As a designer I speak a lot about windows and the role that natural light can play in our homes. It can create an ambiance that it isn’t possible to create with any other source of light. Natural light can fill our rooms with warm sunshine on a cold, winter day. And then suddenly that same light becomes a blistering menace when the highs of summer roll around.

In some rooms, window coverings are decorative and aren’t required to perform a function. In a lot of spaces though they provide us with relief from the sun and privacy from the outside world.

If you’re considering adding blinds to your home you’ll know there’s a lot to learn. I started offering window coverings to clients when I built my design business 9 years ago. A few years after that I noticed that Cranbrook didn’t have a lot of options in terms of blinds. This led me down the path to becoming a local dealer. For the last 5 years my husband and I have been selling and installing blinds all across Cranbrook and the surrounding areas. Today I’m sharing what I’ve learned about blinds over all these years.

SIMPLE STEPS TO UNDERSTANDING BLINDS

SELECTING A STYLE

Blinds can be overwhelming and style is the place where most people start. It’s important that the blind you select is aesthetically aligned with the rest of your home but it’s only part of the equation. There are a lot of styles available, some you may be familiar with and some you aren’t but here’s a breakdown of the blinds that I offer and a brief overview of each of them.

Cellular Blinds

These are also known as honeycomb blinds. They’re individual cells that are layered together, creating that honeycomb effect. They have a similar look to the pleated shades of the 90’s but behave and look better. They’re available in fabrics that range from sheer to room darkening.

Not only do they have a wide range of light control options but their unique honeycomb design provides insulating properties. They’re designed to trap air inside their cells which will help to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer and reduce energy costs.

They’re available in a top-down, bottom-up with sheer fabric on the top portion and translucent or room darkening fabric on the bottom portion.

Roller Blinds

This style is built from a single layer of fabric and rolls up neatly at the top of the window. They can be installed as an inside or outside mount. They look beautiful installed in kitchen, dining and living room windows because they allow us to bring in pattern, texture or colour.

They’re also great for patio doors or casement windows because we can have up to 3 separate shades in one cassette. This allows each shade to be individually operated.

Real and Faux Wood Horizontal Blinds

These are made from horizontal slats that are bound together on the edges.

Vertical Blinds

These are a series of vertical slats that drop down from a rail at the top. They move from side to side as opposed to most others which operate from top to bottom.

Silhouette Shades

This is a type of roller shade that has vanes that float between a front and back fabric panel.

Banded Shades

This is a type of roller shade also known as zebra shades.

Allusions

Allusions offers the newest technology for patio doors although I’ve used them on stationary windows as well.

WATCHING THE STYLE OVER THE YEARS

Sometimes we want to avoid trends but there’s also some good data you can gather from noticing what’s popular. There’s no doubt that the majority of what I sell are roller and cellular shades. The biggest reason is that they’re the most energy efficient.

This differs from a couple of decades ago in the early 2000’s when wood slat blinds and mini blinds were in most homes along with vertical blinds on the patio doors.

Things changed again in 2010 when the grey trend was introduced into our homes. In an effort to bring more colour into the mostly neutral spaces, we saw a rise in the popularity of roller shades. They’ve come a long way from the previously cheap vinyl versions as manufacturers are producing beautiful patterns, colours and textures. They’re now cleverly encased in a cassette which provides a nice clean look. Currently roller shades are the top selling shade.

And if you’re thinking that a pop of colour sounds good for your home you do have that option although I’m seeing more blind orders in neutral colours today. This is a natural reaction to the marketplace as the current design trend reintroduces neutrals into our homes. If you need some tips on how to incorporate beige into your home, this post breaks down all the undertones and makes it easy to understand.

PRO TIP - Did you know that as of May 2022 blinds can no longer have exposed cords. Any blinds with exposed cords must be covered with a chain shroud. The shroud must cover the entire cord with the exception of 6”.

DARKENING EFFECT

Aside from aesthetics this is the most important feature of a blind. How much sun do you want to block from your space? Are you trying to create privacy? These are factors to making our homes as comfortable as possible.

I use the term room darkening instead of blackout because it’s difficult to achieve full blackening of a room. That’s because of side gapping which happens mostly with roller shades or other styles that rely on wheel mechanisms on the ends.

You might also experience light gaps which occur at the top of blinds where they’re mounted to the window casing. One solution is to add drapery side panels which help to achieve full room darkening.

All blind styles have the ability to provide varying degrees of light and heat control. These are the factors that contribute the end result:

Fabric choices range from sheer to room darkening so choose based on your goals.
They can be fully open, partially open or fully closed.
They can be mounted inside or outside the window.
They can be motorized, cordless, or operated with a cord or wand.

UV PROTECTION

If this type of protection is important in your space you’ll want to consider solar screens/shades. They’re available in 1, 3, 5 and 10% openness. The lower the number, the tighter the weave and that will result in less light coming through.

These are popular because you still have access to your view while blocking UV rays and heat from the sun. Just 1% blocks 99% of the UV Rays and it goes up from there. 3% blocks 97% and 5% blocks 95% UV rays.

If you don’t enjoy air conditioning this is a good option for you. The blocked sun means less heat which in turn leads to less need for air conditioning.

When the air is cooler outside and you want to open your windows solar screens will still provide protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Those rays are responsible for fading that can occur with home furnishings, hardwood and art. Solar shades offer protection that can happen while allowing air flow into your space.

With all of these benefits you’re likely bracing yourself to hear about the high cost but it’s not the case. They have a relatively low cost and they’re available in extra wide fabric widths. They can go up to 118” so they’re a great solution for wide windows and patio doors. You can have up to 3 separate blinds in one cassette which allows you to control the shades separately.

WINDOW SHAPE

Most styles of blinds will fit into any square or rectangular window but the depth of the window influences what style to select as well as how it will be installed.

Roller shades including banded shades and silhouettes are typically housed in a cassette that hides the roll. Because of this, we require a window depth of 3” minimum. This allows the cassette to be flush mounted on the inside of the window without protruding into the room.

Cell shades require a 2” window depth to be mounted flush inside the window. This option can be a better choice for homes with older windows or high end, wood casement windows.

Rounded top or angled windows can be tricky and they make blind installation difficult. This style of window is typically templated and fitted with stationary shades.

PRICING

The question of which blind is more or less expensive is difficult to answer because every style of shade is priced by the type of fabric used. Like anything, there’s a range that goes from high to low. If you’re budget conscious, pay attention to the fabric you select. Part of the service I offer is helping homeowners select the right fabric for their space and their budget.

In general the average cost to outfit a new home with blinds is about $20,000. For a window that’s 60” x 60” and factoring in the highest priced fabric, the pricing from least to most expensive is as follows:

Vertical shades
Wood horizontal shades
Roll shades
Cell shades
Banded (Zebra shades)
Allusion shades
Transitional or Vienna shades

One of my favourite features that I think is always worth the additional investment is motorization. This is even more true now in the wake of the legislation that bans exposed cords.

INSTALLATION

Custom blind measuring and installation isn’t a DIY project. There are a lot of factors that go into determining the exact measurements for your custom blinds. We take into account how the blind is going to be installed and make sure that the window frame is not bowed. From there we select the blind style and fabric. There’s a lot that goes into getting ready and making sure it’s done correctly.

And let’s face it, this is a risk most homeowners don’t want to incur. If the measurements were taken by a handy DIY’er and the blinds don’t fit it will be up to the client to bear the costs of having the blinds remade or cut down.

Instead, take the safe route and let us do the measuring and installations. I offer a window covering advisory service. If you go ahead with a blind order the cost of the consultation is refunded.

After that, all you have to do is sit back and wait. Your blinds will be made and ready to install in just one month from the time the order is placed.

If you’re interested in learning more about blinds, contact me. I’d love to hear from you.

Warm regards,

Adrienne