In your great new home, the floor plan is what you have wanted for years, a large great room, and a beautiful kitchen. The bedrooms are grand. You bought the furniture, or at least you have the pieces selected. Everything is ready, but you have the big window problem. Great large windows, but what can you put that will cover them the best way?
The issue of how to treat large windows is complex. These windows are large, so blinds can be quite pricey. Large blinds can also be quite heavy. These effects combine when one tries to use lower cost faux wood blinds to treat these large windows. While these can save money, they are also heavier. We tackle these problems, and offer several solutions on how to select blinds for large windows.
The most common windows are sized about 42 inches wide or narrower. Heights vary a lot, but typical window height is up to 48 inches tall. When a window is over 65 or 75 inches wide, it is considered a large window. Blinds can be made to that size, and larger, but when they get that big, not only do they get more expensive, but big blinds also can be very heavy. This may not seem like an issue for the average blinds customer, but when you consider that you will need to lift those blinds which weight as much as 25 or 30 pounds each, you will think twice about heavy blinds.
When windows are very large, blinds can be made differently in order to accommodate the weight. Often these oversized windows can accommodate multiple blinds. By putting two blinds side by side, you can cover the same space. However, if you use more than a single blind, there will be a larger light gap in the middle. Windows with a mullion in the middle can have this, but when the window is a continuous glass, a consumer will want a blind that covers more of the window. There is where two on one, or three on one blinds are helpful. These multiple blinds can have very small light gaps in between them. By sharing a headrail, they are faster to install, and they have individual controls.
Little can be done to cut the cost of the blinds for these large windows. However, if you can stand to treat the window only partially, then you can have blinds that are less expensive. Caf? blinds would only cover the lower part of the window. This may be desirable in a kitchen, when you only want to block the light with your blinds. Bathrooms also can be a good place for caf? blinds, when privacy is created by blinds that only cover the lower part of the window, and wonderful light is permitted above the blinds? headrails. Take care, however, when using blinds in wet areas. Real wood is prone to warping, so consider the less expensive, albeit heavier, faux wood blinds, which are resistant to most warping.
Another way to handle these large windows is to use a continuous chain or cord system for your blinds. These systems use a geared control system, and the force required to raise your blinds will be much less than if you were to use a standard cord lift system. These systems have additional benefits, because they are safer, and they often are more attractive, by not having too many blinds cords hanging in the front of the windows. Many of these blinds systems are only a little more expensive than the regular, but your blinds will be the talk of the neighborhood.
Beware of any retailer who insists that you are able to have a blind at 96 inches wide by 96 inches tall- without separating it. The wood will have a performance problem for you in these large blinds. Split them into multiple window blinds. The cost a little more, but when you can lift the slats in these blinds, you will be happy.
When choosing blinds to cover large windows, consumers are faced with a range of product choices. An educated decision to use the right kinds of blinds will allow a consumer to manipulate the blinds in a safe and fun manner. Large blinds can be extremely heavy, and this excess weight can not only cause physical difficulty to the consumer, but they can make many consumers not even want to use their blinds, out of dread for the heavy weight. When you spend good money on blinds, you want to be able to use them for moderating the light. Choose blinds wisely for large windows.
I admire a minimalist style and the accentuation of clean lines. I also admire Asian themes that include Japanese, Chinese, and Javanese pieces. Accentuating the modern, simple teak furniture in my living room, are a series of wood blinds painted with an off-white. This color contrast makes the room a striking place to gather my thoughts. Moreover, the white blinds make the room seem brighter and more expansive. Perhaps an antique Chinese painting on the focal wall will add a touch of class and elegance to the whole room. A few glass jars of money plants, with lush green leaves, placed on the coffee table or the teak showcase can add an extra dimension to the room. And when the sunlight is just right, a simple twist of the wooden blinds will make the room absolutely bewildering.
Wood blinds are also featured in my dining room. Since my dining room opens to an area overlooking the swimming pool, it has become a featured spot for family gatherings and summer barbecues. When it is cool and breezy I easily roll up the blinds, open the glass doors, and let the fresh air and sunshine flood the room. I have also put up outdoor wood blinds for some of the doors that get the most sunshine. Sometimes nothing beats a cool, dark dining room. Since these blinds are incredibly durable, my small tribe of cats are discouraged from scratching them to pieces. Likewise, their trail of fur tends to end up on the floor, and not on the blinds, unlike curtains or drapes (which used to be two-toned with cat fur). This means I spend a lots less time cleaning and spend less having curtains cleaned and laundered.
Being enamored of Japanese and Javanese decor, I have had a Japanese rock garden and a small Koi pond added to the backyard garden. I adore this serene ambiance and often find myself either napping or trying to meditate. But it has been the case that my best attempts to bask in the serenity are undone by the magical smell of cookie baking wafting through the open windows, through the blinds, and into the garden. Alas.
And let us not forget the kitchen. I have had golden oak cabinets installed and the dark wood blinds on the windows set off the entire kitchen. Just as with my living room and dining room, I enjoy having the choice of letting a lot or a little sunshine into my kitchen, especially in the morning. So, crack open the blinds and let the sun shine in.
Both Judith Persit & Fabian Toulouse are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Judith Persit has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Interior Design and Home Management. Judith Persit is a student of interior design. She started in this direction due to a search for design options in window treatments. Ms. Persit writes about. Judith Persit's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.
Fabian Toulouse has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, Motorola Cell Phone and Health. If you are interested in purchasing an array of stunning , be sure to buy from a respected retailer of. Fabian Toulouse's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.