Tag: blinds

Pet Friendly Design Tips

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You can have a beautiful house and a pet, too! You don’t need to sacrifice style or the comfort of your animal companion to have a home that you can be proud of, but you do need to make the right design choices. Budget Blinds has put together a list of tips to help make your home stylish and pet-friendly.

Flooring

When it comes to the floors, keep in mind your furry friend’s paws can be quite hard on them with scratching and “accidents.” We recommend you choose hard-surface flooring to keep pet-occupied rooms in tip-top shape! Great options for durable floors that also look stylish include stone, ceramic, concrete or laminate. They are easier to keep clean and stain-free than carpet. Such floors are also cooler in hot weather, an important consideration for pets with thick or long hair.

Area Rugs

You already know that area rugs are a great way to enhance a room and add a pop of texture. However, they also protect floors from claws and stains while providing a cozy spot for your pet to snooze. The best area rugs for pet owners feature patterns with a multitude of colors that draw the eye away from dirt, stains and pet hair. Make sure to include a non-stick pad beneath the rug so your pet can safely run throughout the house!

 

Patterned Furniture

Most people who have pets “avoid white” at all costs, and for good reason. When it comes to upholstery, choose woven fabrics with patterns, textures and darker colors that help camouflage dirt and pet hair. Avoid fabrics that need constant cleaning, like silk and velvet. Don’t invest too much money on furniture pieces you know your pets will be spending a majority of their time on and make sure it’s made of durable material. We suggest buying furniture that uses washable slipcovers, making cleaning up stains or hair quick and easy!

 

Painted Walls

Protect your walls with paint. If your animal likes to rub up against walls or maybe drools a lot, then you’re going to want to use a semi-gloss paint finish on your walls.  Semi-gloss is great for rooms that see a lot of activity and moisture and allows for an easy clean up. Choose from a bold color or keep it simple with a neutral. When your pet makes a mess simply wipe your walls down with a damp paper towel and call it a day, it’s that durable!

Bedding

We all have pets that like to cuddle in our beds, it’s alright to admit it. Help protect your bed from the inevitable dirt, pet hair and accidents with a duvet cover. Duvet covers are perfect for pet-owners because they can easily be removed and washed whenever needed. In addition, choose sturdy cotton sheets in a color or pattern that can hide pet hair between washings.

 

Cordless Window Treatments

Keep your loved ones safe with cordless window treatments in your home. Avoid long drapes that touch the floor since they will only collect pet hair and debris. Look into window treatments that only cover the length of the window and that are easy to clean, like shades, shutters or blinds. You will also have peace of mind knowing your cordless shades prevent your pet from getting tangled (which can lead to strangling or choking).

 

We hope these pet-friendly design tips were helpful! No need to sacrifice style when you are a pet-owner, you just need to make smart choices. If you need help finding the perfect window treatments that are durable and low maintenance or an area rug, schedule your free in-home consultation today!

Stillwater & Lake Elmo | 651-351-7620

Going Cordless for Child Safety

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Budget Blinds® Reminds Parents that Window Safety is a Critical Consideration

“Going cordless” is a trend across several industries.  But the movement in window coverings is not just about modern style and convenience.  It is an issue of safety for homes with small children.  Budget Blinds® wants to help parents understand the options available that promote safety and consumer education.

Some styles of traditional corded window coverings pose a tempting hazard to infants and toddlers who view dangling cords as playthings.  Each year, entanglement by window cords is a serious danger that can cause injury to small children or maybe even death.

While accidents have decreased with changes in industry safety standards, there is still work to be done in spreading awareness.  According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least one child dies from window cord strangulation every month, and during that one-month period, at least one more child suffers a near strangulation.

There are simple yet critical steps parents can take to increase the safety in their homes.

Choose Safer Window Coverings

Budget Blinds® recommends cordless treatments for homes where small children or pets live or frequently visit.  Cordless options include:

  • Shutters: Offer a classic and inherently cordless window covering option
  • Motorized shades: Motorized shades can be raised and lowered with the touch of a button using a battery-operated remote control
  • Cordless cellular shades: A sleek and modern option, cordless cellular shades can be easily raised and lowered with one hand

 

Add Safety Features to Existing Cords

Existing corded window coverings can be retrofitted with safety features such as:

  • Spring assisted clutches: Can be raised and lowered without the use of cords
  • Sliding panel track systems: For vertical products with side to side openings
  • Break-away tassels: Designed to pull apart under minimal pressure
  • Cord stops: For horizontal window coverings that restrict how far the internal ladder cords can be pulled from the blind
  • Cord cleats: Safely tie dangerous cords out of your children’s reach

 

Place Furniture with Safety in Mind

Be mindful of where furniture is placed within a child’s bedroom or playroom.  Moving furniture, such as cribs, changing tables, toy chests and chairs away from the window area prevents access to window coverings. This also minimizes the risk of accidentally falling from the window should the child crawl up and over the wrong end. In the event that the glass breaks, positioning furniture away from the window reduces the risk of injury from broken glass.

If furniture must be placed near a window, consider adding security film, which helps maintain the integrity of windowpanes during a storm or earthquake, and from the impact of flying objects such as wind-driven tree limbs or baseballs from the neighborhood game.

 

Additional Safety Tips

Window safety is just one of many considerations when decorating a home with small children.  For more information and tips on whole home safety, visit www.cdc.gov/healthyhomes.

 

-Pamela Brown

How To Style Your Windows To Save Money This Winter

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It’s that special time of year again. The ground is sprinkled with a light layer of snow, you can see your breath outside in the frosty air, and nothing sounds like less fun than worrying about your drafty windows! But with you know that people spend an average of 60% more on their energy bill in the winter, it’s hard to ignore.

There are plenty of DIY options to help with drafty windows, but the winter brings more then the cold with it, it also brings friends and family for the holiday season. The last thing you need to be stressing about are ugly, plastic lined windows with random blankets pinned over them to hold in the heat.

We have a solution for you with energy efficient window treatments – only at Budget Blinds. Budget Blinds offers a variety of energy-saving window coverings that are not only stylish but will help you save money in the winter AND the summer too (note: efficient treatments help in the summer by to regulating indoor temperatures!)

Cellular and Roman Shades

Cellular shades and Roman shades are the TOP  energy-saving window coverings. Both of these styles are very trendy and have plenty of factors that help you save money on your energy bill.

Cellular shades (aka pleated or honeycomb shades) are designed to create insulation by trapping the warm air inside and keeping the cold air out! Cellular shades are very versatile window treatments with a variety of fabrics and colors to choose from. We have light filtering options including sheer, light filtering, room-darkening and blackout fabrics which help with privacy and insulation too! When they are closed, cellular shades will help keep in the heat and make every room pleasant to be in during the winter. For hot summer months, they block intense heat or they roll up all the way allowing for a view. Best of all, cellular shades have a cordless lift or one-touch remote control motorization making them easy to open and close as well as child safe (every home owners dream, motorized window treatments, right? :))

Roman shades are similar to cellular shades and are one of the most popular windows coverings for energy efficiency. They are stylish and offer plenty of energy-saving qualities. They too come in a variety of colors, prints and textures to add elegance to your home. Due to heavier fabrics, Roman shades can trap in warmth which can save you money on your electric bill as you would ultimatley use your heater less and less. Also, like cellular shades, Roman shades come in various degrees of light filtering options for privacy and light control.

Interior Shutters

Interior shutters add value to your home while protecting it. Investing in shutters can be a major bonus to your home and allow you to keep in the warmth in the winter months or control a summer breeze by adjusting the louvers.

Interior shutters are beautiful window treatments that again help with heat gain and loss for your home. These types of shutters are a window covering that is made to last and save you money (amazing!) Shutters will keep your energy bills low because they work as an insulation shield by preventing cold drafts and unbearable heat from entering your home. They regulate the temperature in your home so you won’t have to use the heater or air conditioner as much (or sometimes at all!)  Also, shutters will provide extra security because they fully cover the window when closed but still allow you to have an uninterrupted view when open. Shutters will benefit your home in many ways, making them a great choice for an efficient window treatment.

Drapery

Drapery on your windows is like having your windows wrapped up in a blanket (can you tell I am thinking of the winter!!) Drapes are designed for insulation because their heavier fabrics allow them to keep in the heat. During cold weather, drapery can reduce heat loss from a warm room up to 10%. Closing your draperies at night and during the day can keep in the warmth. Another way drapery is energy saving is by layering it with another window covering!

So this winter, impress your guests with the most stylish and energy efficient window treatments in town!

Contact me today to schedule your free in-home consultation and start getting your home not only stylish for the holidays, but energy-efficient too! 651-351-7620 pbrown@budgetblinds.com 

 

Budget Blinds and Lutron Electronics Join Forces to Simplify the Transition to a Smart Home

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Budget Blinds of Stillwater, MN is announcing its newfound relationship with lighting control pioneer Lutron Electronics, making smart home automation affordable and accessible to more homeowners. Home automation exclusivity to luxury homes is now a thing of the past. Lutron, in accompaniment with Budget Blinds, offers simple home automation solutions allowing homeowners to control and schedule window coverings, lighting and temperature with the touch of a button.

The Lutron line of automated window coverings offered by Budget Blinds can be controlled with a remote or wall control, through The Lutron App on a smart device, or with voice commands using Siri® on an Apple® iPhone®. Window coverings can be set to raise and lower according to daylight hours in a selected time zone, enabling morning sunlight to enter homes in an automatic fashion.

The relationship between Budget Blinds and Lutron provides homeowners with a wide variety of stylish window coverings ranging from drapery tracks to shades that offer the ease and simplicity of automation, while coordinating with furnishings and décor.

Budget Blinds’ Style Consultants, like myself are also certified Smart Home Consultants, offering custom installation and free in-home consultations so customers can see – and feel – fabrics, blind, and shade samples. Adjusting a thermostat, turning lights on and off and raising or lowering window shades is now easier than ever with automatic activation or the ability to control remotely while homeowners are out or on vacation. Coverings can now be installed with automation at an affordable price, offering added peace of mind and enhancing home comfort.

Creating a perfect smart home is now accessible to all Budget Blinds customers at an affordable price. To schedule your free Budget Blinds Style and Smart Home consult with me, visit our website!

Pamela Brown

EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MOTORIZED BLINDS

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You’ve been hearing about them everywhere lately, appliances going cordless. Vacuums, computer accessories, and more! But what, specifically is the benefit of motorized blinds? Sure, they provide elegance and a certain sophistication to your living space, but are they worth the hype? The answer is YES!

Motorized shades powered by Somfy® are ideal for family rooms, playrooms, kids rooms, and virtually any room in your home. With advances in technology and increased demand for smart and connected living, excitement about motorized blinds has been steadily rising. They provide convenience, safety, and energy efficiency!

First, let’s talk about convenience. Motorized blinds allow you to automate a repetitive task with the touch of a button, located right on your smart phone!

The next benefit is safety. As any new parent knows, cords are dangerous! Most motorized blinds are cordless which takes the danger of choking or accidental strangulation off your mind. Remember, your four-legged fur-babies are susceptible to this as well. The final touch point for today is the benefit of going green.

Maximize your home’s energy efficiency with motorized blinds. According to SomfySystems website, “It may feel counterintuitive to draw the shades on a gorgeous summer afternoon. After all, you suffered through winter just begging for the sun to come out. However, what is actually counterintuitive is to run the air-conditioning or fan at full blast at the same time that you are allowing the sun to stream into your home. Similarly, in the winter, leverage the heat of the sun to warm your home and you may find yourself very happy with the savings! Your motorized blinds provide you with a quick and convenient way to save energy and money, all while creating a more pleasant home environment. Better yet, if you use a sensor or timer with your motorized blinds, you can automate your blinds to do this all for you, so you don’t even have to think about it.”

Explore the many benefits for yourself today! Call Budget Blinds serving Stillwater at 651-351-7620 to schedule your free in-home consultation and I will help you determine which type of motorized blinds make the perfect choice for your home!

 

Cheers!

OCTOBER IS CHILD SAFETY MONTH!

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AND we have a new certification (YAY!)

WCMABudget Blinds just announced that several of our key manufacturing partners are participating to earn certification for selected window covering products known as “Best for Kids.” This new program was launched by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) to help our consumers identify window covering products that are certified as best suited for use in homes with young children.

“Making window treatments safer for homes with children is one of Budget Blinds’ top priorities,” said Chad Hallock, CEO and Co-Founder of Budget Blinds.  “We work with our manufacturers to consistently review and evaluate our products to ensure they are child-friendly, durable, and still look great in the home.”

According to WCMA, criteria to earn the Best for Kids certification requires that a window covering product must either have no cords or the inner cords cannot be accessible. Products must be submitted to a WCMA-recognized third party testing laboratory; and products that meet these criteria will be eligible to be listed and labeled on packaging and materials as “certified .” We are so excited for these awesome products.

“We are already proud to announce that several of our key manufacturing partners will have earned certification by October 1,” said Tracy Christman, Vice-President of Vendor Alliance for Budget Blinds. “It’s exciting to continue to bring homeowners beautiful and stylish window coverings that are also child-friendly and certified as Best for Kids.”

We are so excited that Budget Blinds offers dozens of options for child-friendly window treatments) including cordless blinds and shades with a retractable lift). Not to mention, motorized shades with cordless operation, and shutters too!

The last thing you want is a home that isn’t 100% safe. With Budget Blinds, you can rest assured that you are doing everything you can do to protect your loved ones and while adding style (and benefit) to your overall home! With our new certified program, “Best for Kids” I am positive that you will love the look, feel and value of your child-safe window treatments.

For more child safety window treatment options visit www.BudgetBlinds.com/Stillwater. 

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