As a homeowner making a window treatment or blinds purchase it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there: promotional pricing, options, features, custom design choices, etc. Getting the details right is vital. If consumers aren’t in the know they’ll inadvertently miss details that will end up making a difference in the look and feel of their final product. Homeowners looking to improve the look of their home, increase the curb appeal or increase the value of their home should make window treatment purchasing high priority.
When purchasing window treatments homeowners should take into account the following list of 5 Design Considerations. Doing so will aid them in hitting the main points so they end up with window treatment products (blinds, shades, etc.) that suit their needs and fulfill their intended purpose. While there are many more details to consider during the window blind and/or shade purchase…this partial list will keep consumers on the right track.
1. Interior/exterior design of the home: with all the products available on the market (blinds, shades, etc.) homeowners should be able to find exactly what they’re looking for as they attempt to suit their current design scheme. Accenting your home with your window treatments should be a priority; and it’s a priority that can be met easily in today’s market.
2. You’ve got your own set of priorities; don’t let them get pushed aside during your search for blinds. If pricing is your most important factor…stick to your budget. If you are set on getting the very best energy efficiency products available then don’t look at products that don’t offer this advantage. Know what you’re looking for and look for it.
3. Make sure you’re aware of how long term savings can affect the long term “price” of your blinds or other window treatments. When you are considering energy efficiency products use the available energy savings calculators to estimate what your savings will be monthly or annually so you have some idea of exactly what the long term price of your new window treatments are going to be. It could be that you’ll need to make an initial investment up front that will pay for itself within a fairly short amount of time through energy savings.
4. Consider you and your family’s privacy and security. Some rooms/areas require higher levels of privacy and/or security. For instance, you’ll want full coverage possible in bedrooms and bathrooms (especially those on the first floor). Consider the design of your home and how you utilize your interior space so you can appropriately decide which areas need to have low levels of “privacy” and which require complete “privacy.” This will make a big difference in the type of window covering your choose: shades, blinds, etc.
5. Safety is always an issue. Many industry experts suggest that all consumers stick to cordless purchases for safety reasons. The corded varieties pose a safety risk to small children as they can become entangled in the dangling cords that operate the blinds or shades. If you have small children or have frequent visits from small children you will definitely want to restrict your purchases to cordless varieties.
Buying window treatments or blinds can increase the value of your home. It can increase your satisfaction with your home. It can drastically improve the look of your home. It can decrease energy expenses for the long term. And the list could go on. There are so many benefits possible; don’t miss out on any because you didn’t give the decision the time it deserved. Know what to look for and then don’t settle for anything less.
Chris Stanley is a window treatments expert at Blinds Chalet. Blinds Chalet has over 25 years of experience in the window coverings industry and strives to educate consumers about purchasing and installing window blinds before they buy. Focusing on high quality, company tested and approved window treatments at affordable prices, Blinds Chalet is a resource for all things window blinds related.