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Decorating With Window Shades

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Many people think that window shades have nothing to do with interior design and fashion. This is because when shopping for window shades many consumers believe that they should go with the first type of shade that actually fits the window. This is a little big like putting the cart before the horse. The result is often pedestrian plastic Venetian slats in the children’s bedroom (more suited for an office) and rustic folding door type window shades in the bathroom (more suited for a kitchen.)

The point is that when it comes to choosing window shades you don’t have to make your various rooms look like a bad renovation from a cheap landlord. Here is a run down of which shades look best with different types of decors.

If your décor is Italian neo modern, then Venetian blinds are your best choice of window coverings. There is no point in decorating your home with sinuous curving couches and sleek lamp fixtures only to ruin the effect with ratty looking rattan blinds or roll down blinds for Ikea. Lateral Venetian blinds suit the Italian neo modern look the best. The vertical ones just look tacky.

If your décor has an Asian or Mediterranean flair then bamboo slatted or roll down venetian blinds can look fantastic. These types of window shades also suit rooms that contain rattan or teak furniture. Roll down blinds made of rice paper with minimal designs on them also add oomph to oriental or Asian décor.

If your décor is Rustic, Mission or Country in style then you are best to avoid plastic Venetian blinds altogether. Mission furniture plus Venetian blinds equals the white trailer trash look. You are much better off to opt for drawstring style window shades made of bunched or draped fabric. Wooden shutters that are hinged so that they open like cupboard doors also flatter more rustic looks.

Aside from décor you should also keep in mind the function of the room where the windows for. For instance blackout roll down shades may help you sleep by blocking out all of the light. In this case attractive sheer curtains or swags can also be hung to conceal the black roll. A roll down shade is also better for a children’s bedroom as drapes are easily pulled down and tiny fingers can get trapped in the slats of Venetian blinds.

However given the fantastic designs that are available on the market that are available for sale there should be no reason at all to have to conceal a roll down shade with drapes or sheers. Roll down shades are offered in thousands of exciting colors and motifs and there is definitely a roll down shade that is perfect for every décor. You can buy light pink or blue roll down shades to decorate a nursery, burgundy and gold ones to decorate an office or a library and ones boasting gingham or culinary motifs to decorate a kitchen. Given that roll down window shades are so abundant and inexpensive there is absolutely no excuse to have boring or mismatched window shade treatments in your home!

Decorating With Vinyl Shutters

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The traditional window shutter is usually made of wood, needs a lot of maintenance and looks like it is right out of an episode of the Brady Bunch. These window shutters that have been in existence since Colonial times are a bit of an anachronism. Most people simply never shut them yet still the hinges need to be oiled and shined.

It might be time to get rid of the anachronistic wooden shutters on your home and go with something more modern such an aluminum window shutter that resists the elements and never closes. This will definitely cut down on your replacement and maintenance costs for keeping the exterior of your home looking sharp!

Here is a run down of the different types of decorate window shutter that are offered by manufacturers today.

Vinyl window shutter – These easy to clean, affordable shuttles last about forty years! They give your house a traditional look without the traditional expense of replacing them frequently. They weigh next to nothing and look like the real thing. They are available in all of the traditional louvered, board and batten and raised panel styles. Even better they come primed and ready to paint in the color of your choice.

Composite window shutter – These shutters are like a thick particleboard that is made from a composite of weather and rot-resistant materials. They are made from molds that offer all kinds of styles including the louvered, board and batten and raised panel window shutter style. You can also find these types of shutters in a cupboard style (sometimes called the Bahama style) that is hinged at the top so you can open and close them just like the old fashioned wooden shutter.

Fiberglass Shutters – This type of window shutter is the most expensive but they do last about twenty years. They are also molded and offered in a variety of designs including the Bahama, louvered, board and battened and raised panel window shutter styles. The fiberglass window shutter is also stronger and more secure than other types and can be used to protect your windows during hurricanes and storms. Most manufacturers offer these in scores of colors and textures that mimic the look of the real thing. You can also buy these primed and paint them yourself to match your house’s exterior design scheme.

Aluminum Shutters. The aluminum wood shutter is also offered in a variety of styles including the faux colonial louvered style and the Bahama style. These strong shutters are great protection for your windows, both in terms of an intruder and also against a hurricane. They come in about a thousand textures and colors. However the powder coated finish looks a little less authentic than other types of shutters and many companies also only offer a warranty of about three years on aluminum shutters.

Of course the crème de la crème will always be the traditional wood shutters, but unfortunately they are not as storm proof as the fiberglass or aluminum window shutter and the costs of protecting them from the elements are relatively sky high compare to other types.