Tag Archives: shades for kids rooms

BAMBOO WINDOW SHADES

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bamboo shades Environmentalists Love Bamboo Window Shades in Quality Furnishing Preparation

By Judith Persit

Bring a spot of nature into your interior with bamboo shades. Not only are they wholly ecological, and very reasonably priced, they do no damage to the natural environment because bamboo trees grow very rapidly. An average tree will grow four feet in just 30 days. An average bamboo shade will run you anywhere between $30 and $50 per window.

Bamboo is really a traditional Japanese window covering. The trees are grown in low-emission factories. The wood is also eco-friendly and no chemicals are added to it. The window shades are made from very delicate shafts of bamboo that are first woven together, after being cleaned of their joints and outer skin, to produce a smooth surface. The term, “bamboo shades” in the United States these days concerns any window shade made from lightweight material like bamboo, reed, rattan, jute, faux wood and woven woods. Any of these options are far less pricey than other types of window shades, and they don’t truly need much care. A quick dusting or a particular vacuuming will clean them nicely.

There are a few limitations. Bamboo shades sometimes may not last as long as some others, they can’t be used to darken a room unless they are lined, and they usually have draw cords for moving them up and down. Because of the cords, they could be perilous for children, and would not be advisable to use in a child’s room. But in any other room they are likely to be wonderful.

As for the features of bamboo shades, they offer privacy, insulate from the weather, protect from clatter, and help with saving energy. Also, bamboo shades can simply be made to cover up those hard-to-fit windows that are very wide or fantastically tall. If you want total privacy with a bamboo shade, you must line it. Experts say when the shade is lined the ecological loveliness of the bamboo is shown. And the lining offers much healthier light control than the unlined window shades. In hot climates, bamboo shades present security from the sun as well as shelter from rain and wind during bad weather. They can also offer a cutback of mildew and mold on the protected area. A bamboo shade is one of the most common types of all outdoor window treatments around the world because it is easy to care for, looks good, and is extremely versatile.

Bamboo shades are available in many distinctive styles and colors, but some who want their decor to have an environmentally friendly look, desire to procure the raw, natural bamboo. As far as style, there are window shades with tiny bamboo pieces that are woven together, called “matchstick style” or there are window shades with broad, flat sticks of bamboo. There are bamboo roll-up window shades, which do just that; roll up the window, kind of like a sleeping bag. A draw cord is used with these window shades, which can be a chain or even a motorized control. Another option without the cord or chain would be bamboo roman shades, which offer a pleated look when they are rolled up. This style is the healthier choice if you want the shade to have a lining, since it will not show when the window shades are raised.

You can use bamboo shades outdoors, to give an inside look to your veranda or deck. The window shades will also filter the bright outdoor sun. And they weigh so insignificant they can simply hang from any outdoor hook or structure without damaging anything.

If you like to decorate your home or apartment with a clean expression, bamboo shades may be a welcome addition. If you already have rudiments of the outdoors within your design style, ecologically friendly bamboo shades could be pretty teamed up with natural fiber throw rugs and possibly one of the wide selections of bamboo flooring choices that have recently become so accepted.

Judith Persit reviewed bamboo shades for her interior design books, and reports about bamboo shades. Learn more about window shades at her various websites.


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ROLLER SHADES

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roller window shades

Easy, Inexpensive Window Treatments Using Roller Shades

By Judith Persit

When you are decorating a room, the window treatments can often break your budget. Panels can easily run over one hundred dollars from the popular decorating stores. For an inexpensive window treatment, try using roller shades.

Roller shades are very inexpensive and easily installed. If you just choose the inexpensive plastic window shades, they are not going to do much to complement your new decor. Why not get creative with those roller shades and make your own custom window treatments.

You should be able to find roller shades that fit your window for less than ten dollars. If you have an existing window shade, you can save even more money.

You will also need to choose a fabric for the roller shade. Once again, if you have something that will work in the room great, otherwise, you will need to purchase fabric that coordinates with your new room. Look for discontinued fabrics or even the end of a bolt of fabric that will match your room to save even more money. The fabric should not be sheer nor should it be plush.

With thicker fabrics, you are going to remove the plastic from the shade and replace it with fabric that has been stiffened to stay in place. Before removing the plastic, be sure that you note the direction it is rolled onto the roller shade. This will allow the spring to work and allow you to raise and lower the shade.

With thinner fabrics, you will simply use spray adhesive to adhere the fabric to the plastic of the shade.

In order to replace the plastic with fabric, use the plastic that has been removed from the shade as a pattern. Add a couple of inches to the width and about three inches to the length. Then you will need to make the fabric stiffer using the fusible interfacing. You will find fusible interfacing at most fabric or craft stores.

This interfacing is attached to the back of the fabric using an iron. Use seam sealant along the final trim lines to prevent the interfacing and fabric from separating. Trim the sides to the size of the plastic shade using long scissor strokes to prevent the sides from looking chopped. At the bottom of the shade fold one-half to three quarters of an inch to serve as a hem and secure using no-sew tape.

With thinner material, you can simply attach the material to the plastic shade. You will need to find material that is slightly narrower than the plastic portion of the shade so that you have finished edges. Spray the material lightly with the spray adhesive, being careful that you do not saturate the fabric. The material is then laid smoothly onto the unwound shade and the wrinkles are removed. Be sure that you attach the material on the side that will face the room. Use double stick tape if you want to add trim to the shade.

If you are having difficulty with the shade opening and closing, take it down and roll the shade tightly. Secure it with several rubber bands. If three or four days, remove the rubber bands and put the shade back in the window. It should work with no problems now.

Some readers want to find out more about roller shades, and may visit Judith Persit’s site to choose the best window shades for their needs and save money at the same time. Visitors will be pleased to see special limited time offers.

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