Although I work for Select Blinds in the accounting department, I have become somewhat familiar with the options and features offered on the various blinds and shades we sell. With a recent home construction project in the works, I have been considering redecorating and upgrading multiple items. One of those items is our blinds.

With the many offerings from Select Blinds, it has been a difficult, yet fun, task to determine my favorite product. Initially, I was a huge fan of the trendy Roman shades, but as time has passed, I concluded that Roller Shades are a better product for many reasons. The biggest Roller Shade benefit is the cost difference as well as what you get for that cost. The price point for Roller Shades is exceptionally lower than Roman Shades with practically the same functionality.

At the end of the day, one Roller Shade in particular stands out: The Good Housekeeping Room Darkening Roller Shade. With neutral colors and various textures, this product not only offers something for everyone, but is also aesthetically pleasing. Although the looks of a blind/ shade are important to me, I am most interested in the function and options accompanying it. I am going to be frank and admit that my husband and I are lazy people who despise sunlight. We can’t be bothered to get up from the couch to close our shades to eliminate the sunlight glare.

Additionally, we are animal lovers who include 3 dogs and 1 cat as part of our family. The GH Room Darkening Roller Shades are perfect for us in that they offer motorization, an option not found with most shades. This helps us continue our lazy demeanor and also gives us peace of mind that our pets will not get tangled in cords. What’s more, when closed, these shades offer a 5 out of 5 privacy factor, meaning that no light gets in or out. For me, this shade truly is a shining example of a product that offers both form and function.

Author: Jennifer Goodman

Spring has well and truly sprung, inspiring homeowners everywhere to get the home improvement projects they’ve been putting off all winter underway. It’s not just the major DIY projects that get your attention though; refining the finishing touches in your home with the biggest interior design trends of the season is the key to creating rooms that are truly show-stopping. Upgrading your blinds should be a part of everyone’s home improvement program, transforming your home with the best dressed windows in town.

Take advantage of some the hottest looks in blind design by following these essential trend tips and create a look that is as fresh as spring itself...

A Splash of Color

Any neutral room can be enhanced with bright blinds and spring really gives homeowners the opportunity to experiment with colors. Embrace citrus colors this season with modern block color and print blinds in yellow and orange. These citrus colored blinds complete a truly modern look in kitchens that are painted white with dark wood fixtures and fittings.

Bright red and fuchsia pinks are also a great look to channel during the warmer seasons and again brighten neutrally decorated rooms.

Green with Envy

Green blinds also create a style statement this spring/summer and you’ll see many shades in store from emerald to muted jade greens. Whether a Venetian, roller or roman shades, green blinds just scream spring as well as creating a fresh look that will look great all year round.

Pastel Makes Perfect

Pastel colored blinds are also a favorite on the interior design scene and this spring is no different. Pastel colors like fondant pink, baby blue and lemon yellow all add a touch of retro to interiors. If you already have pastel accents decorating your rooms, why not work on the texture of your blinds instead to create an interesting feature that won’t appear ‘over the top’. As well as looking great, casual linen blinds provide welcome shade during the summer month whilst allowing some light though to create an airy room that makes the most of all the natural light the season has to offer.

Flower Power

Nothing says spring like a touch of flower power! Floral patterned roller blinds add a colorful and vibrant touch to any room and installing flower print blinds can be the perfect way of bringing the outdoors in during this beautiful season. Allow your home interior to blossom with floral blinds in any color. Leaf prints will also be popular this season and is a discreet way of adding a touch of spring to your home, providing a lasting look that won’t appear out of place come winter. Why not combine a leaf print with the hottest color for spring 2013? Luscious leaf prints in green allow you to channel two trends to create the ultimate seasonal style statement.

Author: Brittany Moodie writing on behalf of home and garden improvement specialists, LocalTraders. As well as providing essential advice to help with your property upgrades, LocalTraders provides a directory where homeowners can connect with reliable, qualified tradespeople that are local to them.

When asked about my favorite window covering, it is a difficult choice for only one answer. Select Blinds carries many different styles all of which are great quality and competitive pricing, you really have to think about the options rather than IF it’s a good buy.

Out of all the window coverings I could recommend from my personal experience, Cellular-Honeycomb and Solar-Roller shades stand out among the rest. These shades have multi-functional options that can give a room multiple appearances and come in modern colors and attractive patterns. In addition to being trend setters with their designs, these durable materials are mostly made with environmental conscientious ingredients that are rated to last a life time.

Between the two, Cellular shades tend to give better light control and insulation for energy efficiency/noise reducing benefits while Solar Shades are made to be durable in all window applications with various light emitting factors and patterns. If I could choose only one, I believe the Cellular-Honeycomb shades would be the most practical and my favorite. Although both are a great for any application and can come with Cordless or Motorized controls, I would benefit mostly from the Cellular-Honey comb features including the Top-down/Bottom-up option and various insulation factors.

I would be happy with any Select Blind window treatment with the confidence of a great company standing behind their product.

Author: Ethan Hilles, Select Blinds Dealer Sales