Top 5 Window Treatments Myths & Misconceptions By wakewan  [11 more lists]

Window treatments is a catch-all descriptor for something you put up in your window, but not all window treatments are blinds. Blinds are window blinds and include horizontal blinds (think: mini blinds, wood blinds and faux wood blinds) and vertical blinds. Window blinds have slats or vanes that tilt open and closed for light control and privacy. So, technically, there's no such thing as a roller blind or cellular blind. Both of these are window shades.

Window blinds - horizontal or vertical - are NOT good for room darkening. If you want don't want to be awoken by the sun every morning, don't use blinds in your bedroom. Window blinds simply have too many light gaps to effectively block light. If you really want room darkening, think window shades.

Solar shades, which are a great type off window shade for preserving views, reducing solar heat gain and blocking incoming UV rays, are NOT good for privacy. Essentially, people outside can see in about as well as you can see out. Whichever is the greatest source of light will have the better view through. This means that at dusk or at night, the inside of your home is the greater source of light and people outside will have great view-through into your room or home.

Blackout means that 99% of all incoming light is blocked from entering the room. This is obviously very desirable for bedrooms and home theaters. But just because you buy an opaque window treatment does not mean you will get the blackout "effect." Achieving true blackout is also about the "fit" of the window shade within the window casing. Basically, when you combine an opaque window treatment, specifically in this case a window shade (all blackout window treatments are shades), with a tight fit within the window casing - this includes minimal light gaps around the shade and the shade lies fairly close to the window itself - you get blackout. If you want blackout, you want to get made to measure (custom) cellular shades, roman shades or woven woods.

Don't get me started... Whatever you put up in your windows is most likely going to be there a while. Window treatments don't get much respect. In my opinion, they are kind of the unsung, unknown, yet totally invaluable home accessory. They provide privacy and light control, but they are also a part of your home's decor. Cheap blinds, like the stock-sized ones you can buy at the big box stores are made with inferior components. They look cheap, don't work well, don't last long and don't fit well. They can even be dangerous. About once a year a child is strangled in the cords of a window treatment and then there's a giant recall. Every time, the window treatment in question is one of these stock-sized cheap blinds - every time! There have also been recalls due to lead paint. This happens because cheap blinds are made in 3rd world countries with lax standards. Why do you think they're so cheap?