It’s summer—and the heat is sweltering. How do you choose blinds that can keep out some of the blistering heat, yet still look stylish? The window coverings experts at Luxury Window Coverings have gathered up some of our favourite tips to help you pick the perfect blinds for your room.

Consider Your Goals

Blinds vary in the light they filter out, the privacy they provide, and the outside elements they block.

Light levels:Do you want blinds that can keep out the sun during peak hours, but allow it in later and earlier in the day? Are you a light sleeper or have a night job? You may want blinds that can completely block sunlight so you can get an adequate amount of sleep.

Heat control: Do you want blinds that filter out the heat, yet let in enough light to keep your indoor plants happy?

Size, shape, and use: Are your room’s windows an irregular shape or size that will require custom window treatments? Will the blinds cover frequently used doors, such as sliding doors that lead to your home’s backyard or patio?

Moisture levels: Are the blinds to go in a room that has high moisture levels, such as a bathroom? Choose blinds with faux wood or synthetic components to avoid the warping, cracking, and swelling that real wood can experience.

All these factors make a difference in the types of blinds, as well as the materials you want to consider. Write down all your requirements for each room so you can take the list to your window covering supplier. It will help you narrow down your choices to make ordering that much easier.

Consider Your Budget

If you only want blinds for one room, you can afford to splurge a bit on higher-end window treatments. If on the other hand, you plan to install blinds in most or all of your home’s windows, you may want to prioritise certain rooms—especially those with more sun exposure—by saving the largest part of your budget for blinds for those rooms. Outfit the rest of the rooms with less-expensive blinds to save money.

Consider Your Lifestyle

Safety: If you have young children, you may need to opt for cordless blinds for safety.

Convenience: If you’re too busy to clean often, you may want to choose easy-care blinds, rather than those that require frequent cleaning. If you haven’t the time to pull cords or twist wands every time you want to adjust your blinds, consider motorized blinds instead.

Décor:Your decorating style, too, comes into play. Choose blinds that work well with your home’s décor. For instance, fussy, lacy blinds would probably look out of place in a Mid-Century Modern home, but would be the perfect touch layered under plush drapery in a Victorian.

Colour:Choose colours, too, that blend into each room’s colour scheme. If you plan to sell your home soon, you may want to opt for neutral colours that will attract more buyers.

Once you have narrowed down the possibilities, it’s time to head out to your window treatments supplier. You’ll want a professional that has years of experience installing a wide range of custom window treatments for all kinds of homes—and all kinds of situations. Luxury Window Coverings is the number one choice of customers in Toronto and the GTA for affordable, high-quality blinds and shutters. Contact us online or call 905-449-3929 for your free in-home measurement and quote today.