Make a Statement with your Windows Windows are a great focal point in a room and your window treatments can be both functional and stylish. Today, you have many options for window treatments in your home. Window treatments are a great way to add color and style to your room while adding privacy and energy efficiency. With a wide variety of options available today, you can get the features you need without sacrificing style or design. Consider the following when choosing your window treatments. Set a Budget – Basic blinds in today’s market cost around $100-$200 per window. It’s important to be realistic about what you can afford. But keep in mind, window treatments are an investment and add value to your home. They are not something that gets changed frequently, so you can justify spending a little more when you spread the cost over the number of years you will use them. Consider spending more on some windows and scaling back on some others. The price is also Kevin’s Plumbing Service, LLC dependent on size, so expect larger windows to cost more. Do the rooms you use most first, such as the bedrooms and family room, but don’t forget about the others. Style – With the wide array of window fashions available, it is easy to find one that suits your style. Color, texture, form, and pattern are available to suit every room and décor. From the more traditional roman shades to modern sliding panels, you can fit your window fashions to your style. Light – Light is one of the main things you need to consider when selecting your window treatments. Light alters moods, affects colors and changes the feeling of a room. Do you need to block or filter light? Rooms like bedrooms and dens may need to block light with darkening shades or blackout lining. Window treatments can also help dispense light throughout the room. UV light can damage some room furnishings and décor. Window treatments offer protection from these harmful rays. Privacy- How important is privacy to you in each space? Are your neighbors nearby? Bedrooms and bathrooms many need treatments that do more than diffuse the light but block the view from the outside. Cleaning and Durability – High traffic areas New Construction • Home and Cabins • Remodel and Repairs Box 1062, Yankton, SD 57078 • 605-668-0177 89476 557th Ave., Fordyce, NE 68735 • 402-357-3302 In Business Since 1994 Kevin Zavadil – Cell 605-661-2894 10 • TODAY’S HOME - Spring 2017 or blinds that get used a lot may need to be more durable. Shutters for example are functional, attractive, and very durable. Fabric shades may fade and gather dust and natural wood blinds can warp over time. Alternative wood blinds are realistic looking and won’t fade, yellow, or warp. Energy Efficiency – Operating Systems– Windows play a big role in retaining heat or cooling your home. A single pane of glass can lose almost 10 times as much heat as the same area of insulated wall. Window treatments are an effective and beautiful way to help conserve energy. One of the best types is honeycomb shades which trap hot or cold air in a room, cutting down on loss through the windows. Window treatments can also diffuse and dispense light farther into the room cutting back on the need for electrical lighting. Today, there are various operating systems available. Depending on the type of treatment and how the blind is going to be used, you may have a few options for the operating system. Operating systems are not just for raising and lowering the shades, but also to adjust slats, vanes and louvers. Cordless and retractable cord systems eliminate the long cord and have a cleaner look. One thing to remember with cordless, is that you have to be able to easily reach the top to operate the shade. Motorized and power options are a great way to customize your blinds. Treatments that are out of reach can be easily operated with power. Also, today the power systems can be programed to open and close at specified times and adjust to your preference. Child Safety – If you have children, it is important to think about child safety. Children can get tangled in the long cord of some blinds so it may be