Tuesday 28 December 2010

Tips For Purchasing Suitable Window Blinds For Home

When you install window blinds in a room of your home, its look changes and becomes more attractive. You can use them to enhance the décor of a particular room to make it more pleasing to the eyes. Besides the décor, the basic purpose of these coverings is also fulfilled. The main purpose behind covering of the windows is to restrict the amount of sunlight from entering your home so that you can liven in it comfortably.

While purchasing the coverings for your home, you will come across many varieties. Sometimes, it becomes more difficult to choose the right one. So, we advise you to take help of some expert so that the confusion ends. The expert will also let you know about your requirement of sunlight and air in a particular side of the home. You can choose the window coverings accordingly.

Keep in mind that the different window blinds for home have different characteristics. You should know about your specifications and about your budget also while making the purchasing. Ensure that the purchasing is made in keeping with your style of the home and the purpose.

Cost may be one good reason that you should be comparing the sellers. It is true that the cost of installing of a covering on the window is very low as compared to the total cost of your room décor; still, if you are on a budget, then some cheaper options are also available in the market. For home, mini blinds are considered as affordable as these are practical also to install.

Another option for low priced window blinds is to purchase vinyl roller shades that are much less expensive than fabric roller blinds. They are also less costly than wooden blinds.

If you are facing more financial constraints, you have the option of using mixed blinds as well. This implies that you can use cheaper blinds for sheds, bathrooms and you can use more expensive and great looking blinds for your bedrooms and living room as well as for study.

Apart from the theme of your room and its design, another aspect that you should look for in window blinds for home is that these should be energy-efficient. Know that cellular shades and some shutters are considered as great for keeping the harsh sunlight or cold air from entering your home. For insulation, you can use PVC-backed fabric blinds that offer adequate privacy too.

If your home is at a right place in terms of a scenic beauty, then you would like to enjoy the view through your home windows. To do so, avoid opaque and thick blinds and shades. Consider purchasing of transparent fabric that will not only provide protection from the sunlight but will give you a good view of the outside also.

You should also search for competitive prices of window blinds for home. Search the internet widely and scan for the online sellers who have recently cut down the prices. However, ensure that the online seller offers you a blind cleaner service also for maintaining the cleanliness of the blinds.

Saturday 25 December 2010

How To Shop For Discount Window Blinds

You can find discount wood window blinds, shades, shutters, mural blinds, verticals, metal roller blinds, minis, faux wood, bamboo, Roman, fabric, arch, velux and vinyls among many others. Many people love the clean, sleek look of hard window treatments. Window shutters, which are more expensive than other types of blinds, are like adding fine furniture to your windows.

If you feel as though you are living in a cave, sun control window blinds let the light and view through but not the glare. Buying window treatments are one of the most important purchases you'll ever make.

A wide range of ready-made verticals are available in various natural colors. Blinds are fairly low maintenance but removable veins are available in wipe clean or washable fabrics if needed. The cheaper wooden blinds have that rich wood look at very low prices. If you like to see outside but have to squint then consider the two inch metal type for the visibility you want.

The slats to the verticals are all easily adjustable in length and require no sewing or gluing whatsoever. Natural bamboo woven shades are made from beautiful wood, rattan, jute, grass and reeds. The roller blinds are the perfect choice for adding fantastic style and originality to your home.

A large selection of discount verticals are available on the Internet today; there are at least 200 fabrics to choose from. The controls for verticals can be either left or right hand operation and veins can 'stack-back' to left, right, or parted in the center. The prestige bamboo sliders are a simple and more sophisticated alternative to the traditional verticals.

The woven wood shades or matchstick blinds are shades that bring the beauty of nature indoors and provide insulation against summer's heat and winter's cold. The real wood blinds are designed to bring the natural beauty and insulating qualities of wood into your home or office. On a lot of the websites you can browse through many fabrics, get an instant quote online and request free samples.

If you use water to clean your wood blinds, the excess moisture will likely cause the wood to warp. You should try to dust vinyls once or twice each month. You should also avoid using abrasive solutions or solvents to clean wood blinds because they can also cause damage.

You have to take care of wood differently than you would take care of traditional vinyl designs. You should never use metal to clean vinyls; you would likely need to replace your vinyls after using metal on them because they would be quite scratched.

From wooden Venetians to the new wooden vertical blinds you'll find that the wooden type will add a touch of style and luxury to you home while caring for the environment and of course it's best if you get discount window blinds. In no time, you'll have the information you need to pick and choose the window treatment that is just right for you and your family.

It's important to take the time and find the best discounted window treatment. Discount window blinds are readily available on the Internet. You can often find them wholesale online with a little bit more in-depth looking.

Wednesday 22 December 2010

Choosing Blinds For Roof Windows

Finding a blind or curtain for a normal window is easy, all you have to do is decide what type you want, how you want it to look, measure it up and visit any of the hundreds of shops or websites selling window blinds.

But what if you have roof windows or skylights? A normal blind or curtain won't do, obviously, so you'll need something a bit different. What will that cost? Where do I find it?

Blinds hung in a roof window or skylight require side rails, wires or tension to hold them in place, as without them they would simply hang vertically, ruling out using normal blinds or curtains.

You also have to consider the fact that normal windows open outwards or slide vertically or horizontally, so window blinds or curtains can be hung on the outer dimensions of the window frame as the window won't interfere when opened.

However, most roof windows or skylights pivot in the middle when opened, which would be inhibited by a normal blind mounted on the outer frame. They have to sit inside the opening sash to allow them to be opened at will instead.

What type of blinds can I use?

While you cannot use traditional blinds or curtains for your roof windows, there are still plenty of attractive options open to you.

Blackout

These blinds are flat and will shut out all daylight, some of the noise (i.e. traffic, rain) and some of the heat. Blackout blinds are made to measure and fit inside the internal frame on aluminium side rails - do NOT buy blinds with plastic side rails as they will warp over time, leaving you unable to use the blind. These are the most common and popular type of roof window blind.

Pleated (also called Plisse Blinds)

These fabric blinds (sometimes plastic, but not advised) are folded, concertina-style, into pleats and run on a wire mounted into the internal frame of the roof window. Again, they are made to measure but are generally less sturdy than a blackout blind. If you are likely to use the blinds a lot, this may not be the ideal blind for you, but if they will rarely be used - perhaps in an attic - then they provide a slightly cheaper but just as attractive option.

Roller Roof

Providing the cheapest option for your roof window or skylight, roller blinds rely on tension to stay tight inside the window frame and are held in place by either wooden side pieces or by nailed in pegs/clips which secure the blind in position.

Venetian

Perhaps the most expensive type of blind for roof windows and skylights, the Venetian blind is definitely the most attractive you can use.

Go for aluminium or wooden slats but definitely not plastic as these will get damaged in the increased heat of a roof window. A good Venetian blind will be made to measure and mounted on tracks within the internal window frame or on wire, similar to the pleated blind.

The real advantage of using Venetian blinds are that you can position the blind and still manipulate the angle of the slat, providing great versatility in how much light you let into a room.

Sunday 19 December 2010

Using Bamboo Window Blinds For Formal Rooms


Bamboo is a great plant that can supply a lot of materials for many different products. This renewable resource is also helpful for the earth and the environment because it is not derived from synthetic elements and can be renewed or replanted. Bamboo is often used to make bamboo window blinds. They are ideal for windows because they can actually allow privacy but at the same time not cut off any air flow since the bamboo is porous and the natural grain of the bamboo allows for air to go between slats or between strips of woven bamboo window blinds and shades.

Designs

Bamboo window blinds may seem too casual for some people to be used for formal rooms. In actuality, the design of the bamboo window blinds often dictates what kind of ambience it delivers. The raw bamboo blinds are often reserved for outdoor uses or for rooms that are informal or casual. Raw bamboo window blinds are often made up of slats of uneven bamboo strips about an inch or so and these are the very simple types of bamboo window blinds.


Outdoor bamboo blinds can be very useful in areas where people do not wish to be seen or when the sun is too hot such as the patio or the lanai. On the other hand, some of the bamboo window blinds can be the epitome of formality if they are designed well and colored in such as way that they complement the room they are installed in.

Designs and colors are usually muted or single toned with little or no frills and decorations at all that will break the elegance and simplicity of the design. The simple and elegant design of the indoor bamboo window blinds can suit formal rooms as long as the colors and design matches that of the room.

Other Uses of Bamboo Window Blinds

Bamboo window blinds can also be used as room dividers. They are especially useful for this purpose because they can shield some parts or areas of the room which the owner does not wish to be seen but at the same time, if the owner needs the extra space, he or she just need to roll up the bamboo window blinds and, voila!, instant space. They can also be used to cover the glass on the doors. These can serve as door blinds especially for doors with little glass window in them.

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Are Bamboo Window Blinds Right For You?


When considering wood window blinds for your home, you might want to consider bamboo. Bamboo blinds have been used for centuries as partitions and blinds. They also give your home an oriental flare, which adds to the charm of the house.

The Use of Bamboo Through History
You may not have known this but bamboo is used in bridges, houses, fences, toys, furniture, floors and so much more. People have used it to decorate both the inside of their homes as well as their outdoor living space.

In some cultures, bamboo is kept around as a tool for long life. Other cultures use bamboo to ward off any evil spirits that may be lurking around. It is also a sign of friendship to many people.

Bamboo Window Blinds
Originally, bamboo blinds were seen as elegant. They were used to show off design capabilities while maintaining functionality and reliability. Now, they are used throughout the world. Bamboo can be seen in floors, offices and vacation homes alike.

Today, bamboo blinds are coming into fashion because of their Eco-friendly design. The product is natural and complements any room. As window coverings, they let the breeze in and maintain a classic style. To keep to the authenticity of the blinds, most people prefer a natural stain over coloring.

Affordability of Bamboo
Like the majority of products, the cost will vary depending on where you shop and the quality of blinds you receive. Recently, I did a search for affordable blinds and found Tavarua Basics Bamboo Shades on sale for $27.26. I also saw Tavarua Bamboo Ring Drapery on sale for $63.38. Bamboo blinds come in a wide range of styles and colors. Therefore, you need to shop around for the best prices.

Custom Blinds
Like most other blinds, you can get custom bamboo blinds as well. This way no matter how awkward to misshapen your window it, you can get blinds that fit perfectly. You can order them exactly the way you want. This may mean you get blinds that shine in lots of light or block out light. You might even want to upgrade your blinds to a duo-fold. That way you can open the blinds from the top or the bottom.

Bamboo for Any Home
The best part about bamboo blinds is that they work great anywhere. They are super simple to clean. All you need to do is dust them. Add a shade to the window and you can drastically change the dynamics of the entire room.

Sunday 12 December 2010

The Many Benefits Of Faux Wood Windows Blinds


Redecorating your home with faux wood window blinds has many benefits. They are so versatile and easy to clean that you just cannot go wrong when choosing faux over real wood. To get an idea of just a few of their benefits, continue reading.

Versatility of Faux Wood
Most people think of wood shutters when someone mentions wood window treatments. However, wood has a variety of uses including blinds and shades. While you may be able to picture wood blinds easily, picturing wood shades may not come quite as easily.

Consider the bamboo shade. Bamboo shades weave real wood into the pattern to make this faux wood shade look like natural bamboo. This use of faux wood really brings the feel of the South Pacific into your home.

Faux Wood in Any Room
The thing I like most about faux wood is I can put them in any room of the house. With real wood blinds, I can't put them in the bathroom, kitchen or the laundry room. While this is not a huge problem, I like all my blinds to be the same throughout my home. (We have a woodsy cabin look.)

Since real wood does not hold up to humidity and water well, we can't really put them everywhere. Instead of trying to match faux wood to our real wood, we simply put faux wood window treatments up all over the house. Since faux wood won't bend, warp or crack, we never have to worry about privacy in the bathroom. Our blinds hold true.

Cleaning Faux is Easy as 1,2,3
Anyone who has pets or kids knows how blinds get unexplained spots and stains. While you may never know how grape jelly gets on the blinds, it is super simple to clean.

1. Dust the blinds on a regular basis (Rub a fabric sheet on them to repel dust.)
2. Spot clean with a warm washcloth and dish soap.
3. Deep clean by soaking them in hot soapy water or sending them to a profession sonic blind cleaner.

Dress Faux Wood Up with Sheer Curtains
One of my favorite tips is the sheer curtain. The guest bedroom has white faux wood window blinds. Depending on the season or the company, I change my sheer curtain to match.

I have:

* Pastel Green, Pink, and Blue curtains for babies and Spring
* Black and Orange ones for Halloween
* Snowflakes design for winter
* Orange and Brown for Fall

You get the idea. A quick change of the curtains and a quick change of some pillows and knick-knacks and the guest room fits all seasons. This works especially well if you have a white theme in the room (bedspread, night stand, dresser). A couple of accents really transform the room.

Thursday 2 December 2010

Window Blinds Offer Great Beauty


Nowadays, you can find window blinds in a wide variety of colors and styles to help you create the perfect home design for your windows and home. You can find them made of different materials as well to enable you to create the home design that you are searching for. The most common materials that window blinds are available in include:

1. Wood. Wood is one of the most popular materials for window blinds. There is no other material quite like wood in its aesthetic feeling and warmth. Wood blinds can be painted or stained many different colors to help you create the perfect look for your window and home. Wood window blinds slats come in different sizes as well to help you get the look and feel that you want for your window. Woven and Venetian blinds can be found made of wood.

2. Metal. Metal window blinds are another very popular choice in window blinds, especially the aluminum ones. They are very easy to take care of and durable, which makes them a great choice for many homeowners. They come in a myriad of sizes and colors to help you get the right look for your room and your window, too.

3. Fabric. Some window blinds are constructed of fabric that is stiffened for added strength. The fabric may be used alone or it may be backed with metal or vinyl. This is a great decorating element when coordinated with other fabrics in the room.

4. Cane. Woven blinds are made of either bamboo or rattan cane. These slats can be split cane pieces or whole can pieces, depending upon the window blinds. These window blinds can be used to filter and diffuse light in the room, rather than block it entirely.

5. PVC and Vinyl. Woven and Venetian blinds can be found made of vinyl. Vinyl is often used instead of wood or metal in Venetian or woven window blinds, because they are more durable and they are easy to clean. They are also less expensive than many other materials.

The great thing about window blinds is that they can be used in conjunction with other window treatments like curtains or valances, or they can be used alone. If they are used alone, they can make your look more roomy and large and add a contemporary flair. When used with curtains or drapes, they tend to make a room feel more soft, welcoming, and cozy. Curtains or valances help to soften up the straight lines of the window blinds, giving the windows a softer appearance.

Window blinds can be included in almost any room of the home as the sole window treatment or in conjunction with curtains or drapes. A eat in kitchen will look very bright and welcoming with woven window blinds that allow just a little of the light in, while a traditional living room will look even more cozy and welcoming with Venetian blinds frames with light curtains and/or a valance. Bedrooms are a great room to use the light blocking vinyl mini-blinds to enable you to get the rest that you want and need after a long day of work.

Window blinds can give your windows great style and beauty, as well as function. Adding them to your home design plan can give you a functional window treatment and a beautiful addition to your room. What could be better?