Monday, December 6, 2010

Mounting Window Blinds: Inside Versus Outside

When it comes to buying window blinds, there are many decisions that must be made. Things like type, cost, brand, material and color all must be considered before the time of purchase. But the decisions don’t stop there: you must also decide where you want to mount your window blinds, inside or outside of the window frame.

More often than not, people choose to mount their window blinds inside the frame. This is a universal choice for many regardless of the choice of blind. Solar shades, cellular blinds and a variety of other types are often placed inside the frame because an inside mount provides a much neater, organized and often tidier appearance. With an inside mount, there are no blinds hanging down to the ground or appearing wild and out of control.

There are several reasons for an inside mount. To begin, mounting your blinds inside the frame typically provides more convenience if you are combining blinds and drapes or other types of curtains. Mounting cellular blinds inside, for instance, helps keep the drapes and blinds from interfering with each other.

An inside mount can also help reduce energy costs further than an outside mount. The reason for this is because inside mounted blinds lay closer to the window than outside mounted blinds. This can result in the better trapping of air (whether this is warm or cool air).

No matter what type of blinds you are mounting inside, be it solar shades, or some other type, an inside mount does require a set of blinds that are perfectly measured.

An outside mount is beneficial for those who are unable to mount blinds inside the frame. Some reasons for this inability may be an alarm sensor or crank handle situated on the inside of a window frame or windows that are not deep enough to hold blinds. Another reason why you may choose to mount your window blinds outside the frame is a unique window shape. If you have a rectangular, octagonal, circular, trapeze, or other irregularly shaped windows, you may choose an outside mount so that your window blinds do not have to fit into an oddly shaped frame.

No matter where you mount your blinds, and whether you purchase solar shades or cellular blinds, window blinds are a great way to give you insulation, privacy, provide shade from strong sunlight and help you save money on your energy costs.

Tips on Picking Colors for Honeycomb Blinds

Honeycomb blinds are quickly taking the window treatments world by storm for several reasons. Cellular blinds are visually appealing, affordable and can save money. Honeycomb shades are well known for their ability to better insulate your home; saving you money in the cost of heating and cooling bills.

With all of this, you might find that your decision to buy honeycomb blinds is already made. However, when it comes to window treatments, color is an essential decision. The color of your honeycomb shades is going to come down to personal preference. Some people love certain colors, others simply loathe them. Here are a few tips to point you in the right direction:

Consider the Light

Honeycomb blinds come in a variety of colors. These include soft colors, bold colors, bright colors, and dark colors. Certainly the colors in the room will play a major factor in your color choice. A room decorated in dark red, for instance, might not mesh with bright blue blinds. Matching colors is not the only factor to consider. The amount of light you want shining into your room will also play a large role in deciding on the color of your new honeycomb blinds. Darker colors, for instance, will keep more light out than lighter colors.

Think Ahead

Another factor to consider when deciding the color of honeycomb shades is the future of your room. Since these types of shades are very durable, your new blinds may outlast the paint scheme of the room. If you are planning on redecorating a room or you tend to change things around with frequency you may want to purchase blinds that will go with virtually any decor. Tan and off white colors are much more versatile than bright yellow. Keep this in mind if you can see yourself repainting or redocorating the room in the next 5-10 years.

Be True to Self Expression

Ultimately, window treatments are about you and your self expression. Color is a huge part of this self expression. While you should consider logistics such as how much light you want shining in and how well colors will match, you really should buy window blinds that you truly like. If you can’t stand pastel colors, don’t get blind in those colors. If you think that the dark teal looks nice but just isn’t you, find something that is. Your house is a blank canvas, paint it with the colors that you love.

Roller Shades Are Back in Style

For anyone who is in the home improvement or redecorating business, it is easy to see that the trends in window shades are constantly changing. We occasionally see new designs and new ideas coming forward, but it is mainly the designs of the past that are reemerging. Roller shades, for instance, have recently re-lit the flame of their own popularity coming back in style with flair and technological improvements.

What Are Roller Shades?

Roller shades are a type of window treatments made with modern fabric. These blinds, sometimes called roller blinds or roll up shades, are known for their affordability and their simple functionality. They are also known for their ability to add color and style to any room of a house and their versatility.

What Are the Advantages of Roller Shades?

Roller shades are often manually controlled which keeps them affordable. However, roller shades can also be motorized. These types of window treatments are unique in that they can be automatically opened or closed through the use a remote control or a switch. This makes these types of blinds ideal for windows that are high up and out of reach.

Some roller shades are able to run on solar technology. These solar shades work through a solar unit that is usually set up outside the home. This unit absorbs sunlight during the day and converts this light to stored energy. The solar blinds then open and close through this saved up energy. The unit is replenished on the next sunny day.

Solar shades more often refer to roller shades that diffuse and filter sunlight. They come in a variety of fabrics, colors and patterns. They became popular in offices and commercial building design and have been used in homes to give a more contemporary look. Whether you want your window treatments to block out a little light, most light, or all light, you can pick a fabric that suits your needs. The variety of fabric also supplies different level of privacy: you can opt to be completely hidden from the outside world, halfway hidden, or just a little hidden.

Are Roller Shades Safe?

Roller shades, whether they are solar shades or other types, are one of the best options for avoiding sun damage. Over time, the heat and brightness of the sun can leave carpet, couches, chairs, and even walls damaged or discolored. Roller shades will block these hazardous UV rays.

Roller shades are also available in cordless systems. With these type of systems, there is no long cord that hangs down in a loop or otherwise. This is a good option for people who have young children and pets. Cordless roller shades reduce the risk of kids and dogs or cats getting dangerously entangled in the cord of window treatments.

Top 3 Advantages of Cellular Blinds

For over three decades, cellular blinds have been a fixture in homes all over the world. Recently, these types of blinds have started to regain their once flourishing popularity. The reason for this resurgence is simple: cellular shades are very advantageous to the home owner.

Before we go into these advantages, let’s explain what cellular blinds actually are. Sometimes called honeycomb shades, cellular blinds are a type of blinds made of fabric usually sewn or glued to resemble a diamond cell shape. These types of blinds are often superior to others particularly in the following three categories:

Insulation: Cellular shades are designed to trap air within their “honeycomb” cells. This air helps insulate your home and reduces the amount of heat your windows transfer. With this insulation, your home is better equipped to keep heat in during the winter months and cool air in during the summer months. This ultimately results in the use of less energy all year long, which saves you a great amount of money on both heating and cooling costs.

A Rainbow of Colors: Cellular shades come in a variety of colors. The reason this is beneficial to those in the market for blinds is because every house is different and every room is unique. One color of blinds is not enough to fit the world. Cellular blinds come in all types of hues and tints. This is perfect if you have a home with unique or bold colors, a home with subtle colors, or a home with colors that are somewhere in between. With so many colors to choose from, you won’t be forced to redecorate the rest of your house in an attempt to make sure your carpet, couches, and walls match your brand new cellular blinds.

Easy installation: No matter what type of window blinds you are installing, the entire process can sound quite intimidating. However, installing cellular shades is actually quite simple. These shades are designed with the DIY installer in mind. There are a variety of resources online that provide step by step tutorials and often video tutorials to help the installation go as smooth as possible. You typically only need a screwdriver, a marking pencil, a measuring tape, and a drill.

No matter you reason for being in the market for blinds; owning a new house, redecorating, or just engaging in home improvement, cellular blinds are a smart and appealing choice. They will help save you time, money, all while adding visual charm to your home.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Measuring Window Coverings For your Home

Posted by: Blinds Guru

Window coverings have turn out to be one of the most appealing windowpane treatment alternatives accessible for privacy, décor, and shielding both your carpet and furnishings from the dangerous UV rays of the sun. We hope the following blinds calculating details gives the reader with the required data required in purchasing or ordering their custom or produced to measure window treatments whether or not they be vinyl, wood, or aluminum. Most blinds are offered in a selection of slat widths. On the inside mounting of your window blinds as described below call for you to take unique care when calculating and picking the slat size for purchasing your pane blinds on the web. Some of the most well-liked manufacturers of window blinds consist of Hunter Douglas, Bali, Kirsch, and Levolor.

Measuring For Your Horizontal Window Blind:
When calculating for your custom or produced-to-measure window blinds, make sure you use a metal tape measure, yardstick, or other non-flexible measuring device to insure accuracy of your measurements. There are two simple mounting methods for your window blinds - within mount and external mount.

Measuring Externally Secured Blinds:
Externally attached blind hardware is positioned and attached to your pane casing in most instances. When calculating for your externally secured window coverings make positive to measure where your blinds will be installed and positioned from. External secured blinds call for only the width and length as the included hardware makes it possible for for differences in the actual pane blind slat size. All pane blinds measurements are taken to 1/8-inch accuracy.

Calculating Within Mounted Blinds:
Inside secured window blinds require a lot more precise measurements and also require you to take into consideration these measurements when selecting your desired blind slat width/size. The length or height measurements need to be taken from the left, middle, and appropriate sides in between the windowpane jamb header and the pane sill. Use the largest measurement rounded up to the next 1/8 inch when purchasing your blinds. On the inside secured blind hardware is attached directly to the inside of of the windowpane jamb. When measuring the on the inside width of your blinds make confident to measure at the top, middle and bottom opening of the pane jamb. Measuring in these three locations may well give you various measurements as all windows and their jambs are square. Make positive to use the smallest measurement when purchasing your blinds. Typically when buying window coverings on the internet the blind manufacturer will automatically deduct a little quantity from the on the inside measurement for clearance.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Everything to Know About Wood Blinds

If you are definitely searching to make a statement with your window remedies, you may well want to seriously consider getting wooden blinds. Just as with other sorts of window coverings created from other supplies, they are offered in a wide selection of sizes and styles. As a result, you ought to have no issue finding the correct style to suit your home's décor.

Just as with all forms of blinds, timber blinds are intended to cover up your windows so you can take pleasure in your privacy and so you can keep the sunlight out. Timber blinds also act like an insulator, which means they help maintain the heat in during the winter although also helping to keep rooms cool through the summertime. Unlike blinds created from other components, however, wooden blinds assist create a classic appearance that basically cannot be achieved with other kinds of blinds.

When it comes to wood blinds, you will discover that there are a lot of unique kinds offered, The most typical woods applied for these blinds contain cherry, bamboo and pine, though it is feasible to order wooden blinds created from other types of wooden as well. By selecting the wooden and stain that matches the furniture in your area, you can truly bring together the seem of your area.

Despite the fact that solid wood blinds are readily available in a range of distinct designs, the most frequent style used with this material is the venetian blind. Venetian blinds make it possible for you to very easily adjust the volume of light that you permit into the space, even when the blinds are lowered absolutely. By angling the slats down, you can block out far more light. Or, if you wish to let much more light to enter the space, you merely angle the slats so they run parallel to every other. Wooden roller shades are also accessible, but these blinds should be lowered or raised in order to make adjustments to the amount of light that comes in.


Other Articles:   Cellular Shades - Sheer Vertical Blinds Benefits

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Cellular Window Shades Are Tops

Posted by Window Blinds Guru


Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb blinds, are made from fabric that makes a "cell" like pocket designed to trap air and protects your room from heat loss in the winter months and heat absorption in summer months to help same money on utilities. Cellular shades have become so popular today because of the energy savings.

Energy efficiency has been a major focus of people's lives today.  Now even the government is getting involved by offering tax credits for majority of products that are purchased that are energy efficient.

The efficiency of these cellular shades is based on the number of cells, the thickness of the material as well as the type of fabric weaves in the blinds. A nice thing about cellular shades is the fabrics are so adaptable.  The honeycomb feature allows them to insulate the best and also provide some sound resistance as well.  Another great thing about these window coverings is the variety of colors and textures blind manufacturers are coming out with.  If you are looking for cellular shades online, you will notice what a wide variety there are. Cellular shades also provide great privacy while letting in natural light which is hard to come by with window blinds.  This is one of the most coveted features for window coverings today; something that allows light in but puts up enough privacy.

Some of the top manufacturers of cellular shades are Bali blinds, Levolor blinds, Graber blinds, and Comfortex blinds. If you select one of these major brands you know you will get a quality window treatment for an affordable price.