Shade, Shutters & Blinds

Vertical blinds have been around since our grandmothers were cleaning rugs by beating them outside! And why change a good thing? In reality, nothing much has changed at all about vertical blinds since they came on the market almost a century ago. Colors are updated all the time, and new fabrics and materials come and go, but in essence, they are about the same as always.

If adding style to a room is your main focus, you now have colors that match any decorative scheme or mood. A room done in Early American, for instance, would look great with verticals that came with matching valance in perhaps pale oak, or a wood that matches the furniture in the room itself.

Tropical and cold climates alike can benefit from having verticals installed. Simple white vertical blinds can keep a room - or entire house - cooler by reflecting the hot sunlight. The opposite is true with black or very dark window blinds; they will draw in the heat. Add some thermal backing and you can actually start to see the difference in your energy bills.

Since builders tend to put the same size windows and sliding glass doors into homes, verticals usually come in these standard sizes and are easy to find and even order online. The heights don’t vary much, and the widths don’t vary much. If these sizes aren’t what you need you can always get a custom size. These are usually pretty expensive but sales are easy to find.

Occasionally, window blinds will need to be cleaned. Some of the higher end and more expensive blinds are actually the most difficult to clean and keep clean. They are usually made of materials that can’t get very wet without being damaged, eliminating the possible use of most household spray cleaners. Spot cleaning with carpet shampoo is recommended. For heavy dirt, you might have a problem. Even professional cleaning companies have a difficult time doing this well.

The more expensive window blinds made with fabric are very difficult to clean and even cleaning services have a tough time doing a suitable job.

Of course, after buying the window blinds you’ll need to figure out how to get them up and working. For some of us, we can perform miracles with a hammer and a few nails. For the rest of us we need all the help we can get, and that help usually comes with having them installed by the professionals who work for the store we bought them at. Installation is frequently added as a free portion of a special sale, or with a minimum purchase of some type.

Since custom is the choice for many nowadays, there are even software programs that help designers match vertical designs to wallpaper, carpeting, artwork, and just about anything else. This ability usually comes at a stiff price, but the results are fantastic! The stores that offer this service frequently have terrific sales, so it’s worth the wait!

For a limited time, readers can learn more about vertical blinds. Stop by Jesita Jerik’s site where you can take advantage of specials on window blinds and see what they can do for you.