When you shop and look at the various window treatment styles available on the market, buying blinds is similar to shopping for new clothes. When you choose, you have to make sure that you are buying blinds that belong to the latest lines according to trends and fashions. At the same time, you also want to pick blinds that are practical and can do the job effectively. The right blinds can be likened to a pair of your favourite jeans – casual but filled with functionality, and very comfortable, too. And shopping for the right blinds require you visualizing how they would look like when installed in the windows of your home.

First off, think of the reasons why we install windows: to provide the indoors with fresh air, so that we can have a better view of the outside (especially if the windows overlook a garden), and free, natural light. Although we need all of these, too much heat, cold, light, and air can also harm the things inside the house including the health of the people inside. When maximized, windows can help us save as much as half of our heating and air conditioning expenses. However, too much heat and cold can be detrimental to our health as well as to our investments.

Knowing Your Window Locations

Not all windows should be provided with the same kind of window treatment, unless of course you maintain the uniformity in the design and ambiance of your home and you have lots of money to burn. However, determining the specific areas in your home that require more focus will help you minimize cost and maximize the use of blinds. Windows that face west bring in the hottest and most amount of light, which means they require the heaviest coverage. For windows which face north, they receive the least amount of light so it would be fitting to install in them the thinnest amount of coverage.

Blinds

If the prevailing climate in your area is moist, you may opt for faux blinds considering that you never have to worry about warping, thanks to the consistent humidity. At the same time, faux blinds are amazingly cost-effective not to mention the fact that they can captivate the eye because of their innate beauty. They are also more economical compared to other window treatments. They can provide you with much needed privacy and energy efficiency. With the right set of blinds, you will be able to effectively control the entry of light into your room as well as the amount of air that comes in.

Wood blinds are usually more beautiful but they are also more expensive. Blinds made of aluminium are the cheapest but they are also the least durable. Although they can provide you with the same amount of privacy, they will not be able to provide you enough insulation to like wood and faux blinds. The most common materials for vertical blinds are fabric and PVC. They are not as expensive as the other blinds but they can provide you with ample privacy and energy efficiency.