Saturday 30 January 2010

Choosing the Right Type of Window Blinds

Recently decided you need new blinds, but are overwhelmed with all the different types and choices? Well, you have good right to be. It is hard to go through every type of blind and make a decision you don't want to go back on. But with this article, I hope it will give you some insight on the different types, choosing the right one for you, and how to stay within a budget.

There are so many different types of blinds; it's hard to get started! But the good thing about almost all of them is that you can usually easily find them at a discount price somewhere. There are sun control blinds that can let light in without causing a glare, wood window blinds, shutters, shades, verticals, metal rollers, mini, mural, faux wood, velux, bamboo, arch, venetian, roman, and vinyl window blinds, among others, but those are the general overview of what you can look at, for a good discount and a good choice for the decorative sense of your home. But, let's get more specific.

Mini blinds come in several different slat widths, and the slats are made from several different gauges of aluminum, so there are different thicknesses to choose from. Basically, the higher the gauge, the thicker the slat, and the thicker are the better quality. Venetian blinds are horizontal slat blinds, and encompass everything in the blind market that meets that criterion. Faux wood or "PVC" blinds have become quite popular in the past 15 years. Their slat widths are generally 2 to 2 and ½ inches, and come in a selection of white and wood colors. They are very durable, UV resistant, and waterproof. Composite blinds are much like the PVC blinds, but are heavier and ideal for large window coverings. Wood blinds, obviously, are made from real wood. The premium wood blinds are made from American Basswood, and the value wood blinds are made from assorted Oriental hardwoods. Basswood is good because it resists warping. To make a good decision on what you want, you must understand the room and window you are shopping for first.

You should always examine the window treatments you are working with, because they will have a direct effect on what window blinds you should choose. It's all about what look you want. If you want a festive look, a heavy look, a light and uncluttered look, or a fun look, these can all play in on what kind of blinds you have. You must figure out if you want something showy, durable, clean-cut, or, all of the above. Choosing your own set of blinds is a matter of personal preference, so remember, there is no wrong answer.

This is the general overview of blinds. There are so many finer details to cover, but this article should help you get your start on which direction you're thinking about going in. There are so many different types of blinds, and they all serve such different purposes, it's easy to get overwhelmed with all the choices. But remember, so long as they suit your tastes and needs, there is no wrong choice for your new set of blinds!

Wednesday 27 January 2010

Practical Considerations When Choosing Window Blinds and Dressings

With the great versatility that window blinds and dressings offer, there are a number of questions one has to answer before making a purchase decision. The choice of window dressings can be influenced by many factors, including insulation, energy savings, and room lighting. After style is concerned, there are many practical benefits from choosing the right window treatment.

Insulating For Sound

For homes near highways or next to noisy neighbors, the right choice of blinds can dramatically reduce the amount of sound that enters the house. Cell shades utilize a unique cellular design that traps sound. They come in single cell and double cell varieties with the larger number of cells offering more noise reduction. Cell window dressings are top-down blinds that are made of fabric and come in a variety of colors and styles. Other good choices for insulating shades include fabric and Roman style dressings.

Energy Conservation With Window Blinds

The windows of a home are responsible for up to 50% of the heat and cooling losses during the year. Energy efficient window dressings are an effective and inexpensive way to save energy while improving a home's décor. In order to hold heat in the home during the winter, insulating shades are the best and will perform double duty for sound reduction. To keep heat out during the summer, reflective blinds are recommended.

Most of the summer heat gain in a home comes from the sun's rays; getting into any car that is parked outside in the summer is proof of that fact. Reflective blind materials will keep that heat out of the home to reduce the load on air conditioning units. Honeycomb cell shades, wood shade, and faux wood window blinds offer the best reflective properties. They will work most efficiently if the surface facing the window is painted with a reflective color such as a bright white.

Blackout shades can perform a similar role, in addition to reducing the effect of UV solar radiation on fabrics and wood.

Lighting A Room

Obviously, window dressings play a large part on how much light enters a room. However, there are more options than just opening or closing a blind.

Window treatments come with many different levels of light filtration. Blackout shades, as their name suggests, are excellent for keeping out all light from a room, which can be a life saver for light sleepers. Blackout liners can also be added to decorative treatments. Sheer shades can be used to adjust the amount of light that enters a room from none when completely closed to tilted open to allow filtered light in. Fabric and honeycomb shades are made with different degrees of light filtration as well. Special light filters can also just block UV rays, but still illuminate a room.

Choosing the right window dressings has more considerations than just style and taste. While window treatments offer a multitude of design choices to match any style, they also can provide many practical benefits to improve a home.

Saturday 23 January 2010

How to Make Your Own Roman Blinds

People throughout the world are continuously looking and searching out for more ideas to embellish their house with the help of impressive methods and are using various offbeat products for enhancing their home interiors.
Home decoration is a well known task are you can avail variety of sources for decorating as well as enhancing the entire appeal of your house by using a number of entities. The windows are one of the most significant parts of any house that can be embellished by a number of accessories. And one of such popular accessories is nothing but the window curtains. Nowadays, the evolution of curtains has been increased to a great extent that is nothing but a piece of cloth draped around the windows for blocking the sun and excess sun rays.

Another accessory other than the curtains, catching attention of a number of people these days are the roman blinds. They are made from fabrics and are sued for decorating the windows. Its peculiar feature is that it can be used on the widows from both sides i.e. from its interior as well as on its exteriors. They can be made very easily and in this article let us find out some of the easy yet stylish ways of making the roman blinds.

They are basically termed as the cool way for enhancing the widows of your house and most of them have elegant straight linings with fresh earthy color combination. This adds a wonderful and unique look to the window bracket and finally improves the interior decor of any specific room, may be bedroom, living room, dining room or guest room.

Another interesting feature of this roman blind is that they can be utilized from both the sides of the window brackets i.e. inside as well as outside. They offer shade and are generally used to emphasize the curtains and generate a fantastic melange of elegance as well as colors along with the curtains. They are generally manufactured from light weight fabrics. This keeps the weight of it on the bottom side and aids easiness in placing or removing it on varied window recess. Most of the well known blinds are generally lined and these lines offer the blinds and the window recess a classic look and an elegant touch.

You can make such beautiful blinds even at home by using simple accessories such as Velcro, a small piece of junk wood and some left over fabric piece. You can start by nailing a wooden piece under the sides of window bracket. Then stick the Velcro on it and glue it on the interior side. After gluing the Velcro, measure the fabric to be used carefully from the top of the wooden piece to the bottom of the window pane. Now attach the fabric to Velcro and your roman blinds are ready to be used.

Saturday 16 January 2010

Wood Window Blinds Ideas

Wood window blinds have been around for a vastly long time. In 1769 they were patented by Edward Beran in London, England, although the Japanese had been utilising them long before Mr. Beran "discovered" them. Being a design which was initially from Persia (Iran), traders from Venice often purchased these accordingly and the name "Venetian blinds" was born. In this period these window treatments are acclaimed by many people from around the world!

Before finding your blinds, you want to think about different aspects of your room for example the kind of lighting you have, colours and furthermore how much effort you want to do. If you are reluctant on changing your furniture or even the colour of your walls then worry not as wood window blinds do go well with most colours.

If you opt to have your blinds made of natural wood they will be wonderful but you will have to be sure to keep them clean and dust free. The key thing is not to let any form of dust or dirt get trapped within the grain of the wood as this will lower the life of the blinds, surely something you don't want. Wooden blinds shouldn't in actual fact be too gruelling to keep clean seeing as the majority of them come with protective finishing which consists of a robust glaze, all you need is a moist cloth which should be satisfactory.

Faux wood window blinds combine natural wood particles and man-made materials. If budget is a constraint then you may possibly want to consider these types of blinds as they cost a lot less yet they are still fairly tough and durable. The maintenance is a lot less since they don't get as dirty as wooden blinds, a little soap and water often does the trick. If you arrange to dress your windows in places which contain high humidity for example bathrooms and kitchens, then these types of blinds are also warp resistant.

Wood window blinds created of natural wood comes in just about any sort of stain you would like.

You can benefit from these blinds to filter the light or draw them all the way up for a spacious open look.

Thursday 14 January 2010

Using Window Blinds In Your Home

If you are covering your windows, there are either the coverings which cover all of your view, or they cover nothing. You are stuck with the amount of light that enters the window as well. However, if you are using window blinds, you can control the desired amount of light that you let pass into your home. You can darken the area, or barely light it, with just a tilt of the blinds. If you wish to uncover the room completely, then you can lift the whole blind up.

Most stock window blinds are suitable, provided you can locate ones that will fit your window perfectly. If you cannot do this, then you need to find blinds that are constructed and adjusted based on your measurements. This is even more crucial if they are going to be mounted inside the frame itself. When you are opting for these custom blinds, the prices are still more affordable than you might anticipate. If you opt for higher quality wood blinds, then you might be paying more, but they are a better quality.

A good number of all solid wood blinds come with slats that are from one inch to three inches in width, and in your choice of either a painted finish or dark stain (which include the option of a wash or faux finish). Manufacturers warn consumers that they can expect a slight difference in wood grain varieties and colors. There are some things that you might want to take in to consideration before you buy wood blinds.

The first thing to consider is whether or not the frame of your window will support these blinds. Wood blinds are heavier than your normal window blinds and thus you need to ensure that you are going to have a frame that will support them. Next, you always need to make sure that you have the proper measurement for your blinds, because wood blinds are a lot more difficult to customize than the stock blinds.

The makers of blinds that are synthetic wood blinds will more than likely offer two or three slat widths, and a vast array of colors and textured blinds. These blinds are ones that are moisture and warp resistant, allowing them to be suitable for humid climates and for use in all kitchens and all bathrooms. These types of wood blinds will stand up to the conditions and climates better than most solid wood blinds, so when choosing wood blinds, these would definitely be one of the better options.

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Tips For Choosing Suitable Window Blinds For Offices

Once you have decided to install some really great looking window blinds on different interiors of your office, do not buy the window coverings in a hurry as it may lead to owning of wrong blinds. Follow these tips in order to ensure that the blinds are appropriate choices for the windows.

The main function of the blinds is to protect your office interiors from harsh sun light and glare in the summers and to allow maximum light in the winter to keep the rooms warm for better working atmosphere. While meeting this basic purpose, today's blinds are also known for the qualities of enhancing a office décor.

So, keep these basic two aspects of the window blinds in mind that it should protect from sun heat and it should give boost to the appearance of the office space. But this is not easier thing to do. Better hire an expert to assess the requirements of sun heat in the office interiors and the expert will suggest you right blinds and the material. The expert can help you choose the right fabric of the window coverings like roller blinds and vertical blinds.

For the décor purpose, hire an interior designer who will decide about the type of blind and its fabric and color of it that will match with the décor and give boost to it. While choosing the fabric, you have choices of sunscreen fabric, 100 percent polyester fabrics with variety of solar performance coatings, blackout fabric, dimout fabrics, and fiberglass fabrics with flame retardant properties. Or you can have your own specification fabrics.

You should also pay attention to the operating systems of modern window blinds. Roller blinds and other office blinds come with manual chain operation with the chain being of stainless steel or of plastic bead. You also have the choice of motor control to ensure energy conservation and occupier comfort and for keeping a uniform appearing from outside of the building. Then, there are diverse electronic control systems that consist of low voltage single blind installation to automated options.

Ensure that you have compared as many shops for the correct window blinds as per needs of your office space. Compare the prices also. Better buy the blinds online if budget is your prime concern. You should also hire a blind cleaner service in order to ensure cleaner blinds throughout the year.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

All You Need to Know About Purchasing Discount Blinds

Are you looking for tips to save money on blinds? Well good news is that it's as easy as looking for discount blinds available from numerous online retailers. By doing so, you'll be saving a fortune on your homes' interior facelift. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? One very important thing to keep in mind is that just because discount blinds are less cheap, doesn't mean they are of a lower quality or standard. There is absolutely no doubting the fact that you'll be able to find budget-friendly blinds that will not only suit your preferences but also you requirements. Here are some great tips to help you when purchasing discount blinds for your home:

Shop around-. Shopping around at various blind retailers both online and in your area to see what's on offer and what products cost will already help you a lot. The info you've collected will give you a very good idea on what your choices are exactly. Most online window blind manufacturers offer great discounts and end of season sales.

Price comparison- Comparing prices of various companies offering discount blinds will help so much when you make your final decision, especially if it needs to be based on your budget. Price comparison is also a great way to help you spot super deals.

Opt for manufacturers that offers a wide selection-. Show me a homeowner you doesn't like choice and I'll show you a dumb or dead one. This is the reason why you need to search far and wide until you find a manufacturer who'll provide you with a wide variety of products. The more options, the more likely you are to find the one that matches your taste and preferences to a t.

Manufacturer's warranty or guarantee. A warranty or guarantee gives you the re-assurance that the blinds you've purchased come from a reliable source. If the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty, it means it's confident about the product only being the best quality on the market. Also, a warranty gives you peace of mind that the manufacturer can be contacted easily should you have any problems or questions in terms of installation, maintenance or repair.

Shipping costs- Congrats, you've purchased blinds at a great price, but what are the shipping costs? Many people completely forget about these additional charges and fees. You should thus make entirely sure that shipping cost are calculated in the purchase price or very clearly stipulated. Some retailers offer free shipping, so it's recommended that you keep a lookout for them.

Sunday 10 January 2010

Where to Find the Best Deals on Cheap Faux Wood Blinds

When looking for window coverings for your home or office there are many types and styles to choose from. Window blinds are great ways to complement your space while regulating the amount of natural light that you want to enter the room. Blinds can suit your home or office with many different colors and sizes for any type of windows, so the choices are endless when it comes to shopping for new window coverings. Try not to limit yourself when shopping for cheap faux wood blinds since there are many different places to purchase window coverings from, each with their very own line of wood blinds and as individual as you are.

No matter what your decorating budget is, there are many different suppliers and manufacturers that can offer you cheap faux wood blinds to fit almost any décor. While many consumers want the very best product available, it is possible to purchase blinds that will not impede your current budget and yet give you the professional look that you seek for your room. Expensive blinds may look great but you can find many types of blinds that will give you the same look and feel but will save you hundreds of dollars on the final price. Budget restrictions should not hinder your final decision on the window coverings of your choice.

The benefits of cheap faux wood blinds are apparent to those who want to have the look of real wood without the hassle of purchasing genuine wood coverings. Real wood has a tendency to change shape and color over time when exposed to extreme humidity and temperatures as well as contact to direct sunlight for long periods of time. If you have an area that requires window coverings that will have contact with direct sunlight or severe humidity and temperatures, then choosing faux wood blinds may be the best choice. The overall cost of cheap faux wood blinds is relatively inexpensive when comparing them to real wood blinds. Fully washable and made with synthetic man-made materials, faux wood blinds is the solution for those consumers looking for window coverings that will not cost them a lot of money.

Those consumers who have access to the Internet can view many different types and styles of cheap faux wood blinds through a number of websites from suppliers and manufacturers around the world. No matter where you are, you are sure to find a retailer that is willing to ship your final purchase right to your home. Many retailers will ship to almost anywhere, and you may find some suppliers will provide free shipping with some final purchases. The Internet is a great way to comparison shop for new window coverings without leaving the comfort of your own home. If you are able to browse through websites, you will be able to view the many different styles and colors of cheap faux wood blinds that are out in the market today and you can even order free samples to view at your home through several online manufacturers.

Thursday 7 January 2010

Selecting Good Cheap Mini Blinds

Finding cheap mini blinds does not mean buying a sub-standard one that will not last. There are often ways that a person can get the style and type of window covering they want without affordability being a significant factor in the decision making process.

In many cases when a person selects a mini blind solely for it's affordability, they will find that it must be replaced in a short time. However, by purchasing one that is a bit more expensive, you may find it will last for several years and be more durable than the cheaper version. In the end the more expensive blinds are cheaper because they may last much longer than the cheaper versions.

Before looking at the prices of mini blinds decide on the type and style of blind that is going to be suited for the home where they will be installed. Most homes require sturdy and durable window coverings that are going to be installed in every window in the house. When selected in a neutral tone and design, these blinds will fit with any decor or color in the home.

Dealers and manufacturers will normally give a significant discount to purchases who buy in bulk. When looking for cheap mini blinds, one can often get the quality needed by purchasing them in bulk from the manufacturer or dealer.

When blinds are being purchased for one window in a home, both the expensive and cheaper versions will end up being more expensive than buying a number of blinds for your whole house. In order to get the cheapest mini blinds a person will want to think about purchasing blinds for all of their windows at one time.

When you have a set budget there are many ways to find cheap options that have the quality and durability that is desired by doing comparison shopping. Most dealers have a vast range of prices available, so when looking for the best price remember to also look for blinds that are well built, provide the function needed, and are also durable, this will ensure you end up with the best and cheapest option in the long run.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

Blinds For Windows - Surefire Way to Get Premium Cheap Window Blinds

You are decorating your new home and realized that you have nearly expended your entire budget on your furniture. And there is one key item which you have literally forgotten about until now. You have forgotten to set aside budget to buy blinds for windows in the entire house. This is quite a common problem for new or first time homeowners. However, there is no cause for panic as there is always a silver lining. Try and put together a small budget of a few hundred dollars and you might just be able to get by with quality but cheap window blinds. You will, however, be required to take some effort to do the searching.


If you are first time home owner you might be a little intimidated by the wide variety of blinds for windows available. They come in different designs, materials, and colors which essentially cater to almost every type of home or office themes. Whatever the ambiance you wish to create, you will surely be able find something that fits your needs.


Getting the best value for your money is easy if you simply follow these steps. Firstly, check the internet on the required information. Familiarizing yourself with the types and pricing is a good start. Read the buyer comments at forums and take note of the larger and more trusted sites. By now you should have a good feel on what is most suitable to your home and budget.


Next, you need to do some leg work. But before that, browse your local newspapers for weekend promotions for premium yet affordable ones. Sometimes due to stock clearances, you will see premium brands advertising with deep discounts too. So it is quite easy to get premium yet cheap window blinds for your homes. Now check out your preferred choices at the local draperies stores personally to have a good feel of the fabric. Visualize the impact when used at your home and they blend well with the furniture. Get the sales assistant to brief you on the warranties and charges.


Finally, buy your preferred blinds online. Yes, you heard right. Now that you already have done enough fact finding to get your preferred blinds, it is time to find the best price bargains on blinds for windows. There is probably no other place than the internet which gives great bargains on even premium products. The key is to find a trusted online store or otherwise you might also wish to visit the window blind manufacturer sites directly. Ensure that the terms are similar to the physical shores that you have visited. You are now ready to order your premium quality cheap window blinds for your new home.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Wood Window Blinds - Tips on How to Blend Well With Modern Interior Home Designs

Wood window blinds tend to blend very well into modern interior home designs and enhance the theme of your home. Regardless of real or faux wood materials, venetian shades or shutters, they are capable of blending well into the surroundings. Check out the following tips on how this can be easily achieved.

Whenever we mention real wood blinds, we tend to associate them with the darker stains of mahogany, chestnut, oak which tend towards a traditional look and feel from a color perspective. However, real wood do come in other more avant garde forms of materials of bamboo and basswood which provide a lighter shade of wood color which gives a more modern look and feel. Use basswood which is amongst the most popular in recent years for that lighter hearted ambiance if that is your preference.

Faux wood window blinds are fast becoming increasingly popular due to their versatility, durability as well as affordability. They literally comes in a wide range of colors and designs to help you blend them into the overall decor of your home. Made of composite synthetic materials, they are extremely durable and do not warp easily in moist environment like the bathrooms and kitchen. Faux wood provides quality in terms of texture, variety of choices in designs and colors, durability, easy maintenance as well as affordability. They are cheaper than real wood blinds by about 30 percent. No wonder they are rising fast in the must have list of home interior design.

You might not have thought about it but using a valence could help you eliminate the use of curtains. And if you are amongst the less skilled in home improvements, the wood window blinds mostly allow to mounting from the inside of the frame, which is less complicated to manage.

One key complaint about blinds is that the slates are heavy and they tend to pile up at the top. A good option is to use a motorized mechanism which makes for smooth raising and lowering them a bliss.

Sunday 3 January 2010

Blinds For Windows - Surefire Way to Get Premium Cheap Window Blinds

You are decorating your new home and realized that you have nearly expended your entire budget on your furniture. And there is one key item which you have literally forgotten about until now. You have forgotten to set aside budget to buy blinds for windows in the entire house. This is quite a common problem for new or first time homeowners. However, there is no cause for panic as there is always a silver lining. Try and put together a small budget of a few hundred dollars and you might just be able to get by with quality but cheap window blinds. You will, however, be required to take some effort to do the searching.

If you are first time home owner you might be a little intimidated by the wide variety of blinds for windows available. They come in different designs, materials, and colors which essentially cater to almost every type of home or office themes. Whatever the ambiance you wish to create, you will surely be able find something that fits your needs.

Getting the best value for your money is easy if you simply follow these steps. Firstly, check the internet on the required information. Familiarizing yourself with the types and pricing is a good start. Read the buyer comments at forums and take note of the larger and more trusted sites. By now you should have a good feel on what is most suitable to your home and budget.

Next, you need to do some leg work. But before that, browse your local newspapers for weekend promotions for premium yet affordable ones. Sometimes due to stock clearances, you will see premium brands advertising with deep discounts too. So it is quite easy to get premium yet cheap window blinds for your homes. Now check out your preferred choices at the local draperies stores personally to have a good feel of the fabric. Visualize the impact when used at your home and they blend well with the furniture. Get the sales assistant to brief you on the warranties and charges.

Finally, buy your preferred blinds online. Yes, you heard right. Now that you already have done enough fact finding to get your preferred blinds, it is time to find the best price bargains on blinds for windows. There is probably no other place than the internet which gives great bargains on even premium products. The key is to find a trusted online store or otherwise you might also wish to visit the window blind manufacturer sites directly. Ensure that the terms are similar to the physical shores that you have visited. You are now ready to order your premium quality cheap window blinds for your new home.