Saturday, July 7, 2012

Which Window Blinds for Your Home?

Every home has one thing in common, windows! There are many ways to dress your windows including blinds, curtains, drapes and even shutters. For many home owners blinds are the best option and today there are hundreds of varieties available on the market. With curtains you basically have two views, completely closed or completely open, however, blinds allow you to adjust the amount of light and therefore the view. You can open them all the way, a little or even half way depending on what affect you are going for. These types of window dressing are very diverse giving you the option of creating any type of ambiance.

Types:
What plans do you have for your space? In other words what look do you want to create and how can this style of window dressing help you achieve that goal. Is privacy your primary goal? If so black out styles may be the best choice. Perhaps you prefer to let in as much light as possible while protecting your privacy; a sheer blind will do this in style.

Colours:
There is a wide variety of colours available when it comes to this chic style of window treatments. Available choices will depend a good deal on the retailer you shop with but in many cases, you will find there are hundreds of colour alternatives. White and off white is a common choice however there are also pastels and darker colours to suit all colour schemes.

Window Sizes:
What type of windows are you trying to cover? Home owners often like to create a cafe type atmosphere in kitchens and sun-rooms and there is a blind for that goal as well. There are all kinds of homes with a multitude of window types and sizes, your choices will also depend upon how large or small your particular windows are. Measure all the windows you need to purchase window blinds for, begin at the top corner and measure diagonally to the opposite bottom corner. Even if your windows appear to be the same size, you should measure each one.

Installation:
Are you going to be doing the installation yourself or will you need the assistance of a professional? While installing blinds is not, difficult it does require a few specific tools and a basic knowledge of hanging techniques. You will want to determine first if you will be installing your blinds on the inside of the window frame or outside. Inside the window frame, installation will give your home nice clean lines, but not all windows jambs are suitable for this type. Check all your windows and determine the best course of action.

Conclusion:
Window blinds are a great way to dress up your home, but they serve a practical purpose as well. They block light and cold air while offering privacy and protection. Choosing window treatments for your home is an integral part of your decorating. One last thing you might want to consider is the addition of motorised controls. For homes with small children or pets, these options are safer as there are no cord choke hazards to consider, besides if you have very tall windows reaching the adjustments can be difficult.



For further information regarding blinds visit Thomas Sanderson one of the UK's leading bespoke shutter and blind retailers.