More than decoration there is much to gain from the window shades that can assist with energy savings in the home. With window coverings often being updated every seven or eight years for decor, there is the ability to purchase custom shades that help with the heat and cooling protection capabilities of your windows.
Different Window Coverings
Shades and draperies are able to keep the sun out in the summer when it tends to keep the house hot enough to increase cooling expense. With darker, longer window coverings there is the ability to add shade to the room in order to keep it cooler and reduce summer heat addition by over 30%, while also reducing heat loss in the winter by approximately 10%. Some of these may be blackout blinds, while others may just be the roller shades or other coverings that you are able to manage on your own.
Custom Shades
With the ability to customize shades for the comfort of a room, there is much to see in what it can do for the decor as well as the temperature. Some shades and draperies can be automized, set to roll up and down at certain times of day to let the sun in and keep it out as needed. Sometimes there are valances that can help with this, while they are usually the decorative covering that adds to the top of the window. Often, with the custom covering that can be created and installed, there is a valance that works as the front area of the roller shade or drapery and adds decor to their functionality.
Smart Blinds or Window Covers
With automated window coverings becoming more common, there is much to expect in what has been seen in recent years in new construction. With about two percent of new homes being built with smart blinds already included, there is much to consider for the market to add these options for sale to existing homeowners. While they may not necessarily be automated to roll up and down on their own, some smart blinds and draperies are also able to be set up with remotes so that they can be managed easily on one control throughout the entire house. Sometimes that remote is even an audio control like Alexa, Echo, or another voice-controlled machine.
With much to gain from the beauty of the window coverings throughout the home, there is also a great deal to be added from the functionality they can provide. With the ability of these window coverings to save over $400 each year, there is a great potential for what they will be able to do over time with the advancement of their technology. Along with savings, these incredible custom shades add to the value of a home if you are looking to resell. This makes these window coverings an incredible investment in many ways.