Window Blinds: Not Just a Decoration

When decorating your home you pick curtains for your lounge and bedroom
and you choose blinds for your bathroom and kitchen. The time and effort that goes into each interior design decision can be huge. What colour walls shall we have? What colour furniture? What colour carpets? The list goes on. I could forgive you for thinking that window blinds are easier to choose than most decorations. After all, they are only blinds. However, it could be worthwhile to spend some time when considering what blinds you are looking to buy.

When decorating your home you pick curtains for wyour lounge and bedroom and you choose blinds for your bathroom and kitchen. The time and effort that goes into each interior design decision can be huge. What colour walls shall we have? What colour furniture? What colour carpets? The list goes on. I could forgive you for thinking that window blinds are easier to choose than most decorations. After all, they are only blinds. However, it could be worthwhile to spend some time when considering what blinds you are looking to buy.

Blinds can offer privacy to your home. Some provide greater privacy than others. At times you may wish to raise your blinds completely leaving a clear view of your garden for example. The difference between vertical blinds and horizontal blinds may not bother you whilst the blinds are down but when they are slid away you may realise you would prefer vertical blinds or vice versa.

Deciding which material you want for your blinds is important as well. Cheaper materials such as vinyl could be prone to drooping and therefore going for a material with more quality, such as aluminium, may be preferable. Also it is worthwhile considering the light control blinds can have on your room. If your blinds are for a child’s room then this feature could be important. Cordless blinds may also be of interest for those looking to decorate a child’s room for safety.

Your choice of blinds can have another effect. However, this one does not necessarily have an effect on the appearance of your room but on another equally important area that you will no doubt be concerned with; that of cost.

Before you get carried away thinking about the price range of blinds I am not talking about the retail cost of blinds but the cost of energy. Windows are the main source of energy loss in the home so with rising energy costs it makes sense to buy blinds that will not only look good, but that will conserve energy, keep your home warm and cut down on costs. Choosing quality vertical blinds will provide you with a long lasting and aesthetically pleasing addition to your home.

When choosing blinds for your home it is important to remember how to measure your window space precisely as mistakes are commonly made when customers measure their own windows. Having the attitude of relief that you have now finished decorating your room and it is only the blinds you need to get can be dangerous. This can result in making a small mistake when measuring your window and subsequently you will receive blinds that are either too big or too small.

Rather than just acting as a finishing touch, it is worth thinking about blinds from the outset of your design plans as they can act as a complementary feature to the focal point of your room. For example, a set of beige blinds will complement a pine table. It is also worth taking into account the colour of your carpet or tiles as you have the opportunity to match your blinds with the floor. Whilst choosing pale blinds can be an easy option you may miss the chance to add real class to your decor.

3 Benefits Of Window Blinds For Any Home

Window blinds are right for every home for many different reasons. If you are thinking about adding blinds to your windows, then you have to know what these benefits are.

Understanding the benefits will help you see why they are important for any home. They will help you ensure the smart choice is made on whether or not they are correct for your windows or not.

Below are the most vital benefits you need to know.

1. Protection - When you have blinds on your windows, they protect you when you are inside. The way that they do this is by preventing anyone from seeing into your home.

Of course, there will be times that you will have the blinds open, but when they are shut, they will keep out prying eyes. This is especially important at night or when you are not home because it will keep everyone from seeing you and what belongings you have.

2. Better look to your home - Blinds always add a better look to any home's windows. You have to make sure that you get the right type of your particular windows, but if you take time to look at your options, then this will not be hard to do.

You can even add different types and styles of blinds to different rooms in your home to give it the best look that you like.

3. Helps keep your home cooler - There are many blinds that will help keep your home cooler or warmer when you keep them closed. Obviously, when they are open, this will not always be a benefit, but when they are closed, it can help you save money on your heating or cooling every month.

Just choose the blinds carefully, so you can get ones that help the best with this. You will not be disappointed if you are smart about the blinds you get.

If you want more of a choice on the blinds you get for your windows, then you may want to consider custom blinds. Custom blinds are a good idea for many homes so you can be 100% sure that they will fit your windows perfectly.

Otherwise, you may end up wasting money purchasing blinds that are the wrong fit for your particular window. Custom blinds make sense for a lot of people because not every window is the same size.

Now that you know these benefits, you can see why window blinds are so essential for any home. Make sure you think about these benefits carefully and then take time to check out your options. That way you can easily determine the blinds that are right for your home and know that you will be making the wise decision.

Types of Window Blinds for Your Home and Office

When you are planning to decorate your home you must think which type of window blinds you will use. To give a perfect look to your home you must make the perfect choice of blind. Window blinds are becoming very popular these days. You can use them in any room of your home such as in conservatories, kitchens and bathrooms. Before choosing window blinds you must think of few things.
Firstly you have to decide the type of window blind you would prefer. You can find varieties of blinds in the market. Some of them are:

Vertical Blinds:
These blinds are made from a number of vertically hanging slats. These blinds are ideal for large windows and sliding doors. You can find wide range of styles and material including faux wood, aluminum, solar screen, cellular and fabric. If you are looking for light control, energy efficiency and to preserve a beautiful view these blinds are the best solution for your home window.

Roller Blinds:
These blinds are made of plastic material. It is available in a wide range of designs and colors. The good thing about these blinds is that they keep the morning light out. But in these blinds you can choose the amount of air you allow to pass through the window and how much light you wish to allow in.

Roman Blinds:
It is just like roller blinds. You can move the blind up and down so that it covers as much of the window as you want. It is perfect for luxurious look in a bedroom. You can find wonderful fabrics which are soft to the touch, with a weight and heft that forms the perfect Roman Blind.

Office blinds:
It is very important to have the good working atmosphere in the office environment. Always remember that the look of your work space can improve the employee’s motivation to work. You can have constructive working environment by installing office blinds.

Venetian Blinds:
They are made from horizontally hanging slats. These slats can be angled to direct the light or closed completely. You can use these blinds in all rooms. But it can be a great choice for bathroom and kitchen as you can close the slats completely and you can find them in water-resistant materials. It can be cleaned very easily. It is good for customers who are looking for effective and stylish window coverings. It has developed in Venice.
Whatever the type you choose will depend on which room you are going to use it. The style will also matter. If you are choosing a modern style then contemporary fabrics or aluminum Venetians are the best. For traditional style wooden blinds will be more perfect. One more thing you can think of whether you require blackout or insulating fabric for your blind. These fabrics are little bit of expensive but they will add extra functionality to your blinds.
Another great advantage of installing blinds is they are easy to clean and maintain. By surfing the internet you can find different types of blind cleaners.

Inside Tricks to Cleaning Window Shades and Blinds

Wipe down mini blinds monthly by turning the slats downward facing you. Spray a lightweight terry towel with an all purpose cleaner. Start at the top and wipe over the surface. Reverse the slats then pull the blinds out and walk behind them. Repeat from the back. It only takes three or four minutes per blind so do a room every time you dust to keep ahead of the buildup.

If miniblinds have reached the point of no return, grab a hammer and two good sized nails. Measure the blinds and hammer the nails into the back of your home or other inconspicuous area one foot less than the width of the blinds, and hang the blinds there. Turn the slats downwards. With a spray can of foaming tub and tile cleaner begin at the bottom spraying your way to the top. When the foam drips from the top, wipe with a wet sponge. Reverse the slats, flip the blinds over and repeat from the back. Dry and rehang.
Wood and Fabric Surfaces

Wood blinds are cleaned in the same manner except use one-fourth cup of white vinegar per quart of water. These blinds require regular maintenance to prevent buildup that deteriorates the sealant. Once the sealant deteriorates, the blinds loose their luster.



Fabric pleated shades do not tolerate cleaning chemicals or even water. Either will leave unsightly stains. If you vacuum your pleated shades be sure to wipe the bristles of the brush frequently. The dry sponges that are now available in many stores quickly pick up dust and dirt the vacuum overlooks. Wipe over the shades with the dry sponge. Wash dry sponges in sudsy water when soiled.



Problems come when bugs crawl across fabric shades leaving their droppings behind them. For these or any stains on the shades dampen a cotton swab with water. Then dip the swab into a small amount of liquid dish soap. Lightly dab on the stain then wait 30 minutes. Gently blot with a light dampened cloth.



A lint roller made for clothing, easily rolls over vertical blinds picking up dust and cobwebs along the way.

Installation and Buying Tips for Window Blinds

Typically, there are two kinds of blinds. These are the horizontal and vertical window blinds. The horizontal blinds are common treatment for windows while the vertical ones are great for large window openings and glass sliding doors. These types are actually designed to come up with the right lighting coming from outside which is a natural source of light. Depending on the requirement of light these blinds can provide solution with your lighting and protection needs.

Another type of blinds is based on the width of each blind. These are the slat and solid blinds. Slat blinds are those whose slats are attached through a piece of string while solid window blinds are made up of one piece material which can either be fabric or vinyl. Roller shades and Roman blinds are best examples of these solid blinds while a Venetian blind is an example of a slat window blind.

Installation

Different type of blinds requires different method of installation as well. Here are basic steps to follow in installing a regular window blind. These steps are, however, applicable to almost all type although there are some slight differences. This is just to give you an idea of how the installation of window blind is done.

* For internal installation of the blind mark the point where the blind is going to be installed. This is the first step.

* Drill holes to your marked point where the brackets are going to be mounted. After drilling insert the screws on the bracket holes and start attaching them to the window. Do the same with the other side.

* If the window blind kit has an included valance attached it accordingly. If the head rail is not mounted to the valance/pelmet then mount the head rail into it with the use of clips. Be sure that the window blind can function freely without any interference with the clips.

* Finally, set the cord stop about 2 inches below the head rail. This will prevent the blind from opening all the way upward inside the valance.

Buying Tips

Before buying any window blind you need to consider first what specific requirement you need. Aluminum window blinds are great options for privacy purposes and window blinds made of wood are excellent trappers of heat during cold season. Whichever your preference is, try to coordinate wooden window blinds' color or the design of the fabrics with the interior decoration inside the room. Consider the wall color of the room, the upholstery and the image you want to create for the room to match with the chosen window blinds.

How to Clean Metal Window Blinds

If you have metal window blinds mounted over your windows then you will know only too well how dusty they can get. It's almost as if metal window blinds are a magnet for dust and it is very easy to forget to clean them regularly. For some people this isn't the biggest problem, yet it is actually how to go about cleaning them that proves the most testing task. If you are part of this latter group then you will be pleased to hear that giving your metal window blinds a good clean is in fact a much easier task than you may have realised. Read on to get some tips on how to make the job a whole lot easier.

Start off by assessing the amount of dust that has accumulated on the window blinds. Windows that are mounted in front of windows that tend to be open will naturally have more of a build up of dust. However, that is not to say that dust won't accumulate on blinds that are hung by closed windows so be sure to check them all to get an idea of how much cleaning you will need to do in order to restore them to their original state.

Next decide what approach you are going to take to cleaning based on the dust level on the blinds. If there is just a light layer of dust then this can simply be removed with a vacuum cleaner and a dust cloth. A heavier layer of dust may require the removal of the window blinds from their brackets after they have been vacuumed and dusted.

Take a 2 step approach to removing a light layer of dust from your blinds. As mentioned before, the bulk of the dust should be removed with the hose attachment on the vacuum cleaner. This is much more easily done when the window blinds are in the closed position. Secondly you should get a static charged dust cloth to remove any of the remaining dust. Keep wiping the blinds down until there is no dust visibly left.

If after the initial cleaning the window blinds are still dirty then remove them from their brackets and take them to the bathtub one at a time. If you spread the blind across the bottom of the tub then you will be able to use a mild dish soap and a soft brush to scrub away the rest of the dust. Once you have done this, rinse aaway the rest of the dust and soap from the blinds by using the show. Be sure to rinse the window blinds down well.

Once washed and cleaned, dry the window blinds well before returning them to their brackets. Use an absorbent towel to remove any moisture and water spots then they can be re-mounted in front of the window.

Try to make a point of cleaning your metal window blinds once a month or at the very least once every other month. It will of course help to keep your surroundings dust free to reduce the chances of dust accumulating on the blinds themselves.

Window Blinds: Add Splendor to Your Window

Window blinds is the best treatment you can give to your windows. Using window blinds means doing justification to the room and its décor. It’s the most important aspect of your décor and generally people tend to ignore it the most.



Using the right kind of window blinds adds beauty to your room. Many times it happens that after spending huge amount on the décor of the room, you are left unsatisfied. You feel there is something missing. It happens because we forget paying attention to the most important part of the décor of the room and that is window blinds.



There are innumerous benefits attached with window blinds. Firstly, they protect your privacy, whenever you want. Let it be your office or your home, these blinds can be conveniently used to protect your privacy. They also act as a hurdle preventing the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun from entering your rooms. These rays always have bad effect on your room furniture.



The rays of the sun coming out of the window blinds can create a majestic ambience for your rooms. The diffused sunlight can add romanticism to your rooms. Then, these window blinds can easily be cleaned, especially in case of stains, when the blinds are used in bathrooms or kitchens.



Window blinds come in many styles and designs. The most common types of window blinds are Blackout Blinds, Roller Blinds, Vertical Blinds, Wooden Blinds, Pleated Blinds, and Venetian Blinds



Out of all the blinds, wooden blinds are the least expensive and easy to clean. Wooden window blinds look more stylish than what you pay for it.



Venetian window blinds are the most stylish of all window blinds. They are simple to use and consists of slats of horizontal and overlapping material. These blinds when rolled completely upwards allow full light to enter the room, and when fully closed they can completely block the rays of the sun. They can also be adjusted to allow only some amount of diffused lights in the room. Thus, these Venetian window blinds can be used in various styles.



No matter how expensive your window blinds are, if they are not cleaned with proper blind cleaner, they will loose all their charm. To clean window blinds one should brush the blinds with soft scrub. Then dip them in the bathtub with clean water and later hang them till they dry up.