You’ve decided to refresh your bedroom or living room, and you’re working on a plan—paint colors, light fixtures, and a couple of pieces of new wall art. That begs the question: should you stick with your current window treatments?

From a design aspect, window treatments add a finishing touch and bring a sense of cohesiveness to a space. They’re also extremely functional—enhancing daylight, blocking heat and glare, and even helping insulate a room. So it’s important to have blinds or shades that not only look great but that works well, too.

Now’s the perfect opportunity to give your window treatments a careful once-over. If any of the following issues apply, it’s time to replace the old with the new.

Here are the four signs and the solutions for you

Warped or Damaged Slats:  Blinds that have been exposed to years of sunlight or use can warp and or show signs of wear. In addition to looking worn out, warped blinds might also be cumbersome to raise and lower.

Solution: Look for composite wood blinds or 2″ metal blinds. They resist fading, yellowing, bowing or warping—making them a good choice for humid bathrooms and toasty sunrooms.

2" Everwood Renditions Faux wood
Faux wood blind in a kitchen window. Easy to clean and operate.

Frayed Cords: Frayed cords mean it’s definitely time to invest in new window treatments. Your cords might be fraying simply because they’re old, or because an internal mechanism in the window treatment housing is malfunctioning.

Solution: Go cordless! Look for shades with operating systems where you simply push up or pull down on the shade to open and close it. Cordless solutions are also safer for small children (and our beloved pets) than window treatments with cords which is now a Health Canada Regulation as of May 1, 2022.

child and pet safe window coverings
Blinds without exposed cords are in compliance with the new Corded Window Coverings Regulations by Health Canada May 1, 2022

Frayed Fabric Edges: Frayed fabric edges could be a sign of inferior or old fabric or fabric that’s too wide for the window opening causing it to rub along the frame when you raise and lower the shade.

Solution: Opt for high-quality fabric, so you can rest assured it will stand the test of time. Also consider using a professional window-treatment specialist for measuring and installation, to ensure a perfect fit.

Roller Shade living room
Roller Shades are measured and installed by a professional installer.

 

Drafty Windows: While the best solution for drafty windows is to replace them, upgrading your window treatments in the interim can help.

Solution: Two solutions! Look for honeycomb shades. These shades are extremely energy-efficient, thanks to their cellular construction, which traps air in distinct pockets, creating a layer of insulation at the window.

The second solution to keep drafty windows from making your home too hot or too cold is by adding full drapes to cover your windows. If you don’t have the budget for that, you can go with stationary drapery panels that will cover the sides of the window, helping to prevent cold air from coming in in addition to letting heat out of the windows. For more information on energy-efficient window coverings, click here

Duette architella shades motorized energy efficient
Energy efficient motorized shades are perfect for filtering the sunlight and reducing the heat from the sun.
Blinds and drapes help keep your home warm and cozy. Photo from Hunter Douglas Design Studio

For more information on Energy Efficient blinds and shades, click here

I hope you enjoy reading these tips for refreshing your window coverings in your home. If you live in North Vancouver and want to update your blinds or shades, click here to send me an email

To check out your window covering options, click this link to our window covering website

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