Choosing the right window treatment is becoming increasingly exciting, if not challenging time! There are greater choices of styles, functionality and colours than ever before. There are indeed many different window blind options available for you to create the living space you want. If you are remodelling or building, or just want to upgrade the office, window blinds can help you with privacy and spying eyes as well as having the flexibility of controlling the amount of light entering a room.
It is important to know the function of your window blinds before buying. For example if you opt for wooden blinds they will be fundamentally different than curtains. Some need to be operated by different wands or cords, which may not be suitable for those who are vulnerable, as they can potentially cause a safety risk.
With all these different styles, colours and material, where do you start? The most common type are Venetian blinds in different materials but there are also other choices such as:
* Mini Blinds are thin, slender horizontal blinds that can be stacked together by pulling a cord.
* Roman Blinds are large fabric covered blinds that fold up or down on top of each other.
* Venetian Blinds are thicker wooden or metal horizontal blinds.
* Roller Blinds are fabric blinds which are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms as they can be rolled up to varying lengths to enable as much light as possible to flood into the room during the day.
* Vertical Blinds are ideal for conservatories and patio doors as they can be stacked back to enable easy access and help reduce heat during the warmer months
Most importantly is functionality. Window blinds actually act as insulators. If you live in a cold climate they are ideal for helping to retain heat. Having blinds will help insulate your home by trapping the cold air between the window and the blind, an effective economic consideration as well as design.
Using blinds covered by fabric will save you on heating in the winter and on air conditioning in the summer by keeping out the heat. It is one of the easy ways to save on your energy bills and can be used proactively by opening the blinds in the day to let sun in and closing them at night to keep the heat in.
Chalk Hardwood Venetian Blind-35mm Slats
Modern design trends at this time focus on light, fresh colours and minimal designs to decorate your windows. Modern blinds are becoming trendy for use in almost all rooms. The most common is still the classic white Venetian window blinds, but as always, the window blinds should match or coordinate with the rest of your room’s furniture and decorating.
Window blinds are also very useful in rooms with humidity such as your bathroom or kitchen. They come in both horizontal and vertical form and many have protective coatings to keep dust from settling easy.
In addition to these types there are now modern blinds that are operated by remote control and that can be set to open or close the blinds at particular times in the day. Very practical in combination with energy saving blinds.
Modern window blinds come in many sizes and shapes, therefore the final choice is really down to what suits your style of room the best, while having good functionality and affordable costs.
It may seem rather intimidating to think about decorating your own home. Lots of people just live with things the way they find are. Others get the help of professionals, since they have no clue what they like or what approach to take!
Your home is your personal space. If you need help ask for suggestions, browse through interior design journals or online for inspiration! However, when the time comes to make decisions, they should be yours and your family’s. It’s your home and you should feel comfortable with the choices as you are the one who has to live with the choices!
Take a focal point in your room or the natural pathways. An example of this could be an ornate fire place, architectural features or placement of windows. Make this your starting point and start to design from one of these,
Choose your fabric, flooring and upholstery first, not the paint that you will use on the walls. You can always have paint mixed in any colour to compliment or match your soft furnishings when the time comes.
Don’t try to make things match, this is rarely effective! It is far better to have different textures, patterns such as floral and stripes which will add interest and style to the room.
Try not too make the room look too fussy by covering every surface with your treasures! Select the loves you love the most give them space to be viewed and enjoyed!
Determine which style of window treatments would be most practical and fit in with your design theme. The most common window treatments are blinds such as vertical blinds, or Venetian or traditional styled curtains used on their own or in combination with a blind. Choose the window dressing carefully as they do far more then just dress a window, they give you privacy, light, and insulation. As such they should always be an integral part of the design scheme not left as an after thought!
If you have thread bare carpets you have some great choices! Probably the most cost effective is to buy cheap rugs and cover the ‘bald’ bits! However, this is only a short term measure. Either replace the carpet or opt for the latest design trends and have stripped floor boards if you have wooden floors. The most cost effective way would be to strip the boards yourself, but this can be very time consuming, particularly if the boards are not in very good order or have layers of varnish to remove, in which case it may be advisable to obtain professional advice.
If you live in a modern style home which has concrete floors wood effect laminate floor is worth considering. The cheap rugs you brought can still be used on either of these floor surfaces as they will still coordinate with your soft furnishings.
Ascot Cushion
If your furniture is mismatched or maybe you have inherited it, try to find a way of tying it all in with your room. By adding throws or cushions in coordinating fabric or painting the wood on some pieces of furniture, can achieve the desired effect you want.
Home Interior Design and Decorating Soft Furnishings, Curtains, Drapery and Accessories for Window Treatments They add color, texture, softness and design to our spaces. Without soft furnishings, our rooms would be hard and noisy.
Fabrics are the major part of soft furnishings, we use these for making drapery, curtains, cushions, valances, tiebacks, wall panels and upholstering our furniture to make it more comfortable to sit on.
There are smaller items called passementere, these are the trims and braids that decorate the fabric we use on the drapes, blinds, curtains, cushions and throws.
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