Design Confidently, Live Comfortably
| March/April 2005 Choosing Shades & Blinds Decisions, Decisions Your choice in shades or blinds depends mostly on your windows -- where they are, the kind of light they let in, and the views through them. After that, it’s largely a matter of taste. Here are a few questions to get you started. Remember that needs often overlap, so you may have to give something up, like total privacy, to get something else, like full sun on a porch filled with plants. Looks What kind of home do you live in and what is your overall style preference? Does your room have strong architectural features? You may want to consider 2-inch wood blinds. Do you lean toward layered, romantic spaces? Sheer and soft shadings in muted tones are probably a better choice. Think outside, too. If your house has a symmetrical façade, you may want to choose the same coverings for all your windows.
Light Do you want lots of light but hesitate to let your windows go bare? Sheer shades do the minimum, beautifully. Need a completely dark bedroom to sleep well? Think blackout shades. Do you have fine furnishings that may fade, or does direct sun put a glare on your TV? Solar shades may be what you’re looking for. Views Do you have a view that calls out for framing? Consider a shade or blind that “disappears” into a header when open. Are your views less than picture perfect? No open weaves for your windows. Privacy Is your home in an urban area, on a busy street, or close enough to another house that people can see in? Is your bedroom on the first floor? If you need privacy but like the idea of letting light in, you probably would do well to choose a shade with a bottom-up feature (see Bottoms Up!). Use Who is using the room and how? A studio or craft room that gets lots of daily use will require natural light, so be careful not to block it. Children’s rooms or busy family rooms require durable window coverings; consider something washable or remote-controlled. A little-used living room window can handle a soft-fold Roman that requires only gentle primping to look its best.  Climate control Cellular shades feature single or double cells that insulate windows and keep rooms comfortable in very cold or hot weather. (DiamondCell Shades from Bali) Energy If energy efficiency is a concern, note that some window coverings, like cellular shades, are designed to capture cold air and help keep heating costs down. Some, like solar shades, block UV rays and prevent rooms from turning into furnaces in summer. And others, like matchstick blinds, do little if anything to regulate a room’s temperature. Cost How much you want to spend may be your single most important consideration when choosing window coverings. The range of prices is astonishing. If you have a tight budget, be creative. Decide which windows are most visible or important, and spend your money on those. If you have a lot of windows or windows close to vaulted ceilings -- or if you simply want to change the atmosphere of your rooms easily -- automated window coverings may be for you. (Learn about “wired windows”) Whatever your window covering challenges, shades or blinds may be the answer. Simple and attractive, they come in so many variations that there’s bound to be one that will work for you. Deborah Wiener is the owner of Designing Solutions, a family-friendly design firm in Silver Spring, Maryland. NEXT: Bottoms Up! |
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TOP PHOTO: COURTESY OF CONRAD. BOTTOM PHOTO: COURTESY BALI. |
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