Advice for Replacing Your Window Shades

If you need to get some new window shades for your home, there are a few things you should know before making a purchase, but with so many varieties of shades available on the market, it can be hard to know what window shade is right for you and your home.

This is why we’ve spoke to the team at DotcomBlinds.com to get you some advice to follow, before purchasing a new window shade for your home!

Choose Made to Measure Over Pre-Made

Whenever you purchase a set of window shades like blinds or curtains, you will first have to decide whether you’ll want made to measure window shades or pre-made window shades. Made to measure window shades will be made to the exact measurements of your window, whereas pre-made window shades will only be made in incremental standard sizing.

Because pre-cut blinds are made in standard sizes, there’s a high chance that you won’t find one to perfectly fit your window and you will have to either cut your shade down to size or live with a poor fitting window shade. This is what gives the advantage to made to measure shades, as they will be ready to install directly into your window with no adjustments when you receive them.

Pick the Right Fabric for the Room

Next, before picking your window shade, you need to choose a fabric for your new window shade, while this may seem inconsequential to the uninitiated, the fabric of your shade is incredibly important. Pick the wrong fabric for the wrong room and a shade that would usually last for 5 years ends up deteriorating within a month. So, choosing the wrong fabric can end up being a costly mistake.

The rooms where you should be concerned about the fabric of your window shades are: kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. In kitchens and bathroom, you will want a ‘wipe-clean’ PVC based shade, this is because normal fabrics would be damaged by any steam and spilled water. Then for bedroom, you’ll need a blind made with a blackout fabric, you need a blackout to keep the room dark at night, so that you can sleep undisturbed.

Know What You’re Looking For

With so many types of window shades available, knowing what type you want can be a bit of a conundrum, but you will need to have an idea of what you’re looking for to find out about pricings. Most windows are perfectly fine with a run of the mill curtain, roller blind or vertical blind. But we’ll run through the occasions you’d be better suited with another blind.

In spare bedrooms, you would be well suited with a day & night blind or double roller blind, this is because these blinds can be blackout and dimout, meaning you can keep rooms lit when in use during the day and dark for sleeping at night. For conservatories and patio doors, you will want a frame fitting blind like a pleated bifold door blind, these blinds fit inside the frame of the window, making them perfect for conservatories and patio doors.