Are you thinking of dressing your home windows? Perhaps you want a window treatment to give your room a touch of class and sophistication. Or maybe you want one to enrich your windows’ aesthetics with a simple operation to control light into your space.
If so, it’s time to learn how to buy window blinds as they’ll get the job done.
Your windows are the eyes to your home’s soul. They have a huge impact on the security, curb appeal, and comfort of your property. To transmogrify your home, you’ve already installed new windows to replace the outmoded ones.
But do you know your window treatments are key to achieving the intended look and purpose? Yes, the right blinds can help enhance aesthetics, safety, energy efficiency, and light control in your home. Today, blinds are preferred due to their functional features and excellent versatility.
If buying blinds, you are spoilt for choices which can make picking the best overwhelming. Also, every blind type is unique and designed for a particular purpose. To help you choose the perfect blind for your windows, here’s a complete guide on everything you need to know.
Determine Your Needs
When choosing blinds for your windows, note that every room has its own specific needs. This implies there is no blind that will be perfect for all your rooms. Thus, before you start shopping for blinds, understand the room’s specific needs you want to be installed.
For instance, a perfect blind for your bedroom won’t work well for your kitchen or bathroom. In your bedroom, you’ll need complete light blockage to facilitate a good night’s sleep and rest. For your living rooms, you’ll want adequate light into the room as you spend lots of time there entertaining or hanging out with loved ones.
For your bathrooms and kitchen, you need moisture-resistant blinds since they are areas of high humidity. By recognizing the different needs and intended purpose, it becomes much easier to buy the right blinds. Also, you can narrow down your options by identifying your needs before you start shopping for blinds to make the task less overwhelming.
Your Lighting Needs
All your rooms have different light needs, which is another consideration when purchasing blinds. How much light do you want in a room? Do you want total darkness, diffused light, or much brightness?
Blinds come in different levels of light control, and knowing your light needs helps to make the task easier.
If you want to spread diffused light in your room without UV rays or glare, you’ll need a blind with light filtering fabric. On the other hand, room darkening fabrics will block a significant amount of light, only allowing a little to enter. If you want an unobstructed view of the outdoor, a lot of natural light sans glares and harmful UV rays, go for blinds with sheer fabrics.
If you don’t want any light in the room, then blackout fabrics can help completely block any light from infiltrating your room. Again, knowing your light needs in a room can help make the blind purchasing process easier. Also, you’ll buy the blind to suit your needs and intended purpose.
The Décor Style
You aren’t limited on style when it comes to buying window blinds. You can choose from contemporary, minimalist, traditional, or medieval styles. Remember, all styles have different looks, and it’s vital to pick one to complement your existing window style.
For a harmonious appearance, factor in your interior décor style when buying blind. For instance, roller blinds are perfect for a home with a contemporary style since they are elegant and smart. However, Roman shades will be an ideal choice for traditional style with the use of frills and heavy fabrics.
By complementing your interior décor, the blinds will radiate ambiance and elegance and become an eye-catching feature. If your room is naturally toned, opt for blinds with subtle colors. For a bold statement interior, pick vibrant blinds but with different colors.
If you’re not sure the best style for your blinds for windows, work closely with a professional interior designer. They will guide you to ensure that your blinds style and overall interior décor complement the best look.
Also, remember your choice of texture and color will make or break your home’s décor. It’s thus important to pick a color that will seamlessly blend with your interior décor. Avoid over bold colors that might create the wrong drama in the room.
Safety Matters
Do you have pets or small kids in your home? If your answer is yes, their safety is of primary concern when buying blinds. When making your purchase, be sure you’ve purchased safe blinds.
Blinds come with different operating mechanisms; motorized, cordless, or corded operations. As the name suggests, corded blinds are operated using cords dangling along the window side. The dangling cords can be a health hazard for kids, a pet who might get strangulated when playing with the cords.
If you’re concerned about the safety of your kid or pets, go for motorized blinds. These are operated using a remote control or smartphones and thus safe for your little one and pets.
Of course, you don’t want to buy a death trap for your kid or even a pet, do you? Be keen on the safety features of the window blind you are purchasing.
The Window Size
It’s crucial to determine the size of your windows before you start shopping for blinds. By knowing the right measurements of your window, you get a step closer to getting the perfect blind. Take the correct measurements from the panel to the stitching line at the top while excluding the header fabric.
However, be keen when taking the measurements as a slight error could make your blinds dysfunctional and spoil the look. If you aren’t conversant with taking window measurements, hire professionals to avoid costly mistakes. A professional will do a perfect job and make sure you get perfect window blinds delivered.
Also, you may choose to avoid the tiresome measuring task by purchasing custom blinds. Here, a professional will measure your windows and design blinds tailored to the size and shape of your windows for a perfect fit.
Check on Maintenance
All types of blinds will require regular maintenance and cleaning for the best look. However, some blinds may require high maintenance, especially those with slats and strings. Thus, it’s imperative to inquire about blind maintenance before purchasing.
Determine how much effort or time you are willing to spend on maintaining or cleaning the window treatment. If you don’t have time to clean them regularly, avoid those that are maintenance intensive. Also, check whether you can do the cleaning yourself or you’ll need professional cleaning, which will be an extra expenditure.
Prolonged use of blinds without proper maintenance will result in wear and tear, and a replacement will be required. If looking for a low-maintenance option, Venetian window blinds are perfect.
Budget Is Key
As it is with any other item, homeowners are price-conscious when buying blinds. With a wide range of blinds available to you, your budget will be the limit. Also, a budget can help narrow down your options to make the purchasing exercise easier.
It’s vital that you come up with a reasonable budget on the amount you wish to spend on window blinds. Don’t go for the cheapest option or the most expensive window blinds in the market. By shopping around, you can find affordable but perfect blinds for you.
Also, remember the blind price will vary depending on material, quality, and size. This means if you need large-sized blinds, then you’re likely to spend more. If you are on a tight budget, motorized blinds will be an ideal option since they are affordable.
Consider Energy Efficiency
Like most window treatments, blinds can help improve energy efficiency in your home. Blinds trap air against the windows, acting as insulation to trap warm or cold air from entering or leaving your house.
During the summer, heat and light are trapped in the windows, making it easier to cool your home. During winter, cold air is trapped, making it easier to heat your home. This helps to reduce utility bills as the HVAC system won’t overwork to maintain temperatures inside your home.
If you live in a region with extremely harsh winter, installing window blinds can help to keep the interiors warm by preventing energy loss. For an energy-efficient window covering, go for cellular blinds, which are a great choice. Also, you can find other energy-efficient blinds on newblinds.co.uk.
Solar Protection
If you live in areas experiencing humid and hot summers, you need protection against harmful solar rays during the day. To achieve this, consider interior or exterior solar blinds which reflect the radiant solar heat. Also, they prevent hot air from inside from flowing inside and block glares and harmful UV rays.
This means with these blinds, your home becomes a sun-protected haven to improve comfort.
Check on Aesthetics
When buying window blinds, you don’t have to emphasize functionality and overlook aesthetics. With the right choice, you can transform the appearance of your interiors with window blinds. As homeowners become more aesthetically conscious, manufacturers are creating products with modern taste.
This means you’ll come across a wide range of blinds to meet your specific preference and taste. If you love the wood appearance, you can opt for wood or synthetic materials resembling wood. This will help you achieve a classic and elegant look for your windows.
If you’re worried wood blinds will age due to sunlight, synthetic blinds will solve the issue and are more customizable. Metal blinds present an edge, industrial look. However, you are not limited to these as you can opt for textile, aluminum, bamboo, or voile window blinds.
Before making a final decision on the material of window blinds to buy, conduct research about each of them. Different materials have their own benefits, drawbacks, and most suitable application.
Benefits of Window Blinds
Are you wondering whether you should install window blinds in your home? Well, there are a number of reasons why you should. Read more to learn the benefits of installing window blinds.
Controlling Light
One of the key reasons to install blinds is they help control light entering the room. Blinds allow you to cover a part or even the entire window, depending on your windows. For instance, slats on some blinds are fitted tightly together to block any light from entering.
Numerous Colors, Styles, and Patterns
Window blinds are present in a variety of colors, styles, and patterns to choose from. This allows you to find a perfect match to create the intended look for your living room, bathroom, bedroom, or even kitchen. Also, you can pick from vertical, mini, roman, motorized, or cordless blinds, depending on your needs.
Offer Privacy
Blinds offer a degree of privacy not possible with other types of window treatments such as curtains. Blinds offer maximum privacy if you want to block prying eyes from peeping into your home. If you want blinds primarily for privacy reasons, consider top-down blinds.
Top-down blinds allow you to let in natural light without compromising privacy by lowering down the shade from the top.
Wide Variety of Materials
With a variety of blind materials, you can pick the most suitable for you in terms of style and price. For instance, if your love room has wooden furniture, then you can choose wooden blinds to complement the look. However, if you are on a budget and can’t afford wooden blinds, you can choose faux wood to keep costs down.
You Now Know How to Buy Window Blinds
Choosing the right window shades blinds for your home can help enrich comfort, privacy, and curb appeal. However, not any window blinds can help achieve the intended look or purpose. Be clear-headed and know what to look for to make an informed choice.
Wondering how to pick the perfect blinds for your home? Use these tips on how to buy window blinds.
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