Blinds are a very effective way of controlling the amount of sunlight that comes into your home and limiting the view you have on the world and the one the world has on you. Like all window treatments, blinds come in a variety of styles and prices.
To pick the right blinds for your home you have to approach it as a room by room task. Each room serves different functions and your blinds need to match that room’s function and style. The first thing to consider is generally privacy. What do your windows face? Will someone be looking in on your bathroom or bedroom? Or do you want to take advantage of a private view? Each room needs a careful assessment of the privacy wants and needs.
The next thing you should consider is ease of care. Blinds aren’t always easy to clean because they have so many surfaces and different materials affect the way they respond to dirt. If you’re putting them in a kitchen, near the sink or stove, you’ll want blinds that are easy to wipe clean and don’t stain. If you’re putting your blinds in an out of the way place you’ll want ones that don’t show dust and are dirt resistant. Make sure you know what is involved in cleaning your blinds.
Once you’ve looked at the room’s form and function and you know what you want your blinds to do for you, it’s time to decide how much work they’ll do. Do you want light blackout window blinds that will keep your room completely dark or do you want sheers that will let in as much light as possible? Complete blackout slides are available and come in a huge variety of colors. Larger slats give you more space to see through and maximize your view when open.
What is your style? Similar to discovering the room’s function is discovering your style. Many people know what motif they’ve chosen for the rooms in their homes and they have a similar feel for what sort of blinds they’d like to incorporate, but some people need a little help in this area. Window treatment specialty stores have sample books of their products and will be happy to let you check them out to see which ones best suit your room’s mood.
Are you going green? If you’re interested in cutting your energy bills then selecting the right window blind, one that holds in heat in the winter and blocks solar heat in the summer, can help you cut your energy costs. If you’re serious about energy efficiency, consider purchasing cellular shades.
Quite possibly the most important thing to consider when selecting your blinds is your window. Do you open the window a lot? How does the window open and will it interfere with your blinds when it is open? Is it a small window or a French window, these delicate structures look strange with large slat blinds? What direction does your window face? What is the view? Is the window drafty or does it leak? All of these things need to be reviewed before you settle on a particular window blind.
