Blinds, Shades and Window Treatments: What You Should Be Looking for

By Joie M Gahum  |   Submitted On February 13, 2016

Blinds, shades and window treatments are perfect accessories for homes that decorate windows, the eyes of a home. They are the frame that allows us to view the outdoors. Thus, picking a window blind that will allows us to enjoy the outdoors as much as we enjoy the privacy and quiet time we enjoy at home.

There are many things to consider when installing a specific window treatment for a home. Here are some of the tips that you can follow.

Know what your room needs

Before shopping for any furnishing, knowing how it will function and how the whole of the home will function with it is important. Prior to decorating one must access the room and check which items inside are considered good, bad or ugly. Knowing which are the good points and the bad points of a room will serve as a guide on how you can begin and proceed with adding accessories and furnishing inside, including window blinds. This is the perfect opportunity to play with color, pattern, texture and scale indoors.

Knowing how window treatments work

Different window coverings vary in use. Some are versatile and can work practically with any room. They can be of different uses as well such as light-filtering, sunscreen or simple decorative pieces added to make your indoors look great. Different coverings also give off different kinds of feel for a home. It can bring a modern or contemporary appeal to homes, or grand and expensive for some designs.

Decorative purposes

Most home accessories are there to decorate and add something interesting to homes. There are also many great choices in terms of home decor when one is aiming to decorate, besides adding efficiency to a home. Bedrooms can look lovely with Roman blinds while living areas would look refreshing with easy to operate roll out blinds. Detail and drama can be achieved if you know what looks great for your homes and what doesn't.

Blending colors

It is important that every hue inside your homes work with one another. This is also the case when accessorizing your windows. The color of your window covering should complement or should highlight an area inside your home. This is where the material of your treatments comes in. Knowing which material works with the existing style and the material that will make the function of your homes more efficient is also necessary.

Practicality

It is also important to consider the overall impact of a window covering for your home. Does this improves the energy consumption at home, provides a statement decor for your home and suits your budget at the same time? Then you are indeed getting the best for your homes. However, the best is not always the case for many. If a covering is within your budget and looks great for your homes but is a second best when it comes to design and style, you can still consider them, practicality in mind.

There are indeed many things to consider before adding a decor or furnishing for your home. Doing so, within a process or system ensures that your home is getting what's best for it, if not best for all.

There are many options for temporary blackout blinds available in the market that will most likely suit your need and budget for your decorative purposes at home. Several designs, material and color for this type of window treatment can be considered as a new statement or addition for your home decorating projects at home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Joie_M_Gahum/2200904

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How to Choose Vertical Blinds for Our Homes

By Joie M Gahum  |   Submitted On October 25, 2015

Home decorating is a very vast creative area that we should all take time to explore. As for creating the perfect home for our families with a touch of each and every member's personalities, there are many fixtures and home accessories available in the market that can help us to do so.

Window treatments are one of the aspects in home design that we could try to explore when it comes to home decorating. However, for some, they still prefer to stick with the design basics, just like vertical blinds.

Vertical window treatments add height to a low ceiling room. These types of blinds are ideal for patio doors, bay windows, and sliding glass doors or windows. Plus, they are much easier to clean than horizontal blinds, thus making them a favorite option among home decorators.

Before buying vertical window blinds, though, you must consider the budget, the style of your house, and how long do you expect your blinds to last.

Choosing one boils down to your aesthetic preference. Here are some quick advice you can follow.

How long does it have to be?

Measure first your window frame. Blinds must cover the entire window to have a maximum privacy and proper control of light.

Primarily, you must know the two styles of vertical blinds: the inside-mount and the outside-mount blinds. The inside-mount sits in line with the window frame. While the outside-mount hangs outside the window frame. It looks bulky and spans larger area.

For inside-mount blinds, measure the window frame's length and width. However, for outside-mount, you could decide how long the blinds would be since you can drop it longer than the window. But to be safe, you might as well add up 1.5 to 3 inches on either side to ensure it overlaps.

Decide on materials.

Wood vertical blinds

Wooden blinds bring elegance to a room. It's popular in many homes, though wood is prone to mildew and easily fades with sunlight. It is also not advisable for covering multiple windows as it would be too expensive.

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) blinds

This synthetic material is durable and comes in various colors. PVC is flame-resistant and ideal for your child's room.

Textile vertical blinds

Those who wanted to combine the softer feel of curtains and the sleek structure of blinds opt for fabric vertical window coverings. A vacuum cleaner could remove its dust, though stains are harder to clean.

Aluminum blinds

These types of material do not rust over time and are easier to clean. However, they could be noisy upon closing doors or when it's breezy with the open window.

The cost of vertical blinds varies with the materials, length, and the number of the windows where it will be installed. You can let the store staff do it for you or you could install it on your own.

Your windows are one of the most important areas in your homes that should be given proper attention to. Check out ideas and other window treatment options that you can use for your windows via Blinds Online's page.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Joie_M_Gahum/2200904

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The Benefits of Using Venetian Blinds at Home

By Zack P Bauer  |   Submitted On October 12, 2015

Window blinds are a popular favorite especially among modern homeowners who want to give their windows a clean and put together look. When choosing the right set of window blinds to decorate one's home, it is recommended to give venetian blinds a try. They are easy to install, passed safety standards, trendy and durable.

Venetian blinds are one of the most popular window blinds out there on the market. A great number of homeowners favor venetian blinds because of its aesthetic value. These types of window blinds are known for their classic and elegant appearance. There are many benefits when it comes to choosing venetian blinds:

They give you more control.

One chief reason why venetian blinds are a popular favorite is that homeowners find that they have more control over how much light they want to enter a room. With that being said, they also have the control over the privacy they want. In order to control light, one can simply control the angle of the blind's blades from a fully opened angle or a fully closed one. If one prefers maximum amount of light to enter the room, one has the option to and can raise the blinds all the way up in order to allow the light to fully enter the room. Privacy is uncompromised with this type of window covering.

These types of blinds are easier to install.

Besides giving one more control, window blinds are user-friendly and are easier to install. Those who have purchased a set of these blinds find that they do not have to worry about hiring a professional to have them installed. These blinds can be custom made to fit the type of window that homeowners may have. One simply needs the instruction manual and a basic set of tools. Prior to purchasing a window blind, it is still important to correctly measure the size of your windows. There are many online tools and videos that can help guide even non-professional on how to correctly measure their window for window blinds purchases.

They are easier to clean.

Many homeowners find blinds to be low maintenance and easier to clean. Unlike fabric blinds, which have to be taken to the cleaners in order to keep them looking their best, venetian blinds can be cleaned by means of a damp cloth or by means of a feather duster. It is just that simple. A vacuum cleaner can also be used every six weeks to ensure that blinds are kept clean and dust free.

Besides being elegant and classy looking, venetian blinds can provide many first time homeowners with many advantages that can brighten up their home. It is often advised to choose venetian blinds for a low maintenance upkeep of one's home.

Style and elegance in your homes can easily be achieved with venetian blinds. There is a wide selections from Blinds Online you can check for styles and colors that will match your home's current theme.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Zack_P_Bauer/1608692

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Wooden Blinds - Major Benefits of Using Them

By Sean O'Sullivan  |   Submitted On August 01, 2015

Blinds on doors and windows are the main decorating items in interior design. Wooden Blinds are the ones that give a wooden look. Moreover, it gives a warm look to the room's atmosphere. When using blinds made out of wood you can be assured of getting the classy look that can change the look and style of the room. Moreover, customizing the blinds according to the style of the room can make the interior design more attractive.

Decorating interior with wood blinds

Wood blinds are the perfect choice if you prefer to give your room a charm that is graceful without making it look artificial. They have the grace and charm of making a room look much better than the curtains, which were traditionally used for decorating rooms. Wood blinds for windows are the perfect insulators that can give the room the right protection from extreme heat of the sun or the cold weather. Areas which are humid in the house like kitchens or bathrooms can be decorated with faux blinds that give the look and style of blinds made out of wood.

What are wood blinds made up of?

Two different types of wood are usually used for the purpose of making blinds. They are:

• Ramin wood
• Bass wood

Ramin wood is a cheaper option. On the other hand, Bass wood is chosen to make wood blinds that are stronger and sturdier. Blinds can be made without a hole option. This will allow the rooms get a dark effect, as not sunlight is allowed to peep in. Making use of a 3 inch valance can make the blinds more attractive. Usually in ramin, 2 inch valance is used at the top of the window so as to hide the rails made out of metal.

Varieties of wood blinds

There are a lot of variations in wood blinds. They include:

• Woven wood blinds
• Vertical wood blinds
• Faux blinds
• Mini blinds

In the market you will get to see wooden blinds in different sizes, shapes and colours. The wood used in making them too varies. You can also customize your order for wood blinds so as to fit the style of your room. While ordering window blinds, you can choose certain features like motorization, UV control, fabric tapes, cord, or even anti static control features.

Care to be taken while buying blinds

While purchasing wooden blinds, care should be taken to check the size of the slats. For French doors and for windows that are small, one inch slats are perfect. For windows of other sizes and shapes, choosing two inch slats would be better. Those blinds with slats that are bigger than two inches look like the plantation shutters. The see through spaces is also bigger when the blinds are opened. Cordless blinds and valance upgrades are the options that are available according to the needs and requirements of the customers.

Where is it available

You will find wooden blinds in every interior decoration store or home improvement centres. These days, since you can buy everything online, you will find a whole lot of online stores supplying blinds of various kinds. All you need to do is go through any such site and pick your choice.

SL Shutters and blinds is a leading company that is well-known and can supply all types of shutters and blinds. This is a one stop destination for all types of shutters and blinds.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_O'Sullivan

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Here Is What You Need to Know About Roller Blinds

By Aman Tumukur Khanna  |   Submitted On June 11, 2015

What are roller blinds?

So you have moved into a new home. Or perhaps, you've renovated your old one. And now, you are debating about what kind of blinds to use on your windows. Have you considered choosing roller blinds? Made mostly of stiffened polyester, and mounted upon a metal pole to add to the support, roller blinds are easy to use, and easy on the eyes. They are generally designed on the form of a large piece of the fabric, and can rolled up or down from one end.

Why should you choose roller blinds over other kinds of blinds?

Every kind of blinds comes with its own set of advantages. Here is what the roller blind has to offer to your home -

• These blinds are attractive - Roller blinds do not have slates or excess fabric. They come with a very simple design that is easy to use, and does not create a mess. These days, roller blinds are being made out of a variety of materials including translucent fabrics (which let the light in), sun-screening fabrics (which help to screen the sun's glaring rays and the ultraviolet component therein), and block-out fabrics (which do not allow much light through).

• These blinds are flexible - Most of the fabrics that are used in the making of roller blinds enhance the flexibility of the product. Also, since these blinds are designed in a manner that requires them to be rolled up and down, it is crucial that they are flexible. They are also flexible in terms of the purpose for which they can be used. For instance, depending on the material used, they can be used for letting the light in, acting a sunscreen, or for blocking out the light.

• They are easy to use - These blinds can be aided by a spring, operated by using a chain, or can be powered by a motor. In fact, motorized blinds can all be linked together so that multiple blinds can be closed and opened simultaneously. How cool is that! This also makes it easier to operate blinds that cannot be reached easily in case they are blocked by pieces of furniture in your home.

• These blinds are strong and durable - You will not have to make a replacement every few months. In fact, the ones that are of dependable quality can last for several years with very little maintenance. It is one of the important things to remember.

To know more about blinds, please check our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aman_Tumukur_Khanna

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Window Covering Ideas for the Bedroom

By Alex Pupkin  |   Submitted On May 28, 2015

Window treatments are not only versatile decorative accents but also provide a couple of important functions, especially in the bedroom. When it comes to window covering ideas for the bedroom, you want to consider decorative elements in addition to the factors that make your bedroom a calm and peaceful place for sleep. Indeed, window coverings in the bedroom need to fit your personal style while also offering exceptional privacy and light and sound control. Here are some tips for getting the most from your bedroom window treatments.

Make a Statement

No matter the room, window treatments can make a bold first impression. You obviously want to choose window coverings for your bedroom that match your decorative style. So, for example, if you prefer a contemporary style that features clean, straight lines, consider custom blinds or solid-panel curtains. Another accent feature for your window that matches well to a variety of styles is a cornice. Cornices are essentially upholstered valances that make a great window accent while also covering rods and rings from which curtains hang.

Think Comfort

Typically, bedrooms are not the most formal rooms in your home, and there are good reasons for that. Your bedroom should be a calm and relaxing place, so your window treatments should reflect a sense of comfort or coziness. Roman shades are a great choice because they are available in a variety of colours and patterns. They can provide the textural features of woven fibres while also providing excellent noise and light control. Wood blinds or plantation shades also offer exceptional light control, or consider brightly coloured, lined curtains for a bit of pop.

Singles or Pairs

Sometimes simplicity is best and you really only need one window treatment in your bedroom. Blackout curtains block light and noise, and they sometimes even help reduce heat exchange. Cellular shades are the perfect choice for bedrooms in cold climates as they help improve window efficiency without compromising style - they're available in a wide range of patterns and colours.

On the other hand, you may want to get a little more sophisticated with your bedroom window coverings. Layered treatments create an elegant decorative accent, so consider combining contemporary blinds with an attractive valance and patterned curtain.

Suit Yourself

Ultimately, your own decorative preferences should guide your choice of bedroom window coverings. All the experts in the world can tell you what's right for your space, but at the end of the day you want your bedroom to be a relaxing place for you. Don't be afraid to take risks or think outside the box when considering window covering ideas for the bedroom. There really is no right or wrong - as long as you're happy.

For more information on window covering ideas, visit Arlene's Interiors

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Pupkin

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Creating a Beach Style Home With Window Blinds

By Jenny Grace Molbog-Mendoza  |

When you are someone who loves everything about the beach, then you are precisely dreaming of having a home that exudes an ambiance similar to it, right? When you want to create a beach style home, you can actually achieve it with the help of window blinds.

Window blinds as your home's window treatment offers versatility. With the many types of window blinds available from different suppliers nowadays, you can surely find the best set that will not only complement with your abode's general design but will also bring out its natural beach-y feel.

Achieving a beach style home is not only limited to a structure built near the coastline. It can likewise be a home kilometers away from the long stretch of naturally blue water and white sand.

For each nook in your home, you can design it in such a way that it will display a beach-like atmosphere. So read on to learn more about these practical tips and strategies.

Coastal Den

To design the bay windows of your coastal den, you may opt for woven wood sliding panels and woven bamboo vertical blinds in prints which could be the picture of flying cranes or the serene coastline. And if you have huge windows, you can try looking for woven wood Roman blinds.

Living Room

It is best that you pick neutral-colored furniture and furnishings for your living room. And to make it grand and beach-looking, you can install window blinds in ocean blue hue. You may also try printed roller blinds. Choose prints that characterize the beach - blue waves, star fishes and seashells, white sand, and sprawling beach line.

Bathroom

One major thing to keep in mind when designing your bathroom is to never make everything white, or else, you will have to watch your tiles, bath tub, and window treatment disappear all at once. Therefore, if your bathroom essentials are white, break the monotony by picking top-down bottom-up kind of window blinds that are made of bamboo or wood. You may also check on the available vinyl vertical blinds in brown or pastel colors.

Kitchen

If you want your kitchen to have a beach-like feel yet totally chic-looking, you can make everything in it, from furniture pieces to furnishings, plain. But your window blinds must be attractive enough to complete the design. For the kitchen of your beach-style home, you may look for oak-colored wood window blinds.

Windows Near the Patio

For the windows near the door leading to your patio or to the breakwater, you can use Roman blinds in brown or off-white shade depending on the color scheme of the said area. You have to ensure, though, that your window covering does not wash-out when combined with your decorations and furniture.

Bedroom

For your personal nook at home, choose bed sheets and pillow cases in blue or green prints like stripes. Meanwhile, select white vinyl window blinds to come up with a nautical atmosphere.

Since you have some tips in mind already, order blinds online now to start transforming your home into a beach-looking nook. Just keep in mind, of course, that in achieving a beach style home, your window blinds are not the end of it all since you also need to have furniture and furnishings that will help you design your abode the way you want it to be.

Jenny is a Senior Writer at Article and Design, a one-stop shop for all types of web services. For window blinds concerns, please visit http://www.directblindscork.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Grace_Molbog-Mendoza

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How to Take Care of Venetian Blinds

By Alex Pupkin  |   Submitted On March 23, 2015

Venetian blinds are versatile and popular window treatments that are constructed from a wide range of materials including plastic, metal, or even wood. If you have Venetian blinds in your home, you're no doubt aware of their propensity to attract dust. As such, cleaning these window treatments is a necessary endeavour that requires special attention to the type of material and even the amount of dust.

Regular Maintenance is Best

Ideally, you want to regularly clean your Venetian blinds so they require only light cleaning. Weekly wiping and dusting of your blinds will prevent stains and dirt from building up making the job of cleaning much easier. Simply put your blinds in the closed position and wipe them clean. Flip the blinds to the opposite position and wipe again. Using a soft cotton glove, dust-attracting cloth, or even a clothes dryer sheet helps to remove dust more easily. You may even want to spray your blinds with a mild cleaning spray or warm soapy water if you're cleaning metal or plastic blinds. If you have wooden Venetian blinds, wipe them with a dry glove or cloth to avoid streaking.

When you're wiping your blinds, start from the center and wipe to the edge on both sides and from the top of your blinds to the bottom. This will help ensure that you remove all dust the first time. Also, if your blinds are more heavily soiled, be sure to change your cloth or gloves regularly to prevent spreading dirt across your blinds.

Vacuum Cleaning

Another method for cleaning Venetian blinds is to vacuum them. Again, regular cleaning is ideal to maintain the quality and condition of your blinds, so you probably want to vacuum them at least a few times a year. Most vacuum cleaners come with a soft brush attachment that can be used for cleaning blinds. If you don't have this attachment, you should purchase one as other attachments may scratch or chip the slats in your blinds. With the blinds closed, vacuum each of the slats from center to edge and from the top of the blinds to the bottom. You'll also want to steady the blinds with your free hand. Once you have vacuumed one side of the slats, flip them to the opposite direction and repeat this process.

Deep Cleaning

Even the most assiduous cleaner will likely discover that their blinds need a deeper cleaning at least once a year. For plastic or metal blinds, immerse your blinds in warm water and add a cleaning solution such as dishwashing soap or bleach. Allow the blinds to soak for at least half an hour and then gently wash with a soft cleaning brush. Then just rinse your blinds clean and allow them to dry. For wooden blinds, you should never use bleach or detergent, so it is important to maintain a more regular cleaning schedule.

For more information on blinds and how to take care of it, please visit Arlene's Interiors

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Pupkin

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Motorized Window Blinds For Your Kids' Safety

By Jenny Grace Molbog-Mendoza  |   Submitted On March 19, 2015

When you have little children and pets at home, you certainly want your environment safe for them. In fact, you would look for home furnishings and furniture pieces that are not hazardous, especially when they are running around.

When it comes to window treatments, you are eyeing for something affordable and fashionable. So you decided to opt for window blinds. However, with the pull cord or string, you become somehow hesitant because it may pose danger to your playful children and pets. You definitely know that playing and making fun are what they love most. Thus, you want to get rid of those dangling materials.

Hunter Douglas

One major strategy of eliminating those cords and strings in a chic and modern way is to buy yourself the motorized set.

By opting for motorized window blinds, you can actually enjoy a number of benefits. Among these are the following:

1. No ugly and safety-hazard cords and strings. Apart from these pull cords and strings can be cause of strangulation among little children and pets, they can also be an ugly component of your abode. And this particular dilemma can be answered by window blinds in motorized designs.

2. Children can operate your window blinds by themselves. When you are very busy attending to something important like household chores, you do not want to be bugged about adjusting your window covering, right? So with just a press on a remote control, your children can already operate your window blinds according to their preference, whether to slant the slats or to pull the entire covering up. Sounds simple, huh!

3. Friendly to install. With the way the motorized blinds are designed, you can surely install them by yourself. And if you find it difficult to figure out how to keep them hanging, you can always check the operations manual that comes with it.

4. Many colors, many designs mean great designing. Motorized blinds also come in different designs and colours. Therefore, you have an array of options in order to come up with a great designing idea.

5. Easy on the pocket. Some may have thought that the motorized variant of this window treatment is expensive. Actually, motorized blinds are affordable. If you are going to check with a number of suppliers now, you will be amazed at how easy they come on your pocket.

So visit your potential supplier right away! And if they have a website, you may check for their available colours and designs there first. And if you think that you do not have enough time to do actual shopping, you may ask them how to order blinds online.

Jenny is a Senior Writer at Article and Design, a one-stop shop for all types of web services. For window blinds concerns, please visithttp://www.directblindscork.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Grace_Molbog-Mendoza

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How to Choose Venetian Blinds

By Jenny Grace Molbog-Mendoza  |  

When choosing window treatments for your home, you are definitely provided with numerous options. Among the most common suggestions are curtains and window blinds.

Since curtains seem to be the most commonly used window covering among homes throughout the world, you thought of considering window blinds instead. And as you browse over the different types of this particular window treatment option, you realize that they are actually available in a lot of choices - from wood to metal, from vertical to horizontal, and from sheer to block out.

While being bombarded with these variants of window blinds, you finally settle for the horizontal type, which is known as venetian blinds.

However, before hitting the store to buy venetian blinds or visiting a website to order blinds online, you may want to take a look on the following details first. Just keep in mind, though, that the slat material and width are your major considerations in picking your own set of these horizontal window coverings.

1. Slats. The width of your slats depends on the amount of light that you want to block. Therefore, the wider the slats, the more light they can actually block. Generally, these slats range from an inch to 3 ½ inches.

2. Vinyl (made of plastic material known as polyvinyl chloride or PVC). While this can be the most affordable material, this can also be the most fragile since they can be bent easily. But despite this limitation, vinyl blinds are still preferred by many household due to their being lightweight and resistant to moisture or humidity. Their availability in several colours and styles is another good attribute. Thus, if these are the things that you would like your window covering to have, vinyl-made can be your best option.

3. Aluminum. Venetian blinds made of aluminum are another lightweight option. However, they are more expensive than the vinyl ones. They are offered as well in many colours, sizes, and finishes.

4. Real wood or faux wood. If you are someone who loves wood furniture and home furnishings, then you can check on the available real wood venetian blinds from your supplier. Meanwhile, if you love wood yet afraid that your slats may warp so easily, then, you can go for the faux variants.

5. Inside-mount or outside-mount. The width and length of your blinds will depend on your mounting preference. So if you choose inside-mount, measure the inside portion of the window frame, from top to bottom and from left to right. For outside-mount, on the other hand, measure from where you would like to install them until where they will drop. After it, measure from right to left. For both options, make sure that you add 1 ½ to 3 ½ on all sides.

Jenny is a Senior Writer at Article and Design, a one-stop shop for all types of web services. For window blinds concerns, please visit http://www.directblindscork.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Grace_Molbog-Mendoza

How to Purchase Plantation Shutters

Whether you need to make that perfect statement in a new home, add a finishing touch to an already well decorated room, or gain control over rising energy costs, plantation shutters have become one of the most popular window coverings in today’s energy conscious home fashion market. Plantation shutters have become immensely stylish in almost every type of home setting, from regal estates to modest condominiums, adding grace and elegance out-shown only by their easy to clean functionality.

The origins of these classic window coverings actually date to the nineteenth century where they were used to protect plantation homes against the cold winters and sweltering summers of America’s southeast. Proving truly timeless in decor, plantation shutters have gained enormously in popularity over the last three decades.

Why shutters

The uninitiated will certainly be impressed when viewing plantation shutters in a home for the first time because they work magnificently on almost any size or shaped opening, including normally difficult to cover French and patio doors. Designers have long known that shutters can truly recreate rooms with an exceptional capacity to produce a wide range of appearances and moods. While they are open, plantation shutters create a spacious, light quality without encumbering even the most breath taking of views. Closed, they offer warmth, privacy and protection from summer heat.

One quality unique to plantation shutters over other types of window coverings is their ability to architecturally open and add brightness to a room by way of ambient light reflection, a feature which, alone, can truly change the entire feel of a room.

How to select

One difficulty for consumers entering the shutter market stems from understanding the significantly different levels of material, construction and price points available. Over the last decade, differing quality levels have come available from both domestic and overseas manufacturers, further driving the importance of consumer education and product knowledge. Understanding these differences can be a challenge because variation can be found in every part of shutter construction.

For example, in the realm of wood shutters, lower priced construction levels made of single wood types such as Bass, Alder or Poplar can work quite well in small or shaded windows, but a higher quality multi-specie wood construction is often needed in larger and more exposed openings. Synthetics, such as vinyl or poly-core, are sometimes perfect for smaller openings or damp environments, but often have sagging issues in larger openings with wider or multi-panel installation.

Recently, several foreign manufacturers have begun exporting shutter products into the United States using different materials, including Basswood, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) and other composites. While all of these can work well in some applications, they can have serious issues making them simply not the best choice for many types of windows, despite a temping lower price point. There is also controversy centering on the use formaldehyde in MDF manufacturing capable of “off-gassing”, especially in warmer environments.

What to look for

Though the right quality shutter will last for decades, the most common mistake made by buyers is purchasing a lower quality material or construction than what is indicated by their window environment, and an error of this kind can be expensive. Even low-end shutters can look nice when new, however, most problems stem from using the wrong inherent construction with consequences not revealing for several months. Making a selection even more difficult, the average consumer must often rely on the not-so-impartial advice of retailers carrying only one or two lines of shutters.

Most experts agree that the best way to reduce the risk of purchasing the wrong product type is by shopping with a company carrying several types and levels. It may be wise to avoid companies carrying multiple types of window products in favor of direct distributors specializing exclusively in shutters. Direct distributors often provide significantly better value and are more likely to offer unbiased information than the “big box” stores. When it comes down to making a decision between using the right shutter construction quality versus, perhaps, that new wide screen T.V., think twice about stretching your dollar at the sacrifice of shutter quality. When budget is concern, it may be wiser to consider doing fewer windows and staying with the best shutter for the job.

It is also prudent to look for a comprehensive written warranty, and a transferability clause can be especially important if a future home sale is a possibility. Most quality manufactures will allow at least one warranty transfer, a plus to a home buyer. Remember that a warranty is only good as long as the company that issued it is there to stand behind it, so a call to your local Better Business Bureau is always a good idea.

How much to spend

Once a decision is made determining the best shutter quality for your home, the only remaining factor is cost, and prices can range substantially depending on the quality chosen. Plantation shutters typically will cost less than draperies, but two to three times more than ordinary blinds. Some companies price on a “per square foot” basis, which can work in the buyer’s favor for small windows. Others use a “price grid” method, more advantageous for those with larger openings.

Whichever method is used, the old adage of “you get what you pay for” is quite apropos in the world of plantation shutters. For those willing to do the necessary research, the reward is a window covering that will transform most homes into an energy efficient, elegant showplace. Picking out the right ones for you isn’t rocket science, but it pays to do your homework.

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