Window Coverings: What Type Should I Choose?
BWS Design • Jun 02, 2016

Deciding what type of window coverings to use in your home can be a challenge. You want privacy, energy efficiency, and of course, they have to appeal to your sense of style. The truth is, there are several types of window covering, and each offers a unique advantage. In this product highlight , we’ll discuss custom blinds, shutters, shades, curtains and draperies, and how each is different. You’ll also learn about the benefits that each offer so you can make the right choice for your home. 

Custom Blinds

The beauty of window blinds is that they are very simple in design. This is beneficial because they won’t compete with other design elements. It makes no difference what your design aesthetic is, custom blinds will satisfy your window covering needs. Off-the-shelf blinds that are the right size can be difficult to find, especially for custom-built homes. However, custom blinds are made to fit the exact dimensions of your window, regardless of size. There are a variety of styles of blinds, including horizontal and vertical versions and those with thin or wide slats. What’s more, they come in a variety of materials, colors and textures making it easier to match any décor.

Window Shades

When you think of shades, you probably envision those old white pull-down shades that hung in your parents, or grandparents house. Shades are still made in a similar fashion, meaning they’re a single piece of material that covers the window. Custom window shades are made to fit your windows precisely and the highest quality materials are used. Matching your décor is easy with materials such as designer fabrics, and harder materials like bamboo and wood. You can also choose styles such as roman shades, roller shades, cellular shades and pleated shades. Other options are also available, including motorized and top down options that allow for maximum convenience and privacy.

Custom Shutters

If you’re looking for a window covering that is truly unique, consider custom shutters for the interior of your home. They are a more permanent option than draperies, blinds and shades, since they don’t need to be replaced as often. Louvered shutters allow you to adjust the amount of light that comes in, and they also allow for air-flow control. Their insulating capabilities help keep your home cool in the summer and warmer in the winter months. You can choose from a variety of stained and painted finishes in endless colors to match your interior design. A major benefit of these shutters is that they look great, no matter what style décor you have, from rustic to modern.

Custom Draperies

If you’re looking for a softer look for your window coverings, custom draperies are a good option. As with the previous window treatments, drapes are created using a variety of materials. Choose from heavier fabrics that block out light, or lighter, airy fabrics that encourage natural light to come in. One of the biggest benefits of heavier draperies is that they also help to keep the temperature in your home regulated. When they are closed, they help hold in warm, or cool air, and when open, they allow air to flow through with ease. When drapes are paired with blinds or shades, the energy saving effects are even more noticeable.

When it comes to window treatments, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every home, and every homeowner are unique, which is why custom window treatments are so popular. If you’re interested in learning more about custom blinds, shades, shutters or draperies, please contact us. We’ll be happy to help you decide what option is best for you. We offer free in-home consultations, expert measuring and professional installation so you can rest assured you’re getting the best product for your needs.

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

The Leading Window Treatment Trends of 2024

By Autumn Hooper • 07 Feb, 2024
Each year, styles in window treatments come and go. Trends that were hot last year may carry over to the new interior decor season or may be replaced by something new. In 2024, we are looking at a delightful set of trends in blinds, shades, and curtains that embrace the developing attitudes and popular colors that are already giving the year a unique stylistic personality. At Just Blinds, we are delighted to keep up with the trends, helping homeowners, designers, and property managers to create stunning spaces that align with the latest in window treatment trends. The Hot Trends of 2023 Blinds and Shades Last year in 2023, we saw a great collection of trends, many of which have evolved and strengthened with the new year. 2023 explored the innovations of cell shades and honeycomb shades for the benefits of insulation and light control. Motorization gained a prominant place in both home and office design, and decorators discovered the dynamic possibilities of shades that operate from both the bottom and the top on floor-to-ceiling tracks. Texture saw a real debut with natural colors like wood finishes, linen, dusty rose, and moss green. Though bold patterns also had their day in the sun. The Trending 2024 Window Treatments In 2024, you may recognize a few trends still going strong from the year before, which is good news for those who decorated last year because your style is likely still right on-trend. But we are also seeing new trends developing with elegant enthusiasm. Smart Home Blinds The trend for motorized shades has naturally evolved to favor smart home controls. With a simple voice command, you can take control of all the motorized shades in a room, in your entire home, or set each shade to exactly the height and opacity you desire. Warm Neutrals and Bold Natural Colors Color trends favor a more natural palette. Neutral colors are warmer, even the grays and charcoals have a honey undertone, while natural colors like mossy and forest green are growing stronger in hue paired with a jewelbox of flower petal colors. If you're following the Colors of the Year, you may have also noticed an adoration of ocean blues, and you can match those blues with slightly darker or lighter blinds for beautiful effect. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Materials Natural materials and textures were popular in 2023, and 2024 takes this trend even further. Blinds made out of recycled materials are now on the rise alongside the growing popularity of blinds made from super-sustainable plants like bamboo, hemp, jute, and grass cloth. These offer natural colors, dynamic textures, and the delight of eco-friendly design. Gauzy Sheer Elegance Sheer curtains and semi-sheer blinds are also in fashion; a classic style that has been floating near the top of popularity for literal centuries. Sheer curtains and blinds maintain privacy while allowing sunlight into the room in a gently diffused glow. They also layer excellently with more robust window treatments. Creative Window Treatment Layering Speaking of layering, we are seeing an enthusiastic embrace of creatively layered styles. Wooden shutters, gauzy curtains, and black-out blinds are among the most popular layers, but decorators are getting creative with how they choose to to layer their window treatments, using both multiple fabrics and structures at the same time. Find the Blinds that Best Suit Your Needs How can you choose fantastic and on-trend blinds that perfectly suit your design needs? Fortunately, the diversity of this year's trends leave room for almost any personal sense of style and the individual needs of each room's windows. Start with the size of your windows and your room's existing color palette. Decide if you want to match, accent, or contrast the colors of the room. Then choose the opacity, privacy, and level of motorized control you desire. This should guide you toward a specific selection that will work well for your room. From there, it's a matter of specific features and your personal sense of style. Reach Out for Expert and On-Trend Advice If you are getting ready to decorate a room and want the perfect window treatments for 2024, we are only a phonecall or a visit away. Give us a call for expert advice in the right blinds or shades for each window in your home. Our on-trend window treatment experts will be glad to help tailor your window treatment design to your personal tastes, the latest trends, and the style of each of your rooms.

Beat the Heat: Best Choices to Keep The Interior of Your Home Cool

20 Jul, 2023
Is your AC bill keeping you down this summer? Is your home too hot? Window treatments can help cool your home, but you need to choose the right ones and use them correctly. Not all window coverings are made equal. Here are some of the best options to help keep your home comfortable and reduce costs this summer: Cellular or honeycomb shades. These are specifically designed to provide a high level of insulation that keeps the heat out of your home. They also don't block the view when completely drawn. As a bonus, you can get them in a wide variety of colors and patterns to match your home and in both top-down and bottom-up configurations. Drapery. Old-fashioned curtains can be surprisingly effective. Choose a medium color and have us add a white plastic backing to reflect heat out of your home. You can also use drapes to block some of the heat without excluding much light, allowing you to enjoy natural light flowing through your drapes. Fabric Roman shades. These are a distinctive option that really dresses up a room, and if you choose the kind with several layers they will definitely help keep the heat out. We have light filtering and blackout options and everything in between. Why Should You Use These Types of Shades or Blinds? The two reasons are to save money and help protect the environment. Good shades keep your home cooler and this means your air conditioning systems don't have to work as hard and use as much energy. In the northern hemisphere, it's most important to have heat-reducing treatments on your southern windows and you can allow more light in through windows that face north. Both cellular and Roman shades can also be motorized and even put on timers to close the shades when you are not there and then let light in when you return. The small amount of energy used by motorized shades is much less than that lost through naked windows. All of these shades can also add to the aesthetics of your room. Cellular shades are great to add a pop of color or a subtle pattern. Both drapery and Roman shades give a soft feel to your windows that then spreads to the rest of your room. What is the Best Choice? The best choice of the three depends on your personal aesthetics. Our designers can help you make the right choice. If you want motorized shades, cellular shades are the lightest and thus use the least energy, and can roll all the way up and down, leaving your windows completely unrestricted. Roman shades are more visible, but can be used to add fabric and color to a room. Many people still love the look of traditional window drapes. Note that you can also combine shades and drapes for the effect you want, both in terms of reducing heat loss and in terms of aesthetics. How Much Can I Actually Save? The amount you save depends on the kind of window covering you use and how much thermal gain your house typically experiences. The larger your windows, in general, the larger the benefit, especially south-facing windows. For example, medium-colored draperies with a white plastic backing can reduce heat gain by as much as 33% for that window. Most window treatments, though, reduce overall heat gain by about 10%. This can significantly reduce your bills, by $100 to $200 a month during the summer. Using the right window treatment can make your home more comfortable in the summer and save money while preserving the environment. For advise on which window treatments to choose for your home and to see our selection of blinds and shades, contact Just Blinds today.
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