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.
Friday, May 6, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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