In order to end up with the blinds and shades best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of blinds and shades are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in blinds and shades.
Research the market: Blind and Shade essentials
Finishing your home with blinds and shades can be a daunting task if you are unprepared for the sheer volume of design considerations available at the local department store or home centre. However, with a little education and homework, you are sure to choose a style that will suit your decorating tastes and meet your needs for privacy and light control.
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the blind and shade market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Type: Blinds and shades come in many types, including Roman or roller shades, pleated shades, cellular or honeycomb shades, Venetian blinds, wood blinds, mini-blinds, shutter blinds, and Vertical blinds.
Size: The size of your window unit may dictate the size and shape of the blinds that you can get. Standard sizes are available in the range of 12 to 156 inches (30.5 to 396cm) or more wide, and 12 to 120 inches (30.5 to 305cm) or more high. Theatre-style blinds that retract to one side of the window are practical if you have a large window unit, while mini-blinds work well with small to mid-sized windows.
Functionality: Some blinds and shades open and close like mini-blinds, others pull to the side and some pull up and down. The way that your blinds and shades function may determine the type that you get because the style could be important. Make sure you decide how you want your blinds to fall across the window or be stored when not in use before going shopping.
Cost: If you have a large amount of windows that need blinds or shades, or if you need your blinds and shades to be custom-cut, it is important that you research the estimated cost. Small blinds, such as blackout blinds and mini-blinds tend to be rather inexpensive, while you may face a large bill if you need to cover more territory.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in blinds and shades. For example, will you use the blinds and shades only for blocking the sun on hot days?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| What experience have you had with blinds and shades? |
| | Work out what you did or didn't like about the blinds and shades. You may be looking for the something identical, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| What do I want to use the blinds and shades for? |
| | Are they to block out the light when you want to sleep? Are they to keep your home private? Are they to minimize noise from outside? |
| Where will you place the blinds and shades? |
| | Chances are good that you will want different styles in different rooms, depending on the type of use per room. |
| How often will I use them? |
| | Some blinds and shades are easier to operate than others. Some are also easier to clean. |
| How much do I want to spend? |
| | It is possible to spend hundreds of dollars, even thousands, purchasing the exact blinds and shades that you want. However, to ensure that you do not go overboard, it is important that you create a list of the essential functions that your blinds and shades need to have. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of blinds and shades and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
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