Friends and Family

Save an extra 10% right now on all window treatments on Blindsgalore.com excluding BG Bargains products. Add this 10% on top of the 40% you are already saving with Blindsgalore’s everyday low prices along with free shipping and that is just an amazing deal. To receive this 10% discount enter the coupon code: FRIEND when in the shopping cart on Blindsgalore.com. Hurry sale ends 3/21/2011.

Cordless blinds and shades are a smart choice for child and pet safety as cords present a very real entanglement threat. Cordless window treatments have other benefits as well. Read on for more information about what’s available and why it matters.

First a little shock and awe.  Sorry, but this is important.  This is from the Window Treatments Safety Council:

“Window coverings can pose a potential strangulation hazard to children. According to the U.S.  Consumer Product Safety Commission, since 1990, more than 200 infants and young children have  died by accidentally strangling in window cords. Parents and guardians should replace all window coverings in the home with today’s safer cordless products.”

Despite this organization’s efforts and numerous other outreach programs, young children and even pets are killed every year – usually from low-cost, products manufactured overseas with inferior design that incorporate looped cords.

The bottom line is, if you have small children in your home, you should seriously consider cordless blinds or cordless shades.  To help with your selection process, we wanted to inform you as to what’s available. Purchasing cordless is not a restriction. Almost all the popular window treatments are available with the cordless lift option, including:

• Cellular shades
• Wood Blinds
• Woven Wood Shades (Bamboo Shades)
• Roman Shades
• Mini Blinds
• Roller Shades
• Solar Shades
• Pleated Shades

In addition to eliminating any entanglement risk, cordless blinds also have a cleaner, uncluttered look – no messy cords means a more attractive appearance. Cordless shades and shades typically operate by gently pushing up or pulling down on the bottom rail of the blind or shade; you can then position the blind or shade to any height you desire. For this reason, it’s important to make sure you will be able to reach as high or as low as you will need to position your window shade. Cordless window blinds will still have a wand to tilt the slats open and closed.

Time for insulation

Winter is upon us. That means you are probably needing to turn your heat on in the morning to take the edge off.  This may be a good time to consider improving your insulation to help lower your heating bill.  Time to think cellular – cellular shades that is.

Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, are the champs of insulated window treatments. They provide this insulation because of their design – honeycomb-shaped air cells that ‘trap’ air.  It’s pretty ingenious really.  This simple layer of insulation on your windows is almost akin to putting a layer of fiberglass insulation on your windows (almost).

But cellular shades are also highly functional and attractive.  They come in a wide range of colors and opacities (how much light is transmitted through the fabric). So, you are aren’t blocking out the sun to get the insulation.  That is unless you want to block out the sun, because cellular shades with opaque fabrics make excellent blackout shades.  Because cellular shades come in several opacities (sheer, semi-opaque and opaque), you can use them for every room in your home – sheer cellular shades for lots of natural light – semi-opaque for greater light control and privacy – and opaque for room darkening.

Cellular shades are offered in single cell and double cell (2 air cells).  For maximum insulation, choose double cell cellular shades.  Additional options include top down/bottom up, cordless and motorized.

I realize that it may seem a little counter-intuitive to spend more money on insulating window treatments to save money on heating bills.  You mean I have to spend more money?  Where’s the savings?  Purchasing cellular shades is the similar to the idea of buying double-paned windows.  They cost more but, over time, they will save you money.  A quality cellular shade will last for years and years.

Last but not least, cellular shades’ insulating properties will also help save cooling costs in the summer.  As an alternative to cellular shades, you can also choose roman shades that can also provide insulation.