Layering Window Treatments Increases Energy Efficiency
With colder weather on the way, you may be looking to your windows to help keep your home cozy and warm, shutting out biting winds and inclement weather. But it’s no secret that expanses of glass absorb the outside temperature and transfer it inside, so how can you best make your windows work for you?
- First, check all your windows to be sure the weather stripping is in good repair. Over time, weather stripping can dry out and develop cracks, allowing air leaks. These drafts around windows and doors will make your heating and cooling systems have to work harder. Check out your window energy ratings to see how much heat energy your windows are wasting, you might be surprised.
- Consider layering your window treatments. Just as an outfit with a jacket and scarf is warmer than a shirt, multiple window coverings provide additional insulation and protection for your home (and help to lower your utility bills).
Your local Budget Blinds® Style Consultant can help you create a distinctive style, combining high fashion with practical functionality. The same way you accessorize your clothes using patterns, textures, and colors, layering window treatments presents endless design possibilities for beautifying your space.
Layering with blinds
Window blinds are a favorite choice in window coverings because they’re always fashionable, extremely durable, and they come in dozens of styles and colors, including wood, faux wood, vinyl, aluminum, and elegant fabric blinds. They can be horizontal or vertical orientation, and customized to fit any shape window or door. All the design options of color, finish and texture make them an ideal window treatment for any room in your home, with child safe options of wand control, cord cleats, and motorization for cordless operation.
As a stand-alone window treatment, blinds have a clean, modern look. Their energy-efficient properties include blocking sunlight and harmful UV rays, adjustable vanes for light manipulation and controlling privacy, and providing insulation when closed. All types of window blinds can be easily paired with additional treatments like fabric valances, cornice boxes, sheer curtains, and drapery panels. Whether layering is for enhancing your lifestyle with lavish design or for increased insulation, layering drapes over blinds will help to keep the cold out and the warmth inside.
Sumptuous shades
Window shades are the most versatile of all window treatments, with options like top-down/bottom-up, cordless lift and motorization to provide complete light and privacy control. Custom shades range from light-filtering to room-darkening to complete blackout. Styles include Roman shades, available in almost endless fabric and color choices, roller shades, pleated shades, solar shades, woven wood and bamboo shades for adding exotic texture, and cellular or honeycomb shades in three cell sizes. Dual-fabric shades uniquely combine pleated fabric and light-filtering cells in one shade.
As with blinds, window shades can be paired with curtains or drapery for stylish home décor or improved insulation. The shades pictured below allow for subtle, filtered light during the day, with complete privacy at night by closing the drapes. The drapes add extra insulation against the cold, and in especially cold climates, the heavier the lining, the more energy-efficient they become.
Layered drapery designs
Some people (and most hotels) prefer only fabric treatments on their windows. They’re generally easier to clean and may be more cost-effective than other window treatments. “All fabric” does not preclude layering techniques for either windows or sliding glass doors. A traditionally popular style for windows and doors is full-length sheers with a heavier drape on top, often with a valance or other decorative top treatment. The sheers create soft, filtered light with low-level sun protection and privacy during the day. Adding an opaque drapery gives the option of complete privacy when the drapes are closed, as well as increased insulation due to the extra layer of fabric.
Take a stroll around your home and if you feel coldness at the windows or doors, it may be time to consider layering.
- Adding cellular shades behind curtains or drapes will provide a high level of insulation as the honeycomb cells are designed to keep air from entering or escaping.
- Installing floor-to-ceiling drapery panels over large window expanses of blinds or shutters will create an extra “wall” of insulation to keep your rooms comfy and warm.
- You may just need to swap out a lighter-weight spring/summer curtain for a heavier winter drape for better insulation.
- Adding Somfy® motorization will enable you to set your window coverings to automatically open and close with timers and sensors to help conserve energy.
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Your Budget Blinds Style Consultant can help you maximize your window coverings for increased energy efficiency in your home, with innovative ideas and creative designs to transform your home. Call 866-879-9730 today to schedule a FREE, in-home consultation or go online to www.budgetblinds.com to find the Style Consultant nearest you. With our Customer Appreciation Sale going on now, you’ll be amazed at how much you can save on binds, shutters, shades, drapes and more!
