Shades

Shades

Cellular Shades in a bedroom General Products Shades Tips and Advice

Who Needs Blackout Shades?

A nourishing deep sleep is mandatory to keep our bodies healthy and our minds clear. All of us need restful sleep as our bodies automatically reset every 24 hours; triggered by our exposure to light and dark. When our bodies get out of sync with our environmental clock – they go haywire. We are meant to follow the boost of our sleep hormone, which increases as darkness falls and signals our body to power down to rest. Unfortunately, our exposure to light is being driven away by many reasons; technology or nature.

It doesn’t matter what age group you belong to, a perfect sleep has its own advantages. Not to mention it also helps you to stay active and promotes the effective function of your brain. It has been proven that creating a darker and calmer ambiance in your bedroom helps you in achieving the proper amount of sleep. Window treatments help you to achieve this ambiance. It might seem like an ineffective approach but it can make a difference in a room and improve cutting out the light.

There are a number of options for shades which can help to cut down on the light, but our favorite by far is the Day and Night Cellular Shade. This particular type of cellular shade can be excellent for the bedroom as they offer both blackout properties and light filtering all in one. This allows you to choose whichever you need at the right time of the day. Cellular shades have bonus features as well which help provide insulation. During the night, the cellular shades act as a blackout shade blocking out all the light entering your room. These are on of the best blackout shades for the bedroom. During the daytime, they act as light filtering shades letting in the natural sunlight into your home. You can even use the blackout shade during the day if you need more darkness and isolation from the sun. Cellular shades make you feel comfortable by blocking out the external warmth or cold during the extreme climatic conditions. If you have a skylight in your bedroom; cellular shades are also an excellent option. During the day, these windows let in dangerous ultraviolet rays inside your home and can cause harm to you, your family and even dull your furniture!

The mystery of how to keep the most light out is now solved. By having these advantages mentioned, keeping the light out during much needed times of the day, you will have the opportunity to see the good advantages it brings. The effects that it will have on your health and your everyday life experiences will be a plus too!

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General Products Shades Tips and Advice

Harmony Shades

Roman shades are a classically popular window treatment with everlasting style. Their versatility and durability make them the perfect shade for high traffic rooms like the living room and offices. They have the ability to soften a room with a comfortable vibe and add a pop of color to an otherwise neutral space.

They are said to have originated in Rome

Their original purpose was to shade pampered spectators in public amphitheaters or stadiums, the most famous being the Colosseum in Rome. Well-to-do audience members did not want to endure the hot Mediterranean sun and so they sat underneath large, elaborate cloth awnings that protected them from the sun’s rays. The system of ropes and pulleys that was used to remove and replace the awnings for events was essential for the development of today’s Roman shades.

Roman shades are difficult to make

Each shade is very complicated to make and takes a lot of human labor to ensure its perfection. Because of the time put into each individual shade, they do tend to be a bit more costly. Any mistakes that are made while creating the shade are very difficult to remedy, with a lot of imperfect shades having to be recreated entirely.

Some Roman shades require training

Like parting your hair a different way or house breaking a new puppy, some Roman shades need a little training when they are new and young. If your new shades are made of a thick fabric, you may have to train them to fold in the correct place. After a few times of being guided into the correct placement, the fabric of your shade will start to hold a “memory” of where it should fold.

They are perfect for inside and outside mounts

Roman shades look beautiful mounted within your window frame and also outside your window frame. If you have nice trim around your windows you should show it off by mounting the shade inside the frame. They will look perfectly built-in and allow the finer details of your home to really shine. If you have unsightly trim or simply want to make your windows appear larger, these shades can be easily mounted on the wall around your window and you can let your pretty shades take center stage.

They come in a variety of features

Roman shades are very versatile and can fit into any aesthetic. Because they are made of fabric, there are a lot of color and texture options available, as well as options for top down/bottom up, blackout, cordless and pleated.

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General Products Shades Tips and Advice

Ready for Shades

Window shades are the “central air” of decorating. It’s a luxury that you don’t always need, but when you have some, that really WORK, you feel so lucky and fancy. I love curtains/drapes but they don’t work in every style of window or home (or maybe the furniture doesn’t allow them). Custom shades cost a ton – hell, custom anything costs a ton. So I have rounded up all the readymade shades that hopefully will work on your (crossing fingers) standard windows.

Let me quickly explain what a shade does that is different than a curtain/drape. A curtain/drape hangs vertically and opens/closes horizontally. Curtains add more drama and texture plus a luxe or bohemian vibe. Shades feel simpler, modern, and take up less visual space in the room. I love both equally – it totally depends on the space. Historically shades have cost more than drapes but there are a lot of readymade, less expensive shades out there now giving drapes a run for their/your money.

There are three major different types of shades if you are looking for a drapery alternative:

  1. The simple Roller Shade:

Roller shades are the most modern, simple and least visible of the shade varieties. They are like good spanx – they should disappear and show off the goods. Their function is to block light and provide privacy but not look decorative or even be noticed. I have these in my living room and I love how much they disappear because that room has huge modern windows and I didn’t want the distraction of shades or drapes.

  1. The Woven Shade:

The great thing about woven shades, of natural material like wood or bamboo is that they add a lot of warmth to a room, while still adding privacy and shielding light. They go a little more boho or traditional (funny how they bridge both styles) but are less expensive than fabric typically.

Lastly …

  1. The Famous Roman Shade:

Now there are a million different styles of roman shades, but my favorite are the simple flat panels that don’t do anything too romantic or frilly, just add a lovely line of fabric when up and textured fabric shade when down. I like both inside mount (because they are cleaner) and outside mount (because they allow more light).

I buy them a lot and when done right they can’t go wrong.

A few things to think about: if you use them a lot, pulling them up and down twice a day then I fear that some of these cheaper readymade shades aren’t going to be sturdy enough. Roman shades can be heavy and people aren’t gentle with them, so unfortunately something custom or a more high quality can be required in high use areas. I haven’t used every single of one these before, but it’s like shoes – if you are going to give them a lot of wear and tear, then think about something more high quality that will last a lot longer. But there are many windows in our life that take the gentle up and down once a day, and for those you can get away with a less expensive version.

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Products Shades Tips and Advice

How About Some Sheer Shades?

Simply put, sheer shades are an elegant combination of a blind and a shade. The soft inner vanes behave as a blind by tilting opened and closed as they are encased on the front and back by a soft, delicate layer of sheer fabric. To lift the shade, a continuous motion closes the vanes, just as a blind would operate, laying the two outer layers of sheer fabric flat against the vanes, then the shade rolls up, similar to a roller shade, into the top rail to clear the window. With the shade drawn and the vanes closed, privacy and light control are achieved. If the shade is down with the vanes in the open position, light filters in gently through the outer layers of sheer fabric.

A treatment sure to impress, sheer shades are a sophisticated and stylish step up from any basic blind. Their soft and delicate appearance gives off the impression of almost no window treatment at all yet are still very effective at light control. My favorite rooms for sheer shades are the dining room and bedroom. Their gracefulness lends them to fit right into a slightly more formal dining room. There is something about how these shades transform the light that creates an intimate and cozy environment, perfect for entertaining. Your guests won’t even realize why they feel so calm and content in the comforting atmosphere you can provide by installing sheer shades. Also available in light dimming fabric, these help darken a bedroom for a peaceful night’s sleep. The softness of the sheer fabric complements the tranquil and calming vibe so often desired when we retreat to slumber. Sheer shades are surely a striking window treatment.

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Products Shades Tips and Advice

End of Summer Cellular

 Is summer really over? Because we just can’t tell with the temperatures we are having lately. Luckily we have just the shades you need to be able to help with odd temperature fluctuations; Cellular Shades!
These shades will help you in more ways than one. They can be light filtering, room darkening or even blackout. The cellular shades are known for their “cell-shaped” fabric which can hold air in between 2 layers of fabric, making it a great insulator for your windows. Room darkening shades also help in keeping the temperature neutral, keeping out sunlight and reducing glare which can be both harmful to carpets and furniture or a nuisance  while reading or watching television.
The honey comb shades help in protection against ultraviolet radiation as well as help retain the warmth in homes during winter. And they come in motorized and remote controlling features to lend comfort and convenience to you. However due to budget constraints not all people are able to afford expensive shades in motorized have the cord or cordless options to fit in your budget. And cordless make them great for families with kids, the top down bottom up features are a must maintaining privacy while still letting some light in the home. Adjusting to longer, lighten days is always a challenge. Find the perfect balance for your home with black out shades solutions in your home. If you want to balance the light with my favorite feature the black shade , the natural sunlight can be a refreshing start to your day, but sometimes you need those extra few minutes of sleep. Don’t let the bright light disturb you the black out shades you can enjoy the sunshine on your own time, it’s difficult to maintain a comfortable environment with uncontrolled light, especially with east or west facing windows.
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Faux wood blinds setup in this gorgeous bathroom. Blinds General Shades Tips and Advice

Restroom Window Coverings

People often have the question; What is the best window covering for restrooms? There are a lot of options and one is not limited to a certain kind when you are considering to cover your restroom window. Most of the time, people want to have privacy while still letting in the light.

Since you typically have moisture in this specific room in your house, we often tell everyone that you can use most of the blinds like the aluminum, vinyl, and faux wood, but not the real wood. Real wood naturally have cracks in the slats where moisture goes through and warps the material. It usually takes years but when it comes, all you can do is  replace the whole thing completely. The aluminum is an option but with the 1” slats you have to clean more slats compared to the vinyl and faux wood. The aluminum is also a thinner material than the vinyl and faux wood so it may bend and dent, you have to be careful when cleaning it. Blinds are a good option because you can control the amount of light coming in and the privacy by tilting the slats in an angle.

The other option, of course, are the shades. We typically recommend those materials that are waterproof or the lighter fabrics. Roller shades are the most common people use because you have the light filtering option, most materials are easy to clean, and it gives you the privacy. Another material that is gaining popularity are the Cascades, it is a shade but since it’s an alternate between solid bands and sheers, you can open and close it to your desired openness for light and privacy. There are also other shades that has the top down-bottom up option. You can open it up from the top to have lots of light coming in and keep the shades close at the bottom, some shades that offer this option is the pleated, roman, and cellular.

Curtains or drapes are usually not a practical option as those are heavier materials, it is not something you would want to touch with wet hands and layering of fabrics will look too heavy and excessive for a restroom window.

Either you prefer a blind or a shade, there are options that you can do for your washrooms to better suit your wants and needs but practicality is the key when it comes to this window in your home.

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Cascade Sheer Shade in a dining room setting. Shades Tips and Advice

Lighten Up Your Summer Decor

With summer here, I usually like to plan on making some changes to my decor to go along with the warmer weather. I’ve compiled some decorating ideas that can lighten your look and your mood for the summer months.
Take down those heavy drapes and let the light brighten up your room. Instead use a delicate sheer shade or sheer panels, they can still give some privacy while letting light filter through. It’s a great feeling both mentally and visually when you see sheer fabric blow in the breeze on a warm summer day. Sheer shades are ideal with gentle, filtering light through transparent panels to create a soft glow that lends itself well to soften a bedroom and creates an even more inviting space.
Personally, I am drawn to spa like bedrooms; fluffy white bed linens, a myriad of textures, multiple pillows and throws and a downy carpet underfoot. White or soft grey sheer shades, which you could purchase in either light filtering or room darkening, are just the treatment to flawlessly finish a getaway bedroom. It would be easy to eliminate these as an option based on the name alone, but don’t be misled. The functionality of these shades makes them an ideal candidate for living, dining and bedrooms.
Their ability to function as both a blind and a shade is useful for allowing just the perfect amount of light for varied environments and situations. Drop the shades and close the fabric to ensure a darkened room for movie night or bask in the distilled rays as the sun filters through the open sheer fabric. These shades are also lighter in weight and more pliable making them easier to tilt, raise, and lower. This also allows them to share the functionality of a roller shade, increasing ease of use of a roll up feature and decreasing the bulky stack that occurs with horizontal blinds.
Sheer shades are near perfection in their design which makes them an ideal choice for almost any room in the home. Whether you’re prone to home function or fashion (or maybe even both) sheer shades are designed to impress and are truly a show stopping, unique window treatment. Surely but sheerly wonderful.
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Cellular Shades in a bedroom Products Shades

Cellulars 101

Honey comb shades, also known as cellular shades, are a very popular window covering across the country. You’ve probably heard about them at this point but if you haven’t or maybe just want to know a little bit more, this is the place to learn all there is to know about them.
This type of shade is constructed with “honey comb” shaped cells which consist of a single or double layered design. This unique design is made to trap air in between the layers of fabric to provide excellent insulation properties. This intricate design allows you to provide your home with a high level of energy efficiency. This of course means that these shades can keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, saving you money on your electric bills. Due to the construction of these shades, if you live near a busy highway or have noisy neighbors, cellular shades may help to deflect some of that sound as well.
Depending on your needs and budget, there are a variety of thickness and styles of shades to choose from. If you are looking for a sure fire way to block out the sunlight in your bedroom, you will want to go with a blackout cellular opposed to a light filtering cellular which will allow light to filter through the fabric. There are also sheer options which will allow a lot of light and even a degree of visibility through the shade. Of course, there is always the option of making your cellular shade a Day/Night shade which can allow 2 types of fabrics onto ONE shade; creating the ability to be light filtering AND blackout.
Another great reason and perk of cellular shades are the mechanism options; you really have so many options to choose from – regular, cordless, top-down-bottom-up, motorized and as we mentioned previously, Day/Night shades. Cordless and motorized are great options for those families with small children.
When it comes to cellular shades, you can trust Blinds To Go to provide you with a wonderful and affordable selection. OH! and did we mention the lifetime warranty on the mechanism?
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General Products Shades Tips and Advice

Solar Shades

Solar shades are a great choice when privacy isn’t a factor, but blocking light and glare are still important. Solar shades will prevent UV rays from fading your furniture, floors, and other household items. They’ll also help to keep the glare of outdoor sunlight off your TV. They’re just like sunglasses for your windows!

Solar shades come in different levels of opacity, varying from 3% – 10% openness. Now what does that mean? A 3% shade will block almost 99% of the UV rays, while a 10% will block about 86%, and so on. The lower the percentage, the tighter the weave of the material, and the less light will be let through. The more popular choice is usually around 5% opacity. It’s what you’ll tend to see in most commercial and residential applications.

People who have a great view and don’t want window coverings at all often turn to solar shades as a way to protect their home from UV damage. As long as the opacity is at a high level, you’ll have a clear view through. The shades will also keep your home cooler and more efficient because they’re blocking heat.

At the end of the day, solar shades are a great way to both aesthetically cover your windows AND keep your home protected by dangerous UV rays.

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Cascade Sheer Shade in a dining room setting. General Inspiration Interior Designers Products Shades Tips and Advice

Sheer Shades You Will Love

Sheer shades are those resplendent blinds that are also a shade. They gently filter light through transparent panels to create a natural glow. Once considered a designers’ secret, sheer shades are now available to the modern design enthusiast in an array of neutral colors and textures.  It’s easy, when you’re immersed in the world of design, to forget that the majority of consumers don’t have access to the pulse of the market the way those in the industry do. So what are sheer shades? How do you use them and where can you find them?

Sheer shades were designed to function as both a blind and a shade and were diversely different than anything else on the market. Although the basic components of other window treatments were in place, their design and function set them a world apart. Constructed of fabric vanes that float between two sheer panels, they closely resemble a horizontal blind but are uniquely different. Due to their fabric component, they are lighter in weight and more pliable making them easier to tilt, raise, and lower. This allows them to share the functionality of a roller shade, increasing ease of use with a roll up feature and decreasing the bulky stack that occurs with horizontal blinds. Near perfection is their design, making them an ideal choice for almost any room in the home.

Sheer shades provide a clean and chic, modern touch to almost any room, but personally, I recommend them for bedrooms, living/sitting rooms, and sunrooms. The gentle way sun filters through the layered sheer fabric creates a soft glow that lends itself well to softening a bedroom and creates an even more inviting space. I am drawn to spa-like bedrooms, with fluffy white bed linens, a myriad of textures from pillows and throws, and downy carpet underfoot. White or soft grey sheer shades, both light filtering and blackout, are the just the treatment to flawlessly finish a bedroom oasis.

Much can be assumed by a name and sheer shades are no exception. It would be easy to eliminate these beauties as an option based on the name alone, but don’t be misled. The functionality of these shades makes them an ideal candidate for living, dining, and sitting rooms. Their unique ability to function as both a blind and a shade is useful for allowing just the perfect amount of light for varied environments and situations. Drop the shades and close the vanes to ensure a darkened room for movie night, bask in the distilled rays as the sun filters through the open, sheer panels while enjoying a lazy afternoon, or take in an unobstructed date night view by simply closing the vanes and rolling up the shade.

Whether your home is function or fashion, or a bit of both, sheer shades are designed to impress. These shades are truly a show stopping, unique window treatment. Surely, but sheerly wonderful.

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