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Blackout Shades and Better Sleep

Posted: Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 | Filed under: blackout shades, Home cooling, window shading, window treatments
window shades

Blackout Shades

Getting a good night’s sleep can be frustrating if the first rays of morning light wake you up, but with blackout shades installed as a bedroom window treatment improvement, you’ll finally get to sleep past 6:30am in the summertime, especially on weekends. Blackout shades will provide just that – a total blackout in your bedroom with pure darkness for your body’s ultimate rest and a great night’s restorative sleep that’s so important to your well-being. Health experts say we need at least eight hours of sleep, and if you’re going to bed at midnight and waking at 6:30am when the morning sun shines through your too-thin window shades, you’re missing out on the health benefits of good sleep. Read more »

Window Treatments and Energy Efficiency

Cellular shade

Cellular shade

Blinds come in many shapes and sizes. Some are heavy, some are sheer, and some are downright ugly. While the selection is endless, the true competition comes down to the bottom line: which window treatments will save you money without breaking the bank to install?

We can rule blackout shades out this time. The cost of installation makes blackout shades more of a luxury than a marginal cost-benefit winner. Although blackout shades will reduce the heating and air conditioning bills, they’re not the only solution when it comes to energy efficiency. Read more »

Blackout Shades: Privacy and Efficiency

Posted: Tuesday, January 29th, 2013 | Filed under: blackout shades, window blinds, window shading, window treatments
Black Out Shades

Black Out Shades via everythingsimple.com

Have you woken up from blinding rays of sun? Perhaps you’ve watched a film or series only to be disturbed by an annoying glare of light?  If sunlight has become a daily nuisance to your lifestyle, you need blackout shades.

Blackout shades are one of the most modern window treatments available today. Providing maximum privacy and protection from the sun, blackout shades bring darkness indoors. For those who are sensitive to light while sleeping, blackout shades provide the ultimate in bedroom luxury. Consequently, blackout shades have become very popular in luxury hotels and homes. Read more »

Window Shades for Solar Control

Solar Control

Solar Control

Not all window shades are designing for solar control, many are simply for décor. If you’re in the market for new window treatments, it’s important to thoroughly identify your needs for window shades. If you’re simply trying to add some color to your room, in addition to the honeycomb shades already on your window, you may not necessarily need solar control. In other cases, if you don’t already have window treatments on your windows, purchasing window shades that don’t protect against the harsh sun, you can fight against your air conditioning.

Many different window shade manufacturers offer solar control options. One of the best options for solar control is a drapery system. Since most draperies are thick and can protect your interior against harmful light or heat, they are a great option to consider in any room of your house.

Drapery systems allow you to adjust your curtains horizontally along with the sun’s movement. You can open and close your draperies throughout the day to allow light in at certain times, and keep it out when the sun is at it’s strongest in mid afternoon.

To ease the process even more, you should consider motorized systems for your draperies. There are a variety of different motorized shades solutions that can be customized for any home. Motorized systems are very easy to use and can be set up on a timer! So, instead of manually opening and closing your draperies all day every day, set up your motorized system to do it automatically for you.

Draperies are a great option for solar control, especially because fabric and color choices are almost endless. You can even opt to add a blackout fabric liner in your curtains to fully block the light. This is a great option for bedrooms, media rooms and other living spaces in your home.

Aside from draperies, there are solar rolling shades that offer a clean, simple look to your home. There are honeycomb or Roman shades, all of which can be customized for your style and need. Most options are also available in a motorized system, so keep in mind the simplicity, compared to manually operated window shades.

Modern Window Treatment Ideas

Modern Window Treatments

Modern Window Treatments

Modern home design, including window treatments is a great way to incorporate design and aesthetic features into your windows. Window treatments provide privacy, help block outside light from entering and also add a decorative detail to your interior. Depending on how much light you want entering your room, there are many different window treatment options available to suite your needs.

Modern window treatments are often associated with clean, simple lines and many times are eco-friendly. Roller shades are a great example of clean, simple window treatments. With the minimal look, this type of window treatment provides an aesthetically appealing solution. Because roller shades can be customized in a wide variety of fabric options, many interior designers and homeowners are choosing roller shades. Roller shades have quickly become the preferred window covering of modern interiors, and now that manufacturers have started offering “green” fabric options, there are even more options available.

Since many modern interiors are associated with clean, simple and straight lines, another window treatment option available would be folding shades. Folding shades can be designed to complement any interior. There are simple, motorized shade systems and manual systems. Folding shades can be in the form of accordion-style pleated shades (also referred to as honeycomb shades) or they can be Roman shades. Roman shades are designed to block out the sun, but when opened they stack up evenly. Most people are familiar with honeycomb shades or cellular shades are elegant and very energy efficient. These window treatments are very durable and when opened, they also stack in an accordion-like fashion.

One last type of window treatment used in many modern interiors is drapery systems. Draperies operate in a vertical direction, still offering solar control, but in a different way than most horizontal window treatments. Drapery systems can be simple and clean, like most modern interiors, but they can offer the final style touch that any room needs. There are many different styles of draperies that can be customized for different designs.