3 Advantages to Roller Shades

Out of all the available window shade options, roller shades are among the most popular and practical. Roller shades are simple, affordable and convenient. Roller shades remain a best selling window treatment option consistently, year after year. Let’s take a closer look at these three advantages.

Simple yet Elegant
This timeless window shade design operates with a simple roller-based mechanism. The operation of roller shades hasn’t changed much over the years, except they have become more reliable and durable. The big difference these days is the plethora of fabric options available for a unique, contemporary look that can’t be beat. This simple functionality combined with a classic yet updated sophisticated look is just one of many reasons why roller shades remain among the top choices of window fashions. This style has been around for years and will continue to be around for many, many more. Clearly, this is a window treatment option that will never go out of style and can easily match any decor.

Inexpensive/Superior Value
Roller shades offer some of the highest value in window coverings today. This makes solar shades and other types of roller shades the choice of budget-conscious window treatment shoppers. Economic uncertainty makes price an important factor for most people and this type of shade is a great way to combine excellent value with unsurpassed, time-honored style. Roller shades are within most shoppers’ budgets and can vary in price to bare-bones to high end.

Motorized Option
Adding the motorized option to your new roller shade increases its convenience and functionality. Windows that are hard to reach can now also benefit from lighting control and add a splash of color. Whether you choose a solar shade fabric or something more opaque, a motorized lift system is the ultimate in convenience. Radio frequency motorization combines automated sophistication with an intelligent design. Is the sun in your eyes in that hard to reach window and you need your solar shades lowered? Remote-operated motorization is the ideal way to make life easier for you. With the motorized option, your roller shades are no longer a burden to put up or down.

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Top 3 Reasons to Choose Blackout Shades

You may have heard about blackout shades and the advantages they offer. If you are not familiar with blackout blinds and are still on the fence about whether they are worth investing in, read on to learn the top three reasons to choose blackout shades.

#1 Light
The #1 reason people choose blackout blinds is because they effectively block light from entering the room. If your bedroom is illuminated by any light source from outside your home at night, you can use blackout shades to keep the light out and the room dark. If you enjoy an occasional morning of sleeping in, blackout shades are the answer. If you work the night shift, room darkening shades can be essential in helping you sleep better during the daytime. An added bonus – blackout shades provide total privacy, which is important for both bedrooms and bathrooms.

#2 Noise
Blackout shades are known for their light-stopping ability, but you may not be aware of their noise reduction properties. Because of their insulating characteristics, blackout shades can greatly cut down on noise coming from outside of your home. This combination of noise cancellation and light blocking makes room darkening shades the perfect solution for people who live in cities, near busy roads or next to a loud neighbor.

#3 Insulation
The honeycomb design of cellular blackout shades helps to keep out the cold better than nearly any other window covering. The blackout component keeps your home cool in the summer by reducing heat gain. The shades are also backed in white fabric so they reflect the sun and heat. Energy efficient blackout cellular shades translate into year-round savings on both heating and cooling costs.

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What Window Treatments Would Santa and Mrs. Clause Choose?

Ho, ho, ho, if you traveled up to Santa’s North Pole workshop and home, what window blinds do you think you would see? Every room at the Claus homestead has a need for light control, privacy and a splash of color or warm wood tones to keep that good cheer going year round.

Mrs. C knows beauty and function and keeps Santa happy with blinds that can take the heat and cold like the faux wood blinds she had installed in Santa’s Workshop. Plus, the faux wood blinds keep the Top Secret work that goes on there safe from prying eyes. To solve the problem of 20 hours of sunlight a day during the summer, the clever Mrs. Claus has decorated their bedroom windows with pleated blackout shades. Santa needs his sleep all year long to keep the toy factory going. Adding blackout shades in the elves’ rooms helped keep them focused on their work too.

In Santa’s Study, you will find his trophy sailfish (from his beach house in Acapulco of course), a mini fridge, and his favorite recliner with ottoman. For this manly retreat, Mrs. Claus selected wood blinds to bring a warm, natural look to the room. Wood blinds also provide excellent cold weather energy efficiency and remind him of Christmas trees all year long.

And what could be sweeter for The Doll Room than cellular blinds? With their unique structure, Mrs. Claus knows the pleats in these delicate-looking but sturdy cellular shades provide year-around energy efficiency, and come in a rainbow of decorator colors. For safety’s sake and ease of operation, she upgraded to the free cordless lift for windows near the baby doll cribs.

She selected roman blinds, of course, for the toy soldiers at The Guardhouse. The reindeer almost opted for roman blinds, too, but Mrs. Claus talked them into roller shades because they are easier to use for those without opposable thumbs and easy enough, well, for even Donner and Blitzen to use (there’s a reason they are last in the sleigh lineup).

However, the Most Famous Reindeer of All wanted something a bit different. So Rudolph chose sheer honeycomb blinds– to let his famous glow shine through, why else? And, being Numero Uno, he pulled rank to get a skylight installed for viewing the Northern Lights. So for his stall, Mrs. Claus ordered specially designed honeycomb blinds, which operate on sloped or totally horizontal windows like skylights.

It is not always all business at the Pole. The Clauses do manage to leave the ice and snow behind after the busy season, sneaking away on vacation to some place warm, usually their condo in Acapulco. It is rumored that Santa likes to catch a few rays without his suit, so privacy is a must. This is why Mrs. Claus thoughtfully chose top/bottom roman blinds for seclusion, while letting the sun shine in through the tops of the windows. For their large picture windows, the Claus’s chose solar shades to keep the sun glare out and their ocean view in.

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Installation Tips for Cellular Blinds

For people who love DIY projects, installing cellular blinds would be a great way to save money on installation fees and it makes a great afternoon project. If you are not into do-it-yourself projects, but you still want to attempt the installation of honeycomb blinds by yourself, don’t worry our products come with easy to understand installation manuals. Also, we have listed some general tips below to help you install your Levolor cellular shades or any other brand you’ve chosen.

Read the Manual
While this is very obvious, a lot of people forego reading the instruction manual thinking that it would be easy figuring out how to install cellular blinds without reading the manual. If it is your first time installing honeycomb blinds or Levolor cellular shades, it is strongly recommended that you follow the manual. The manuals usually include helpful tips as well as trouble shooting guides for any issues you might encounter.

Be Ready
Before you start the installation process of your honeycomb blinds make sure that you have all the tools ready. Some of the basic tools that you would need include measuring tape, pencil or marker, power drill and drill bits, and a screwdriver. You can also check the installation manual for other tools that may be needed.

Be Organized
Now that you have your tools ready to install your honeycomb blinds, you should also organize all the components of the cellular shades before starting the installation. Carefully open up the packaging and place each shade in the room it will be installed. Next, take the installation brackets and screws you will need for each shade and place them next to your window. The installation manual will let you know how many brackets and screws each shade will need. This will save you time and headache when you start.

Double Check
Measure twice, cut once. Don’t make mistakes when drilling; make sure that your measurements are correct. Double check your measurements prior to installing the brackets to avoid more holes in the wall or casement than is necessary when installing Levolor cellular shades or any honeycomb blinds.

By following the installation manual and keeping in mind these general tips, you will be well on your way to installing that perfect window treatment for the home or any establishment.

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