drapes tend to work best in a formal setting, while blinds, shades and/or short curtains that hang to the same height as the window sill tend to give an informal feel.

What is your window treatment budget?

As with any home decorating project, budget helps determine your choices. Plan ahead by pricing the fabrics, decorative hardware and other window covering elements to be sure your budget will cover all the costs. If needed, you can make trade offs in order to get the total cost into an acceptable range.

You can stretch your budget by pairing a more expensive fabric in your topper, which requires far less fabric, with something more affordable for curtain panels

If real wood shutters or Venetian blinds are too expensive to fit the budget, consider vinyl instead. Also, you might splurge on a bay window or picture window that is most prominent in your home and use less expensive treatments for other windows.

Designing and making your own, creative window treatments will give you a sense of achievement and satisfaction in knowing that they reflect your own personality, tastes and handiwork!

But Venetian blinds (also called horizontal blinds) all have one thing in common when it comes to keeping them clean; the slats are dust magnets and are not always easy to dust or clean!

There are several methods you can use to clean your Venetian blinds, depending on whether you need to lightly clean or deep clean them, the width of the slats and, most importantly, the material and finish.

Read on to learn the techniques you can use to properly clean and care for Venetian Blinds.

Metal Venetian Blinds

If you light clean your Venetian blinds regularly, you can avoid having to take them down for deep cleaning more than once a year!

When handling painted metal venetian blinds, take care not to bang the slats against each other or woodwork to prevent scratching the paint, which exposes the metal, diminishing their appearance and shortening the blind’s useful life.

You should not bend or separate metal slats to look out the window; always use the tilt wand or cords to angle the slats. If a metal slat is bent and kinked, it can’t really be reshaped into place and you’ll have to replace it and restring your blind.

Synthetic Polymer or Faux Wood Venetian Blinds

An advantage of faux wood Venetian blinds is that you can deep clean them by washing them in a bathtub.
Light cleaning of a synthetic polymer blind can be done using a feather duster or deep cleaning can be done by taking the blind down and washing it as detailed below.

Wooden Venetian Blinds

You should take special care when cleaning real wood products, including your wooden Venetian Blinds and should not wash them in most cases!

For detailed instructions, you should read our article on How to Clean Real Wood Blinds.

Venetian Blind Cleaning Preparation

Before you begin cleaning Venetian blinds using either of the light cleaning methods we present here, start by checking your blind for problem areas, wiping off sticky spots, stains, etc. You can use window spray cleaner to do this with metal or polymer blinds. Wipe them dry with a soft cotton cloth or paper towel.

Have a step stool available since you may need it in order to reach the top of your window blinds while dusting or vacuuming.

If you have curtains or other decorative window treatments around your blind, tie them back or otherwise move them out of the way.

Venetian Blind Light Cleaning by Hand

1. Lower the blind all the way and angle the slats completely closed.
2. Use either soft white cotton gloves or cotton cloth; some people also use clothes dryer sheets since they are meant to reduce static electricity.
3. For metal or polymer blinds you can dampen the gloves or cloth slightly with a solution of warm water and a very small amount of mild dish washing liquid.
4. Run your gloved fingers or cloth lightly over the slats from the center to one edge and then again from the center to the other edge of each slat. This is better than trying to clean a slat from one edge all the way across to the other edge, which is more likely to smear additional dust.
5. Reverse the angle of the slats so they are closed in the opposite direction and repeat the process.
6. Remember to change gloves or cleaning cloths every so often or you’ll simply end up moving dust around on the slats rather than removing it!

Venetian Blind Light Cleaning with a Vacuum Cleaner

1. The easiest way to prevent dust and grime from building up in the first place is to regularly vacuum your Venetian blinds with a soft brush attachment!
2. Lower the blind all the way and angle the slats completely closed.
3. Use a soft brush attachment only to avoid chipping or scratching slats.
4. Hold the blind in place with one hand and vacuum with the other so that you don’t bang the slats together or against the window as you clean them.
5. As with the hand cleaning technique above, vacuum from the center out toward each end, making two passes rather than trying to clean from one end to the other in a single pass.
6. Reverse the angle of the slats so they are closed in the opposite direction and repeat the process.

Deep Cleaning Synthetic Polymer or Metal Venetian Blinds

1. Lower the blind all the way and angle the slats completely closed.
2. Remove the blind from its mounting bracket, taking care not to loose screws or other mounting hardware and keeping the cords from getting tangled. It is best if possible to keep your manufacturer’s instructions handy for reference when removing/replacing blinds.
3. Fill your bathtub about half full with warm water and a small amount of mild dish washing soap. Set the blind in the tub and let it soak for about thirty minutes; if dirt and grime have really built up, you can even soak the blind overnight. Gently fold the blind over where it is too long to fit into the tub so that all the slats are completely immersed.
4. Scrub the slats gently on both sides with a soft brush.
5. Empty the soapy water and refill with clean warm water to rinse off residual soap. If your tub has a hand held shower attachment, this works best for rinsing. Otherwise, use a bucket and continue pouring fresh water over the blind until it is rinsed clean.
6. Hang the blind outdoors if the weather is warm and dry or over the tub to dry. You can use a hairdryer on the cool setting to help speed drying.
7. Once the blind is completely dry, you are ready to remount it!

You’ll enjoy your window blinds and extend their life by keep them clean and shiny!

Here are some additional tips on caring for your Venetian blinds:

• Clean blinds one room at a time if the prospect of cleaning them all at one time seems too daunting.
• Use a soft feather duster or soft, damp cloth to quickly dust blinds at the same time you are dusting the rest of your home during normal house cleaning; the more often you dust your blinds, the less often you will need to take them down for deep cleaning.
• When dusting Venetian blinds, always start with the top slat and work your way down so that dust doesn’t fall on to slats you’ve already cleaned.
• An alternative to using the bathtub for deep cleaning metal or synthetic polymer Venetian blinds is to take them down and spread them out carefully on a flat surface where you can use a large bucket of warm, soapy water and a brush to clean the slats. Pour clean water over them using a bucket or garden hose to rinse them.
• Remember; unless instructed specifically otherwise by your window blind manufacturer, you should not attempt to deep clean or wash wooden Venetian blinds or you may cause the slats to warp or crack!

The answer varies, depending on the type of blind you are buying, the location, size and functional requirements of the window you are fitting and personal preference.

This selection guide will explain the types of controls available for Venetian and horizontal window blinds, mini blinds and pleated and cellular shades in order to help you decide which type best suites your needs.

For those who aren’t familiar with window blinds controls, the basic choices include the standby pull cords, wands, cordless and motorised controls.

Pull Cord and Tilt Cord Controls

The most common type of control for horizontal and Venetian blinds is the age old cord. Cords are typically used to lower and raise blinds and also can be used to control the angle of tilt of the window blind slats. Pull cords are also a standard option with pleated or cellular shades.

Many people prefer the tilt cords over the wand or rod type tilt control since you can have symmetrical cords on either side of the blind. Most blind manufacturers and retailers offer the tilt cord as an option.

When selecting any type of window shade or blind with pull cords, be sure they are safe for children, which is the case with almost all window blinds and shades manufactured today. Check with your manufacturer or retailer to be certain!

Wand Tilt Controls

These days, many people opt for the wand or rod tilt option when ordering blinds. If you like the look of wands, which come in many colours and styles, then a wand can be a great option since you’ll never be confused with multiple cords and trying to remember which one is the pull cord and which is the tilt cord!
Of course tilt controls are not applicable if you are buying cellular/pleated shades.

Cordless Controls

If your budget allows, you can also purchase many horizontal or Venetian blinds these days that are “cordless”, allowing you to raise or lower the blind by simply pushing them up or pulling them down.

The cordless option used to be available only for pleated/cellular shades, but recently some manufacturers have also introduced mini blinds and horizontal/Venetian blinds that feature cordless operation. Expect to pay a hefty premium for these blinds however since the mechanism is significantly more costly to produce!

Motorised Controls

The Rolls Royce of window blinds controls is the motorised variety, which can be lowered and raised using a remote control or even automated with light sensors. For the discriminating home decorator without budget constraints, these luxurious controls add comfort and convenience and are especially popular for use in home theatre rooms!

Motorised controls are also an excellent option for blinds or shades to be installed in skylights, roof windows or other window locations that are hard to reach.

Blinds Controls for Large Windows

Placing controls is even more important with a large window needing two or more blinds or shades on a single head rail. Since you have controls for each blind, you could end up being quite confused with a pull cord and a tilt cord on either side of each one!

Generally, you would want to consider having both the tilt and pull cords on the same side of each section of the blind or shade when ordering a unit with one head rail and fitted with either two (common) or three (less common but may be needed for very large windows) blinds or shades.

By keeping the pull and tilt cords to the outsides of the window, you will avoid having cords that dangle in the middle of your window when the blinds or shades are raised. Wands may also be a good option if the look of wands is acceptable to you.

Nobody likes looking through dirty, grimy windows

If you take the time to wash your windows every month or two, you can keep them shiny and clean.

And if you know the right technique, washing your windows really shouldn’t take that much time or effort.

There is an easy way to get your windows clean and this simple guide will teach you how.

Follow these simple steps to clean windows and mirrors in your home:

What You Will Need:

• Two buckets
• Vinegar, ammonia or liquid dish soap
• Large sponge or T bar applicator
• A 12 inch brass squeegee
• Paper towels

Window Washing Steps:

1. Mix your window washing solution in one bucket, using EITHER one capful of ammonia, one cup of vinegar or about four to six drops of liquid dish soap with TWO gallons of warm water. One of the main keys to avoiding streaks is not using too much soap! Fill the other bucket with clean, warm water.
2. Now you are ready to begin washing windows! The best way to wash windows is to apply your solution using a T bar like the pros use. You can buy one online at the window clean centre.
3. If you don’t have a T bar handy, you can use a large sponge. Dip your T bar or sponge in the bucket containing your washing solution, getting it completely wet, but not so wet that you will “flood” the window.
4. Wash the entire surface of the window with your T bar or sponge, giving special attention to the sides and corners of the window frame, since grime and dirt tend to build up in these areas.
5. Dip your squeegee into the clean water bucket. Use a good quality brass squeegee that is clean and dry.
6. Starting on one side at the top of the window, press the squeegee lightly into the surface of the window and pull it downward vertically. Stop pulling the squeegee a few inches before you reach the bottom of the window.
7. Use a clean paper towel to wipe off the squeegee every few pulls to prevent streaking.
8. Repeat this process, pressing the squeegee and pulling down in the area of the window directly next to the one you have just cleaned. Stop each time you reach the same point towards the bottom of the window, leaving a few inches at the bottom un-wiped. Continue this process until you have wiped the solution away from the entire window, except for that bottom few inches.
9. Now, pull the squeegee horizontally across the bottom part of the window and wipe the squeegee off again with a paper towel.
10. Once you have cleaned the entire window surface, use a paper towel to wipe off any excess water at the bottom of the window frame. You don’t want to leave the window sill or frame wet.

That’s it! In just a few minutes you have cleaned one surface of an entire window; before you know it all the windows in your home will be clean and sparkly!

Window Washing Tips:

• Don’t use rags to wash your windows; they leave streaks and far too much excess water.
• Make sure you have a clean rubber blade in your squeegee; an old, cracked blade is sure to streak your windows.
• A T bar applicator makes a huge difference versus using a sponge; you really should invest in one to make the job go quickly and to get your windows as clean as possible.
• Try to avoid washing windows when direct sunlight is hitting the glass; best to do this job in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is not direct on your windows.
• Open or remove window blinds or coverings if they obstruct your cleaning efforts; you can save some time if you clean your window shades and blinds at the same time you wash the windows!

Watch this window washing video for more tips from a professional window washer:

Web-Blinds.com

Location:

(United Kingdom)

Phone:

0800 169 3938

Email:

enquiries@web-blinds.com

Customer Service Hours:

Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm

Saturdays 9am – 1pm

Review:

Owned and operated by Hillarys, web-blinds.com is the online retail website for the company, offering great selection and everyday low prices for the customer who does not require the services of Hillarys local Advisors and prefers to save even more money by measuring their windows and ordering blinds, shades and other window coverings online.

The web-blinds.com site recently won the ‘best online retail site’ award at the prestigious Revolution awards. Hillarys has manufactured blinds in the UK for over 36 years and was the first UK blinds manufacturer to offer online blinds for sale online, offering a wide selection of blinds and great value.

Web-blinds makes its products to the highest quality and specifications and takes pride in delivering customers an excellent product, backed up by their customer services promise.

Visit the web-blinds.com site for low prices on your next window blinds or shades purchase:

Blinds at everyday low prices