Patio Sunshades Save Homeowners More than Just a Sunburn
BWS Design • June 30, 2016

Energy efficiency, unhealthy UV rays and privacy are just a few of the buzzwords heard today when homeowners consider window coverings in a build or a remodel. Since windows and their treatments are of importance to the value of the house, it just makes sense to employ these buzzwords to their best advantage. Another facet involved in home improvements is money. No one will argue that saving money is paramount to the quality of a family’s life, nor to the quality of the home. Homeowners would have a grand idea if they considered working with those buzzwords from the outside in.

Energy Efficiency in Patio Sunshades

Considering we read about the dangers of sun exposure, homeowners constantly plan ways of mitigating the sun’s less admirable qualities. Might we suggest installing patio sunshades? When the sun’s harmful propensities are stopped cold (pardon the pun) before they enter the house, then the homeowner catches a break on his power bill. These shades are also handy in winter for keeping harsh winds from affecting the glass in the windows or from sneaking around sealants to find their way inside. Saving on the power bill is what energy efficiency is all about.

Fun in the Sun and Patio Sunshades

Homeowners morphing their patios and decks into outdoor rooms a la the Property Brothers do so for many reasons. Networking and entertaining top the list, but fun in the sun for quality family time isn’t too far from the top. Cookouts, watching the game on the big screen TV, birthday parties, screaming fun on Saturdays and much more fun stuff are best enjoyed in a dedicated outdoor space. Patio sunshades benefit the homeowner and/or a spouse who works at home and chooses to work on the patio, so he or she can soak up some Vitamin D. They benefit the spouse who brings home for supper or drinks people from work or people interested in his or her field of endeavor. When things get too hot, dropping the patio sunshades livens up droopy-from-heat get-togethers. And don’t forget to lower the shades when sunburn enters the picture. Sunshades have the potential to cut harmful UV rays by up to 90 percent.

Privacy and Patio Sunshades

We all know the feeling of eyes watching us. It creeps us out and makes us go inside. That defeats the purpose of getting a tan, enjoying the pool, working in the flowers or vegetable garden and so forth. Keep those prying eyes at bay with patio sunshades. The shades come in multiple levels of sheer, so homeowners can choose their own level of privacy. Not only that, but the shades allow homeowners to see out while keeping spying eyes from seeing in. Shades are controlled by remote. Outdoor shades also adjust easily when they are mounted on cables with wire controls. Homeowners will have the same control over their outdoor shades as they have over their indoor window treatments, and using much the same controls. Have that pool party, work out on the patio or plant something delicious; we have you covered!

Variety in Patio Sunshades

Just as fabrics, faux woods, colors, custom shapes and other distinctions in window treatments have evolved, so have outdoor shades. For example, fabric shades and Roman shades have transformed many a room with their elegance and functionality. From sheer to medium added to any color in the spectrum, these window treatments are custom-fitted to any window in the house. Now apply the same paradigm to outdoor shades. Homeowners have a choice of materials, sheerness and colors for their patio sunshades.

We offer Alabama a wide selection of window treatments plus the added knowledge of outdoor sunshades. When you contact us for more information, we’ll be happy to tell you all about it. Free estimates, professional measuring and professional installation are just a few things you can look forward to when calling us for help.

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

How to Use Windows to Make Your Home Cozier

May 29, 2025
Windows give a home warmth, light, and a view of the outside world. But with the right treatments, you can also use your windows to make your home feel cozy. Coziness is a semse of comfort and familiarity. It defines a charm that feels like home, whether it's the coziness of a warm room in winter, your movie den in the summer. When we think of coziness, we often think of couches, candles, and throw blankets. But your windows play an equally important part. After all, it's your window treatments that frame the light, add softness to your walls, and set the mood for every room. The right window decorations can make your home feel warm and inviting. Using Windows, Drapes, and Shades to Create Coziness  Window treatements create a vibe for your entire room. Drapes, shades, and shutters can be used to create a backdrop of texture, color, and style. They also allow you to control the light levels in your home and even the color of the light. This means that your windows are the best place to start when making a room feel cozy. Layering soft drapes in rich colors is a great way to add that sense of comfort and warmth to a room, while cheerful blinds in soft neutrals can help a room to feel relaxed and welcoming. You can also use drapes or blinds to add a splash of color as a bold accent in any room. These touches combined with glowing sunshine during the day create a cozy and comfortable space. Plants as Cozy Window Decor You can use other types of decor to evoke a sense of coziness, too. We particularly love plants. Leafy green plants love the sunshine as much as you do and thrive when placed in a sunny window. Place an elegant snake plant in the windowsill or hang creeping ivy from a hook near the top of a window frame to make your room feel cheerful and alive with green energy. Plants make a home feel natural and vibrantly lived-in which is perfect for your cozy vibe. For a cozy kitchen, you can even grow fresh herbs in a box on the windowsill that add a delicious aroma and tasty fresh seasoning along with their natural visual appeal. Enhance Your Space with Aromatherapy Speaking of aromatics, you might be surprised how much your windows can take part in cozy aromatherapy. Window treatments like drapes and blinds are fabric that can help purfumes and essential oils linger in the room for days. Cozy scents are often warm aromas like cinnamon, vanilla, lavender, almonds, and coffee. But fresh fruit or floral scents that smell like "home" to you can also add a sense of coziness to each room. Simply spritz your curtains with your favorite scents and each room will subtly carry that comforting smell of home that makes you want to snuggle into the couch and relax at the end of each day. Moody Shade and Maximizing Light When we visualize coziness, light levels often play a role. Your minds eye may see a sun-drenched cottage or a gently lit library as your mental idea of a room that is perfectly cozy. Window treatments allow you to set the mood by reducing or maximizing light to the perfect levels. Well-designed shades and drapes can pull back attractively to maximize light, bathing your room in the warm welcoming glow of sunshine. Or if you prefer a more relaxed coziness, you can use translucent drapes or cellular shades to filter the light exactly the right amount. Diffuse and reduced light filtered through fabric of a warm color can make you feel safe and at peace. Increase Your Happiness with Window Design Your home should feel welcoming, relaxing, and cozy. The right window treatments can help set the stage for a delightful welcome home each night, rejuvinating weekends, and an overall feeling of at-home coziness when you are relaxing in your favorite place. To achieve this goal, you can experiment with home decor changes, including your windows, to achieve your ideal at-home bliss. Contact us today for custom drapes and blinds to complete your cozy room design.

What Your Window Treatment Says About You: A Personality-Based Guide

April 23, 2025
Your selection of window treatment products and services is not merely about getting a job done. Rather, if you look hard enough, you can find direct correlations between the type of person that you are and the window treatment that you select. We have created this personality-based guide to help you best discover what kind of window treatment truly matches your spirit. The Dependable Type: Wooden Blinds You are the person that all of your friends can count on. You are the type of person who truly sticks to your plans when you make them, and you are the type of person who will choose wooden blinds for your home. Privacy is important to you when selecting your blinds, and that is why you find yourself pulled into the idea of putting up wooden blinds. Besides that, they happen to be highly functional, and that's not something that you are willing to pass up either. The Planner: Blackout Curtains Those who value truly getting the most value out of their blinds or anything else that they install in their homes will think very carefully about their options. For those people, going with blackout curtains makes a lot of sense. They want to gain as much value as possible out of their options, and they know that they can significantly improve their quality of sleep and so much more when they opt for blackout curtains. These also happen to be a great option for those who work night shifts or other odd hours and yet still want to enjoy their sleep. They need blackout curtains to help increase the quality of that sleep and allow themselves to get their day started right. The Tech Enthusiast: Smart Shades They roam among us: The type of people who are quick to adopt any new technology and get to work figuring out how it can improve their lives. These people are great because they are not afraid to take a risk and because they help to move our society forward. They simply want to get more out of each day, and they often do so by adopting and using the latest technologies. These individuals will gravitate towards smart shades for the following attributes: Innovation - Who wants to stick with the boring old ways of shading one's house? Smarter options are now available, and you better believe that the tech enthusiasts among us are willing to latch on to them. Efficiency - These shades are a more efficient option for those who care about that kind of thing. They can be easily activated and set up to open or close automatically (how cool is that?!). Progressive - The "cool" factor is a big deal for people who fall into this category as well. They might not admit to it right off the bat, but they care deeply about what others think about them. As such, they want window shades that have that cool factor attached to them. The Dreamer: Sheer Curtains Finally, we land upon the dreamer. This is the person who views every day for the possibilities that it can bring. They are not scared off by those with a negative attitude. If anything, they believe that they can change those people! Instead, the dreamer wants sheer curtains because they bring in soft light, open spaces, and bring about a feeling of possibility all throughout the house. Sheer curtains are the ideal option for someone who classifies themselves in this way. They will receive plenty of compliments on their curtains, and they will appreciate how open they are to the world.  Which kind of person are you and which window treatment option makes the most sense for your personality? For more inspiration and ideas, reach out and contact us today.