With so many styles of blinds and shades to choose from, finding the right one for your needs isn’t always a quick deal. We’ve gathered some great advice to help you see your way through the process.
Whether you’re looking for privacy, style, or both, it can be a daunting task to choose window finishes. Should you head to a specialty blind provider, your local DIY store, or shop online? How formal should you go? Should I add colour to my window coverings?
Lots of questions and we have some of the answers.
Windows are a focal point in a room and blinds and shades should be both decorative and functional for this very reason. We’ve come a long way from the days of hiding windows behind basic blinds. Now you can dress up a room in hundreds of ways without making a major investment.
Here’s what to consider before you buy or decide on blinds to keep from getting blindsided.
Let’s Get Started
- Light and Privacy: How much do you want and need? Decide whether you want your room bright and airy or cozier. Is your goal to block out light for snug sleep in the bedroom or hang a sheer fabric in your kitchen that lets the sun shine in over your sink? Are the windows you’re covering near the front door or facing the sunny side of the house? All of these factors will influence the styles and fabrics you choose.
- Your Budget: Are you outfitting just one window or the entire house? You may consider spending more on certain windows and scaling back on others. Window treatments are priced by size, so expect larger treatments to cost more. Custom sizes and specialty fabrics, patterns, and features also add to the cost.
- How much time and effort you’re willing to spend Cleaning?: Standard blinds can be cleaned at home, but are magnets for dust and need frequent attention. Shades in textured fabrics and weaves hide soil better and are best cared for with either vacuuming or professional cleaning.
- Is your style formal or casual, comfortable or chic?: Bold colours can be fun or dramatic. Subtle hues are perfect for a room decorated in neutral, earthy colours. Do you prefer corded styles or sleeker, streamlined cordless ones?
- Safety: Do you have young children in your household and a need for streamlined cordless blinds and shades?
Blinds are best if you want tiltable slats that can be adjusted to let the sun shine in (or not). They offer a handsome, clean-looking custom fit and plenty of privacy. Here is some information on a few of the different types of blind:
Wood blinds come in light and dark hues and polished or painted finishes and they’re perfect for offices and dens. They’re not the best choice for kitchens or baths, where moisture could do damage, chose faux wood instead, or for bedrooms or living rooms where you want a softer effect.
When choosing blinds, keep in mind:
- Wider horizontal slats create the illusion of bigger windows and more space in apartments and small rooms.
- Vertical blinds work for windows that are wider than they are tall. They’re an ideal pick for picture windows with a sweeping view or across sliding glass doors.
Roman blinds have soft, wide pleats that fold flat when raised by a cord. These are lovely for the dining room, living room and family room. Where the fabric is gathered into billowy poufs it makes a high-style statement and is a dressy touch for formal living rooms or sitting rooms.
Roller blinds offering amazing choice and flexibility. Chose your own fabric style, pattern and colours to perfectly suit any window and space. Get them motorised, add a blackout element or add them to your tilt and turn windows so there are no obstructions. These are a great choice.
Blackout, with a room-darkening fabric, block out up to 100 percent of light (they cost more than conventional styles) are ideal for bedrooms, home theatres, and media rooms.
Safety
There’s an important push to get manufacturers to make blinds and shades safer, since the cords are hazardous for small children. Don’t use corded window treatments or leave cords dangling within reach of curious little hands. Local Blind’s line of blinds and shades was carefully selected with an eye on child safety. “We’ve included cordless options, and special safety mechanisms for continuous loop and traditional pull-cord styles”.
