Horizontal blinds are a classic way to control light and privacy, these come in a wide selection of colors and finishes.
Vertical blinds are made of individual slats clipped on a sliding track and can be opened and closed with a wand or pulley system. It is a great option for sliding glass doors or large windows.
Shutters provide a custom look with functional light control and privacy. They can be mounted inside or outside the window opening.
Wood blinds are made of real wood in a wide range of painted and stained finishes, allowing you to easily coordinate them with the rest of décor in your home. Wood blinds are lighter in weight than faux wood blinds, so they are a great option for large size windows.
Faux wood blinds are made of a PVC/vinyl or composite wood materials. They are made to look and feel like the real wood blinds, while adding durability and affordability. They are also more resistant to moisture than wood blinds.
Mini blinds are some of the lightest window treatments available. They’re easy to install and even easier to operate. Mini blinds are a super low-cost window treatment.
Cellular shades, also known as Honeycomb shades, are made of fabric that is pleated to form the cells. These shades are great at insulating windows to help reduce energy costs. They come in a variety of light control options from light filtering to blackout.
Pleated shades are a versatile single, continuous layer of fabric that is pleated to block incoming and outgoing light.
Roman shades are made out of fabric or bamboo that folds evenly at the top of the window when the shade is raised with the help of a pull cord system.
Roller shades are usually made from fabrics, and consist of a headrail and one solid piece of fabric material that stretches the length of your window when fully extended. They can mount to a window to either hide or expose hardware.
Solar shades help block sun glare and harmful UV rays. The openness ratings range from 1% to 18% - and designate the percentage of UV rays that will pass through the fabric. Solar shades are the fastest growing new segment and the easiest to add motorization to. They are ideal for east-or west-facing rooms, offices and sunrooms.
Sheer shades combine the versatility of a blind with the stacking of a shade - you can adjust the whole shade, or just the slats, to control light and privacy.
Outdoor shades are great for your outdoor areas – patios, verandas, etc. Usually made from PVC materials, they are fade and mold resistant. Solar Outdoor Shades is a new and growing segment of this category.
Corded vs Cordless
Cordless blinds and shades offer the safest option, especially for families with children and pets. Cordless products can be controlled by pulling on the bottom rail to lower or lift. If you have very tall windows, you may find that you prefer corded blinds and shades in which a lift cord on one side of window allows you to move the shades up or down.
Some blinds come with wands. When you twist the wand, the slats rotate to the desired angle. With vertical blinds, the wand allows you to rotate the slats sideways to open and close.
Top Down Bottom Up shades are window treatments that can be raised from the bottom, lowered from the top or adjusted from both directions at once. Top-down bottom-up corded shades will usually have two cords that are attached to two rails to control the top and the bottom. The cordless shades will usually have a clear handle which blends in with your fabric and allows you to raise and lower your shade without touching the fabric.
Motorized Shades have been gaining in popularity. With motorization option, you can adjust your blinds, shades, and shutters with just a simple click. Motorizing your window coverings is an easy way to simplify your daily routines.
Different levels of motorization require different levels of expertise for installation:
DIY
- Levolor brand of blinds & shades offers detailed installation guides online. Look on the product page, under “Helpful Guides” links.
- After installation, the remote can be paired to Levolor App (app download is necessary), allowing full control your blinds and shades via the touch of your cell phone.
Professional installation recommended
- Some blinds and shades require a bit more expertise in installation, in which case, the services of professional installers are best used.
Light Filtering: These blinds and shades gently diffuse incoming light and offer moderate privacy.
Room Darkening: these blinds and shades block most of the light that enters your room.
Blackout: blackout shades block the sunlight completely and provide the most privacy and room darkness, day or night.
Measuring Inside Mount:
Width
- Measure to the nearest 1/8" at top, middle and bottom.
- Use narrowest measurement as your ordering width.
- For roller or solar shades, use only the top width.
Length
- Measure to the nearest 1/8" left, center and right side.
- Use the longest measurement as your ordering height except for horizontal sheers, vertical blinds and sheer verticals where you will want to order the shortest measurement.
Depth
- Measure from the wall to the glass.
- Account for any obstructions like handles or locks.
- Order a flush mount depth that is the same or less than your frame depth.
Measuring Outside Mount:
Width
- Measure exactly where the window covering will be.
- Include overlap on each side to reduce light, at least 1 1/2" on each side is recommended.
Length
- If you want your window treatment to stack above or to the side of the window or door opening, add the width or height of the stack to your measurement.
- Measure from the top of the headrail to widow sill (or to the floor for patio doors. If no sill, measure to where the window covering will end. Include 1 1/2" to 3" for overlap. If you want your blind or shade to rest on the sill, add overlap to the top only