Friday, July 1, 2011

Save Energy With Stylish And Attractive Cellular Blinds


Stylish and attractive window coverings add to your decor while protecting privacy and reducing light and glare. Cellular blinds are stylish and attractive, protect privacy, reduce light and glare, and muffle noise, and protect your home from heat loss. Sidetrack shades let no light in from the sides for extra energy efficiency.

Also called Honeycomb blinds, they're named for the cells that trap air, protecting your room from heat loss. From the side they look like a honeycomb. From the front they look like a pleated window covering. With a wide array of colors and styles available they can attractively cover every window in a home.

They're available in literally hundreds of colors and a wide variety of fabrics. Choose from a variety of light filtering fabrics and room darkening fabrics. They can be installed to open from either the top or bottom. Vertical coverings open from the side. They come in all standard sizes and can be corded, continuous cord, no cord, even motorized with remote controls.

Two or more layers of fabric are sewn together at regular intervals creating the air pockets, then they're pleated. They come in single, double, or triple honeycomb construction and in a variety of pleat sizes also. Pleats can be horizontal or vertical.

Specialty shades cover skylights, and arches. Vertical shades cover patio doors or picture windows. Sidetrack shades let no light in from the sides. Stores that specialize in window coverings can custom cut cellular window coverings to fit any door, window, or skylight and fit any arch.

Shades protect privacy and filter or block out light. Cellular blinds are also highly energy efficient. The air pockets provide insulation and muffle noise. They're found at home improvement stores and specialty stores that specialize in window coverings. They're available in all the standard sizes or special order a custom cut fit for unusual windows, arches, or skylights.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Using Honeycomb Blinds For Your Windows

Your home can be complete with the right window treatments. One of the most energy efficient is cellular or honeycomb blinds. Reasoning for the name of this type of treatment is from the shape and design.


These treatments are designed to have the appearance of a comb from the side. The pieces are not separated as in traditional window treatments, but are glued together to provide efficiency in energy. They also allow the least amount of light into the home.

Decor is designed individually with every home. Window treatments are part of this intricate detailing throughout the home. The cellular forms can help to provide the right amount of temperature change for every room. This includes the living area, where many families spend the most of their time. They come in different colors and sizes, which allow for larger abilities of decorating.

For those who are night workers, this form of window treatment may be the ultimate choice. With the limitations of light, people who work the graveyard shift can use these in their bedrooms to help them sleep during the day. The cells provide spaces of air which creates the efficiency. This can offer a cooler sleeping experience in the summer and a warmer one in the winter.

The sets come in different standards. Corded sets, top down, continuous loop, and others are available for your specific needs. This soft version of venetians continues the tradition with narrow slats, although this form does not contain individual slats.

Honeycomb blinds are some of the best and most energy-efficient window treatments on the market. This can help reduce your electric bill, provide your home with comfort and reduce costs for heating and cooling. The different styles, designs and colors are available for the many needs that you have, including for decorating purposes.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Graber Blinds For Excellent Quality Elegant Window Coverings


Graber blinds have been around since 1939, and have, from day one, with a lot of hard work and perseverance, been providing window treatments that bring sophistication, style, and beauty to all the homes they work in. They have over the years, improved on their ideas and workmanship, but the one thing that has never changed, is their philosophy to provide the best possible service to all their clients.

In fact, their service and quality of work is so good, that each job they do is backed with a lifetime warranty, and they can do this with absolute confidence only because of their commitment to the work they do, and the fact that each customer gets exactly what they have paid for, which is an excellent product, and a job well done by experienced staff.

Apart from the company always striving to better their already outstanding service to their clients, they have joined forces with many other companies, by going green and doing their bit to help the environment. The entire company has made it their aim to constantly think of ways to reduce waste in the production of their products, get rid of hazardous materials, and to save on energy too.

They realize that helping the environment is an ongoing process, and have made a vow to be eco friendly in the production of their beautiful window coverings, and the work that they do, by developing their Green by Nature practices in their business. These include recycling amenities, using materials that are environmentally friendly, and window treatments that are energy efficient and contain low unstable organic emissions.

So, if you want the best possible, eco friendly, stylishly beautiful window coverings around, which are installed by experts who enjoy their job and will do all they can to ensure your complete satisfaction, then Graber blinds are definitely the ones you should opt for.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Great Reasons To Select Levolor Shades For Your Home


The design you choose for each area of your home says a lot about who you are. Making the greatest decorative statement comes with making the best choices about every detail in each room. This is especially true for window and door treatments. The blinds you select can add to the look of your room, or they can take away from it. Check out these reasons for choosing Levolor shades.

Matching up fabric textures and designs to window treatments can help to bring conformity and neatness to any room. The room that is furnished with natural wood can be greatly enhanced with wooden blinds. Roller shade designs in natural, blending colors would make an excellent choice for the same rooms. Keep in mind that window coverings act as a frame for tying in decorative accents when thinking about colors and styles.

Sliding glass door and larger windows look great with vertical blinds. However, in some rooms, a rolling shade design may be more suitable. You can select fabric designs for shades that add a fantastic look. This is especially true when you make sure to match up the fabric texture and colors to larger pieces of furniture in the same room. You might also consider track styles as well for your glass doors and large windows.

Cellular selections can add an extra level to the function of window coverings. In addition to finer functionality, these styles also give a three-dimensional appearance unlike other styles. Choose the colors according to the lighting you want in a room when blinds are closed.

Single or double-cell styles offer multiple choices for light filtering while wooden blinds add a natural feel. Many kinds of window treatments are available for Levolor shades. Choosing the right ones for your home is an important decision for unique and complimenting decorating. Always remember the atmosphere of any room depends on the natural lighting available.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Learning All About Graber Blinds And Decorating

Graber blinds are a well-known product in the window coverings field. Known for their superior quality and the many varieties available they have become a favorite with decorators everywhere. Regardless of the location, size or shape of a window, it will be possible to find exactly what is needed to complete an all-over decorating scheme.

Various types include cellular, honeycomb, wood and faux wood blinds, woven-wood shades and roller shades. In addition, you will find vertical, solar screens, and pleated shades. They are available in cord or cordless as well as remote control and are obtainable in a top down/bottom up model.

In any decorating scheme, it is often the little things that bring completeness to a room. While the furniture, carpeting and other things might be outstanding without the proper window coverings, something is lost in the cohesiveness of the overall picture. This is why choosing the right type of shade as well as color is so important.

Looking at a decorating magazine, you will find that this type of shade is appropriate for any room in the house. This includes bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms and any other location with a window. They also make a delightful addition to a sun porch.

On a sun porch, the entire arrangement can be made in a South Sea Island theme. In such a case, the woven wood or fax wood window covering would be perfect. When there are growing tropical plants included you can leave everyday cares behind and enjoy perfect relaxation.

Any of the Graber blinds can be made to order to fit any special shape. They will blend in beautifully with the surroundings and give that extra touch needed to present a beautiful display. In addition, they are priced well within the budget you have designated for changing a room or room's appearance.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Levolor Cellular Shades Offer Smart Window Solutions

Levolor cellular shades and blinds are available in a wide variety of wood, aluminum, woven, and vertical, window coverings. The company was founded way back in 1914 and became known for its innovative one-inch mini blind. Today, it is still a major leader in the industry and has recently expanded its product line to include elegant drapery hardware.

Throughout the years, one of the company's main objectives has been to produce window treatments that not only look beautiful, but also operate efficiently. In this respect the Accordion range offers some cordless solutions that provide privacy and light with the top-down-bottom-up concept. Enjoy the homely, cozy ambiance of natural soft light with light-filtering fabrics that let just enough sun in to create warm and inviting illumination.

For total darkness and maximum privacy, Levolor's room-darkening blinds are the ultimate. From the bathroom to the bedroom, the fabrics used for these can keep a room in pitch darkness even on a sunny, bright day. If you are looking for large shades, there is a whole range that features Cordless Loop technology. This enables the blinds to be raised evenly to the required height without the hassle of having to unlock and re-lock a cord.

Great lengths were taken to design the trademarked Energy Shield technology. Its purpose is to conserve energy and to insulate homes to the maximum. It has been proved that loss of energy through your home's windows can account for as much as 20 percent of your cooling and heating costs.

Levolor offers a full line of beautiful energy efficient fabrics that will match the existing decor in any home. When selecting a cellular shade, it's important to consider the solar heat aspect and the R-Value (insulation capacity). Both these factors are taken into account when calculating how a blind can reduce cooling and heating expenses. Energy Shield addresses both these issues and provides extra insulation by removing air flow through the shade while letting in filtered light.

The Energy Shield line is even designed for specific climates. For example, if you live in a northern climate, choose the Light Filtering or Sheer Efficiency products. These allow warmth from the sun to come in to heat up the home, while preventing internal air from escaping from the windows.

In a central climate, the Transformation range combines two layers of fabric to maximize insulation. On a cold day, the one layer attracts sunlight and blocks cold air. On a hot, sunny day, the second layer blocks heat and controls light, thereby keeping your home cool. If you live in sunny, hot southern climate, a room darkening shade is recommended.

When it comes to color coordination, Levolor cellular shades are unsurpassed. The Accordia line features coordinated color components that match with the fabric color to simplify the decoration of your home. The color of the head-rail is found just above the fabric color on all collections. To add timeless elegance and up-market style, include some attractive drapery hardware like a valance. Because many of today's homes feature unique window designs, Levolor has window treatments in different shapes such as hexagon, octagon, circular, and half-arch.

The Advantages Of Investing In Graber Blinds

Proper window protection inside and out is not always a priority for brand new homeowners. However, people do not realize just how much money they are losing when they do not have the proper system installed. Graber blinds are the perfect investment for any homeowner and will be able to provide a number of effective advantages. In order to get on board with buying and installation process use this guide to learn more about protecting the inside of the home from the sun.

Unlike other products on the market, it is important to have something that is heavy duty in the home. The cheaper blinds available these days will get worn out or even warped by the sun within a few years, which is only to drive up the cost. If the home is in a position where there is a good amount of sun exposure every day, this can be very taxing on the window coverings installed throughout the entire summer.

The Graber blinds that are on the market these days will keep the entire home a lot cooler. In fact, this is going to keep the overall energy costs down to a minimum, especially through the summer. When the air conditioning unit is not being used as much, the homeowner is going to be able to notice the savings very quickly. The darker shades and finishes will give individuals the right temperature that will make everyone comfortable.

There is a buying process that most of the homeowners will need to follow so that they can get perfectly fit and shaped window coverings. There are pre measured sets that will make things a lot easier on the first time buyer. All the individual will need to is measure their own windows and then choose from the proper selection within the list. Take the time to go through the home and measure each of the windows that will have these Graber blinds installed.

The larger homes, or even homes that have been custom built will need to have blinds that are made to fit. The custom options tend to keep the home a lot cooler simply because the fit is much closer. As long as the shades are drawn to a close, the sun is going to be kept out at all times. This is what creates the cooler atmosphere for the household.

When it comes time to install everything, most have no problem doing this on their own. All materials are included with the set, but the homeowner will need to take care of finding the necessary tools. The right tools must be used in order to ensure that these coverings stay up for as long as possible. There are options for professional installation for those who are more comfortable.

As a whole, the ordering process should be affordable. First time buyers can get what they need within a short amount of time and enjoy the fast results. Within a couple of days, even when the sun is beating down on the home everyone will still be able to notice a difference.

Investing in Graber blinds is going to do a homeowner a lot of good. Those who want to save money and protect their home will get what they need through the proper coverings. Take some time to get started with the process right now and enjoy the new look.

Comfortex Window Coverings Are Innovative And Fashionable

Comfortex Window Fashions is an American company that specializes in the manufacturing of custom window treatments. It offers an unrivaled selection of pleated and cellular shades, sheer window shadings, wood blinds, and novel vertical cellular blinds. All products are available in every USA state and also distributed to over 70 countries on every continent.

The company is committed to surpassing its customers' expectations by producing the highest quality services and products. It also strives to form excellent partnerships with customers and to continually develop new technologies. As such, Comfortex has earned an outstanding reputation in the window covering industry.

The windows in your home are the link to the outside world. Therefore, they should express your individual personality and style. Blinds and shades can not only set the ambiance of a room, but they can affect the lighting, the temperature, and the color. You can create a special mood in your home, formal or casual, by choosing the right window treatment.

All products are EcoGreen rated so they don't have a negative impact on the environment. You can therefore make your home beautiful, cut down on energy costs, and be eco-friendly all at the same time. In fact, EcoGreen energy efficient window coverings not only beautify your home, but they can earn you a handy stack of federal tax credits as well.

One of Comfortex's innovative ideas gives you the option to go online and design your very own Roman shades or roller shades with the PERSONA feature. In this way, you can choose the color, texture, and design that you want. You don't have to be a slave to what someone else has decided is fashionable this season.

Designing your own shades is simple and fun. You can either use one of the online templates with a full-color palette, or you can upload your own design, graphic, or photo. Once you are happy with the end result, Comfortex will print it for you. When the shades are delivered and installed, you can enjoy the fruits of your artistic creation every day.

If you are looking for insulating blinds, the trademarked Odysee range offers easy operation of blinds in a soft fabric that looks and feels just like a shade. They have fully functional and innovative vanes that compress to give clear views. These blinds can expand to one-inch cells that will provide enough insulation to keep your home energy efficient all year round.

If you are worried about the safety of cords, there is a range of fabulous cordless alternatives. Window coverings with loose cords are a strangulation hazard for children and pets. With a cordless Ultra cellular shade, you get a combination of safety and beauty. No matter what size you choose, it will operate smoothly with just a gentle pull or push on the bottom rail.

Another Comfortex cordless shade is the popular top-down-bottom-up style. This is combined with cutting-edge technology to create the ultimate window shade. It can be lowered and raised with a simple touch of a finger. These shades will enable you to appreciate the view from your windows without the distraction of cords.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Increase The Lifespan Of Cellular Shades By Cleaning Them Properly

Cellular shades not only fill your home with beautiful diffused lighting, but they are also energy efficient. In addition, they offer between 75 and 99 percent protection from UV rays. And, of course, they look crisp and beautiful from the outside and the inside. For all these reasons, they are perhaps the most popular choice of all window treatments.

This form of window covering comprises of sheets of non-woven or woven fabric. At regular intervals, the sheets are sewn together, then pleated vertically or horizontally to create an attractive honeycomb effect. The material is usually starched or stiffened to keep the pleats in tact.

Cellular shades are graded according to the amount of honeycomb cells. They are single, double, or triple-celled. The higher the cell count, the higher the insulation. Also, the size of pleats may differ, depending on how much insulation is required. Large pleats provide almost 100 percent insulation, while small pleats only provide partial insulation.

This type of window treatment is ideal for single-paned windows or those that are exposed to cold winds or direct sunlight. The high level of energy efficiency is due to pockets of trapped air. If these shades are installed throughout your home, you will definitely notice a reduction in your electricity bill.

If you bought them from a reputable dealer, you should have been told that an extreme amount of care should be taken when it comes to cleaning. To maintain them in good condition, regular dusting should be sufficient. Every month, they can be vacuumed with a brush extension. If, for some reason, they need to be cleaned more thoroughly, here's how to do it properly. Bear in mind that they are held together with strong adhesive. This can deteriorate if incorrect chemicals are applied.

If the shades get soiled, the best method is spot-cleaning. Do this with a clean damp cloth. No cleaning detergent or chemical should be added to the cloth. Wipe the soiled area gently without spending too much time on the seamed areas. If the dirt is on the fabric, not the seam, add a small amount of mild soap to the cloth. If the shades are white, don't use a colored soap.

There are only a few brands that can be completely submerged in water. If this is the case, it's best to fill the bathtub with warm water and add a small amount of mild detergent. Try and keep the head rail out of the water. Gently and slowly, allow the water to pass through the sheets of fabric to loosen the dust and dirt. After cleaning, hang them up on the window where they belong. Keep the window closed until they are thoroughly dry. Never use a blow-dryer as it can cause damage.

If this doesn't work effectively, you will have to call in a professional cleaner. Make sure the contractor is experienced in cleaning cellular shades and ask if he or she has insurance cover. Even professionals make mistakes and you need to be sure that, if something goes wrong, the cleaner will replace your window coverings.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Three Reasons to Choose Levolor Shades

When it comes to outfitting the many windows of your home, you have a lot of choices. Not only do you have to choose from the many colors, the many textures, and the material the blinds are made of, but you also have to chose the type of blinds you want. Like many of the things for your home, different types of blinds have different types of advantages. Levolor shades, for instance, have three main things going their way: quality, affordability, and choice of colors.
Before we begin to discuss the advantages of Levolor shades, let's discuss what Levolor shades actually are.

Levolor cellular shades are blinds made with a unique cell structure. They are well known for their innovative design, as well as their aesthetic appeal.
As stated before, Levolor cellular shades have three main advantages. Below we will discuss each of them.

Their HIgh Quality: The Levolor company is over a century old and they take their reputation very seriously. They pride themselves on offering a quality product and that is exactly what consumers end up purchasing. Levolor cellular shade are particularly known for their insulating properties. Because they are made of such a unique and innovative cell structure, these blinds from Levolor are better equipped to keep cold air out in the winter and heat out during the summer. Not only does this make you and your family more comfortable, but it can also help save you money. The more cool air Levolor shades keep out, for instance, the less you have to run your furnace and the more you save on your heating bill.

Their Affordability: As stated above, the Levolor company takes its reputation seriously. A great part of this reputation is their special attention to customer service. This includes pricing their items so that people can purchase them without spending an arm and a leg. Levolor cellular blinds are affordable, and available at discounts through online retailers.

Their Colors: Quality and affordability are always two things to consider when purchasing window blinds, but what good are these two elements if the blinds clash with the decor. When choosing window treatments, color is usually among the first things consumer consider: you don't want your blinds to clash with your carpet or furniture. Levolor shade takes this into consideration and offer over two hundred colors to choose from. This helps assure consumers that they will find exactly what they want.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Flat Panel vs. Tear Drop Roman Shades

If you are ready to invest in a window treatment that you can fall in love with, then you are ready for Roman shades. Custom made for any size window; these classic blinds look more like artistic accents, but they are actually highly functional window coverings. Roman blinds look and feel like draperies and come in a variety of rich colors and textures; some brands even come with decorative print patterns. Contemporary roman blinds have the look of fabric with the modern technology and benefits of cellular blinds, including energy saving insulation, 99% UV protection and varying degrees of light filtration from sheer to blackout.

Roman Shades generally come in two varieties: the Tear Drop style and flat panel shades. Tear Drop shades consists of four to six inch folds forming a loop pattern. When the shades are down, the loops add a dimensional, sculpted quality to any window. When the shades are up, the folds gather at the head rail. The tear drop shape is perfect if you want the classic look of traditional roman blinds. Most roman shades come with a matching fabric valance and fabric wrapped bottom rail.

Flat panel Roman blinds have more sleek and fitted look that lays flush with the window, although the blinds can be fitted outside the window frame if desired. Flat panel roman blinds are made with three vertical seams spaced evenly apart so that when the shades fold up, each horizontal panel stacks neatly behind the next one to create a seamless neatly folded look. Each panel is anywhere from 6” to 12”, depending on which style you choose. All flat panel roman blinds come with a matching valance conceals the panels and the head rail when the blinds are up. When the Roman shades are down, they hang smoothly for a contemporary look.

Both hobbled and flat panel roman shades can be fitted with upgrades such as the cordless lift system, which makes a contemporary look even more elegant and impressive. The cordless lift makes all blinds and shades safer for kids and pets. There are also top down bottom up features available for upgrade so that desired light may be let in, while still maintaining privacy. Various brands offer decorative valances, trims and even wooden cornices to enhance to the look of your blinds. Roman shades look beautiful and are built to last, so don’t keep true love waiting, order your dream shades today.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Measuring Tips for Bay Windows

If you have a bay window in your home, chances are it is your favorite window, letting in lots of light and picture perfect views. Just like all the other windows in your home, you need window blinds to protect against damaging UV rays, and add insulation. Cellular blinds or roman blinds will add a decorative look to your favorite bay window reading nook. When you have chosen the perfect discount window shades that suite with your décor and your budget, make sure that you get the measurements exactly correct before your custom window blinds are ordered.

Bay windows have a unique shape, therefore a separate set of blinds is necessary for each panel in the window. Each window sits at an obtuse angle from the other windows and if the size is not measured correctly, the edges of your window blinds might be too close together or too far apart. A good way to make sure you get the right measurement is to make a poster board cutout of window, including the depth of the blinds to make sure that each panel is spaced evenly.

For more information on measuring and installing your new discount window shades, check out the detailed measuring guide at blindsaver.com for specific instructions and a diagram on how to measure for window blinds on bay windows.

1. Determine the depth of the product you are mounting and use this for the width of your poster board. You can obtain this depth for your discount window shades on the product pages at blindsaver.com or through customer service at 1-877-388-0336.

2. Next cut out two pieces of poster board the width of the product depth by 12" long. If extra clearance necessitates the use of extension brackets or spacer blocks, include this extra clearance to the width dimension of the poster board.

3. Place strip "A" in the left angle first and bring together strip in "A" and "B" until the front corners of the poster board meet you will obtain the correct angle. Mark points "A" and "B". Repeat for strips "C" and "D".

4. Measure from the left corner of "B" to the right corner of "C" to obtain the width measurement of the center window treatment. Measure from the right corner of "A" outward to the desired width to obtain the width measurement of the left window treatment. Measure from left corner of "D" outward to the desired width to obtain the width measurement of the right window treatment.

5) Height of the window treatments is determined in the normal horizontal blind fashion.

Remember to always double check your measurements. If you need help, there are tons of trained measuring and installation specialists in your local area that can be hired
to come to your home and do the measuring for you, so you can be on your way to enjoying new discount window shades in your home soon.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Matching Cellular Shade to your Room

When it comes to home ownership, it isn't just about repair and maintenance - if the sprinklers break or the dishwasher starts smoking, they definitely need to be fixed, but the buck doesn't stop there. When it comes to home ownership, it is also about decorating.

One of the integral, if not the most integral, parts of decorating is matching colors. You don't want colors clashing or offsetting each other. Not only does this apply to things like furniture, carpet, and wall colors, but is also applies to window shades.

Cellular blinds, blinds that are made using unique honeycomb shaped cells, are a type of blinds known for their insulating abilities. This insulation helps home owners reduce heating and cooling costs by keeping unwanted air out. Cellular blinds are also known for their variety of colors. When it is time for you to play "matchmaker" to all of your decor, this comes in extremely handy.
But, where do you begin? With so many varieties of colors offered through cell shades, how do you know what one is right for you? The answer is simple: get samples.

Cellular shades are a popular online item. There are many discount blind stores that offer them at a more affordable price than chain stores. Buying cellular shades online reinforces the need to get samples. The sites that sell these cell shades, should be able to provide free samples.

To save yourself time and frustration, it is a good idea to get several different samples of cell shades before deciding. Not only may you want to get completely different colors - such as a sample of blue cellular shades and a sample of red cellular shades - but you may also want to get different hues of the same color (such as a light green sample and a teal green sample). One of the things to remember when buying online is that colors might not look the same in reality: computer screens can alter color tones.

Another thing to keep in mind when getting samples for cellular blinds is any alternations you will be making in the future. This is particularly applicable to wall colors. If you are going to be drastically changing your wall color, consider this when asking for cellular blinds.

Cell shades are a great addition to any window of your house. But, before you purchase make sure you know what you are getting. Get samples and make sure the color matches as well as you think.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Measuring your windows for cellular shades

If you decided to tackle a New Year's Resolution of giving your home a facelift, one easy way to do that is to change out the window dressings in several key rooms. Cellular shades are a popular choice for window treatments because they offer the ease of mechanical window blinds plus the wealth of design options in terms of fabric style, color, texture, as well as light filtering capabilities. In order to purchase cellular blinds, however, you need to take some measurements in order to get the right size. Once you decide how you want the finished look of the cell shades to be in a particular room, it is fairly straightforward to get the measurements needed for placing an order for new cellular blinds.

Take a look at the wood trim surrounding your windows first as well as the windows themselves. If you are not planning on doing a complete window remodel, then you might have to live with less-than-attractive window trim or windows. However, you can get cell shades that are larger than the window opening and mount them outside the frame using an outside mount. This hides any unflattering features behind the cellular blinds, which can improve the look of your entire room tremendously. With a mount that is outside the window frame, you can measure a few inches wider than the window frame to determine your cellular shades' width measurement. The length measurement should be the length of the window, plus the length of the head rail and bottom rail, which is typically a little under two inches total.

For taking measurements for cell shades that will be used inside the window frame, bear in mind that the glazing in the window may not be perfectly rectangular or square. If this is the case, it is best to take three measurements across the window: one at the bottom, one at the middle and one at the top of the glazing. Use the smallest measurement as your width measurement. Next, take the length measurements by measuring the length of the glazing from the right side of the window and then again from the left side, and the largest measurement is what you need to use for the length of the new cellular shades.

Armed with these measurements, you are now ready to improve the look of your rooms by shopping for some new cellular blinds.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Taking care of your cellular shades

Many people enjoy the convenience that comes from furnishing their homes with cellular shades. These beautiful cellular blinds are created from honeycomb-shaped pieces of material that are connected together to form the blind. Homeowners who have cellular blinds do so because they offer excellent energy efficiency due to the hollow area inside each cell, which traps air and keeps hot sun out in the summertime and warm air inside in the winter. This effect can be maximized by using double cellular shades. Cellular shades can be crafted from sheer material, which will allow filtered light to enter the room, or can be completely opaque so that darkness can be achieved in the room, which is especially important if you are using them in a bedroom or home theatre. Now that you have these state-of-the-art shades, you will want to maintain them so that they can provide years of service and beauty for you home.

The first step you can take to keep your cellular blinds looking great is to dust them regularly. You can choose to quickly go over them with a feather duster on a daily basis, and then use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove dust weekly or bi-weekly. Some computer hounds have good luck with using cans of compressed air, used to clean the inner parts of a computer, to also blow dust off their cellular blinds.

Over time, stains can happen on the cellular shades. This calls for a bit more drastic cleaning in order to bring them back to their original look. After checking to see how the fabric responds on a small inconspicuous part of the shade, you can use warm soapy water on a damp sponge and gently blot the stained area. It is best to not rub too hard on the fabrics used in these specialty shades, because it can distress the fabric, causing it to pill, and it can also ruin the pleat in the fabric.

For more serious stains, you can determine if the following might work. After doing a small test in an unnoticeable corner, you can try removing the cellular blinds from their mounting and soaking the blinds in soapy lukewarm water in your bathtub. You may have to raise one end of the blinds up so that dirty water can run out of them. Rinse them, and hang them back up on the mounting with the blind opened up, so that they air dry. It is a good idea after they are dry to reclose them, so that the pleats are once again properly pressed into the fabric.

With proper and routine care, cellular shades can provide years of comfort and beauty to your home or office.