natural woven blinds

Kitchen Window Treatment Design Ideas

/ Larry Walker

By SelectBlinds.com

What to do about your kitchen windows? Different rooms in your home have different needs when it comes to window treatments, but think about all the time you spend in your kitchen, in particular.

Treat Your Kitchen Windows

The kitchen is often referred to as the “heart of your home,” where you spend so much time with your family and friends talking, eating meals, telling stories, joking around, celebrating holidays, etc. You rely on your kitchen’s window treatments to not only serve certain functions, but also to look good while doing so. You’ll spend a lot of time seeing your kitchen window coverings, so you want to take extra care that you “treat” those windows just right.

Kitchen Window Treatments: Some Considerations

For starters, you need your kitchen window treatments to be durable and easy to clean – but remember, you also want your kitchen blinds, shutters, or shades to look good and make your kitchen feel welcoming. You can control the amount of light coming into your kitchen, as well as your privacy as needed, all to fit your personal lifestyle.

Faux Wood Kitchen Blinds and Shutters

Faux wood blinds and shutters are definitely durable and built to last, but even better, they are perfect for areas of high moisture and dampness, because they won’t warp, split, or crack over time. Plus they offer the elegant look of real wood blinds. They are also super easy to keep clean. Simply wipe down with a soapy, damp cloth or rag, and then with a dry cloth.

Roller Shades

No matter what your sense of style, there’s a custom roller shade that you’ll love. Highly functional, great at keeping the light out, and with a familiar, classic look. Get creative in the way you express your own individual aesthetic.They are also easy to care for and to clean, especially those rollers made of synthetic materials.

Solar Shades

If blocking out the harsh incoming glare is of concern to you to keep the sun out of your eyes and also to help preserve your interior furniture, you may consider solar shades as an option for your kitchen.

You can select from sheer to opaque and anywhere in-between. Solar shades are usually made from PVC, which means they’re super easy to clean and maintain, and also that they’ll last for several years.

Bamboo / Woven Wood

Another viable option for kitchen window treatments comes in the form of shades made with bamboo or woven woods. Just be careful which window you use them for (keep them away from behind the sink or near the stove), because if they get wet, they will start to gradually come apart. The materials used to make them, like bamboo, grasses, reeds and jutes, help soften the look of your kitchen appliances. Also, they’re known to hold their shape over time, even if you get a lot of sun in your kitchen. Cleaning bamboo is easy, as you can regularly just wipe off dust with a damp rag.

Cellular Shades

Cellular shades (sometimes referred to as honeycomb shades) are designed to insulate against outdoor heat and cold by trapping heat inside their single- or double-layer honeycomb “pockets.” This helps conserve energy and reduce your energy bills throughout the year. Cellular shades can also insulate against and soften outdoor noise when your children are playing outside, or you’re entertaining guests.

As far as “cleanability” goes, cellulars are relatively easy to keep clean. Simply dust or vacuum them off regularly. From time to time, you may want to have your shades professionally cleaned, as they are prone to gather various scents and smells over time. Along with Roman shades, cellulars are also not the best choice as a treatment for the window over the kitchen sink, as they do not do well in moist/damp environments.

Need Some Inspiration?

To help you, here are some of Select Blinds’ most popular options for kitchen window treatments:

2” Premier Faux Woods 

Classic Sheer Weave Solars  

Classic Roman Shades  

Classic Fabric Light Filtering Roller Shades 

Lifestyle Light Filtering Cellulars 

Classic Cordless Woven Woods 

Trust your design instincts. Your kitchen windows are going to look AMAZING.

Minimalist Home Décor Ideas – Custom Window Treatments

/ Larry Walker

By SelectBlinds.com

The idea of minimalism encompasses a return to simplicity. Reducing the number of objects in your living space, to leave only the most necessary of items. Less clutter to make the most of your available space. 

Crisp lines, maybe some quieter color tones, and the silent allure that define minimalism have been shown to nurture a healthier sense of stillness and well-being.

Maybe Zen isn’t exactly your thing, but consider the relaxing benefits of keeping objects and clutter to a minimum in your home. Everything in its place, without anything you don’t need. Imagine minimalist window treatments to keep things simple, practical, and aesthetically beautiful. Here are three tips to help you bring that kind of minimalist feel into your home.

Minimalist window treatments like rollers give your windows a nice, clean finish, without bulkiness or clutter.

1. Minimalist Window Treatments Should Be Functional

Minimalist design emphasizes the importance of every included element in a space having a tangible, practical function.

Think about the simplistic elegance of roller shades. Cordless (especially motorized) roller shades crisply pull down to where you need them with just a gentle tug. No cords, no clutter. Top Down Bottom Up cellular/honeycomb shades work in a similar manner, but with some additional applications. You can get your TDBU cellulars to open from the top down also, offering you plenty of outdoor light, and privacy at the same time. They also provide a soundproofing effect for a quieter interior, and they are energy-efficient at the same time.

Shutters offer a nice minimalist look and feel as well. Throughout the day, you can tilt the louvers exactly where you need them to be for the right amount of lighting that you want. Whenever you need to, just shut the louvers completely for full privacy. Let the full light in with a wide open view when you swing open the panels entirely.

Shutters as minimalist window treatments.
Shutters offer quick control of incoming light as well as privacy when you need it.

Solar shades not only offer a crisp, minimalist look (like roller shades), but they also help protect your floors, furniture, and framed items from the harsh incoming UV rays. And they help preserve your view. 

Fabrics vary in openness factor (typically 1% to 14%) to increase UV protection and reduce glare or to allow a better outward view when they’re closed. For rooms where you want some natural light coming in, but you want to maintain privacy at the same time, they’re perfect.

And don’t forget bamboo/woven woods. What could be more Zen/minimalist looking than natural bamboo minimalist window treatments?

2. Minimalist Window Treatments Should Be Set in Close to Your Window

One thing minimalist designers make a point to do is to use as little space as possible. They might implement a desk or table, but without bulky lamps, large plants, or “clutter-ey” items to throw the clean, tight design off-kilter. In a similar manner, minimalist window treatments should be set in snugly to the window, without fussy cords, frills, or fabric spilling outward and onto the floor. 

Roller shades, cellular shades, shutters, bamboos, and solar shades all lend themselves well to this idea of physical closeness to their windows. Remember that “minimalism” implies being direct in your design, and that “less is more.”

You can’t beat the natural look and feel of bamboo/woven wood shades for a perfect minimalist finishing touch.

Speaking of set close to your window: Similar to the textures offered by cellular shades, panel tracks can offer a warm, personal touch with various options in textured upholstery and fabrics, in a variety of colors, including neutrals.

Since a tight fit is important for your minimalist vibe, note that custom panels can very elegantly frame your windows, while offering ample cover. Just remember not to let saggy fabric or uneven floor gaps between panels throw off the precision of your minimalist look.

Panel tracks as minimalist window treatments
Panel tracks meet all the criteria you could want for minimalist window coverings, and they beautifully provide cover for
large/wide windows and glass doors.

3. Minimalist Window Treatments Don’t Have To Be Neutral

Minimalist designs have been traditionally known to utilize neutral whites, blacks, and grays. But this isn’t a requirement. Consider eye-catching splashes of color, including on your minimalist window treatments. Color can really add some nice accents especially if the furniture in your room features a neutral palette. Without color, your space can look and feel cold and impersonal. If you already have some color accents (e.g., rugs, furniture, pillows), neutral window treatments might be the way to go.

Select Blinds Staff Recommendations

Here are some minimalist window treatments our staff loves and offers as recommendations.

Classic Fabric Room Darkening Roller Shades

Lifestyle Light Filtering Cellulars

Architect Stained Shutter

Lifestyle Motorized Solar

Premier Woven Wood Shades

Modern Architect Panel Track

With the wide variety of fabrics, textures, styles, and colors available to you, finding the perfect custom minimalist window treatments should be a breeze.

Selecting the Best Kitchen Window Treatments: Over the Sink

/ Larry Walker

By SelectBlinds

The kitchen and dining room are the heart of any home. Holidays, laughter, Sunday dinners, cooking, homework, late night chats, etc. That’s why so many of your best family stories start in the kitchen.

Custom window treatments provide a fashionable finishing touch that accents and complements the way you design your own interior spaces. Lots of opportunities to highlight with colors, patterns, and texture. Window coverings provide light control, privacy, and peace of mind.

A kitchen is a unique space, and you may have different considerations for how you decorate the windows, based on where each window is located. Your choice of window treatments offer additional opportunities for touches of softness and style in the middle of bulky, metallic appliances and smooth, hard surfaces.

Select Blinds bamboo / woven wood shades for the kitchen window
Select Blinds bamboo / woven wood shades look great in your kitchen sink window,
but be careful about water and moisture in the area.

Maybe you want kitchen window curtains. If you only have one window in your kitchen, you’ll want window coverings that let as much light as possible filter in, while still being able to maintain privacy. You may consider sheer shades. If you have a kitchen window that faces the street, privacy might be a primary concern, with incoming light also being important, but perhaps slightly less so. You may want window coverings that offer a unique view, like Top-down Bottom-up shades. Then there are those windows immediately over the sink. What looks best over them? Time to get cooking. Read on as we serve up a deeper dive into kitchen window ideas and considerations as you find what fits best with your personal style and sense of décor.

Decorative Window Coverings

If you’re thinking about a covering for a kitchen window over the sink, be extra careful that you keep the right kind of materials in mind. You can still go with stylish bamboo/woven wood shades or Roman shades, but be aware that because this area over the sink often involves water splashing, spills, etc., you might have to be extra careful to avoid water damage. Wood blinds are also at risk for getting wet and possibly warping or discoloring, but you might just love the way they look in that window over your sink. It’s always up to you, just be aware of the risks that are involved if you decide on a material that doesn’t take well to water.

Select Blinds light filtering roller shades for the kitchen window
Select Blinds light filtering roller shades allow just the right amount of light
and view into your kitchen, without compromising your privacy.

Privacy

As mentioned, privacy may be a concern if your kitchen sink window faces the street or a neighbor’s home. Roller shades may be what you’re comfortable with in terms of providing privacy, and perhaps with some light filtering functionality.

Light Control

If your kitchen sink window faces the east or west, you’ll especially want to take account of direct incoming sunlight. Direct UV rays can be harsh on your eyes, your skin, your furniture, and they can definitely crank up the heat in a room. A stylish, but heavy-duty solar shade may be what you want to employ over your sink to protect yourself and your interior while you’re doing dishes after evening summer cookouts. Solars are typically constructed of durable PVC materials, so they’ll look great and maintain that “brand new” look for a long time to come. You can also custom order them with the degree of UV blockage of your choice.

Also, consider aluminum mini blinds for your kitchen sink window. Aluminum shades built to last, with plenty of light and privacy settings.

Select Blinds Solar screens for the kitchen window
Select Blinds Solar screens help block out harsh UV rays,
while keeping your kitchen cool. They look great, too!

Functionality and Longevity

In addition to durable solar shades and aluminum blinds for your kitchen sink window, there is another excellent option for a food-prep, dishwashing area. If you love the look of real wood blinds and shutters, but can’t bear the thought of them getting wet and warped, faux wood blinds and shutters might be just the perfect find.  

Not only do they perform amazingly at maintaining light and privacy, they also look great, they’re also super easy to care for, and they’ll last forever. You can clean them with little more than soap and water as needed. Many faux wood slat constructions also feature insulation against heat and cold. The lush look and feel of real wood in your home, and their resilience ensures they’ll never warp, crack, chip, or discolor when exposed to water, food stains, or steam. And much less expensive than real wood. Low-maintenance, and no worry.

Select Blinds Faux Wood Blinds for the kitchen window
Faux wood blinds give any kitchen window a crisp look and feel,
along with privacy and light adjustments.

SelectBlinds’ Staff Recommends:

Here are some of our favorite suggestions for the window above your kitchen sink.

Remember, kitchen window treatments can serve a design/decorative function to go with your kitchen’s décor, but especially for the window over the sink, it should also be durable, provide privacy, and block out harsh UV rays. Choose whatever kind of blinds work best for you, but remember that the most functional ones for that particular window are moisture- and mold-resistant. Happy decorating!

#BlindsWeLove     #kitchenblinds

Putting the ‘BAM’ in Bamboo: 5 FAQs About Bamboo Blinds

/ Larry Walker

For more than 5,000 years, the panda-friendly bamboo plant has endured as one of the most durable, dramatic and exotic materials for interior design. Favored by high-end and DIY designers alike, bamboo and woven wood window coverings add a sense of zen and a dash of adventure to almost any decor. But before venturing into the bamboo forest, here are a few ‘FAQs’ you should know about these beautifully versatile window treatments.

1. What’s the difference between natural bamboo and woven wood blinds or shades?

Besides bamboo being edible (well, as far as pandas are concerned), bamboo window treatments are made from the natural fibers of the bamboo plant. Woven wood treatments are made from a combination of bamboo, rattan, jute, grasses and reeds to create a variety of color options. Speaking of color, good to know that seasons can change the color of these natural reeds, grasses, etc. If you’re doing more than one window, we recommend ordering or purchasing all of the blinds you’ll need for the same room at the same time to avoid possible dye lot changes.

The beauty of classic bamboo can brighten any room. Here’s a sample window treatment using our Signature Shoreline Woven Woods.

The multiple fibers that make up woven wood window treatments add a touch of texture and adventure. Here’s a sample of our Premier Cordless Woven Woods with the classic Roman style fold.

2. Are bamboo window treatments waterproof?

As much as possible, you should keep bamboo and woven wood shades in dry environments, safe from as much moisture and humidity as you can. Though made with natural materials, accumulated dampness may cause molding and even some natural decomposition.

3. Do bamboo shades provide enough privacy?

While the texture and weave of bamboo window coverings allow for some filtered light to come through naturally, you can easily control any ‘see through’ by simply adding a privacy or blackout liner. Window panels or drapes can also be used with these versatile shades to minimize views from the outside while creating a truly custom look on the inside.

Bamboo shades with privacy and blackout liners

4. Can I go cordless with bamboo?

Absolutely. The biggest trend in blinds is cordless operation, a feature you can also get with bamboo and woven wood coverings (as well as corded, if you prefer). Easily raise and lower them with a simple pull ring tucked discreetly in the bottom rail. Cordless lift also eliminates any possible ‘catching’ of traditional cords on the naturally rougher edges of these products.

5. Is bamboo a smart design choice?

Still on trend after all these years (bamboo was first used as the décor du jour in China 5,000 years ago), bamboo window treatments remain a constant go-to in the stable of many designers for many reasons:

  • Today’s hottest design trends call for natural textures, making bamboo a natural choice.
  • They’re versatile enough to complement almost any decor and available in a variety of colors.
  • Made from exotic, natural, eco friendly materials, they provide durable, long-lasting beauty.

beautiful kitchen window treatment with bamboo shades and sheers

Need another reason to choose bamboo? Check out the special price reductions we’re offering this month. Click here to see our entire selection of amazing bamboo and woven wood window treatments.