Want to Buy Blinds Or Shades? 5 Things You Need to Know Before You Buy

So you want to buy blinds or shades to cover the windows in your new home? Or maybe you're redecorating your current home. Either way, this article presents five things that you need to know before you buy window coverings.

1. Know whether you want blinds or shades.

Blinds are made of slats attached to each other with fabric. You can raise or lower the entire blind, or you can open and close the slats. Popular styles of blinds include traditional (venetian) blinds, vertical blinds, and mini blinds. Shades don't have slats, so you control the light by raising or lowering the entire shade. Popular styles of shades include pleated shades, roman shades, and roller shades.

2. Know what kind of material you want.

Blinds are usually made from metal, wood, faux wood, or vinyl. Metal and wood are the most expensive. Faux wood looks just like real wood, but can cost quite a bit less. Vinyl is the least expensive. Shades are made of fabric or of natural materials like bamboo or woven wood. Both blinds and shades come in many colors and finishes; shades also offer a choice of patterns and textures.

3. Know what style you're going for in each room.

You'll want to choose blinds or shades to complement your decor. Bamboo roller shades would look good in a sunroom, but not in a formal dining room. Pleated shades would work in a formal setting, but probably wouldn't be right in the kitchen. Venetian blinds are versatile and can work with a variety of decorative styles. Vertical blinds work best on long windows or doors, or to emphasize other vertical elements in a room. Mini blinds work best for smaller windows, like in lavatories or for the window in a door.

4. Know how to get the best price.

You could pay full price at a local retail store, but you can usually get your window treatments at a significant discount by shopping elsewhere. If you want to see and touch the window coverings before you buy, you could try a big box retailer like Home Depot or Lowe's, or wait for a sale at your local blinds dealer. If you don't mind not actually seeing the product before you buy it, shop online. You can easily compare prices at a number of window covering retailers and choose the one that has the best price.

5. Know if you have special requirements.

Some special purpose window treatments are made for specific needs. If you want to save on energy costs, you may want insulating window coverings, like insulated roman shades. If you have small children in the house, you might want to look into remote control shades, because they don't have the long cords that can present a safety hazard. If you like to sleep late in the summer, work a night shift, or nap during the day, look for room darkening shades or blackout shades.

Now you're armed with 5 important things you need to know before you buy blinds or shades. Good luck and happy shopping!

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