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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Keep Both Light and Privacy with Top Down/Bottom Up Shades

One of the top reasons people shop for top down/bottom up shades is for privacy. Most people don’t want the inside of their home exposed to complete strangers, especially from ground level floors when it is easy to see inside. Window shades are often purchased to help remedy this. This brings up the dilemma of totally blocking out the light during the course of the day. With top down shades, you no longer have to pick between privacy and natural sunlight in your home.

Top down/bottom up blinds are shades that not only slide up from the bottom but also slide down from the top, hence the name. This allows you to block the view from outside on the bottom, and let in as much light as you want from the top. This is great news for those who have been previously frustrated at being forced to choose between having a dark room at high noon or a fully exposed room that one can peer into from a block away.

Available in a variety of colors, styles, functions, and fabrics, opacities, top down/bottom up shades are quickly becoming an ideal choice for every window in the house. Top down shades are available as cellular shades, roman blinds and even woven wood shades. These options allow you to combine your choice of color, style and texture with the versatility of a top down/bottom up system. Cellular top down/bottom up shades let you balance between letting in the sunlight during the day on the top while still getting some insulation around the window at the bottom.

Top down and bottom up shades are an inventive window treatment that basks in the glory of its flexibility. Windows can often open from the top which can help circulate fresh air throughout your home. A top down blind system can let you choose to open the top window a bit to let the hot air out and open the bottom a bit to let the cooler air in. It also reduces the risk of your blinds getting damaged from getting blown around if a light breeze picks up. There are dozens of arrangements available to meet your needs. Top down/bottom up shades are a jack-of-all-trades, or shall we say, a “jack-of-all-shades”?

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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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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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