How to Treat Oversized Windows Without Breaking the Bank

Outfitting your home can get expensive. There is always furniture to buy, home improvement projects like flooring and kitchen countertop replacements to facilitate, and countless other expenses to worry about. Window treatments can also prove to be quite expensive since most homes have a lot of windows that require covering. With the wide range of custom blinds, staying within a strict budget can be difficult. Fortunately, BlindSaver.com has you covered from all angles. No one will guess you paid so little for your window blinds.

The key to staying within your budget is to know what type of blinds you are looking for. By comparing different styles in reference to your expectations of the blinds (light control, privacy abilities, ease of cleaning, ease of operation, overall appearance, etc.) you can get an idea of what you can afford while keeping in mind what you want.

Here are three of the most affordable yet attractive window blind options for large windows:

Vertical Blinds – One of the most popular options for large windows and patio doors is vertical blinds. They provide privacy, light control and protection form the sun’s damaging rays. They are available in a limitless range of styles from value priced vinyl to high end decorative fabrics. The 3-1/2” vertical vanes draw across the window like a drapery and rotate open and closed for light control.

Roller Shades – The simplicity and timeless look of roller shades offer an extremely affordable option for a window treatment. Roller shades are available in a wide variety of fabrics, from designer looks, jacquards, silk looks to cotton and vinyl which range from black out to sheer. They are simple to operate, never go out of style, and their value can’t be compared to other types of custom blinds.

Solar Shades – One of the hottest new window treatment choices are solar shades. The sun can be a particularly powerful nuisance for windows that face any direction and solar shades are an inexpensive and effective way to remedy the problem. While they do not offer any privacy, they will block the harmful sun’s rays so you can still enjoy your view. Bali, Levolor, Graber and BlindSaver brands offer functionality and affordability with solar shades.

Regardless of which of these blinds you may choose for your home or office setting, keep in mind that they can be affordable and still beautiful. You don’t have to compromise style for price. Envision the look you want and work around that vision to find something within your price range.

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Transform a Room in 3 Hours for Under $100

Sounds impossible, right? Changing your window treatments and painting the room can completely transform the feel and atmosphere of any room in your home. This is an easy project that can be done in less time than it takes to cook a turkey.

First, click on over to our online store and pick the style of shade you want for your room. For our under $100 challenge, we picked an 8’ x 8’ room and the Bali Roller Shade style in green. The Bali collection of roller shades is stylish, simple and functional. The Chorus fabric collection features light filtering opacity, which should help balance the light and privacy needs of the room. The beaded chain is easy to operate and always stays the same length no matter the position of the roller shade. We chose an inside flush mount to accent the wooden window frames. With free shipping to the contiguous US, the total price is under $50.00 (plus tax, but only if you live in Colorado).

Next, carefully remove your old blinds. Most of the time, this only takes a screwdriver. Read our post about How to Remove Old Blinds without Damage. If they are still in good shape, drop them off at the closest Goodwill on your way over to the paint store. Place all of the hardware into a plastic bag and include it with your donation.  You won’t need it as all shades ordered through Blindsaver.com come with their own hardware and installation instructions. Don’t forget to purchase some used bed sheets while you are at Goodwill to use as drop cloths.

Once you’ve picked the right paint color to match your new shades and the rest of the room, buy enough paint for two coats. In our case, we needed just one gallon of “waterscape” by Behr. We opted for the zero VOC premium paint in eggshell finish. It’s a little more expensive, but it cuts down on the fumes and is much better for the environment and our own respiratory systems. We painted over white walls so we didn’t need a primer, but you may need one if you are moving from a darker color to a lighter color. Don’t forget to pick up masking tape, brushes and a roller. We found a combo pack with everything we needed for $14.99.

Take down wall decorations, unplug all electrical cords, and move any furniture to the center of the room. Spread out your drop cloths to protect the floor and your furniture. Tear open the masking tape and apply a strip to areas you may accidentally hit while painting. Remove or tape any outlet covers. If you just came from the paint store, a quick stir is all you need to mix your paint. Use the paint roller for big areas and the brush for detailed areas. Apply the second coat according to the instructions on the can.

Remove the tape, put away drop cloths, and clean out brushes while the second coat is drying. Put your furniture back in place, but don’t let the furniture touch the walls yet. You can also use this time to unpack your new roller shade, read through the instructions, and gather the required tools.

Once your second coat is dry you can finish re-arranging furniture and install your roller shades. Check out our tips post to see how to install blinds like a pro.

new roller shade = $45.28 +
1 gallon of paint = $25.99 +
masking tape & paint brush & roller combo pack = $14.99 +
old sheets for drop cloths = $10
Grand Total = $96.26, Total Time = 2 hours, 55 minutes (2 people plus drying time)

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