Category: Comfort Blinds - page 2

In the economic climate we live in today everyone is trying to cut corners and pinch pennies.  This is true in all aspects of our lives including interior decorating within our homes. Face it not all of us have a decorators touch but doing it yourself you can save a small fortune.  Here are some simple tips to help you become an expert interior decorator for your home without breaking the budget.

Tip One:  Often people are not thrilled with their homes flooring. However we all know this is an expensive replacement in home furnishings.  One instant change to a room be it carpeted, tiled or hardwood is using a large decorate rug.  This will instantly hide the flaws in your flooring and add flair to the room without having to completely redo the homes flooring.  Think about it at minimum you are looking at three thousand dollars to redo the flooring within your home.  A new area rug is at the most two hundred dollars.  That is a minimum savings of two thousand eight hundred dollars.

Tip Two: This tip requires absolutely no money only a bit of time and muscle.  Rearrange furniture in a living room area to divide the space up.  Have a space devoted to television, one area for reading and a cozy spot to sit back and talk with family and friends.  This is a terrific way to utilize a large space and give your room and furniture a more visual appeal.  It also makes the space more user friendly.

Tip Three: Add book shelves and not only for books.  A large book shelve unit is a great way to display pictures, art and memorabilia that you have accumulated that is too special to store in a box under the bed. This helps create a personalized feel to any room making it friendlier, more welcoming to guests and more special to you.

Tip Four: Purchase window treatments that fit your style and function for the space.  In bedrooms room darkening blinds and shades can be installed under designer roller shades or bamboo blinds.  This gives you the ability to have a stylish yet functional window treatment.  Homeowners can spice up a room using window treatments to play up their windows.  Just because you have a tiny window does not mean you have to stick with a mini blind.  You can transform the room using large curtains to add a focal point to the window, making it appear larger than it is. Layering window treatments is a must in interior design.  Don’t be afraid to combine textures and materials in your window coverings.

Tip Five:   I saved the best tip for last.  A big impact on a small budget can be had with the use of paint.  Painting a wall, ceiling or whole room can dramatically change the room overall look and feel.  Recently we added a deep brown wall into our otherwise beige living room and instantly the room was transformed.  It was amazing.  The colors you choose to paint with don’t always have to match exactly form room to room.  Adding color that plays well with other areas of the house if the key element to look for.

What happens when you have windows that are less than desirable to look at?  It is time to play interior designer adding window treatments to them.  Window coverings are known as the finishing touch to interior decorators.  Many compare curtain, blinds and shades to a home to the accessories women use to spiff up a plain black dress. The final touch to turn a room into the place you desire.  There are certain things to think about in dressing your windows to make them stand out in a desirable way.

The very first thing that needs to be taken into consideration when purchasing window treatments for any room of your home is the function or purpose they will need to serve.  They must fit your need or else you will be wasting money on something that looks pretty but offers nothing to your family in regards to value.  Look at the options available when considering what the room needs. Things to consider when looking at function are: light control, privacy, insulation and whether or not you still want to maintain a view to the outside.

Personal style is another quality you will want to pay attention to.  If your style needs are not met than you will not enjoy being in the space. This takes into account color as well.  You can enhance a room’s characteristic with the window treatments.  If you are a formal person creating formal spaces than the last thing you would want to do is create a modern space using color and style.

Another thing to look at is the existing structure and textures within the rooms existing space.  It is possible to find window treatments with accents that compliment the room.  For instance, if you are using drapes often times grommets can be used to enhance areas of architecture in the room.  As an example dark brushed grommets compliment red or dark woods.

Other areas to consider when looking for window treatments that compliment the room and enhance features with in it are the height of the windows verse the drapes.  If the room is large and grand in style the last thing you want are itty bitty blinds.  This will not enhance in any form.  Grand rooms need window treatments that will stand out as little room need windows that don’t call attention upon them.  Think cozy when considering window treatments within smaller spaces that are meant to feel cozy, relaxed and simple.  Larger scale rooms should include coverings that are a floor to ceiling style.  This creates drama and draws attention.  It is important to remember the rules related to scale and proportion when looking at options for your windows.  Balance is important.  Don’t go overboard but then again don’t skimp.

Examples:

• Woven Wood Blinds: For homes that are natural or lean toward rustic this option enhances the cozy warm feeling of a home looking for that same feel in window coverings.
• Cellular Shades:  This option is popular in homes where light control and view are important.  This option allows the shade to be directed in either direction covering as little or as much of the window as desired.
• Roller Shades:  This is a new, modern option in window treatments.  Think about large windows such as door walls and picture windows.  This option lends towards a modern feel and looks like art within the room.

Vertical blinds are mainly thought of when installing sliding glass doors. This does not need to be the case. Vertical blinds can be fit to be installed in windows throughout the home. They work wonderfully in windows that are long in which most horizontal blinds would have issues with bowing in the middle. Another thing that is wonderful about vertical blinds is that they are so easy to clean and dust does not accumulate on them like it sits on mini blinds. Another feature that is nice in vertical blinds today is that you can select them with different textures, styles, and colors which make them fit into many different room decors. The one down fall that vertical blinds posses is that they tend to give a more contemporary feel to the rooms décor. Depending on the style of your home this could be determined not to be an issue at all.

A very inexpensive popular choice today is mini blinds. Because they are so inexpensive and lightweight they are often ideal for new construction and apartments. Something in which you need a solution but that is temporary. Mini blinds are often used in temporary situations because they tend to be flimsy, breaking easily, and tend to be the least attractive type of blind. They are inexpensive and easy to replace which makes them valuable to many temporary situations. They are also good at varying the degree of light let into your home.

The next trend in window blinds is faux wood blinds. They have the look of real wood but at fractions of the cost. It is a very durable material but does tend to be heavier than real wood. Since they are moisture resistant they are easy to be cleaned. These blinds work well in bathrooms, kitchens, and kid’s rooms.

Real wood blinds are very warm and natural looking. They are good with many color scheme options. Wood blinds are also much lighter than the faux wood blinds. It is nice because depending on the wood and the heaviness will determine the amount of light that is let in. The one major disadvantage is that they are bulky and tend to take up a good portion of the window when they are drawn.

As you can see there is a lot to learn about blinds as window treatments. Another thing to think about is that even if you use blinds you can still use valances or curtains for an even decoration. This will add a different dimension than just the look of window blinds alone.

Custom blinds add a statement to any room’s décor. Whether you are just moving in or redoing existing window treatment blinds can add versatility to any window treatment. The key to having custom blinds is that you must make sure you measure them to fit your windows precisely.

In order to measure your windows correctly there are certain tips that should be followed. It is important that a steel tape measure is used to measure the window for accuracy. Each measurement taken should be rounded to the nearest eighth of an inch. To do away with errors it is important to measure twice. I recommend that you take the first measurement write it down and then measure it again. If the two match than BINGO you are on target for correct measurements for your windows. It is important that you measure the width first and then measure the height. Even if your windows appear to be the same size they hardly ever are. Take separate measurements for all of your windows. It is important that you give the manufacturer the exact measurements from your windows they will make any necessary deductions.

It is also important to decide whether you are going to mount the custom blinds to the inside of the window frame or on the outside. Most people prefer the neater look of the blind sitting on the inside of the window frame. This lends depth to the window and allows for other window treatments, such as curtains, to be used. If the windows depth is lacking an inside mount may not be feasible and therefore is reason to mount the blind on the outside of the window sill. Using custom blinds on the inside of the window sill will allow for the most light blocked.

Your measurements need to be taken into consideration for mounting. If you are going to mount the blinds on the inside of the sill you will take and measure the width and height in three spots on the inside of the sill. I recommend that you measure from the top, middle and bottom for width. Height should be measured from the left, right and middle of the inside sill. The measurements needed for mounting the blinds on the outside is through the edge of the window molding. It is important to add at least an inch and a half for the hardware on outside mounts.

When hanging your new custom blinds make sure you come armed with the correct tools to make the job as simple as possible. You will need to have a steel tape measure, drill with several styles of bits, pencils, a level and a ladder or step stool. Make sure to read over all directions. You will need to take your time and follow them to the tee to optimize your new custom blinds.

I bought the most beautiful curtains for my daughter. We have just completed a remodel and spiced it up with turquoise and polka dots. The curtains are the same color as the accent wall and have little sequences sewn on that glimmer with the light. The only thing is that they are let the light in. I was thinking of putting shades up but I am so disgusted by the all white boring shades that stores carry. Here we just spent all of this time and money on redoing her room. The last thing I want to do is add a boring element into this new teen room.

As I went online last night I was dreaming of shades that came in all colors and patterns. I was hoping for little pieces of art to accent the amazing remodel. Having only seen white in all the stores I have visited I didn’t hold out too much hope. That is until I found a site that sells the newest innovation in roller shades. The shades come in all different sizes and are meant to complete any room décor. These shades are perfect for areas that need light the light darkening element but that still require style.

Some of the patterns look like they are in themselves pieces of art. The website pictures them in all different styled windows. Even placing them in a living room where the windows are lined up in a row. Instead of looking like window shades they look like paintings that were hung. It is an amazing innovation in home design.

The styled roller shades that are now available will have homeowners ditching their window blinds. The classic roller shade has now entered into the realm of timeless pieces of home décor. The fabrics, textures and patterns make them enter into a room in seamless perfection. Guests will be questioning the new art and once revealed will revel in the attractiveness of your window treatments.

The shades that I am dreaming of for my daughters room are ones that measure to the inside casement of her window. This will allow the fun curtains to still be a focal point. However when she draws the shade at night instead of seeing a white shade behind them she will be enjoying her new artful roller shades. Of course she picked the ones that have great detailing using polka dots and very vivid colors. Her dot choice completely compliments her rooms over all look. I am so happy that a solution has been found for those boring white shades.

So many types of blinds, so little time… When decorating your windows the choices in blinds are incredible. So depending on the budget, room location, blind purpose and decor you are going for there will be blinds for your needs.

Mini-blinds are the most inexpensive all types of blinds. The great part about mini-blinds is that you can use them for a year, they can collect dust, and you can afford to replace them the following year. The other nice thing about mini-blinds is that they measure to fit most windows and it is easy to shorten the length on them. There are plastic and aluminum blinds to choose from. Mini-blinds can be used in any room in your home and are good to block light. The one disadvantage is that they aren’t always the most attractive option so if you are looking for elegant or classic mini-blinds will not be the best option.

Another inexpensive option is to use faux wood blinds. They are a bit more expensive then mini-blinds but are more economical than wood. The great part about faux wood blinds is that they are easy to clean and resistant to water so they are really good for areas such as kitchens and baths. The problems that are found with faux blinds are that they are heavy. In order to balance the weight of the blinds more supports are used which creates more holes in the blinds. This will allow for more light to enter and since the main purpose of blinds is to keep light out this might detour some. Make sure to stick with faux wood blinds that are plastic the foam blinds that have the faux wood look are often very weak and don’t tend to be durable at all.

Real wood is pricier than faux wood but gives you something much more than money can buy. It is nice to have a warm, cozy feel with your blinds. That other nice thing is that often wood blinds can be made to match the moldings in your home or to each room specifically. They are also superior at blocking out light and are a lighter weight option over faux blinds.

You can also go with vertical blinds which come only in cloth or plastic. Vertical blinds are nice is that they are cut and measured to the exact size of your windows. They are a bit pricier than mini-blinds. Vertical blinds block out a lot of light and depending on the material used all light could be blocked. Fabric vertical blinds tend to darken rooms to a greater degree.

So the choice is yours. Think about the look and feel of the room you will putting your blinds in and decided from there. You can not go wrong with windows with blinds. Blinds are always a good option in resale, appeal, and durability.