WHAT’S NEXT FOR WINDOW TREATMENTS

We all personalize our homes with color and décor, but when it comes to the window treatments we tend to play it safe, and the result is a look that is ubiquitous in virtually every neighborhood in the country. Budget Blinds has an interesting product that allows us to venture a bit outside the comfort zone without abandoning all its trappings.

A current trend in interior design is to filter natural light and wash rooms in the glow created through fabrics. If this is a look you want for your home, then you need to consider Signature Murano® soft horizontal blinds, a product found only at Budget Blinds.

Signature Murano® blinds have all the light-filtering properties of fabric with the ease-of-use of traditional blinds. The product works well for busy homes. Its innovative design, a fabric louver supported by thin, flexible rods, resists warping. The easy-care polyester fabric is treated with a top coat that repels dust and dirt, but can be spot cleaned if needed.

Signature Murano® soft horizontal blinds work well in virtually any décor and any room. The product is available in four luxurious weaves and dozens of colors so you can choose a color to complement your decor. Additionally, the product can be used in traditional windows, bay windows or corner windows. Some of the features that can be added to Signature Murano® are:
Routless Louvers – Routless louvers come without the tiny holes in the middle of the louver that are found on traditional louvers. Routless louvers enhance privacy and block more light, which is a consideration for media rooms and bedrooms.

Tilt Control Options – Homeowners can choose from pull cords, wands and even motorization. Homes that have children present should consider options that eliminate pull cords.

Motorization – Motorization is in demand because it makes life a bit easier. Some systems allow the homeowner to program the treatment to open and close to control heat gain and make the home appear occupied throughout the day.

Decorative Cloth Tapes – Decorative Cloth Tapes are a great way to incorporate an accent color. Professional decorators recommend repeating a color or a pattern three times in a room – once in the lower third of the room, once in the middle third of the room and once more in the top third of the room – so the eye moves through the room rather than stopping. This eye movement makes rooms appear larger.

Wood Cornices – Wood Cornices add richness to your window treatment, block light and hide the controls, which may be visible from a second floor landing.

Budget Blinds suggests framing your Signature Murano® soft horizontal blinds with drapery panels and a valance in a coordinating fabric from Signature Fabric Treatments™ by Budget Blinds®. Bundling, the practice of using two or more classic window treatments on the same window, completes the look of a room and makes the window a focal point, much like a piece of art.

If you’re looking for a unique product that makes your home stand out from the sea of sameness, Signature Murano® Soft Horizontal Blinds may be just what your home needs.

BUDGET BLINDS® OFFERS ENERGY SAVING TIPS TO HOMEOWNERS

As homeowners across the country prepare to make improvements to their homes this spring, many are thinking in two particular shades of green –environmentally friendly and fiscally sound.

The Department of Energy reports that heating and cooling accounts for nearly 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense in most households. One of the simplest ways to reduce your heating and cooling needs and costs is by using your window treatments. The US Department of Energy reports that heat gain can be reduced by as much as 45% (US Department of Energy, Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy).

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing window treatments:

-All window coverings can help reduce heat gain when they are used.

-All window coverings have insulating properties; however, some products and
materials are better at the job than others.

-Shutters and cellular shades are great insulators. They help rooms retain cool air during the summer and warm air in during the winter by preventing heat exchange at the window surface.

-Thermal lining used in panels and Roman shades increases heat retention and
reduces heat loss, thereby cutting heating requirements.

-Solar fabrics and window film are great choices to cut your A/C requirement.

-Window film has been reported to reduce air conditioning costs by as much as 30-40%.

If you plan on purchasing new window treatments or are remodeling, ask about motorized treatments. Certain motorization packages allow homeowners to program the operation of their window treatments to prevent the summer sun from heating rooms during the afternoon, which causes the air conditioner to work harder to maintain desired temperatures.

Homeowners looking to lessen the number of chemicals in their homes can ask about GREENGUARD certified products. Budget Blinds proudly carries a number of GREENGUARD certified window treatments, which include roller shades, shutters and blinds. Products that have been GREENGUARD certified meet the institute’s stringent standards for low-emitting products.

Budget Blinds has a variety of solutions for those homeowners who wish to purchase environmentally-friendly products. Budget Blinds carries a wide variety of products made from recycled or renewable resources, including: window treatments made from woven woods, cotton, silk or composite wood and beautiful area rugs made from wool, sisal, mountain grass and seagrass.

Whether you want to cut energy use, create a healthier indoor environment or purchase products that encourage conservation, your local Budget Blinds Style Consultant can help you find the window coverings that meet your needs and perform beautifully.