It is totally normal for me to get a call from a homeowner who needs window treatments but does not know what they want. They usually mention issues such as blinding brightness or sun damage or lack of privacy. But they have no idea what product might fit into their home and meet their needs. We discuss all the problems they need to solve, their design style, and their budget to come up with several options.

1. The Basics of Blinds

Blinds are made up of horizontal slats that will raise and lower, tilt to allow light control and close for privacy. They are made of a composite, faux wood or solid wood material. All operate the same but are different price levels with composite being the least expensive and solid wood the most. Composite will normally have limited color choices in the white range whereas solid wood can be custom painted or stained to match the moldings in the home. Faux wood blinds come with either solid color slats or with patterns that closely mimic the grain of real wood. Made from PVC for fire- and moisture-resistance, faux wood blinds combine natural wood beauty with modern engineering. Composite is the best choice for high moisture/humidity areas since they resist warping. All can be operated with a wand or motorized.

2. The Essentials of Shades

The shades category includes roller, solar, natural woods, and roman. Both roller and solar shades will completely roll up into a cassette header so you get the most openness of your window. Roller can provide blackout options and privacy while solar offers less privacy but light filtering and UV protection. Natural woven shades as well as fabric roman shades can operate from the bottom up or top down. They will stack up in folds at the bottom. This means that there will be some coverage of the window even when the shades are in the open position. All these options can be controlled cordlessly, with a chain or motorized. And there are so many design options for all of these that they can fit in just about any space.

3. The Standards of Shutters

Shutters have been a popular category of window treatments for years. They are classic in design, easy to clean and offer light control and privacy. The one draw back that most homeowners don't like is that they do cut off a good bit of visual space and light even when the louvers are in the open position. This is simply because of the type of construction it takes to build a shutter. Standard rectangular, cafe, arched, and sunburst designs mean you can treat just about any window and door. They are available in either composite, which are good for bathrooms where there will be humidity and moisture, or solid wood that can be painted or stained to match moldings.

Whew! That was a lot of information. We can help you decide what works best for your home and your needs. Set up a discovery call through our web site and let's talk through it!

Warmly,

Amanda

The Big Differences Between Blinds, Shades, and Shutters in a Home