Tag: child safety

Keep Your Family Safe with Cordless Window Coverings

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October is child safety month and at Budget Blinds your family’s safety is our
top priority. From cordless blinds and shades, to motorized shades, we have the safe solutions that minimize the risk of accidents or injury.
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Automated shades are easy to operate and eliminate the dangers of dangling cords, reducing hazards for kids and pets
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Shutters can be used in your home to ensure optimal privacy and child safety due to their cordless nature.
Schedule your design consultation with Pamela Brown at Budget Blinds of Stillwater/Lake Elmo, today!
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Window Coverings That Are Both Stylish and Safe

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When it comes to deciding on the safest choice in window coverings for a home with children or pets, why take chances? Fortunately, with Budget Blinds of Stillwater/Lake Elmo, you don’t have to. I offer both stylish and safe cordless window covering solutions that minimize the risk of accidents or injury.
  • Motorized window coverings are easy to operate and eliminate the dangers of dangling cords.
  • Shutters can be used throughout your home to ensure optimal privacy and child safety due to their cordless nature.
  • Our shades can be ordered with a cordless or motorized lift, making them ideal for homes with small children.

Design Studio - Roman Shades

Because Your Child’s Safety Shouldn’t Be a Luxury

When it comes to deciding on the safest choice in window coverings for a home with children or pets, why take chances? Fortunately, with Budget Blinds you don’t have to. From cordless child-safe blinds and cordless shades with retractable lifts, to motorized shades, we have the safe solutions that minimize the risk of accidents or injury.

  • Our cord cleat and wand control options for blinds are easy to operate and eliminate the dangers of dangling cords, reducing hazards for kids and pets.
  • Shutters can be used in kids’ rooms and playrooms to ensure optimal privacy and child safety due to their cordless nature.
  • Consider installing window film, especially in kids’ playrooms, as an alternative to those window treatments that may require cords.
  • Our shades, including luxurious pleated shades, can be ordered with a cordless lift or motorized lift, making them an ideal solution for homes with small children.
  • Our decorative window film is an ideal cordless option and lets you select from a wide range of popular designs and character themes that children enjoy.
  • Many of our blinds can be ordered cordless with our cordless Lift & Lock™ or standard cordless lift system.
  • Budget Blinds adheres to the strict guidelines of the Window Covering Safety Council to ensure all of our products meet or exceed all safety requirements.
  • Additionally, all Budget Blinds products meet or exceed the American National Standard for Safety of Corded Window Covering Products.

HOME AUTOMATION MADE SIMPLE

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With Budget Blinds, I’ve partnered with Lutron®, the worldwide leader in smart home technology.  With Lutron’s whole-home wireless automation, your shades can open and close at the touch of a button, or at a pre-selected time of day or night, giving you effortless control of your window coverings.

Automated shades provide a safer environment for children and pets, due to their cordless nature. Also, programmable features allow you to use heating or cooling only when you need it for maximum energy efficiency.
Make everyday life just a little bit easier, safer, and more secure.

Call me today! I’d be happy to help! 🙂
651-351-7620!

Pamela Brown

Retrofit – Smart Home

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Everyday life just got easier!

With our Smart Home Collection the shades and blinds you already own just got a whole lot smarter! Because now, we can motorize your existing window coverings with retrofit solutions!

Motorization provides you with home security, child-safety, and energy savings all at the touch of a button! With Retrofit solutions, you can control your window coverings with the touch of a button from anywhere!

Motorized shades 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 smartphone!

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 by keeping the hot sun out while running the air and the heat in during those chilly months!

Explore the many benefits for yourself today! Call me, Pamela at 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!-Pamela

NEED HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA’S? – CHECK OUT OUR DESIGN GUIDE!

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Are you stumped on gift ideas this holiday season? What better gift for your family than the gift of safety? What better gift for yourself than beautiful window treatments that save you money on your energy bill? Get all these things with new window treatments from Pamela Brown at Budget Blinds!

Choose Safer Window Coverings

“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.

Some styles of traditional corded window coverings pose a tempting hazard to infants and toddlers who view dangling cords as playthings. 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.

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

Choose Energy Efficient Window Coverings

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!

Roman shades are like 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 ultimately 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.

So, do I have your attention? Then it’s time to browse our Design Guide below! And don’t forget to place your orders by November 9th to ensure installation before Christmas! Visit www.budgetblinds.com/stillwater to book your appointment today!

Budget Blinds Design Guide

Installing Cordless Window Coverings Could Save a Life

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Preparing a home for a new baby, or modifying home décor for a growing one, is as exciting as it is essential. To ensure a child-appropriate home means not only to make room for a crib or to decorate a baby’s room with soothing, warm colors; it also means to close the electrical sockets and secure any hazardous items that are not meant to be played with.

The precautions we take must be meticulous and not exclude the consideration of window coverings. As adults, we may overlook the danger of dangling cords––but small children and even pets can perceive them as hidden playthings. Choosing cordless window coverings is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure the safety of your little ones and your furry friends.

Choosing new window coverings can be a daunting task. I can walk you through the various types of window coverings that are most appropriate for your home and suitable to your lifestyle, including cordless blinds and motorized shades.

Motorized shades and other popular window coverings can be operated by a hand-held remote, a power-wand, a wall switch, or set on a programmable timer for extra convenience. Motorization is especially ideal for those tall, hard-to-reach blinds, and for windows directly in front of furniture, such as dressers or cribs. Whether you prefer the classic look of traditional blinds and shutters or the modern appeal of curtains and shades, most Budget Blinds window coverings can be motorized.

Schedule a free in-home consultation with me and I will bring samples of cordless blinds in a variety of styles, colors, opacities, and textures, directly to your home so you can see how they will look with your family’s existing décor.

By making your home’s window blinds cordless, you protect your family from risks of entanglement or even death. The Window Coverings Manufacturers Association (WCMA) announced that a new window covering safety standard is set to take effect on Dec. 15, 2018.

Budget Blinds has always promoted child safe window covering products.  Our Home Office teams have worked diligently with all our vendor alliance partners to ensure they are in accordance with all safety regulations including those advanced by the WCMA and Health Canada.  That’s 100 percent of our alliance manufacturers providing child safe products.  And, we’ve been aligned with the WCMA for nearly twenty years.

Taking it a step further, 80 percent of our vendor alliance partners are participating in WCMA’s “Best for Kids” program.  This safety program is voluntary, and products must be submitted to a WCMA-recognized third-party testing laboratory.  Products that meet stringent criteria will be eligible to be listed and labeled on packaging and materials as “certified” Best for Kids.

To learn more about how Budget Blinds meets or exceeds these heightened child safety window covering standards, schedule a free in-home consultation with me, today!

To see a complete list of requirements of the new standards for stock and custom-window covering products, click the following link:  Revised Standards Take Effect Dec. 15, 2018

Pamela Brown
http://www.budgetblinds.com/stillwater

 

Window Treatments 101: Discover Your Style

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Picking the right window treatments for your home doesn’t need to be a difficult process. At Budget Blinds, our style consultants are here to help you every step of the way! The window treatments you choose should be functional and make the right décor statement. To better understand which window treatments are best for each room in your house you must look at the material, functionality, design and overall measurements. If you are unsure where to begin, try these tips!

Roman Shades

Roman Shades

are a popular solution for those who admire the elegant look of draperies, but want the modern conveniences of window shades. They also provide extra insulation, which helps save on energy costs. Choose from a variety of styles including balloon shades, teardrop shades, cascading folds and relaxed folds—all of which can bring your home to life. An extensive variety of light filtering and room darkening fabrics give you the freedom to create just the right look for your home, as well as control incoming light. We love using roman shades in dining and living rooms! You can even pair them with draperies for a more formal look.

Composite Shutters and Faux Wood Blinds

Composite Shutters

If you are looking for window treatments that are moisture resistant and made from the finest materials that will withstand the test of time, then composite shutters or faux wood blinds are best for you! No matter how humid the environmental conditions may be in your area, Budget Blinds’ moisture resistant blinds will retain their integrity and beauty. Choose from our line of composite shutters that can resist high moisture areas like bathrooms while bestowing timeless elegance, or from our line of faux wood blinds that are well suited for places with high humidity like coastal homes.

Draperies

Draperies

Drapes create a warm and inviting feel and offer both quality and stylish décor that ties the style of each room and your entire home together. Draperies can be easily and conveniently interchanged to help match the continually changing style and look of your rooms. The ease of functionality for window drapes makes them a great addition to commonly used rooms, where their constant use can require regular cleaning that makes other mounted window treatment options an unnecessary hassle. Offering the utmost in security and privacy, window drapes draw closed to block out views from outside while protecting any room from uncomfortable sun glare. As a general rule, we tend to choose drapes for rooms that we want to soften the overall look, like bedrooms and dining rooms.

Pleated Shades

Pleated Shades
Pleated shades offer a unique look and are affordable window covering options. The folded accordion pleats add dimension to living spaces. One of the biggest advantages to this type of window covering is how it stacks completely flat when raised to allow a full, open outdoor view. Pleated shades come in sheer, light-filtering and room-darkening fabrics to meet your specific light control preferences. These are great for any room in your home!

Child Safety

Child Safe

Do you have little ones at home? As toddlers grow, so does their curiosity of the world around them. If overlooked, basic household items – including window treatments – can turn into potential hazards. Making window treatments safer for homes with infants, toddlers, children and pets is one of Budget Blinds’ top priorities. That’s why we offer a variety of child safe window treatments to reduce the risk of accidents. Cordless child safe blinds and cordless shades with retractable lift offer added safety for children while making window operation a breeze. Motorized shades are excellent child-friendly window treatments because of their cordless operation and ability to be programmed to open and close at your preferred time of day. Shutters can also be used in kids’ rooms and playrooms to ensure optimal privacy and child safety due to their cordless nature.

We hope these window treatment tips were helpful! Whether you are looking for moisture resistant, light filtering, motorization or child safety, Budget Blinds has you covered!

 

7 TIPS FOR A SAFER HOME

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The Window Covering Manufacturers Association announces historic new window covering safety standard, strengthening window covering safety:

“Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) announced today the approval of a new window covering safety standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) that will require a vast majority of window covering products sold in the United States and Canada to be cordless or have inaccessible or short cords.  The new safety standard, ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018, strengthens window-covering safety by requiring that all stock products sold in stores and online—which account for more than 80 percent of all window covering products sold in the U.S. and Canada—to be cordless or have inaccessible cords.

There are two unwritten rules in the parent-child relationship: Children will play with and around things they are not supposed to, and parents must do their best to keep their children from getting into danger.

As a help to parents, Budget Blinds encourages parents to look for hidden hazards around window areas, particularly the window cords.

While nothing can replace the careful watch of a loving parent or caregiver, we encourage parents of infants and toddlers to opt for cordless or motorized treatments to eliminate the hazards posed by dangling window cords.

Corded window treatments can pose entanglement and strangulation hazard to small children and pets. The Consumer Products Safety Commission has received reports of nearly 200 strangulation deaths involving window covering cords and chains from 1991-2000. Nearly 10 percent of these deaths involved the inner cords, which run through horizontal blinds.

Budget Blinds encourages new parents to replace window treatments featuring looped cords or treatments manufactured before 2001 with cordless or motorized options to minimize strangulation hazards.

Window treatments manufactured after 2001 have updated safety features like breakaway tassels and inner cord stops.

 

Budget Blinds offers these seven tips to families with young children:

  1. Keep all cords out of reach from small children and pets.
  2. If your window treatments were purchased before 2001, or you don’t know when they were purchased, it’s a good idea to replace them with updated treatments with enhanced safety features, such as: breakaway tassels, inner-cord stops, retractable pull cords, cordless operation and motorization.
  3. If you move to a new home, ask when the window treatments were purchased and look for safety features like breakaway tassels, cord cleats and cordless operation.
  4. Secure all pull cords out of reach by using a permanent cord cleat.
  5. Retrofit kits are available to enhance the safety of looped pull cord window treatments.
  6. Place cribs and other low-standing furniture (beds, bookshelves, toy boxes, chairs, etc.) away from windows to prevent young ones from accidentally tumbling from windows.
  7. Install window guards. Don’t rely on screens designed to keep bugs out to keep children and pets in.

I offer consumers convenient, free in-home consultations, so busy parents-to-be need not shop from store to store to find the right cordless or motorized window treatments. 

Parents don’t have to sacrifice style for safety! We have a variety of options for families to consider.

Thank you,

Pamela Brown

 

 

 

SAFE AT HOME

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“There are many items in our homes that can become a hazard to children or pets, including window coverings. As a parent, I understand your concerns and have made window coverings safety a top priority. It is our duty and honor to provide our customers with safety-conscious products that meet today’s standards. We remain current on the latest safety products and features so that we can bring those innovations to you. From cordless products that protect children from potentially harmful dangling cords to security-grade window film that protects your home during destructive weather, Budget Blinds is your source for window coverings that keep you and your family Safe At Home.”

Cordless Operation
The safest window coverings for children are cordless products. They eliminate the use of potentially hazardous dangling cords.

Cordless Lift System
This innovative feature allows you to raise and lower window coverings easily with one hand. Eliminating the need for lift cords provides added safety and a cleaner look.

Motorization
Using a battery-operated remote control, you can raise, lower, tilt or open and close your window coverings at the touch of a button. No hard wiring required.

Spring-assist Clutch
Raise and lower window shades without the use of common cords with this built-in function.

Sliding Track System
Perfect for vertical products with side-to-side openings and sliding glass doors, sliding track systems operate without the use of dangling cords or chains.

Shutters
Shutters are a cord-free product, making it a great option for homes with small children.
Cord Control
You can live safely with window cords. Be sure to add these cord control features to all products with cords.

Break-away Tassels and Cord Stops
Designed to break apart under minimal pressure, these special tassels and cord stops can be a lifesaver should a child or pet become entangled in the cord.

Continuous Cord Loop System
Dangling cords are kept taut and under control to help prevent a child from becoming entangled.

Window coverings not only enhance the look of your windows and provide privacy, they also enhance your life.

  • 24/7 light control and sound absorption to facilitate napping and sleep
  • Cut glare to make rooms more livable
  • UV-blocking products keep harsh rays at bay
  • Window coverings keep your home energy efficient by providing a layer of insulation

Call or email me today to schedule your free consultation, mention this blog and receive a FREE CORDLESS UPGRADE!

-Pamela Brown

 

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