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Not sure what to do with that large expanse of glass leading into your backyard or porch? Here are some window treatments ideas for your consideration.
Almost every house has at least one sliding glass door. As windows go, they are usually the largest in the house. I believe it is important to consider well how best to cover them. There are fewer choices available for large sliding glass windows then there are for the others windows in a home. But there are choices and armed with a little more information, you may be able to expand your horizons a bit and beautify your room.
The ubiquitous choice for large windows and sliding glass doors are vertical blinds. But what you may not know is that there are more types of vertical blinds then just the standard vinyl plastic. Vertical blinds can look great and they are a highly functional solution for large windows. But, the standard white verticals are, without sounding too negative, a little boring. But just by adding a little color, texture or material, you can make look vertical blinds look fresh and contemporary.
If you are considering vertical blinds, here’s a list of the various types, with their individual properties and approximate costs. First, you might want to consider the textured vinyl verticals. These are only slightly more expensive then the standard vinyl vertical blinds but are more unique and attractive. The simple addition of texture can make a huge difference to the overall look, especially since vertical blinds tend to be a fairly prominent feature within a room. These textures can be like stucco, small pleats, or even a faux-fabric look and in a range of colors.
Another choice is the PVC plastic textured vertical blinds. These come in solid colors and patterns and are embossed with a basic design like a weave, or the imprint of a leaf. These can look very nice. If your room has a more natural look, with cottons and natural fibers, consider the textured vertical blinds in a weave. This will augment the natural look of your room without the cost of fabric vanes.
Speaking of fabric, the next option in vertical blinds, and the next rung higher on the price ladder are the fabric variety. Similar to the vinyl varieties, these come in weaves, textured, patterned (with solid colors) and patterns. Fabric vertical blinds usually are constructed in two ways: either with a vinyl groover (inserted), or fabric vanes with a weighted bottom. The inserted option (vinyl groover) fabric vanes are inserted into a vinyl groover increasing the privacy level of your blinds and eliminating the need for bottom weights. This is usually an additional expense, just so you know. As a point of opinion, be careful with the patterned option. This option could easily clash with the décor of a room if not selected properly. It is one thing to match simple colors; it is another to match patterns. This is much like picking the right wallpaper.
The next option and one similar in price to fabric vertical blinds are cellular verticals. I would highly recommend these to anyone interested in improving the energy efficiency of a room. In general, cellular vertical blinds offer a 20 percent increase in energy efficiency over standard verticals. This is pretty significant. So, if you live in a hot or cold environment (or both depending on the season), cellular verticals are the way to go. Cellular verticals come in a variety of choices, similar to the fabric and vinyl verticals. But, they also come in lace if you are into that look.
The last two vertical blind options are aluminum and faux wood. Aluminum verticals are on the high end of the price spectrum. They come in brushed or bright finishes that can add a very modern, clean look. In the right room, aluminum verticals can look great. Faux wood verticals are relatively inexpensive and are a great choice for a room that already has wood or faux wood blinds.
Another option to consider, outside of vertical blinds are sliding window panels, also known as panel track blinds, or panel tracks. Panel tracks use overlapping fabric panels that glide on a wheeled track system. The panels range in width from approximately 48” to 192” and in lengths to fit most windows and sliding doors. The panels, which are obviously wider then most vertical blind panels, are composed of fabric, woven wood or a solar screen material. If you want a warmer, natural look go with one of the woven wood materials. The choices here are very similar to bamboo shades or woven wood shades with materials like, bamboo, grasses, matchstick, or a combination. The fabric panel options are numerous as are the solar screen materials.
Need to cover that large window or sliding glass door, try one of the many vertical blinds options or, if you are more adventurous, consider sliding window panels. – David Brooks
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