Accordion: As the name suggests, accordion shutters have a vertical folding blade system. These shutters are designed to easily cover large expanses of glass.

Bahamas or Bermuda: These shutters are exclusively an exterior shutter, and can be made of metal, vinyl, or wood. These shutters are often quite lovely, and also, importantly, protect windows from severe storms. They are hinged at the top and open out from the window.

Cafe: These shutters are a smaller variety, and only meant to cover the bottom half of a window. They allow for privacy while not compromising available natural light.

Eyebrow: These are a type of sunburst shutters, but are wider than they are high.

Panel: Panel shutters are on a track system and are often used to cover sliding glass doors. They can be made with fabric, woven wood, or glass.

Plantation: With a name evoking Southern mansions, these shutters have louvers over two inches wide. Some have louvers up to four inches wide. The panels are usually installed over the casement of windows.

Shutter blinds: These blinds combine blinds and shutters with the large louver of shutters and the operational easiness of blinds.

Storm or Hurricane: As the name suggests, these shutters help protect homes from bad weather. They can be made from a number of materials, but metal ones help keep windows safest during storms.

Sunburst: Because of the name, you might be able to guess that these shutters are often constructed in the shape of an arch. The design causes rays eminating from a central point on the bottom of the shutter.

Of course, there are other shutter styles available, but this list should help give you an idea of what you’re looking for when it comes to this particular type of window treatment.

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Children

The chances are that if they can reach something, children can find a way to play with it. Curtains are no exception to this and are particularly prone to damage if they are tugged too hard. While children may be trying to help out by opening and drawing the curtains, their technique may be incorrect and as a result they may pull them too strenuously or drag them. In extreme circumstances, this could inflict wear and tear over the poles which, in time, could lead them to become worn down and broken.

Opening

It’s not just children who are incapable of opening curtains correctly, and it’s important to practice what you preach in order to ensure that they are operated correctly. The best technique is to try and get a good grip of the curtain as high up as possible as this will allow it to move smoothly and prevent dragging or excessive pulling.

Mounting

While it should go without saying, it’s amazing just how many people cut corners when it comes to mounting curtain poles and regularly use inferior equipment and methods to do the job. It’s a given that curtain poles that aren’t mounted well are likely to collapse and rip free from the wall, causing damage to themselves, the wall, and anyone nearby. Using a wall stud whilst carrying out the installation should help, or at the very least use some form of anchor-like tool to keep the screws positioned.

Sun Damage

This is quite a niche problem as many people hang the curtains above the window, meaning the pole is protected. However for those who hang them in front of the glass, they are exposing them to the rays of the sun. It tends to be a visual problem, as over time the colours can begin to fade if exposed to excessive sunlight. However in the most extreme circumstances, the strength of the pole can come into question too if decayed so much by the rays.

General Cleanliness

Just like many unmaintained surfaces in the home, curtain poles are known to pick up dust, dirt and accumulate grime easily if not looked after. Dust and dirt isn’t too hard to shift, however when it becomes grime then it is a totally different proposition. The easiest way to keep on top of this is by simply running over it every so often with a damp cloth which will not only keep them clean and presentable, but help maintain them in terms of quality too.

These shutters have a natural and warm appearance. As far as functionality, they are good insulators, have a high structural integrity, and are recyclable. They’re also stylish and well-designed looking, and can be painted or stained to match any number of decors. Because the frames are self-squaring, it is fairly easy to install wooden shutters. Because specialty sizes are available, there’s a good chance you can find the right shutters for your windows.

Disadvantages of interior wooden shutters:

In areas and rooms that are highly humid or are around a lot of water, moisture might be a problem. Wooden shutters might not be the best choice in a steamy bathroom, as humidy and moisture can make the wood warp, crack or split.

Cost:

As with all window treatments, costs can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, size, type of wood, and if there is a finish on the shutters (and what kind). Sometimes they will be priced by the square foot or square inch.

Lifespan:

One nice thing about wooden shutters is that they can last for decades!

Best locations for interior shutters:

The most appropriate locations for wooden shutters are kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, dens, and offices–basically all locations in your house where there is not a high level of moisture. There are many places and uses for interior shutters can will make a good impression.

Cleaning and care:

Wooden shutters require a minimal amount of maintenance. To clean them, use a feather duster or soft cloth (like a microfiber cloth) to remove dust that accumulates between the louvers. Be sure to clean the shutters with the louvers tilted in all positions, as to thoroughly clean them. Washing is not recommended for wooden shutters. Vacuuming with a brush attachment is also a suitable method of cleaning the shutters.

• For homes with children and pets, you might want to consider cordless blinds that raise and lower with slight pressure applied to the bottom rail.  This will prevent some wear and tear on your blinds.  These blinds are easy to lift as well as having a slick and modern appearance, as well as being a safer choice for kids and pets!
• If you want vibrant colors, metal blinds might be right for you.  The color application on metal blinds is tough, bright, and has the ability to withstand lots of abuse.  These can also be purchased in cordless varieties.
• When you want to enhance the architectural details of your apartment or house and want to create a focal point, high quality wood blinds with a great stain or painted finish can offer a nice sense of permanence to your home.
• Generally speaking, smaller slats allow for less light leaks when shut.  If you want a room that can instantly attain total darkness, micro mini blinds might be great for you.
• To avoid too much dust accumulation, it’s a good idea to choose blinds that have been treated with an anti-static finish.
• If you want to enhance the height of your room, vertical blinds can help with that.  The vertical nature helps make a low ceiling seem a bit higher.
• When you choose vertical blinds, you’ll need to allow for another clearance from the floor to make for ease when traversing.

Hopefully these tips will help you along the way in your blind purchase decision-making!

Advantages of vertical blinds:

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Vertical blinds can cover large expanses of glass.  Newer styles can hang perfectly straight without the use of bottom chains or weights.  With modern vertical blinds, the operational systems are smooth and quiet.

There are a wide arrays of colors available.  In fact, some manufacturers boast over 80 colors in various style combinations!  They can be motorized in a variety of ways.  The elongated structure of vertical blinds can augment the height of a room.  Vertical blinds allow for good air circulation.  Some verticals even have the capability of inserting strips of wallpaper or other materials into the vanes of the blinds so that they can better match the decor of a room.

Disadvantages of vertical blinds:

Cheaper and not as well made vertical blind slats can get tangled together.  Hardware is visible if you don’t use a headrail, so you should be sure to order one to go with your blinds.  Vertical blinds can be easily damaged by children and pets and need repair sooner.

Cost of vertical blinds:

The prices of vertical blinds can vary greatly.  It’s a good idea to not purchased the cheapest of these blinds, as they might fall apart or not function correctly after a while.

Best locations for vertical blinds:

Vertical blinds work great in rooms with great expanses of glass, such as sliding doors or oversized windows.  They’re also good for arch-top windows, picture windows, and some angular windows.

Cleaning and care:

Vertical blinds require minimum maintenance.  Blind slats are now made to be anti-static and dust repellant, although this can vary from blind to blind.  You should clean the vanes with a  feather duster weekly to remove accumulations of dust and other residue.

Slat Removal

Slat removal is one of the most common blind repairs.  Often, slat removal isn’t a repair at all, as blinds sometimes end up being a bit too long for windows and a few have to be removed.  Blinds often come with instructions on slat removal, as this tends to vary from company to company.  It is not a difficult repair, but instructions should definitely be followed.

Blinds Won’t Tilt Open or Closed

First, unhinge the box end bracket and remove the blind from the window.  Check to make sure that the cords are running length-wise through the head rail.  Make sure they aren’t tangled.  Simply untangling them can fix this issue.

Blinds Won’t Open After Installation

Sometimes when blinds are manufactured the lift cords are pulled too tight.  This makes them not release easily the first time.  To release the blinds, press up on the bottom rail and pull the cord at an angle to release the blind.

Tilter Replacement

Sometimes the tilter will become damaged or fall off.  This is easy to fix.  A new one (or your old one) can be hooked back on to where it attached to the top of the blind.

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1. You should vacuum your blinds frequently with a brush attachment. You will want to vacuum across the slots, and not up or down (unless they are vertical blinds).
2. A soft duster, such as one made of lamb’s wool, can also be used in a similar manner to using a vacuum cleaner. Work from the top to bottom.
3. Remember when you’re either vacuuming or dusting to only brush in a downward motion, as the slats can become unhooked if you brush upwards.
4. Using a rubber sponge, which is also known as a dry sponge, you can remove dust and residue from both vinyl and fabric blinds. To do so, simply wipe the dry sponge firmly, but gently, across the blinds. Dry sponges can be found at hardware and paint stores.
5. If you just need to spot clean your blinds, an all-purpose cleaner can be sprayed onto a dry cloth and be used to wipe the dirty area of the blinds. You should not spray the cleaner directly onto the blinds.
6. If your fabric blinds become excessively dirty, you can take them to a dry cleaner for a thorough cleaning.
7. You can clean your metal or vinyl blinds by taking them outside for a thorough cleaning. Lay them on a rug or piece of carpet. Put a little bit of dish washing soap (just a few drops, really) into a bucket of water. Wet a car-washing brush with this mixture and brush the blinds from side to side. Turn them over and repeat. Gently rinse the blinds with a garden hose while tilting them so that the water can run off. You can prevent water spots from forming by running your finger down the slats a couple of times to remove water. When you’re done cleaning them, you can drape the blinds over a fence for drying.
8. Wooden blinds can become wet while you’re cleaning them, but be sure not to soak them. You should clean them in place, rather than removing them as you would for other blinds.
9. Do not attempt to clean blinds by spraying them with a high pressure hose or dunking them in a tub. These methods could damage your blinds.

When you purchase horizontal blinds, each one will come with two hinged cover installation brackets (one for the left, and one for the right). The blinds will also come with the appropriate number of support brackets for the head rail width. For widths under 94”, one support bracket is needed. For widths over 95”, two are needed.

As far as supplies go, you won’t need that much to be able to successfully install your blinds. Most blinds come with sheet metal screws for the brackets, and these are often the only fasteners you will need for installation. However, wall anchors are recommended for non-solid surfaces, such as drywall or plaster. Concrete, brick, and tile surfaces will require special carbide drill bits and the appropriate screws, anchors, and plugs.

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You’ll need a few tools for installation. A steel measuring tape, power drill, bits, a level, and Phillips screwdriver are recommended.

Now for the installation:

Step 1 (Measuring):

• For inside mounts, you should measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the window. Use the smallest of these figures. Unless otherwise is specified by the manufacturer, do not measure for clearance because it will be accounted for when the blinds are cut to size. Just measure the height at the right and left sides, as well as the center. Use the largest figure.
• For outside mounts, measure to the outside edges of the moulding. Be sure to measure the exact height of the window from the top edge of the moulding to the bottom edge or top sill of the window if there is one. If your blinds extend to the floor, you will need to deduct at least a half inch for clearance. The length can be adjusted according to your preference.

Step 2 (Installing the brackets):

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  It should be noted that for some units, the same brackets are used for inside and outside mounting. First, hold the end and central (if included) brackets in place and mark where your pilot screw holes will go. A level should be used to make sure each set of holes is even with the others.

• After the spots are marked, drill the holes for screws and install the brackets. If installing in wood or wood framing, you should drill the holes slightly smaller than the screw you will be using. If you are drilling into surfaces such as drywall or plaster, use appropriate anchors and follow the directions the blind manufacturer has supplied you with.

Step 3 (Installing the head rail):

• Place the head rail into the brackets and be sure to lock it into place. If your blinds hang too long, check the directions for removing some slats from the bottom.

Step 4 (Attaching the valance):

• If the blinds came with decorative valances, attach it as instructed. Your final small step will be attaching the wand used for adjusting the vanes.

Finished and Looking Good

If your blinds look like they’re supposed to, congratulations, you’ve completed the installation! On the other hand, if something looks out of place, you might want revisit the instructions and see if there was a step you may have missed.

The process itself is fairly easy if you have the time and are somewhat carpentry savvy, but if this seems to be something you would rather not undertake, consider calling in a professional to do the work for you.

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Unlike many drapes, grommet drapes can be opened and closed easily. Metal rings are used to surround the holes for hanging. The metal rings allow the drapes to glide back and forth, which greatly adds to the functionality of them.

Because of the grommets, the drapes will have a natural fold and flow to them, which allows for a neat appearance. They are easier to manage than some drapes. As a note, purchasing the right curtain rod is a good thing to keep in mind, as the rod will not be hidden by the drapes.

Grommet drapes can come in any drapery material, color, and pattern. However, a top seller is silk. Silk gives a natural flow to the drapes, and these drapes look very stylish. The grommets themselves also come in a variety of sizes, so be sure that your rod size matches your grommets.

A couple of other perks of grommet drapes are often being easy to clean and having a decent price tag. Because they often come in easy to wash materials, they can often be cleaned with ease. The price range varies with materials, but finding a nice stylish drape with a good price is not difficult.

Adding grommet drapes to your décor can be a very practical decision. Being able to mix practicality with contemporary looks makes these window treatments a smart choice for your home.

Wooden blinds

Wooden blinds can come in a number of woods and finishes. As far as size, there are three frequently used widths—25mm, 35mm, and 50mm. Venetian blinds are also available as vertical blinds. These are usually made with wider slats, but they operate in pretty much the same way as their horizontal counterparts. They draw to one side and gather in a vertical bunch rather than being drawn upwards.

Another type of wooden blinds are Pinoleum blinds. These are made from small wooden twigs which have been laid horizontally and are joined together by vertical threading. Because of the weave of these blinds, they are only flexible vertically, and are drawn upwards, either as a roller blind or in a similar way to how Venetian blinds are drawn.

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In recent years, faux wooden blinds have become a better option than they used to be. While in their early days, that had a rather cheap look to them, materials have improved greatly, allowing them to be more interchangeable than they previously were. They have become more warp-resistant and look more natural. Some faux wood blinds have a UV rating of as high as 500. As far as aesthetics, they can be found in a range of colors hard to find in natural wood. Their resistance to warping them makes them a wise choice in areas with a wide temperature range or a lot of excess moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens.