More Than Just Faux Wood Blinds

By Sheila Abbott

Buying a new home can be overwhelming. There are so many things to consider, and what to put on the windows is one of the things you have to consider prior to moving into a new home. Most homeowners go directly to 2 inch faux wood blinds, but there are so many other options available to today's homeowner. Woven Woods, Plantation Shutters, Solar Shades, and cellular shades are great alternatives to 2 inch faux wood blinds.

Woven Woods
Woven Woods are typically considered a tropical or seaside decorating type window covering, but Woven Woods are also great for Rustic style decorating as well. Woven wood shades are made of Bamboo, grasses, and natural fibers. They are one of the most organic type of window covering on the market.

Plantation Shutters
Plantation Shutters are very elegant, and can be considered as Furniture for your windows. They have several different louver sizes, and can be used for more than just windows. Plantation Shutters can be used as doors on a closet, sliding glass doors, an armoire, or even a door on a bench. Plantation Shutters are available in Painted and Stained colors, and can go with a casual or elegant decorating scheme.

Solar Shades
Solar shades are great for interior or exterior uses. When used as an interior shade, they filter light, so you get some of the natural light, and can see outside during the day. Solar Shades are great for Sun Rooms and Back Patios. Solar shades are great for commercial spaces and restaurants, as they allow for great sun control, but still be able to see customers arriving at the front door. Note: Solar shades are not good for bedrooms, because, when the sun goes down, and the lights come on, your neighbors can see into your home.

Cellular Shades
Cellular shades are a great option for heat and sun control. Not all of us live in a climate zone that is sunny and 72 all year round. So, we have to think of cold and heat control. Single Cell and Double cell, cellular shades are great for keeping out heat in the summer, and keeping in the warmth in the winter. Cellular shades come in a variety of patterns, and textures with hundreds of colors to choose from. Cellular shades come in a horizontal style, that slide up and down, and a vertical option, which is on a track, that glides back and forth. The Vertical option is great for sliding doors, or even a room divider.

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Blinds 4 Less and Century Blinds

http://www.centuryblinds.com/general-information/our-company.html

Founded in 1992, we have emerged as a premier window covering manufacturer with wholesale sales and distribution throughout the United States. The company was built on exceptional customer service, great products, and reliable delivery. Knowing our customers on a friendly, first name basis, is a hallmark of our commitment for setting industry standards of excellence.

Located in Corona, California since inception, we employ hundreds of dedicated employees assembling the very best products in the USA.

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Roman Shades

By Cookie Maxwell

Roman Shades For Your Family Den
Window treatments can work wonders as part of a design plan in a home, and Roman shades in particular make a strong statement. Whether you are going for a formal or casual space, these shades give the room a finished and polished look while performing a function. The huge variety of fabrics and styles that you can select from when choosing your shades can bring the elements of the room together effortlessly. Learn more about what you need to know about selecting and installing Roman shades in any room of your house.
The first step in hanging Roman shades is understanding where they are going to be hung and what your space considerations are. Measure the area where you want to hang the shade. As you do this, decide if you prefer an inside mount or an outside mount. If you decide on the inside, measure the glass of your window. The shade will be hanging close to the glass from top to bottom, and you need to make sure it is fully covered. If you prefer an outside mounted Roman shade, measure the length and width of the window with the frame. When calculating the measurement from the top of the window to the sill, add another two inches in length. When the window has no sill, add only an inch.

There are a lot of choices and decisions to make when you start shade shopping:

Liners - If you are concerned about privacy or blocking out the light, you will need Roman shades with liners. Depending on how much darkness you need when the shade is down, you can choose between regular liners or blackout liners.

Closing and Opening Systems - Think about how you want to open and close the shade when it is in use in your room. Modern shades come with motorized closing systems which make it effortless to use the shade. However, if you prefer a more classic mechanism, you can choose from a cord or a beaded chain that you can use manually.

Fabric - Choose the fabric for your shades that suits the style of the room where you will be hanging them. Luxurious fabrics like silk are best suited for formal areas. Fabric like cotton is a good choice when you are hanging the shades in a casual space. Keep in mind that decorative hems on the edge of the fabric is usually considered a more casual design feature.

Installation - Regardless of how handy you think you are, it is not difficult to install Roman shades on your own. All you need are a few tools and a level. The shades arrive with all of the hardware necessary to hang them, and you should be able to affix them on the inside or outside of the window frame on your own. Remember to refer to the instructions, and call the manufacturer if you run into any problems.

MyReviewsNow.net offers information regarding Roman shades. For more on choosing blinds for your home, please visit us at MyReviewsNow.net.

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Cellular Shades Are the Window Treatment That Shouts Style

By Jillynn Stevens, Ph.D., MSW

Unlike traditional blinds, cellular shades feature a unique honeycomb shape that can do wonders for insulation and blocking light. From transparent options to black-out shades, cellular shades come in a range of fabrics and materials. Choose from designer fabrics, sheers, top-down shades and other window treatments features to improve the insulation in your home while increasing aesthetic appeal.
Energy efficiency is optimized with cellular shades, stemming from the pockets of air created in the honeycomb design. Lower cooling and heating bills are a given, but you'll also enjoy more sound absorption - and a quieter, more peaceful home. There are over 200 colors and designs along with an endless choice of shapes, from arches to hexagons, to choose from.

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Room Darkening and Black-out Shades
Do you want an intimate and romantic glow to a particular room? Would you like to sleep in on the weekends without the sunrise being a natural alarm clock? Black-out cellular shades are generally available in 3/4-inch single or 3/8-inch double options.
The black-out fabrics on the single options keep rooms cool and dark, but the shades nearly disappear when raised due to their compact design. The double option maximizes insulation with a non-woven fabric and is available in a range of neutral colors as well as specialty colors like "cinnamon" and "marina" to match your personal taste.

Light-filtering and Semi-opaque Shades
If you don't quite want a room blacked out, but you do want to keep the heat and full sun rays at bay, light-filtering or semi-opaque cellular shades might be a better fit. These single and double shades are available in 3/8, 3/4 and 1/2-inch sizes. Shades create a solid barrier between your home and the outdoors, whether it's a sizzling summer or bone-chilling winter.

Top-down and Vertical Features
With cellular shades, there's no rule that says they need to be raised. They can be lowered to the bottom of the window or adjusted to the center of the window leaving space open at the top and bottom. Having a top-down shade not only lets you have full control of the system, but also introduces a unique design feature that's a real show stopper. This is one window treatment that will make everyone look twice.
Shades can also be vertical, which is perfect for sliding glass doors, patio entrances and French doors. You deserve a high-end shade that's designed to fit your lifestyle and needs - not the other way around.

Window Shades: Your Interior Design Trump Card
These appealing and always stylish window treatments can fit nearly any window, diffusing harsh light into a relaxing glow. When drawn, they're virtually invisible. There are no messy holes or tangled cords, they're simple to vacuum, and the look is flawless and sleek. Pick exactly how much light you'd like in your home. Light is the ultimate tool in interior design, and now you can define it with a stunning background that provides a luxurious landscape for any room. Cellular shades completed dress a window or can be combined with draperies or other window treatment to create effects that are more dramatic. Whether you prefer simplicity or want to make your windows one of the focal points in a room, cellular shades are the perfect choice.

Jillynn Stevens, Ph.D. is a writer with a vast array of subject matter expertise. Along with publishing articles for large and small businesses, she researches, writes and publishes reports on various public policy issues. Dr. Stevens works for Be Locally SEO.
This article was inspired by Blinds Discount, an online store for high quality shades and blinds and affordable prices. See more at See at Blinds Discount.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jillynn_Stevens,_Ph.D.,_MSW

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The Benefits of Wooden Shutters

by Stu Mitchellmw

When it comes to dressing your window spaces the first thought for many will be to simply plump for a new set of curtains of possibly blinds, however there is a third option available to you which has many or its own benefits and can enhance the interior and exterior of you home in a way that blind and curtains cannot. This third option is wooden plantation shutters.

Wooden shutters are available in a myriad of materials, styles and shapes to fit any window space and to complement any decor. First of all they can be constructed using a diverse range of materials including Basswood, Premium Hardwood, Larchwood, Craftwood (MDF) and Cedarwood. Each coming with its own benefits and a distinct appearance.

Premium hardwood for example will provide a higher quality finish and come in a greater range of colours but will cost more than Basswood which has a more limited range but will still provide a quality finish. Craftwood is again more affordable but may not have the longevity or quality finish of a material such as Cedarwood. The choice of material will largely be dependent on budget and taste.


Secondly you can choose from shutters with either louvred or solid panels. The louvres are essentially slatted panels which can be opened or closed independently of the main shutter frame to add further flexibility when controlling light, noise and privacy levels.

Thirdly, the overall design of the shutter can vary considerably. Full height shutters are perhaps the stereotypical shutter. They cover the whole window space and are therefore the most popular design with the flexibility of individually controlled panels of louvres. They can be installed in any space whether it be raised windows or floor-to-ceiling patio doors.

Tier on Tier shutters provide even more flexibility in that they cover the whole window space but use separate panels for the top and bottom of the window. These panels can have different controls and operate independently. Cafe Style shutters however are designed to cover only the base of a window, leaving the top half free, and are as a result, a more subtle addition to a room.
Moreover, louvred interior shutters, in particular, can be produced to fit any window space that you require. Whether it be a small porthole window or a large arched window in the gable end of a church or hall, a shutter can often offer a more practical and aesthetically fitting solution than a curtain or blind.

Perhaps the most tangible benefit of choosing a wooden shutter is the control that it gives you over the levels of light that you want to let into the room. If you are looking to maximise the light coming in then cafe style shutters are the ideal solution. However, if you want to have greater control over the amount of light coming in, then tiered shutters, are perfect with the ability to independently control the separate panels (and specify whether each panel should be louvred or solid). Specifically, using louvred panels will allow you to have control over the light coming through each panel.

Shutters are also ideal for those looking to increase their privacy levels as they can provide a better screen than curtains or blinds, especially if you live in a town location where you are overlooked by neighbours or passers by. As well as prying eyes, the same can be said about wanting to block noise coming in (or out) of your home when living in built up area. Going for a full height solution with solid panels would create the most effective screen for both privacy and noise but again ultimate flexibility comes from the tier on tier shutter. Choosing a louvred shutter on the other hand would allow you create privacy whilst still allowing a certain level of light through.

Wooden shutters are perhaps more common on the continent due to another one of their principle benefits, their ability to regulate heat as well as light levels. Shutters can be used to keep the light out during the day and in during the night. The most effective, as with noise and privacy would be a full height solid shutter, however to provide the most control in our changeable British climate a full height louvred or tiered solution may be best.

Whatever your needs and whatever style you may choose, wooden shutters really can provide ultimate flexibility and style, fit any window space and can become a feature of any room

Blinds 4 Less

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