When Should You Replace Window Treatments?

For the most part, people do not change their window treatments very often. Even when doing a room décor change, it is often everything else that gets changed except the window coverings. However, there are situations when you should consider replacing your window treatments regardless of how long you’ve had them.

  1. Appearance – Even high-quality window treatments will begin to show their age eventually. Materials fade from the sun, become discolored, or otherwise look less than appealing. If you don’t like how one or more of your window treatments looks, it is time to talk to a professional about making a change.
  2. Function – Do your window treatments do what they are meant to do? For example, do you have blinds that you cannot raise and lower anymore because the mechanism has worn out or the strings have broken? Are the slates warped or bent so they no longer provide the privacy and light filtering they once did? Another thing to consider is that today’s window treatments can offer functions that weren’t available when you had your current ones installed. It might be worth it to you to replace them to gain UV protection, motorized functioning, and other benefits.
  3. Safety – A new baby in the household can have you wondering if your current window treatments are child proof. If they aren’t, it is time for a change . . . pronto! If in doubt, call in a professional to assess the safety of your current window coverings and make recommendations for ones that are safe for children.

If you would like information about window treatments that will add beauty, functionality, and safety to your home, give us a call at Blind & Shutters Depot. We offer quality products for our customers in the Charlotte, North Carolina area that come at ridiculously low prices. We belong to the world’s largest window covering buying group, which enables us to have knowledgeable consultants who care about giving you the best possible service. Contact us today to learn more.

We Have The Best Blinds and Shutters for Your Charlotte, NC Home

Blinds and shutters add aesthetic appeal to your home’s interior while also ensuring its privacy and energy efficiency day in and day out. Whether you’re outfitting a newly purchased home with window treatments or changing things up in your current home with different blinds, you want the best blinds and shutters on the market, all at low, competitive prices. Here at Blind & Shutters Depot, we’re here to deliver! As a well-known, highly reputed blinds and shutters supplier and installer in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, we bring you the best products on the market, as well as prices that will work with any budget. Schedule your initial consultation with us to find out more about why we’re the best at what we do!

Benefits and Typical Uses for Window Film

There might be a room or two in your home that has you puzzled about the best window treatment to go with because you have varying needs and hope one type will address them all. You may have looked at one type you love the appearance of, but it doesn’t give you the UV protection, glare reduction or energy efficiency you also want. Window film is an ideal solution for those situations. It works well with nearly all types of window coverings, so you can have the best of all worlds.

If you are thinking about that dark, unappealing tint product that used to be the only kind of window film on the market, you’ll be happy to know there have been incredible advances in this industry. Some types are practically invisible while giving you the energy efficiency and UV protection you want. Your view isn’t affected in the least, and you can still enjoy natural light filtering into the room. If privacy is your goal, there are window film options that keep others from looking inside your home and yet you can see outdoors just fine. Window film is also ideal for doors and windows where a separate treatment might not be feasible.

Here at Blind & Shutters Depot, we serve the Charlotte, North Carolina area with quality window covering options, including window film for those wanting more than what shades, shutters, drapes, and blinds can provide on their own. We take the time to learn what your goals are, so we can make the best recommendation for your needs. We handle the sales and installation of all kinds of window treatments for residential and commercial use, so don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

Are Blinds the Right Option for Your Bedroom?

It is not surprising that blinds are a common option for bedrooms. Their versatility allows for the different times of day and what you want at any given time. You can close them at night for privacy and open them to let natural light in during the day. If you are trying to make the decision about going with blinds or considering other options such as Roman shades, shutters or drapes, you should start with considering how you sleep, how much maintenance you are comfortable with, the appearance and décor you like, and the features you’d like to have.

How you sleep is important because if you like an extra dark room, you won’t be happy with a sheer treatment that doesn’t keep street lights from shining in. If, on the other hand, you like waking to a sun-filled room and don’t mind a bit of extra light during the night, a thick treatment won’t make you happy. Blinds come in several different styles, including motorized, so you can open them while still in bed and let the sunrise aid in waking you up.

Maintenance is another factor to consider when choosing blinds or another treatment for your bedroom. Some types are challenging to keep clean, and if that is a concern for you, be sure to mention it to your window covering professional. They’ll also go over the best way to care for the various options, so you can choose a type that fits the time you have available to maintain them.

Appearance, décor, and features are also considerations that your window covering provider can address. It is even possible to combine treatments so you can get the features of two types. For example, using thick, durable wooden blinds for longevity and style while adding a soft drape to match other décor is a great combination.

If you would like assistance choosing blinds or other window treatments for your bedroom, contact us at Blind & Shutters Depot. As a member of the world’s largest window covering buying group, we offer a wide variety of options at ridiculously low prices. Our knowledgeable consultants take the time to answer all your questions upfront, so you can be sure the result meets your needs. Call today to learn more.

Incorporating Energy Efficiency When Choosing Window Treatments

While there is nothing wrong with choosing window treatments for their appearance and function, you can go one step farther and increase the energy efficiency of your home. The advantages include a more comfortable home, lower utility bills, extending the life of your heating and cooling equipment, and protecting your furnishings. Here are some tips for energy-efficient window treatments:

  1. Understand the difference between sunlight and daylight. It is a common misconception that you have to live in a veritable cave to keep UV rays from damaging your flooring, upholstery, and other belongings and heating up your home. You can still enjoy natural daylight while cutting down on the adverse effects of sunlight. Not only is daylight important for your mood, but it also provides for long-term health benefits.
  2. Energy efficiency comes from insulative properties, not just sunlight-blocking ones. You can opt for shades, blinds, or draperies that offer additional layers to provide insulation and reduce sound. Consider materials that work with your windows to cut down on drafts and keep cooled and heated air inside.
  3. Consider easy-to-use window treatments. It does little good to choose an insulative or UV-blocking window covering only to never close it over the window because it is too much of a bother. There are many motorized options on the market today that make it easy to operate so you’ll gain the benefits you had hoped for.

Here at Blind & Shutters Depot, we are happy to help you choose the right window treatments for all your needs. Our wide selection makes it easy to consider all aspects – appearance, functionality, durability, and energy efficiency. We take the time to listen to what you want and provide recommendations we are confident will give you the best results. Contact us today to learn more.

Window Treatment Options for Pet Households: Shutters and Vertical Blinds

Few things bring joy to a household more than a well-behaved and loveable pet. That joy can be put to the test, however, when you find out that your window treatments aren’t standing up to their natural curiosity about the outdoors. Cats are drawn to windows to see what’s going on and wistfully watch birds fly around that they’d like to have for lunch. Dogs are drawn to windows as part of their duty to protect their family and to watch for their return at the end of the day. Some window treatment options are better than others for pet households. For example, vertical blinds aren’t the climbing temptation for cats that horizontal ones pose. You can also leave them open a few inches so Fido can nose his way in and see what’s going on. An added bonus is that vertical blinds are easier to keep clear of pet hair. Another great option for pet households is shutters, especially a high-quality wood shutter that you can close when away so your pets don’t see what’s going on outside, making them less likely to attempt gymnastics at the window. While cats might still try to climb shutters on occasion, the stronger material handles this activity better than a horizontal blind would. If you have pets in your household and would like advice about window treatments, such as horizontal blinds and shutters, don’t hesitate to contact us at Blind & Shutters Depot. We are happy to take our time going over the options so that you can invest in beautiful window coverings that will give you years of enjoyment.

Energy Saving Benefits Of Plantation Shutters

When you’re looking for a timelessly beautiful and elegant window treatment option for your Charlotte home, plantation shutters have been the standard against which all others have been compared for a very long time. Despite what some might think, there is a large degree of variation between the many different styles of plantation shutters, ranging from the difference in their design to the materials that they are constructed from. Increasing the overall value and level of beauty of your home are two of the most common reasons that homeowners choose to go with plantation shutters, but did you also know that plantation shutters can help you increase the level of energy efficiency in your home and save you money on your monthly energy bills? If you are considering making the investment in new plantation shutters for your home, but you’re still on the fence about it, take the time to read through this short list our team of window blinds professionals have put together that highlight just a few of the ways that new plantation shutters can help you save on your home’s energy costs.

Keep Your Home Cool In Summer

Plantation shutters can go a long way towards helping you keep your home cool and comfortable during the warmer summer months. One aspect of plantation shutters that is frequently overlooked is the fact that they can work to actually reflect solar radiation away from your windows, helping to keep excess heat from building up in your home. Because they can reduce the amount of glare and heat build-up in your home, your home’s air conditioning system won’t have to work as hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature for you and your family, lowering your monthly cooling bills and reducing strain on your system that could lead to the need for repairs and even shorten your system’s lifespan over time. In addition, by keeping harmful UV rays out of your home, plantation shutters can help you preserve your home’s furnishings and keep them from fading due to constant exposure to the sun’s rays.

Stay Warm In Winter

In much the same way that plantation shutters can help you keep the hot air out of your home during the summer, they can also help you keep the warm air in during the cold winter months. When closed, plantation shutters tend to act as an additional layer of insulation for your home, helping to prevent any of your warm air from being lost through your home’s windows. Poorly sealed or damaged windows and doors are the most likely culprits when it comes to letting air escape from your home, but with a brand new set of plantation shutters, you can keep your home comfortable, and reduce the workload on your home’s heating system this winter, letting you stay comfortable and end the season with a little more money in your pockets.

Reduce Your Energy Costs With Plantation Shutters

When you are looking for an elegant way to help reduce monthly energy costs in your home and still increase your home’s beauty and overall function, plantation shutters might be just the option you’ve been searching for. Plantation shutters are great at filtering out harmful UV rays, which can cause your home’s furnishings to fade, cause excess heat to build up in your home, and create glare that can make some rooms incredibly uncomfortable to be in at times. Alternatively, it can help you guard against poorly sealed or insulated windows. This helps to keep your home from feeling drafty, keeping your family more comfortable all year long. No matter what time of year, plantation shutters can have a major impact on your home’s level of energy efficiency by making sure that you are able to effectively keep your home at a comfortable temperature, and you don’t have to put extra strain on your system in order to do so.

3 Benefits of Faux Wood Blinds

If you are one of the many homeowners out there who are in search of new window blinds for your home, you’re likely going to realize just how vast your selection pool is if you haven’t already. For many homeowners, the process of finding the right option for your home can start to feel very overwhelming very quickly, but with the help of a professional window blinds expert, the process can become quite a bit easier. In an effort to help guide you through the confusing process of finding the right new window blinds for your home, and to show you why faux wood blinds might be that very option, our team of skilled Charlotte window treatment experts has taken the time to put together this short list highlighting just a few of the many benefits that faux wood blinds can bring to your home. We invite you to take a quick read through this article and give our team of skilled professionals a call today to schedule an appointment for your in-home design consultation.

Moisture Resistance

One of the major downfalls of natural wood blinds is their susceptibility to moisture. Fortunately, this isn’t a vulnerability that faux wood blinds share. Compared to their natural wood counterparts, faux wood blinds make much better window treatment options for any room of the house that tends to be a bit more humid than other areas, including rooms like your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and even garages. Because of their synthetic construction, faux wood blinds are also able to withstand extreme temperatures better than their natural wood cousins, making them ideal for any rooms of the house that tend to suffer from fluctuating temperature extremes, like outdoor sheds and such.

Lower Cost

One of the frequent barriers that homeowners run into when entertaining the thought of investing in wooden blinds for their homes is the price point. If real wood blinds are proving to be an option that is just a bit out of budget, it might be looking into faux wood blinds if for no other reason than all of the money you stand to save. Faux wood blinds, almost across the board, are generally a more affordable option than natural wood blinds. That will allow you to stretch your dollar further and letting you outfit more windows throughout your home for the same price. If you want the visual aesthetics of natural wood blinds but aren’t prepared to pay the price tag for them, faux wood blinds can be a wonderful alternative.

Enhanced Durability

Natural wood blinds are renowned for their durability, but faux wood blinds take that one step further. Because faux wood blinds are manufactured using composite materials, they are even more durable than their natural counterparts, able to withstand extended periods of wear and tear without bending, cracking, or breaking. Additionally, because of their synthetic construction, they aren’t as vulnerable to damage from cleaning solutions and liquids when you go to clean them.

3 Excellent Reasons To Invest In Natural Wood Blinds

If you are one of the many homeowners out there who are in search of the perfect new window treatments for your home, you certainly have a wide array of different options that you are going to want to consider. With so many different options out there to choose from, it is easy to get overwhelmed, but when it comes to popularity, natural wood window blinds are easily a favorite among homeowners all over the country, and with good reason. What is it that makes natural wood blinds such an attractive option? To help answer that question, our team of Charlotte window blinds pros have taken the time to put together this shortlist that details just a few of the benefits that come with choosing natural wood blinds and what that means for your home.

Durability

When compared against many other window treatment types, natural wood blinds are hard to beat when it comes to durability. Natural wood blinds are highly resistant to a number of common sources of wear and tear found throughout the average home, and where many other types of window blinds might be subjected to bending, warping, or breaking, natural wood blinds are able to stand up to the punishment and retain their shape. This can make them an excellent option in homes with pets or small children.

Insulation

While you might not think that your window blinds have much to do with helping you keep the inside of your home comfortable, they actually play a more important role than you might think. The right window blinds can effectively act as an additional layer of insulation around your windows, helping you to maintain a more comfortable temperature inside of your home. While all blinds will do this to some degree or another, natural wood blinds are better at it than most. Especially in homes with older windows that may have air leaks around the frame, natural wood blinds can help you drastically improve the level of comfort around your windows, helping you to keep your home more comfortable for you and your family all year round.

Lightweight Design

Despite what you would think, considering their solid construction and design, natural wood blinds are a fairly lightweight window treatment option, making them easy to operate and install for just about any homeowner out there. Because of their lightweight nature, they make an excellent window treatment choice for any homeowners out there who might suffer from arthritis or other disabilities that could make it more difficult for them to operate some of the other heavy-duty window treatment options on the market today.

Embrace Safety and Simplicity: The Perks of Cordless Blinds for Your Windows

When it comes to window blinds, cordless options have gained immense popularity in recent years. Cordless blinds provide a safer and more user-friendly alternative to traditional corded blinds, particularly for households with young children or pets. In this blog post, we will explore the perks of cordless blinds, highlighting their convenience, enhanced safety features, and sleek design that elevates the aesthetic appeal of your windows.

Safety and Child-Friendly Features

Elimination of Cord Hazards:

Cordless blinds are designed with safety in mind, as they eliminate the potential hazards associated with cords. Traditional corded blinds can pose a significant risk of strangulation, particularly for young children or curious pets. By opting for cordless blinds, you provide a safer environment, minimizing the risk of accidents or injuries. This feature brings peace of mind to parents and pet owners, allowing them to confidently install blinds without worrying about the safety of their loved ones.

Child-Friendly Design:

Cordless blinds feature a child-friendly design that enhances safety without compromising functionality. Instead of cords, these blinds are equipped with innovative operating mechanisms such as spring-loaded rollers, cordless lifts, or motorization. These mechanisms make it easier to raise, lower, and adjust the blinds without the need for cords or chains. Children can operate cordless blinds safely and independently, promoting a sense of responsibility and independence.

Improved Pet Safety:

Pets, particularly playful cats or inquisitive dogs, may also be at risk of tangling or chewing on cords, leading to accidents or damage. Cordless blinds eliminate this risk, ensuring the safety of your furry friends. With cordless blinds, you can provide a pet-friendly environment where animals can freely explore without the danger of entanglement or injury.

Convenience and Enhanced Functionality

Effortless Operation:

Cordless blinds offer a user-friendly and hassle-free operating experience. With their innovative mechanisms, you can effortlessly raise or lower the blinds to your desired height, or adjust the slats to control light and privacy. Whether it’s a spring-loaded roller, a simple lift-and-lock mechanism, or motorization, cordless blinds provide a smooth and intuitive operation that requires minimal effort. This convenience makes cordless blinds a practical choice for any room in your home.

Streamlined Aesthetics:

Cordless blinds offer a sleek and minimalist design that enhances the aesthetic appeal of your windows. Without cords or chains, these blinds present a clean and uncluttered appearance, allowing the focus to remain on the beauty of your windows and the surrounding decor. Cordless blinds seamlessly integrate into any interior design style, from contemporary to traditional, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to your space.

Durability and Low Maintenance:

Cordless blinds are designed to be durable and long-lasting. With the absence of cords or chains, there are fewer components that can wear out or become damaged over time. This results in blinds that require less maintenance and are more resistant to wear and tear. Cleaning cordless blinds is also easier, as there are no cords to navigate around. Simply dust or wipe down the blinds with a soft cloth or use a vacuum attachment to remove any debris.

Elegant Simplicity and Safety

Cordless blinds offer a range of perks that make them an attractive and practical choice for homeowners. Their enhanced safety features provide peace of mind, especially for families with young children or pets. The convenience of cordless operation, streamlined aesthetics, and low maintenance requirements further contribute to their appeal.

By opting for cordless blinds, you can elevate the safety, functionality, and visual appeal of your windows while enjoying a user-friendly and hassle-free experience. Embrace the simplicity and style of cordless blinds and transform your living space with a touch of modernity and elegance. Contact Blind and Shutter Depot for cordless blinds in Charlotte.