7 Affordable Window Coverings Tips & Tricks

 

Fix your windows for less! We have lots of affordable tips and ideas, like installing energy-efficient curtains or replacing window shades with roller blinds or faux wood blinds. Learn about inexpensive accessories, energy-saving shutters, and more.

Renewing your window shades is an easy way to update your room on a budget. From outdoor blinds to roller shades, we have everything you need to choose the right blinds and shades for your home. Talk to a home décor specialist in-store or shop online today!

1. Roller shades are affordable and beautiful

 Roller shades are a cost-effective way to highlight your windows and transform your living room, dining room, bedroom, bedroom, kitchen, or any other area of ​​your home. They can be installed inside the window frame, which means that you won't have to cover any decorative trim around the window. Plus, their ability to completely disappear when rolled up means there are plenty of opportunities for natural light. Roller shades come in various colors and have varying levels of transparency. 

2. Add luxury with faux wood blinds

 Faux wood blinds will give you all the luxury without the high price tag. At a reasonable price, synthetic wood blinds still have the same beauty as natural wood blinds. They are also recyclable and moisture resistant, making them durable, so you can enjoy your blinds for years to come. Faux wood blinds are a perfect complement to studios, living rooms, and hallway windows. 

3. Cellular shades will keep heat out and cool in.

 Convenient, affordable, and beautiful - Cellular shades have it all. Its honeycomb shape helps absorb the sun's strong ultraviolet rays before they reach the living room sofa. With blinds helping to regulate the temperature in your living room, you'll end up spending less on running air conditioning or fans throughout the day. They are available in various degrees of protection, from blackout to light filtering. You will have no problem finding blinds that match your home aesthetic because cellular blinds come in all the colors of the rainbow!

4. Stylish, insulated curtains will save you money

 Long-term thermally insulated curtains will help protect your room from the cold. Lined with a layer of acrylic foam between the fabric, these curtains will save you money all winter long. They create an air pocket between the window and the curtain that blocks the heat from the room from leaking out. Thermal curtains have the added benefit of blocking light and reducing outside noise.

5. Protect your windows with exterior shutters

 

Don't forget about exterior window shades! Shutters can also help you save money on your heating bill during cold weather. They act as one more barrier against cold air, providing thermal protection to any drafty window. Upgrade the exterior of your home and get those savings in the long run! Shutters come in many sizes, colors, and materials. Visit us at the store and speak with a Windows specialist to discuss all your options.

 6. Solar shades

Solar shades are the energy-saving window shades that you will love! Another option to help alleviate those high energy bills is solar shades. Solar curtains can be installed in addition to curtains and provide a barrier to hot UV rays. This simple addition to your window is cost-effective and very easy to install! While solar shades block strong ultraviolet rays, they don't block natural light, so you can enjoy the sunlight without the uncomfortable heat. Solar shades can be trimmed to the exact width of your window. All you need to do is bring your measurements to the store and our specialists will measure your curtains for free! They can be taken home for immediate installation.

 7. Low Cost, Big Impact Curtain Accessories 

You can pierce your old curtains with a new accessory to completely transform the look of your window! A graceful fastening will give the drapes in the case a sophisticated look or will try to install new curtain rods. A decorative piece can add a subtle touch to your window shades for as little as $ 10! If you want to update your minimalist curtain rod, grab some profitable finials. They are simply attached to the ends of the curtain rod for easy installation.

The Best Types of Blinds and Which Are Right for Your Home

Venetian Blinds 

Contrary to their name, Venetian blinds are believed to be from Persia, not Venice. They were brought west to Europe in the 18th century, and they quickly established themselves as one of the most popular types of window treatments, still incredibly popular today. Venetian blinds are a series of two-inch-wide stacked horizontal slats that are connected by ropes or strips of fabric. To adjust the blinds, pull the cables to twist the slats or bring them together and raise them. While Venetian blinds can come in a variety of materials, they are often made of wood. "Venetian blinds look best on narrow windows and are typically used in bedrooms, kitchens, and home offices," says Creech. MORE FROM HOUSE BEAUTIFUL How to clean a shower head Previous video Play next video Deactivate current time 0:00 Loaded: 47.53%

 Time remaining -1: 06 Subtitles Fullscreen There are also wireless versions of Venetian blinds, which are preferred by parents with children's little ones. Between 1990 and 2015, there were 271 deaths of children due to entanglement in blind cords, and more than 16,000 other children were injured due to window blinds and subsequently treated in emergency rooms; most of the time they were accidentally cut by metal slats. 

• Small Blinds
• Vertical Blinds 
• Panel Rail 
•  Smart Blinds
• Blind Materials 

 Small Blinds are very similar to Venetian Blinds in form and function but have thinner slats that are typically about an inch thick. They are usually made from a metal like aluminum, which makes them slightly more affordable than standard Venetian blinds. It also makes them easier to clean! You can also take the mini blinds a step further with the micro blinds, which have slats that are only half an inch thick. 

Vertical Blinds are, as you might expect, a series of vertical slats (often made from a metal such as aluminum) that hang from a rail . As with Venetian blinds, the slats can be turned or pushed together to the side to adjust the amount of light that filters into a room. "If your home has a sliding glass door between the living room and the balcony or the kitchen and the backyard, vertical blinds are a great option for controlling light and privacy," says Creech. 

Blinds Panel Rail Blinds are a riff on vertical blinds - they comprise wide fabric slats that are a hybrid of blinds and shades . While hanging from a rail, panel rail blinds are different from vertical blinds in that the slats can be moved independently of each other. On vertical blinds, the slats can only be pulled to one side, but on panel rail blinds, they can be moved in any direction, and can even be split in half! 

 You probably already know about smartphones, smart TVs, and even smart thermostats, doorbells, and light bulbs. But did you know that there are also smart blinds? While traditional blinds can be manual or automatic (read: you can adjust them with the push of a button, thanks to tiny motors), smart blinds take technology to the next level. Not only do they feed automatically, but they can also be controlled via an app or with your voice, syncing with Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon's Alexa. 

You can also program smart blinds to adjust based on the time of day, the amount of sunlight hitting them, or if they detect motion. Of course, these features are priced much higher than standard blinds with good old-fashioned drawcords.

Wood Almost any type of wood can be used in blinds, and they can be finished in a variety of colors. Wood blinds are preferred because of their warm appearance, although they can be difficult to maintain in rooms that have high humidity, such as bathrooms or humid climates. While they work with windows of any size, they are particularly ideal for larger windows, as wood slats weigh less than their synthetic wood counterparts.