Mini blindes, shades, or curtains

**Palooka** · 09-11-2009, 02:31 AM

Or all? What is your window treatments like and how much do you put importance on them when it comes to spending money?

I will share later.

**2ndGenGranola** · 09-11-2009, 06:43 AM

We have regular blinds with blackout curtains over them. The blinds we have had since we moved in but most of the blackout curtains are more recent. My goal with the blackout curtains was to run the air less. It works!

**Grainlady** · 09-11-2009, 08:00 AM

I have insulating Levolor honey-comb blinds in all the windows that we ordered from Lowe's, and installed ourselves when we first move into our home 3 years ago (new build and no window coverings).

In the winter we add a layer of bubble wrap for additional R-Value - http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects...bubblewrap.htm It makes a HUGE difference, even though we have thermal windows and insulated blinds.

I have a decorative swag with hand-crocheted lace over the blinds in the master bedroom to soften the look a little.

I just made double-layered, insulated, floor-to-ceiling, black-out drapes to cover the front and back doors (both in the living room), with an oak pelmet (cornice). They keep out the heat and cold, and ensure privacy. The back door is a French door facing west, and the heat in the summer is awful, so the new drapes over the door have been a blessing.

Less-is-best for me. I used to have complicated curtains and drapes in another lifetime, including hand-crocheted filet crocheted valances, at the home we lived in for 23-years. Lots of up-keep... In the townhouse we live in for 4 years before moving into this home 3-years ago, I made "window quilts" for all the windows, for their energy efficiency. I like the blinds (and additional bubble wrap in the winter) the best.

**monkeywrangler71** · 09-11-2009, 08:21 AM

Most of my windows have nothing on them, the front ones upstairs have blinds for privacy and sheer curtains, the kids bedrooms have either dark curtains or blinds to darken the rooms.

I put zero importance on them.

**NikoSan999** · 09-11-2009, 09:09 AM

Most of our windows have nothing up period. Which probably contributes to the high electric bill since this is Florida. We have 2 french doors in the back which has the blinds in the middle and they are down to keep the sun out. When these were pulled down and closed I could tell the difference in an hour in the temp of the room. Not a lot but some.

If we get to keep the house I would love to put Coolaroo shades in the rest of the windows. Someone posted about them and said they really worked on cutting light and the electric bill. I priced them at Home Depot or Lowes ( only one had them but can't remember which ) and they weren't to awful bad. This is what I would like to have since they are affordable and reasonably priced. There may be other ones that work better but I'm not spending a ton of money on window treatments that would take years to get our money back.

So with that said, with money the way it is, as long as they are not butt ugly that's what I would go with.

**craftypam** · 09-11-2009, 09:44 AM

I never heard of them. How do they work differently than regular shades?

**Brat** · 09-11-2009, 10:20 AM

I have thermo drapery in Living room which need to be replaced but don't have the money at this time...Also have window quilts on these as they are north west side of house. Just made quilted curtians for Kitchen for the winter. Will go back to regular during the summer. Have quilted drapes in the bedroom that black out all light. Sun room only has shade and valance which are never closed. Area is shade in the summer and use the sun to heat the house in the winter from it.

**NikoSan999** · 09-11-2009, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by craftypam

I never heard of them. How do they work differently than regular shades?

Found the first mention of them on the Electric usage challenge.
Electric Usage Challenge

Under Savvy sniper...apparently you can get them for inside and outside. I searched internet under home depot and lowes and found them at Lowes. I'm interested in the inside. Hope the 2 links work.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...s&Ntt=coolaroo

**shoiji** · 09-11-2009, 11:53 AM

I have vertical blinds which came with the apartment. When it is nice out I pull them all the way to the top of the window frame. In the bedroom are sheers, which look great with the sunshine coming through them. The bedroom also has thermal curtains which are pulled to the side when it is sunny out and closed at night.

The livingroom has curtains and in the winter I put blankets behind the curtains for added warmth. Once I get a better sofa or slipcovers I will invest in thermal curtains.

The bedroom probably sounds like a lot of window treatments, especially when it comes to cleaning, but since they are washable it is pretty easy to maintain. Plus there are only two windows.

**Palooka** · 09-11-2009, 11:43 PM

I have basic mini blindes in all the rooms but the living room and the downstairs. Those are like the wood type or more heavy duty since the cats love those areas and tore up the cheaper mini blindes.

I have a basic swag in the kitchen and in the bedroom is draped at the top with like a line of flowers.

I have a very nice curtain rod in the living room (two windows close together) and would love to do some type of decoration for it. I don't want drapes or curtains, but something that can like wrap around it for extra color and just stay at the top like a swag, but they don't make swags that long. The wooden curtain rod goes across both windows.

Any ideas? I know I didn't explain it that well.

**frugalfranny** · 09-12-2009, 01:47 AM

Blinds and thermal drapes on bedrooms. Thermal drape in LR. Thermal drape on slider, curtains only on kitchen.

When/if replaced would always go with something to keep heat out in summer and cold out in winter.