By : Amy N.  |
| Homeowners enjoy making additions to the décor of a home. When sprucing up a room to add a little decoration and ambience, many people will add window blinds. The addition of window blinds will provide an elegant and aesthetic accent to the room. The following is a list of tips on how to choose window blinds to complement your room: 1. Choose the Type of Window Blind: Window blinds come in a variety sizes and colors. There are also different shape blinds such as: upright slats, slim slats, vertical blinds, and horizontal blinds. Blinds can be in the form of lightweight plastic, fabric material such as cotton, rayon, and silk. Blinds can also have plastic, aluminum, and wood slats. The type and style of the blinds should complement the style of the room. You should also consider if there will be other uses for the blinds. That is, do you want to block the bright sun? In this case, you will want a heavier, thicker, and darker color. The blinds should also fit the shape of the window. A simple style is normally recommended. 2. Choose the Window Blind Color: Experts recommend selecting a neutral color. Such colors can include: beige, white, brown. Depending on if you want to add brightness to the room or display a calmer tone, one can choose bright or darker color blinds. Make sure that the color complements the color of the walls and furnishings of the room. 3. Metal Blinds: This type of blind is normally selected because it has a long life and can be easily cleaned. The slats are the part of the blind that are metal. They are available in many colors and thickness. 4. Wood Blinds: The slats are wood in this blind. You can find this type of wood in such blinds as Venetian blinds. Drawstrings are used to open and close the blinds. One can even paint the wood. 5. Cane Blinds: The slats of these blinds are made of cane. Cane is utilized in the production of woven blind. Cane can be made from bamboo which is a very environmentally sustainable choice as bamboo grows back quickly. 6. Vinyl Blinds: Vinyl is used in the making of Venetian blinds. They are cheaper than wood and metal and are easy to clean. 7. When one installs window blinds, the room will look more cozy and comfortable. When the blinds are used with curtains, the room tends to look smaller. When used on their own, they tend to make a room look larger. Window blinds can be used in any room of a home, condominium or apartment. They are useful for blocking out the sun and insulation in the winter. There are many different styles, colors, and sizes to choose from. There are also a number of different blends that can be chosen by the creative home designer. If you are on a tight budget, there are affordable fashionable blinds available. There are many online retailers that sell quality window blinds at great prices. When adding charm and style to your home, consider window blinds for their looks and functionality. |
How to Choose Window Blinds to Complement the Room
Buying Blinds For Your Home - The Different Choices Available
Choosing blinds for the windows in your home is unfortunately not quite as straightforward as it may seem.
There are many different styles of blind to choose from, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Before you start looking at types of blinds, take some time to ask yourself a few questions and consider the specifics involved. You will need to consider issues such as why you want a blind rather than curtains, what protection the blind should offer, how easy it needs to be to operate, and what material and colour you want.
Once you have considered these factors, take a look at the different styles of blind available.
Roller blinds - Roller blinds are a single sheet of material that lies flat against the window. They roll up to let in a maximum amount of light.
Venetian blinds - Venetian blinds are made from horizontal aluminium slats that go across the window. The angle can be varied to let more or less light in.
Wood Venetian blinds - These are the same as Venetian but made from wood slats.
Vertical blinds - Vertical blinds come in a variety of materials, from fabric to PVC and wood effect, and are stiffened so they keep the shape. The vertical slits are controlled to let light in and the whole blind can also be pulled to the side.
Roman blinds - Roman blinds fit flat across the width of the window and are pulled up into folds to let the light in.
Pleated blinds - These are made from fabric that is pleated as it is pulled up.
Some blinds will be better suited to certain situations, and it may be possible to have a large window divided up into narrower blinds for ease of use and better control.
The material used in the blinds can be an important deciding factor as it will affect the look and feel of the room. Fabric blinds come in many colours and patterns and are easy to personalise. Aluminium or wood blinds may not be as pleasing aesthetically in all rooms. It is also worth mentioning that window sizes in certain countries may be different so buying UK blinds may not be the same as buying them in the USA or other parts of the world. Therefore, you are sometimes better off buying blinds in your own country.
You should also bear in mind who is using the blind and how much maintenance and cleaning is required. Children's rooms will be better with simple roller blinds as they are easy to operate with less chance of tangling. Rooms that get dusty will make Venetian or pleated blinds a nightmare to keep clean.
In kitchens and bathrooms moisture-resistant materials should be used, and in rooms where you need good control over light, such as an office, Venetian blinds are ideal. Black-out material is also available in many types of blind, giving a completely dark environment to aid sleep.
Before settling on a style of blind, take advice from an expert and have them measure the window accurately so you get a realistic cost. The price will vary depending on exact requirements, so ask yourself which factors are the most important.
There are many different styles of blind to choose from, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Before you start looking at types of blinds, take some time to ask yourself a few questions and consider the specifics involved. You will need to consider issues such as why you want a blind rather than curtains, what protection the blind should offer, how easy it needs to be to operate, and what material and colour you want.
Once you have considered these factors, take a look at the different styles of blind available.
Roller blinds - Roller blinds are a single sheet of material that lies flat against the window. They roll up to let in a maximum amount of light.
Venetian blinds - Venetian blinds are made from horizontal aluminium slats that go across the window. The angle can be varied to let more or less light in.
Wood Venetian blinds - These are the same as Venetian but made from wood slats.
Vertical blinds - Vertical blinds come in a variety of materials, from fabric to PVC and wood effect, and are stiffened so they keep the shape. The vertical slits are controlled to let light in and the whole blind can also be pulled to the side.
Roman blinds - Roman blinds fit flat across the width of the window and are pulled up into folds to let the light in.
Pleated blinds - These are made from fabric that is pleated as it is pulled up.
Some blinds will be better suited to certain situations, and it may be possible to have a large window divided up into narrower blinds for ease of use and better control.
The material used in the blinds can be an important deciding factor as it will affect the look and feel of the room. Fabric blinds come in many colours and patterns and are easy to personalise. Aluminium or wood blinds may not be as pleasing aesthetically in all rooms. It is also worth mentioning that window sizes in certain countries may be different so buying UK blinds may not be the same as buying them in the USA or other parts of the world. Therefore, you are sometimes better off buying blinds in your own country.
You should also bear in mind who is using the blind and how much maintenance and cleaning is required. Children's rooms will be better with simple roller blinds as they are easy to operate with less chance of tangling. Rooms that get dusty will make Venetian or pleated blinds a nightmare to keep clean.
In kitchens and bathrooms moisture-resistant materials should be used, and in rooms where you need good control over light, such as an office, Venetian blinds are ideal. Black-out material is also available in many types of blind, giving a completely dark environment to aid sleep.
Before settling on a style of blind, take advice from an expert and have them measure the window accurately so you get a realistic cost. The price will vary depending on exact requirements, so ask yourself which factors are the most important.
Andrew Long writes for a series of home improvement publications and media about related products. Get information and resources about venetian blinds UK and many other related items.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_K_Long
Ideas on How to Furnish a Small Apartment
When I first moved from home and had my own apartment it was quite difficult to decorate it. Every room in the place was quite small. I had my work cut out for me. I decided to search online and sue enough I found some cool ideas to solve my problem.
One of the best ideas was to shop at a Children's Furniture Store. On my first visit there one Sunday morning I cam across the most beautiful bedroom furniture. It was so beautiful and stunning, I decided to use it for my dining room instead. The dresser made a unique looking buffet. I had removed the mirror of course, but was able to use it on the far wall instead. Made sense.
My living room posed another challenge, never fails, the furniture I really liked was way too large. I was forced to make a decision so I just kept looking. I eventually found a sofa that I liked and decided on having only one end table. I found a lovely coffee table that actually had a storage area. Its most unique function, however, is that you can even play checkers on the top of it! I began to appreciate multi-purpose furniture! Even my original ottoman from my parents' home turned out to be a great place to store stuff.
Keep your furniture choices small. Choose mirrors to decorate wherever possible. Nothing will make your room larger than a nice collection of mirrors throughout your home.
If you have an office, choose a small affordable computer desk for your office. You should be able to get an attractive one with just the space you need to avoid clutter. Larger desks have a tendency to hold lots of clutter. In fact, a compact computer desk positioned in a corner of your room would be ideal. It can be kept out of the way.
As far as your kitchen, dining room and maybe even bathroom are concerned, take a good hard look at bar stools! That's right -- you read it correctly -- bar stools! They will indeed save you so much space in your home. They will not only make your room look bigger, they will add a certain ambience. They are a fun way to give character to your room.
Sure small areas can be quite challenging when you are trying to decorate, but it can be done that's for sure. Hope the above ideas are a help to you. You just may end up loving your small cozy apartment and be satisfied with it instead of paying more money for a much larger place. Time will tell. In the meantime, have fun decorating your small abode!
One of the best ideas was to shop at a Children's Furniture Store. On my first visit there one Sunday morning I cam across the most beautiful bedroom furniture. It was so beautiful and stunning, I decided to use it for my dining room instead. The dresser made a unique looking buffet. I had removed the mirror of course, but was able to use it on the far wall instead. Made sense.
My living room posed another challenge, never fails, the furniture I really liked was way too large. I was forced to make a decision so I just kept looking. I eventually found a sofa that I liked and decided on having only one end table. I found a lovely coffee table that actually had a storage area. Its most unique function, however, is that you can even play checkers on the top of it! I began to appreciate multi-purpose furniture! Even my original ottoman from my parents' home turned out to be a great place to store stuff.
Keep your furniture choices small. Choose mirrors to decorate wherever possible. Nothing will make your room larger than a nice collection of mirrors throughout your home.
If you have an office, choose a small affordable computer desk for your office. You should be able to get an attractive one with just the space you need to avoid clutter. Larger desks have a tendency to hold lots of clutter. In fact, a compact computer desk positioned in a corner of your room would be ideal. It can be kept out of the way.
As far as your kitchen, dining room and maybe even bathroom are concerned, take a good hard look at bar stools! That's right -- you read it correctly -- bar stools! They will indeed save you so much space in your home. They will not only make your room look bigger, they will add a certain ambience. They are a fun way to give character to your room.
Sure small areas can be quite challenging when you are trying to decorate, but it can be done that's for sure. Hope the above ideas are a help to you. You just may end up loving your small cozy apartment and be satisfied with it instead of paying more money for a much larger place. Time will tell. In the meantime, have fun decorating your small abode!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justine_Jordan
Window Treatments - The Finishing Touch To Your Home Remodel
Blinds 4 Less: Super Sale Shutters & Blinds Lowest Prices Free Estimates (951) 924-9435 blinds4less01.com
By Dave Sean Brooks
Sounds obvious enough, right? And, in a way it is. I have seen many beautiful examples and many not-so-beautiful examples. The trick is to match up the decorating themes of a given room with the appropriate window treatment. The other choices are color, insulating properties, light control and privacy. By the way, I take window treatments to mean almost any window covering: blinds, shades, shutters and drapes. There doesn't seem to be much consensus on what a window treatment is so I am taking the broadest definition.
Choosing the right blinds and shades can get a little more complicated than these few choices. For example there are motorized blinds, cordless, valance options, wand control and more. But for the purposes of this article I will stick mostly to the major themes as mentioned above. Once you have chosen the appropriate blind, shade, shutter or drape, you can decide if you want to add any of the convenience options offered by the manufacturer.
First, let's lay out the main choices. In the window blinds category you have mini blinds, plantation shutters, vertical blinds, wood and faux wood blinds and finally, panel track blinds. In the window shades category you have roller shades, sheer shades, pleated shades, woven wood shades (also known as bamboo shades), roman shades, cellular shades and solar shades (also called solar screens). Then there are drapes.
The drapes category can be huge depending on how you choose to categorize them. But for the purposes of this article I will label them as custom and pre-made. Custom drapes are made-to-order drapes cut to the appropriate size of your window and usually with a built in 2 to 1 fullness. These are generally higher quality and made from a variety fabrics from silk to cotton. Made-to-order drapes are generally less expensive and can be picked up at many major retailers.
Segregating by room type, here are my recommendations. For kitchens, faux wood shutters and faux wood blinds are often an excellent choice. They often match up well with wood cabinets and can withstand the often hot and humid environments of kitchens. This is also true for bathrooms. But, other choices for bathrooms would be pleated shades, which you can think of as the non-insulating version of cellular shades. The nice thing about pleated shades for bathrooms is they pair well with the top down/bottom up feature which is excellent for privacy. Less expensive options for these kinds of rooms would be mini blinds, woven woods or roman shades. Mini blinds are a better choice for rooms with a more modern decor whereas wood finishes are best with wood-type decors. A simple rule of thumb is to match your window treatments with the overriding color and materials of the room: wood with wood, fabric with fabric, metal with metal and all in complimentary colors.
For living rooms and family rooms, the choices are pretty wide open. For large windows, like sliding doors, vertical blinds are an easy choice but don't overlook panel track blinds. Don't forget that vertical blinds come in more than just vinyl; they also come in faux wood, fabric, cellular and aluminum. Plantation shutters, though expensive, are a time-honored window covering choice. You almost can't go wrong with these, unless your house is very modern and contemporary. In that case, I would recommend aluminum mini blinds or vertical blinds.
For bedrooms, privacy and light control are usually the big factor. So, I would look into roller shades, cellular or pleated shades with a blackout liner, or woven woods and roman shades, again with a liner. The one you choose will depend on the overall décor of your room. If you want more insulating properties from you shades, go with the cellular option.
For dining rooms, I would recommend drapes or maybe roman or woven wood shades. If you like the roman shades, consider the pleated or tear-drop option for a more luxurious appearance.
For rooms with views and lots of sunlight, consider solar shades. These come in various levels of opacity, i.e. how much light they block. The nice thing about solar screens is you can still see out of your windows with out as much solar heat build-up as well as a greater level of privacy from the street view.
Sounds obvious enough, right? And, in a way it is. I have seen many beautiful examples and many not-so-beautiful examples. The trick is to match up the decorating themes of a given room with the appropriate window treatment. The other choices are color, insulating properties, light control and privacy. By the way, I take window treatments to mean almost any window covering: blinds, shades, shutters and drapes. There doesn't seem to be much consensus on what a window treatment is so I am taking the broadest definition.
Choosing the right blinds and shades can get a little more complicated than these few choices. For example there are motorized blinds, cordless, valance options, wand control and more. But for the purposes of this article I will stick mostly to the major themes as mentioned above. Once you have chosen the appropriate blind, shade, shutter or drape, you can decide if you want to add any of the convenience options offered by the manufacturer.
First, let's lay out the main choices. In the window blinds category you have mini blinds, plantation shutters, vertical blinds, wood and faux wood blinds and finally, panel track blinds. In the window shades category you have roller shades, sheer shades, pleated shades, woven wood shades (also known as bamboo shades), roman shades, cellular shades and solar shades (also called solar screens). Then there are drapes.
The drapes category can be huge depending on how you choose to categorize them. But for the purposes of this article I will label them as custom and pre-made. Custom drapes are made-to-order drapes cut to the appropriate size of your window and usually with a built in 2 to 1 fullness. These are generally higher quality and made from a variety fabrics from silk to cotton. Made-to-order drapes are generally less expensive and can be picked up at many major retailers.
Segregating by room type, here are my recommendations. For kitchens, faux wood shutters and faux wood blinds are often an excellent choice. They often match up well with wood cabinets and can withstand the often hot and humid environments of kitchens. This is also true for bathrooms. But, other choices for bathrooms would be pleated shades, which you can think of as the non-insulating version of cellular shades. The nice thing about pleated shades for bathrooms is they pair well with the top down/bottom up feature which is excellent for privacy. Less expensive options for these kinds of rooms would be mini blinds, woven woods or roman shades. Mini blinds are a better choice for rooms with a more modern decor whereas wood finishes are best with wood-type decors. A simple rule of thumb is to match your window treatments with the overriding color and materials of the room: wood with wood, fabric with fabric, metal with metal and all in complimentary colors.
For living rooms and family rooms, the choices are pretty wide open. For large windows, like sliding doors, vertical blinds are an easy choice but don't overlook panel track blinds. Don't forget that vertical blinds come in more than just vinyl; they also come in faux wood, fabric, cellular and aluminum. Plantation shutters, though expensive, are a time-honored window covering choice. You almost can't go wrong with these, unless your house is very modern and contemporary. In that case, I would recommend aluminum mini blinds or vertical blinds.
For bedrooms, privacy and light control are usually the big factor. So, I would look into roller shades, cellular or pleated shades with a blackout liner, or woven woods and roman shades, again with a liner. The one you choose will depend on the overall décor of your room. If you want more insulating properties from you shades, go with the cellular option.
For dining rooms, I would recommend drapes or maybe roman or woven wood shades. If you like the roman shades, consider the pleated or tear-drop option for a more luxurious appearance.
For rooms with views and lots of sunlight, consider solar shades. These come in various levels of opacity, i.e. how much light they block. The nice thing about solar screens is you can still see out of your windows with out as much solar heat build-up as well as a greater level of privacy from the street view.
There you have it, the non-definitive guide to window treatments As a side note, consider checking out one of the how to measure for window blinds videos available on the internet, they can help. - David Brooks
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Sean_Brooks
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