Moods And Atmospheres: The Right Lighting For Your Room

Things like shutters, blinds, draperies, and even shades are often used for more than just decoration or even light control. In many cases individuals who utilize all these items do so in order to create a specific ambience or mood within a specific room and sometimes an entire home.

This is especially true of individuals who go to great lengths to create and set up a den or study with a specific purpose in mind. Studying and relaxing requires a certain type of atmosphere and the right lighting can help create that atmosphere while the wrong lighting can seriously hamper it. The difficulty however comes in trying to determine which type of window covering will give the individual the type of atmosphere they're looking for.


If you have a room that you've set up for a specific purpose and want to go a step further and create the perfect atmosphere for that room, be sure to contact us when you have questions about blinds, shutters, shades, and draperies.


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Tinting: Is It Right For Your Windows?

Within many different ways to decorate windows and to control light leaving and entering a home it can be difficult for an individual to discern which ones work best for them. One of the most popular ways to control light flow is window tinting. While window tinting can be very nice, convenient, and most certainly has its place, it only offers individuals one type or level of control. The level of light that is allowed to leave and enter home is determined prior to the actual tinting of a home's windows and cannot be changed to allow more or less without paying for re-tinting.

This is why a lot of professionals often recommend utilizing something like shutters, window blinds, and even draperies rather than window tinting. All these items, including window shades, allow individuals to completely block out or allow in as much or as little light as they see fit. Perhaps most pertinent of all however when it comes to window fittings/decorations is cost. Window tinting while effective is limited and can be extremely expensive especially if the home is large. Individual shutters, blinds, draperies, and of course shades are all much more affordable than the vast majority of scenarios.

Should you be looking for a stylish and affordable way to control the light that comes and goes from your home be sure to contact us so that we may be of assistance!

Golden West Shutters specializes in:

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How to Measure Window Blinds: Orange County Blinds, Los Angeles Blinds, San Diego Blinds

Before you even pick up that steel tape measure, you need to decide what kind of window blind you want. Do you want the Window Blinds on the inside of the window casing or outside mounted blinds?

The choice is yours alone, and it makes a huge difference how you want the blinds to hang. Window blinds can change a room from a dull eyesore, to the final dressing in your room. They can muffle sounds traveling from room to room, and give you the privacy you want, not to mention the insulation they provide from the outside in winter and in summer.

Measuring windows will be the most important thing you do, and you must use a steel measuring tape. Cloth measuring tapes may be all right to measure your waist, but they are not accurate enough for any type of construction. Measuring anything that will remain on your window and walls require a precise measurement. No guess work here.

To have the desired covering for your windows you must measure within 1/8 of an inch. Don’t trust your memory write the measurement down on a piece of paper. Another hint, always write the width first, then the length. That is how contractors write their measurement always with the width followed by the length, like this 12x24. If you get those mixed up someone will be in trouble, and your window blinds will not fit properly.

You may need to learn how to read a tape measure. They are not always the same. You might have to count the lines to see how many are in one inch. If you are confused have someone instruct you on this. It is hard to explain in an article.

Now do you understand why it is important to choose how the window blinds will be installed, on the inside or outside of the window frame? Let me explain.

If you install the blind on the inside of the window frame, you will have a small gap between the blind and the window. If there is a wide frame on the window that won’t matter, because no light will be able to get in. Otherwise there might be a gap.

Blinds installed on the outside cover the window completely, and make the window look larger. They may also hide an unsightly window and will enhance your room. Remember though the choice is yours, but measure wisely.

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Curtains or Blinds

You want your windows covered to make the room more complete, but which should you use curtains, drapes or blinds? Curtains are usually flimsy see through material and need to be washed frequently. Draperies on the other hand need to be dry cleaned. Heavy drapes need to be taken down and reinstalled after they are cleaned. Spiders with spider webs live in curtains and/or draperies. Possibly those are the main reasons that most people have switched to window blinds.

Window blinds are easier to clean especially with the modern dusters, and if dusted regularly dirt doesn’t build up on them. The blinds can be adjusted to close completely or open completely without obstructing your view inside or out. If privacy is desired, then the blinds can be adjusted so you can see out, but no one can see into your rooms.

Blinds are composed of vertical or horizontal sheets that are attached and function in unison. In the winter you may want your blinds open to allow the sun to warm your house or office. In the summer it would be better to close them to keep the hot sun out. Whether you desire the vertical or horizontal blinds you will receive the same results when adjusting the blinds. That is almost impossible to achieve with curtains or blinds. They are either open or closed with nothing in between.

Blinds deflect the heat more effectively than the other alternative. There are numerous styles and types of blinds, many with attractive colors or patterns to enhance your rooms. Another added benefit for those who have allergies or breathing problems like asthma, the blinds are cleaner and don’t attract dirt or dust. They also can insulate the room from outside noise or echoes in the room itself.

In today’s busy world window blinds seem to be the choice of many because of the modern look they add to a room. The option of either opening or closing them appeals to many. The most popular blinds are made of anodized aluminum, and are a great deal cheaper than curtains or drapes. However there are blinds made of other materials such as vinyl, wood, bamboo, and even curtain blinds. The choices are limitless, and you can purchase them ready-made or have them custom made to fit your needs, and they are easy to install.

When you consider the care and cost that curtains require compared to blinds that may help you make your final decision.

Golden West Custom Shutters specializes in Orange County blinds, Los Angeles blinds and San Diego blinds.

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Shutters: Wood And Vinyl

Traditionally speaking most homeowners elect to have blinds put into their home as opposed to shutters. This is primarily due to the difference in cost as shutters tend to be much more expensive than blinds. Many homeowners also tell you that blinds require far less care and are cheaper to replace should the need to do so arise. Despite blinds being more popular than shutters, in recent years there has been a shift in the paradigm due to the low costs of shutters that are made from materials other than wood.

These "faux shutters" are made from a number of different materials. Some are made from fiber board with acrylic coating while others are made from solid resin and vinyl. Even better, individuals who want the low cost of a faux shutter but are afraid that they won't look like wood or will look less than spectacular needn't worry. Shutters made from materials other than wood are for the most part indistinguishable from their wood counterparts. Additionally the majority of faux shutters fit better in windows then do traditional wood shutters.

Perhaps the greatest contributing factor in the rise of faux shutters is the fact that they're far more durable and reliable than traditional wood shutters. While it's true that some very expensive top-of-the-line wood shutters are coated with UV inhibitors the majority aren't and as such they are often damaged over time after prolonged exposure to moisture, heat, and indirect sunlight. This is especially true of middle and lower grade traditional wood shutters as they have no protection and can begin to rot, crack, peel, and chip after only a short amount of time in the home.

In direct contrast to their wood counterparts, faux wood shutters and those made of polyurethane are extremely resilient and resistant to things like moisture, heat, and sunlight. Polyurethane shutters for example are an excellent choice when a homeowner is looking to put an attractive looking shutter next to a sink, bathtub, or shower. The excessive moisture will not harm these types of shutters. Faux wood shutters made of fiber board and covered with acrylic coating are extremely resistant to prolonged sun exposure. While these are an excellent choice for owners who want an extremely durable long lasting shutter they are rather heavy so it's not recommended they be used for tall and wide window spaces.

Regardless of the type of shutter you choose, and there are many, you should seriously consider selecting a material other than wood for your next set of shutters. Doing so will not only save you time, money, and maintenance but it will also ensure that you don't have to buy new shutters again for extremely long period of time. Best of all, these new technologies and materials allow even those on a small budget to select shutters over blinds.

Golden West Shutters specializes in:

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Decorating New Windows: Choose Carefully

Individuals who might be planning on redecorating their home and those individuals moving into a new residence generally have interior design on their minds. Where to place furniture, what to move, and what to eliminate from an area of their residence are things that are essential to creating a home that feels like their home.

One of the aspects of redecorating that needs careful attention are the windows in a residence. More often than not individuals involved in redecoration generally don't consider windows an important part of the process though they couldn't be more incorrect. With new paint, new furniture, and perhaps new flooring, a redecorated room will require different amounts and types of light. Some lights will flatter the room while others will make it look far less attractive.

Individuals should carefully select window coverings/decorations for their newly redecorated rooms and in their new residences. There will be some scenarios in which an attractive atmosphere can be created with very little light and then there will be other instances where a great deal of light is needed to not only see within a room but to bring it to life as well. Individuals will have window blinds, shutters, draperies, among other things which they can use to not only decorate their windows but craft atmospheres and moods in specific rooms.

Should you have any questions about what type of window covering work best for any specific room in your home please contact us so that we may be of assistance!

Golden West Shutters specializes in:

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Fixing Broken Window Blinds

Window blinds, especially those of the less expensive variety, are prone to breaking but homeowners with window blinds needn't always rush out and purchase replacements. Much like shutters and even draperies, the majority of damages to window blinds can be easily repaired.

One of the most common damages window blinds incur as a result normal wear and tear is a broken cord. When the cord becomes damaged broken blinds can no longer be turned and sometimes are left stuck either up or down. This can be especially inconvenient if the affected blind is used frequently to either block out light or to allow it in.

Such damages to window blinds are inexpensive and easy to fix and can save homeowners a lot of money. An individual should first inspect a cord's guides and a look for excessive wear. If it is completely worn it will need to be replaced or if it is worn to a great degree even a simple fix won't keep it from breaking again. There are a few moving parts inside of window blinds that can be moved around and replaced at a very low cost which will extend the life of any window blind.

Learn How To Fix Your Blinds

Should you have any questions about window blinds please do not hesitate to contact us so that we may be of assistance!

Golden West Shutters specializes in:

Drapery Los Angeles - Orange County blinds - Lake Forest shutters - San Diego blinds - San Diego window coverings - Window treatments Orange County - San Diego plantation shutters