Anyone who has ever owned a rental or starter home may be familiar with basic white aluminum blinds and the like. However, window treatments come in a huge range of materials, styles, and textures.
Traditionally, ordering custom blinds required heading to a home improvement store or specialty window covering center to speak with a design consultant and wait weeks for delivery. But now, a whole new world is open to homeowners looking for more style and functionality in their window treatments. Contact Custom Blinds And Shades KY for professional help.
Unlike off-the-shelf blinds that are designed to be used in many homes, custom shades can be assembled with the exact measurements of your windows. This ensures they fit perfectly and can be made to manage light, protect privacy, and increase insulating power more effectively.
Custom blinds offer a wide range of design options and colors to match your home’s decor. They also provide precise control over how much light enters the room through easy-to-operate slats that open or close to let in the sunlight. Some window blinds even offer energy efficiency and sound-blocking properties.
Shades can be fabricated in a range of fabrics from lightweight, eco-friendly materials to rich, elegant silks. There are also a number of styles to choose from, such as bamboo and woven wood, pleated shades that feature crisp, even folds for an attractive, modern look, and roller shades that neatly roll up and down on a smooth track. Shades are also available with the added convenience of motorization and can be programmed into your Smart Home hub to open, close, and adjust at specific times throughout the day and night.
When choosing a shade, consider the level of protection you need from the sun’s harsh UV rays. Many shades are available in fabric that’s infused with sun-protective chemicals to block the sun’s harmful rays and reduce fading over time. Other shade fabrics are anti-bacterial and odor-neutralizing to help maintain a fresh, clean living space.
Another factor to consider is how often you’ll need to clean your shade. Depending on how much traffic the area gets and how much dust, dirt or pet hair accumulates, your shade may need to be washed, cleaned with a vacuum’s brush attachment, or professionally deep cleaned.
Another advantage of custom window shades is that they can be made to accommodate any specialty window sizes, such as arches, circles, or angled windows. They can be fabricated to fit these unique window shapes, and they’ll look just as beautiful as the standard window shades that are sold in stores and online. They’ll also be more durable and last longer than standard, ready-made window blinds.
Material
Blinds and shades serve the same basic function, but differ in terms of style and material. Blinds feature slats that can be tilted open or closed and are available in many different materials, from wood to faux wood to aluminum. Shades, on the other hand, are made of a single piece of fabric that can be opened or closed and come in several styles. Shades can be opaque (blackout) or more transparent (light filtering).
The quality of your window treatments determines how long they last and how well they manage light, privacy, and energy efficiency. Unlike ready-made blinds that are usually produced in large overseas factories with minimal quality control, custom window blinds are made to your specific window size and shape, providing a perfect fit with no gaps or holes for light to seep through. The slats also stay in better shape and you don’t have to worry about broken or misaligned slats, which can happen with off-the-shelf blinds.
Choosing the right color and texture for your window coverings is another way to add a personal touch to your space. Most people think of white or off-white for their blinds, but there’s a whole world of colors and textiles to choose from. From woven grass shades that bring a natural element to your living room to cellular shades in a playful color for your child’s bedroom, there’s something to fit every aesthetic.
Consider the amount of traffic in your home and whether or not you want to keep your window treatments out of reach of children or pets. Are you looking for a more minimalist design or do you want to create a cozy retreat? Then a soft, light-filtering shade would be your best choice. Alternatively, you could choose a hard-style shade that matches the other elements and hardware in your room for a cohesive look. Depending on your priorities, there are also options for reversible shades that offer two different color sides to suit the mood or season of your room. This can be especially helpful if you have a multipurpose room that can be transformed for multiple purposes throughout the year.
Style
Custom blinds and shades are designed to fit your windows perfectly. This ensures that they’ll have a polished look and will function well for longer than ready-made options. It also means that you won’t have to deal with issues like broken slats or faulty cords.
Ready-made window treatments are made in large factories overseas with minimal quality control. The focus is on keeping costs down and profits up, so they’re usually less robust than custom options. They’ll also need to be replaced sooner than custom blinds because they are manufactured before you order them.
With custom blinds, you’re able to choose from a wide selection of colors and styles, so you can match them to your home’s decor and the functional requirements of each room. For example, if you have kids or pets, you’ll want to select durable coverings that will stand up to heavy foot traffic and spills. Shades are a great choice because they’re generally easy to clean and can be dusted with a brush attachment or gentle spot-clean.
Blinds and shades are available in a variety of color, texture, fabric, and finish choices to complement any room and style. From a sleek, modern aluminum mini blind in your minimalist living space to a luxurious natural wood blind in the dining room, there’s something to suit every taste and budget. You can even opt for a cellular shade in a playful color that matches your child’s bedroom, or add tassels and colorful fabric tapes to your woven grass shades to give them an extra pop of personality.
Whether you’re choosing a slatted blind to let in light, or a sheer to filter it, there are plenty of customization options to make your shades uniquely yours. You can even opt for a dual shade that alternates opaque and sheer bands to provide privacy and light control.
When you choose custom blinds, you’ll have the option to work with an in-house installer or an independent contractor (often through a big-box retailer acting as a middleman). At Stoneside, we offer a professional installation service to make sure your new blinds are installed to your complete satisfaction.
Installation
There are lots of reasons to choose shades and blinds over other window treatments, including their ability to manage natural light more efficiently, offer greater privacy, and even help regulate indoor temperatures. But they’re also great decorative options that add texture, color, and interest to a space.
Unlike drapes, which hang down from a rod, shades sit atop a window casing. Depending on the style you choose, this can provide an entirely different look and feel to a room.
To install a new shade or blind, start by measuring your window casing for size. Make sure to measure from the edge of the casing inward, and add a few extra inches for proper sizing. Then, use your measuring implements to determine the width of your window opening and purchase a shade that’s slightly smaller. This ensures the blind will fit perfectly, and doesn’t stick out too far or sit too close to the frame.
After obtaining your window measurements, shop for the best quality custom blinds and shades. Aside from being more affordable than ready-made versions, custom blinds offer superior durability, will perfectly fit your windows, and come in a wide range of styles and materials. Plus, if you have kids or pets, they’re easier to clean than drapes, which often require professional cleaning.
Once your new window treatments arrive, unpack them and examine the box contents to ensure all parts are included, along with product instructions. Once you’re confident everything is there, prepare to install by pre-drilling your screws or nails (or putting in place any necessary hardware). If you’re installing an inside mount, you’ll then screw or nail the mounting bracket into the window casing using the marks you made earlier. For outside mounts, you’ll then simply snap the headrail of your new shade or blind into the mounted bracket.
If you’re shopping for a new set of ready-made blinds, keep in mind that it may take weeks or even months for a local big-box retailer to order and deliver them, especially if they don’t have the specific item you need in stock. When you purchase from a company like Stoneside, however, you can be assured of timely delivery and attentive installation that will leave your home looking its best.
