You just finished installing a new floor. It’s time to think about new blinds for the house. Maybe it’s the kitchen that needs a small makeover. Maybe the bathroom shades need to be replaced. Perhaps the décor of the living room has changed and you need new blinds to match.
There’s so much out there that finding a place to start can be difficult. Not only are there styles to consider, but functionality as well. What style and function is right for your room?
While hitting the markets for window blinds it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. Home improvement projects can quickly get out of hand without a clear understanding of how much to spend.
Functionality
What purpose do the window coverings serve? If the goal is something decorative, window treatments such as sheer blinds may be in order.
If the decoration isn’t as important as the utility, vertical window blinds are more than likely the best option. Blinds can be used in coordination with drapes, so the limit to the functionality of the project isn’t confined to one category or the other.
Style
Once functionality is determined, you can move on to style. This is when you want to stop at the store, budget in hand, and browse. Take a few minutes, or one trip, to just browse the shelves for selection before talking to a sales associate. Need a little more insight? Here is a breakdown of the different basic styles of blinds and their usefulness.
- Vertical blinds are slats that run up and down. Vertical blinds work best on large windows, such as patio windows. Some of these blinds are connected at the bottom and top, some just to the track at the top. In some cases these blinds are also available in mini size, which is usually half-size of the typical 2-inch slats.
- Horizontal blinds run from left to right and are typically the most traditional or common style found in homes. In fact the style is also known as Venetian and has been around since the 1700’s! Horizontal blinds are made from a variety of materials to fit the taste of the consumer, from wood, vinyl, aluminum, plastic, and even bamboo. It makes these a great choice for a lower budget when you can’t afford blinds and drapes but want a decorative look for you room.
- Solid blinds are just as they sound, solid. The blind isn’t usually slated but instead is one piece of material. These blinds are great for a room looking for a little more privacy. There is very little change of any light getting out and any sneaks of anything getting in. Solid blinds roll up and or collapse. Beware of the material. Weak material on solid blinds can tear easily.
Before heading off to the store or perusing the shops online take a look around the room and find out what sort of light (or shade) is necessary to make the room complete. Once you know what you’re looking for, look online for some great deals and sale prices on window blinds.
Meet Our Guest: Jenna is a freelance blogger who is most often writing about finance and savings, especially for families. In her spare time Jenna is usually reading, riding her bike, or working on some whacky DIY project! You can read more finance writing by Jenna at paidtwice.com
*image source: Bach Tran via flickr cc
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Thanks Jeena for explaining functionality of window coverings. I agree with you that vertical blinds are good and is the best option for a large window. I too have bought vertical blinds from Sandatex for large windows in my house. Currently am very happy with their functionality as well as style.
Window blinds have so many different kinds of components and colors. Today, their uses are for comfort, blocking the sunshine, and keeping heat from coming out during colder seasons. There are records that the ancient people use colors too. Although they are different in terms of form, they basically have the same function.
Thank you for your post window treatments in particular window blinds are so versatile and are great for controlling the light in your room whatever time of year it is I myself prefer wood slat Venetian blinds because they seem to suit any room of the house.
Helo jut wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your content seem
to bbe running ooff the screen in Chrome. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or
something to do with browser compatibility but I figured I’d postt to let you know.
Thhe deswign and style look great though! Hoope you get the problem
fixed soon. Kudos