DIY Window Treatments – Blinds – Shutters – Shades
If you were to spend time shopping locally but even to a greater degree via the internet, more than likely you would be shocked by the vast selection of window treatments and window treatment curtains. Although all window coverings are created using standard ideas, the level of creativity today has resulted in an amazing selection of designs. In fact, window treatments and window treatment curtains have become so innovative that you have the opportunity to achieve virtually any look wanted.
The most amazing thing about different window treatments and window treatment curtains today is that with a little bit of education and some patience, you can end up with coverings that look as if they were made by a professional. Patterns have changed so much over the years that literally anyone could make window treatments. Of course, this means enjoying a more cost efficient solution but also being able to add your own creative touches to the final look. We wanted to offer a little information about some of the more innovative designs that you might consider when ready to add or change existing window treatments in your home.
Remember, along with what the market offers specific to innovative DIY window treatments and window treatment curtains, you have full reigns to create your own designs. If you prefer to purchase window coverings, we suggest that you buy from a reputable company. With this, both materials and workmanship would surpass expectations. In addition, most of the top window treatment manufacturers provide consumers with excellent warranties so if you were to receive a defective product, you would have the opportunity to make an exchange or even get a full refund.
As you can imagine, the number of companies that design innovative window treatments and window treatment curtains is staggering but some stand out as true industry leaders. For instance, Hunter Douglas has worked hard over the years to provide exceptional products but also value. Using this company as an example, you would have a choice from a wide range of fabrics, designs, styles, sizes, and colors. However, intricate details put Hunter Douglas window treatments in high demand. While you would not be disappointed in what this and other top companies have in inventory, most take custom orders too.
Now, if you love do-it-yourself projects and enjoy sewing, you could use styles made by companies to come up with your own innovative window treatments and window treatment curtains or simply come up with something on your own. For this, we recommend you conduct research to learn the fabrics, patterns, and colors that are most current. From there, consider sewing notions and embellishments that would transform any conventional style into something spectacular. Swarovski crystals, buttons, lace, ribbons, and even vintage jewelry are all excellent choices.
Choosing Roman Shades
There are many trends in window treatments right now but very few of them are more popular than roman shades. They are classic and wonderful to look at but efficient for what they are intended to do at the same time. These kind of shades are typically made of fabric that is made to pull up or down in one of a few different ways. They can operate with a continuous cord loop, a motor that operates the shades, or a standard cord lock.
There are literally thousands of styles in roman shades so you will have no trouble matching or complementing any décor you wish. The first thing you have to decide is how you want the shades to look when they are closed. In a lot of styles the fabric will lay flat but you can also choose roman shades that appear hobbled or in a flowing, waterfall like look when then are closed. Once you know how you want the shades to look then you can begin trying to find a fabric that matches your personal style. This will depend not only on the décor of the room involved but which room that is. A classic, off white fabric would be perfect for a formal living room but would probably be a bad idea for your children’s playroom.
Roman shades have the option of being mounted inside or outside of the window frame. In order to mount them inside the frame you will need at least a two-inch flat surface at the top of the window casing in order to properly mount the shades. Also, for an inside mounting there will be a bit of a gap on either side of the shade so that they can move without obstacles. If you do not have the two inches of space for the mounting than you will have to use an outside mount for your roman shades. Normally this mount means that the shades are mounted to the window trim and extend to the outside of the trim on either side. This is a great idea if you want the shades to darken the room since there will be no gap on the sides of the window for light to get in.
Another important thing to consider is the quality of the roman shades you buy. Purchasing professionally made shades may mean that you pay more money but they will usually last over ten years with regular, daily use. Good quality roman shades will have hand sewn rings on the backside that will not weaken from sunlight, which will ensure that your shades last as long as possible and still looking amazing.
In general, choosing roman shades will also help insulate your home from temperature changes. They will keep out the sun when you want to keep the heat outside and keep in the heat during those cold winter months. And if you want to keep your room dark at night there are few shades that do better than roman shades.
Curtain rods, finials, and other hardware is also an important part of designing and making innovative window treatments and window treatment curtains. With a little ingenuity, the sky is the limit. One example would be to purchase wooden drawer knobs, which can be purchased at overstock, hardware, home improvement, craft, and even surplus stores. These round knobs could then be painted, stained, or even sprayed with various canned textures, also sold at fabric and craft stores. Next, purchase a piece of wood the required length.
For the wood, this could also be painted, stained, or sprayed with texture but also, covered with coordinating fabric to the curtains. The ready drawer knobs would then be screwed into the wood, spacing them four to six inches apart. Choosing a lighter weight fabric, the window treatments would be constructed with tabs at the top. Rather than slide the tabs through a curtain rod, the tabs would be hung over the knobs. The finished curtains look expensive and chic but in reality, they would be extremely inexpensive to make. Keep in mind that this is just one of thousands of possibilities but as you can see, whether buying or making innovative window treatments and window treatment curtains, there is no limit to style.
Plantation Shutters
There are many types of interior plantation shutters that homeowners tend to consider when thinking of buying shutters for their home. It can be a challenge to find the style, brand, material, and price that are right for you. While the style will be relatively the same from one company to another the other things can vary drastically.
The first thing you will need to decide when buying plantation shutters is what type of material you prefer. Manufacturers will generally use wood or some type of wood composite material. If you decide that you prefer real wood for your plantation shutters there will be a number of looks and colors you can choose from.
If you want a shutter that has a darker color then perhaps a dark cherry wood would be best, or a lighter colored wood like oak might be more your style. Some companies will even sell hard to come by woods like mahogany. Most plantation shutters that are made with something other than real wood will try to be marketed to looking like real wood. They are generally less expensive than real wood but have the same look.
Another thing that tends to vary within the style of plantation shutters is the louvers. These are the horizontal pieces of wood within the frame of the shutter. Most shutters that you find will have operational louvers, meaning that they can be opened or closed to control the light. Standard shutters will have louvers that have a width range from 1 ¼ to 1 7/8 inch. Typical plantation shutters have wider louvers of about 2 ½ to 4 ½ inches. The price of the shutters will vary based on the size of the louvers since the small the louver, the more material the company needs to use.
You will also need to consider if your windows may require some customization to have these kinds of shutters. Most plantation shutters are made to fit rectangular shaped windows. So if yours windows are not rectangular or are an unusual shape then most companies will offer customized shutters. They will need the exact measurements of your windows to do this however, so have those numbers on hand.
The last factor you need to consider when buying plantation shutters is the installation of those shutters. If you buy from a local company they will often offer free installation with the purchase of your shutters. Other companies just expect that you will install them yourself, particularly if you buy online. If you don’t mind installing your own shutters then you should make sure that the manufacturer at least offers your directions for how to do so correctly.
Once you have taken all of these factors into consideration, you will be ready to shop for your new plantation shutters. Having already thought of all of these variables you will be comfortable knowing that your purchase will be the right one for you and a purchase you will enjoy for many years in your home.
Imitation Wood Blinds
Every year it seems that the trend changes in window treatments and right now the most popular choice is window blinds. Blinds come in many styles, colors, and materials but a very popular choice is always wood. While wood blinds are a very beautiful choice they have some limitations and may be impractical for most homeowners. So to make the look of wood available to anyone many homeowners are choosing imitation wood blinds instead.
Imitation wood blinds are the best choice over real wood for many reasons. You will not lose any of the look or feel of real wood, but will lose a lot of the drawbacks of it at the same time. Imitation is much easier to keep clean and maintained and they are not prone to discoloring or warping. They are perfect for rooms in the home that have a lot of humidity like the bathroom, or have lots of temperature fluctuations like the kitchen.
Also you can find imitation wood blinds available in so many colors and stains that you can easily match any décor you wish. It is almost impossible to tell imitation wood blinds from the real thing and they are much less expensive, which is a big consideration for those on a budget.
The first thing you need to remember when selecting your imitation wood blinds is to consider the slat size and color that you want. You have the choice of composite slats that are made of a blend of PVC and wood pulp or just PVC slats. These choices in material make for a very durable window treatment that will not discolor or warp like real wood. You can also choose whether you want wide slats or narrow slats.
Wide slats tend to give more light control, but the narrow slats are a very contemporary look. Color is another consideration. You will need to decide if you want a natural wood look or painted to match a specific color scheme. There is any number of paint and stain colors so your choices are endless.
Once these two things are out of the way you need to decide if you with to mount your imitation wood blinds within the window frame or outside it. If you have very decorative window casings or wish to use curtains as well then inside the frame is a good option.
If your windows are very small then outside mounts will work well since it will cover the entire window easily. At this point you also need to decide if you want to install your imitation wood blinds yourself or hire someone to do it.
Do it yourself is relatively easy and can be done with some detailed instructions. If you are not very handy or simply don’t have the time then you can also hire a professional to install the blinds for you.
Cellular Blinds
One of the hottest trends in window treatments right now is cellular blinds. In case you haven’t heard of these kinds of blinds before, they are definitely a choice to be considered for any kind of window treatment. Cellular shades are made of thin fabric that is pleated in an accordion style instead of the traditional slats of window blinds. There are many advantages to these types of blinds but they are not the right choice for everyone.
In general, cellular blinds tend to be less expensive that some of the other window treatment options like wood blinds or Roman shades. In addition to being less expensive than some options they are have an extremely good insulation capacity.
In fact they are so good at providing insulation that buying these blinds means you are eligible for a federal tax credit for making your home more energy efficient. No other blinds can possibly compete with cellular blinds for insulation and temperature control.
One of the bigger disadvantages of cellular blinds is that they do not provide as much privacy as other window treatment options. If you have traditional window blinds then you can open them just a little to let in a bit of light while largely maintaining your privacy. Cellular shades can only be either open or shut and don’t keep out as much light as traditional slatted blinds.
Another drawback is that the blinds are more difficult to clean and keep clean than more common types of window blinds. However it is not impossible to keep cellular blinds clean. You should dust the blinds regularly using a soft cloth or a sock to keep the dust and dirt away.
If your blinds need more thorough cleaning then you can use a vacuum cleaner attachment to get them ever more clean. Be sure to use the attachments gently so you don’t damage the blinds. If something spills on the cellular blinds that cannot be vacuumed away then you can spot clean them with a mild detergent and water and allow them to air dry.
These kinds of blinds should generally not be placed entirely in water since they are fabric, although some manufacturer’s instructions may state that their blinds are ok to be washed this way.
One reason that so many seem to be gravitating toward cellular blinds is because of the diversity of style that you have to choose from. Because these blinds are made of fabric there is no end to the different colors and styles that you can find.
Not all of your local home improvement stores will feature this kind of variety, but a quick search online should yield more results that you can imagine. Any kind of style that you wish to display in your home can be found to make your home truly unique.
Sliding Glass Door Window Treatments
Sliding glass doors are one of the most functional ways to enter your home on a frequent basis. They also bring in a lot of light. Their one drawback is that they are very difficult to cover, but leaving them bare makes the room look plain. Rest assured that there are plenty of options for sliding glass door window treatments. The hardest part will be finding the best one for your lifestyle.
If your sliding door gets regular daily use, you probably won’t want them encumbered by heavy drapes or window blinds. In these cases you may want to consider just adding a cornice board on your shortlist of sliding glass door window treatments. Cornice boards will give the sliding door a very stylish look but will not interfere with the ease that you can enter and exit your home. Another choice for this is to leave the door bare, but apply a tinted window film. This will allow light to come in and maintain the ease of coming and going, but you will keep your privacy too. Tinted window films also will help you save money on your electric bill.
One of the most perfect sliding glass door window treatments is Roman shades. They will allow you to alternately cover one or both sides of the window at any given time. So during the day you could keep the functional side up and the other down to reduce sun glare. In the evening open both sides for a beautiful view of your backyard, and close them both before bed. It really is the most convenient and functional option.
Of course one of the most popular sliding glass door window treatments are vertical window blinds. These kinds of window blinds are made from all the sorts of materials that horizontal blinds are, so you have a lot of choices. If you’re in the market for cheap window blinds, these will definitely be the best choice. Usually the vinyl vertical blinds are curved, which will offer a lot more light control. Vertical window blinds also come in cloth shades that are unique for sliding doors. They feature a small metal weight sewn into the bottom to keep all the slats straight and operating smoothly. They are also functional in that you can open them completely or just partially if you need access to the door. Also because of their cost, vertical window blinds are ideal for rental properties that you don’t wish to invest too much money in since you won’t be staying there for long.
Wood and Bamboo Window Blinds
Both bamboo and wood window blinds are styles that add a lot of elegance, style and charm to your charm. Both are very versatile and have experience a popularity boom in recent years. It’s important to note, however, that they may not be best choice for everyone so it’s vital to know the facts before you buy.
Wood window blinds are very popular in recent years and can usually be stained to match most home décor. You will have a large variety of woods to choose from, so be sure to look around when you’re shopping for wood window blinds. Generally, wood is more expensive than fabric, aluminum, or vinyl blinds but are also far more durable. Wood window blinds will also increase how energy efficient your home is. It’s also worth noting that wood window blinds have been known to increase a home’s value if you ever decide to sell.
Wood is very well known for keeping out the sun and heat during the summer, but maintaining the heat in your home during the window. Also, if you don’t have the money for real wood window blinds, there are many more affordable faux wood blinds. This can be a preferable alternative if you live in an area with high humidity since real wood window blinds have a tendency to warp.
Bamboo window blinds have been used extensively in Japan and other parts of Asia for many centuries. Recently they have enjoyed an increase in popularity in the rest of the world as well. Bamboo window blinds come in a variety of styles and are very colorful and natural looking. Like wood, bamboo window blinds are very durable but are usually significantly less expensive. One advantage that bamboo has over real wood is that bamboo is very easy to clean and has very little need for maintenance. You also can’t be fooled by the flimsy appearance of bamboo window blinds. They may appear useless at protecting your home from sun or providing any insulation, but they actually do very well in both areas.
One of the biggest reasons that bamboo window blinds have become so popular is how environmentally friendly they are. The raw materials used to make the blinds are from the fibrous part of the bamboo. This makes it very easy to get the materials without causing any harm to the bamboo plant itself. The rest of the reeds and grass used to manufacture these blinds tend to grow very fast and can completely replenish themselves in as little as 5 years. Ultimately, no matter which blinds you choose both options will bring a natural, elegant look to your home.
