When it comes to window shades, there are many choices and styles available in today’s marketplace. Selecting the right window shade or blinds for a particular area can be challenging.
Here are some tips for buying shades or blinds to make the process stress-free. Use the simple guide below to find the perfect window shade style for any room in your home!
Why, Where and How to Work with Window Treatments
There are several questions to consider when planning the installation of shades for your windows.
Why do you want shades on the windows?
Window coverings like a shade or blinds are useful for keeping the bright sun from making the room too hot. They also act as a great insulator to keep the cold out during the winter season. Simply adding a window shade may help to save on your HVAC bill.
Privacy is another reason for using shades. Pure aesthetic, the shade style adds another layer to the appearance of a room.
Where do you need shades?
Consider the placement of windows within the home. Windows that face west or south and are exposed to the sun late in the morning and afternoon are excellent candidates for shades.
A further consideration is window treatments used for privacy. Windows in the front, on a busy street or on the side of the house that face a neighbor are certainly areas to propose installing shades or blinds.
How to choose the right style and type of shade?
Some of the most important questions to ask is how to select the right style and type of window shades. To control the elements such as sunlight, solar shades provide optimal results. For ease of use and functionality, roller shades or mini-blinds are great options. Want minimal maintenance? Blinds are not the best choice, roll or Roman shades are better. For style, wooden blinds, Roman or balloon shades add the finishing touch to any room décor.
Types of Window Shades & Blinds
Below is a list of the 5 most popular types used in the industry.
Roller Shade
This type of shade is practical with its ease of function and minimal maintenance. The shades work with simple mechanism of tension that pulls the shade down or rolls it up, neatly contained on the roller above. They are available in a selection of heavy fabrics to sheer materials. Solar shades are basically roller shades consisting of specially treated cellular fabrics that block out the ultraviolet rays.
Roman Shade
Typically made of fabrics in a wide variety of colors and materials; Roman shades combine the function of a shade with the aesthetics of a curtain. Inspired by the window coverings used in early Rome, these shades bring texture and soften the hard edges of window trim.
Mini Blinds
Made of thin 1/2 inch to 1-inch-wide slats of PVC material, mini blinds are sleek and modern. Maintenance is a challenge though; dust can collect on the flat portion of the slats. They come in a wide assortment of colors that will match with any décor.
Faux or Real Wood Blinds
Classic blinds consist of wider slates of at least 2 inches in width. They are constructed of faux wood or real wood. The wider slats give an added dimension to a window. Wood blinds are perfect for dining areas, hallways, or sitting rooms. Faux wood blinds are a man-made material that looks like real wood, and are best used in areas where moisture maybe present, like in a bathroom.
Balloon shade
Similar to Roman shades, the balloon shades take the mix of function with form to the next level. The billowy folded fabric of a balloon shade makes for a dramatic statement, ideal to use in focal areas, such as dining, entry, or sitting areas.
Below are ideas and inspiration on where to install the right window shade for any room.
Dining Area
The dining area is a great place to install shades. Usually, a dining room is used for dinners, which is just when the exposure to sunlight is greatest, especially if the windows face west. The use of a simple roller shade in a bold accent color, will complement and liven up the decor of a room.
Kitchen
Mini blinds are a great choice for a contemporary kitchen space that seamlessly matches the modern profile of the blinds and their stylish appearance.
For a perfectly coordinated look, use wooden blinds in a traditional or farmhouse style kitchen.
Bath Area
Billowy fabric balloon shades over a tub area.
Living Room
Roman shades can be used for shape and functionality in a contemporary living room.
Simple wooden blinds coupled with drapes add texture to a cozy living space.
Enclosed Porch
Solar shades for an enclosed porch are the best solution to keep UV rays out, but the outside in view.
Shades for Every Room
When shopping for window shades to choose the right type and style for any room in your house, use the practical guide above.
