It’s here! 2021 has fully arrived and with it a whole new world of fresh opportunities and chances. Last time on the blog we talked about some New Year’s Resolutions you could put into practice – it’s been about 10 days now, how are you doing on yours?

Before we dive headfirst into 2021 and everything that’s to come, let’s take a breather and look back at all the things we covered in 2020!

Budget Blinds Scottsdale Year in Review - 2020

We started the year off by looking at a few different styles of window coverings…

Cafe Shutters, They Ain’t Half Bad

“In the most basic sense, cafe shutters (sometimes called half-height shutters) are just shutters that cover only the lower portion of a window. But that is doing them a disservice if we’re being quite honest. Cafe shutters have a style and beauty all their own.

Designed to meet two very different needs, creating privacy and allowing for natural light at the same time! Cafe shutters provide quite a unique charm. An inviting environment that practically beckons you to enjoy your coffee and time here. The natural light is a much more pleasant ambiance than the flicker of fluorescent bulbs...”

Plantation Shutters for Sliding Glass Doors

“Plantation shutters have been popular since the 1800s and it’s not hard to see why. They’re sturdy, sophisticated, and they look beautiful. They bring a class that otherwise might be lacking! When it comes to plantation shutters, there’s a lot to love. Here are some benefits to using plantation shutters for your sliding glass door!”

Having trouble deciding between the two? Well, we followed that up with a blog on just that subject!

How to Choose Window Coverings

“The biggest piece of the puzzle for choosing your window coverings is to identify what your objective is! Now you are probably thinking, “the objective is to cover the window, what are you talking about?” That’s true, all window coverings are designed to cover the window, but the reason you want to cover the window is what we are talking about. What goal do you have in covering the window, do you want to better control the light? Are you looking for heat control, for more privacy, more decoration or functionality (or both!)...”

Find out more about how to choose your window coverings here.

Another topic we covered over the course of several blogs was caring for your blinds. As you can imagine we have a lot to say on the subject!

Caring for Your Blinds, Shades, and Shutters

“There’s a bit more that goes into it than just dusting, but don’t worry! It is all incredibly simple, it just varies based on the type of coverage you have. Find the type you have and follow our steps to get your window looking fresh!”

Caring for Your Vertical Blinds, Drapes, and More

“Cleaning them, getting rid of dust, dirt, and debris can improve your indoor air quality drastically and help keep everyone inside healthy.”

Read the in-depth care directions and more on caring for your blinds, shades, and shutters here, and if you’re looking to care for your vertical blinds and drapes read this.

With movie theaters still closed as we endure through the COVID-19 pandemic, this blog from April might be exactly what you’re looking for!

Creating Your Home Movie Theater

“There are plenty of guides out there to walk you through actually building your own theater, and while those are great, it’s a bit outside our scope. We’re not looking at building new rooms, framing walls, and running new wiring, no! This is a stripped-down, simple approach, only the absolute necessities to make any room into a home theater…”

Sound like exactly what you’re after? Head here to read more!

Another topic of particular interest to us in the window treatment biz (especially here in Arizona!) is the idea of insulation and energy-saving! For that, we have a few great blogs. Take a look and you’ll understand their value!

Three Ways Window Coverings Save Energy

If windows are energy “holes,” window coverings can act like valves, regulating the temperature exchange through the window. Here are three distinct ways that the right window covering can help save you energy: reduce heat flow, control solar heat, and enhance daylight. Find out more on the blog!

Keeping Cool During the Summer

“For as good as Arizona and the Valley specifically is year-round, the one difficult time is the summer. Keeping cool is always important, especially since we are already hitting the hundreds this year! So, we put together a list of several things you can do to help keep the temperatures down in your home this summer. Here are some great cooling and energy saving tips…”

Saving Energy this Winter

Saving energy in the winter is just as important! When the temperatures get low it can be tempting to just turn around and crank the heat full blast! This blog talks about some other options to help you stay comfortable and keep the bill low!