The Finishing Touch

7 Ways to Better Insulate Your Windows this Summer

Is the sweat from your brow making it hard to see your computer screen? With the sweltering heat here in Texas already hitting 102 (and it’s only June 10!), home insulation as a method for heat reduction is necessary in most homes across the nation. Here are a few quick ideas (and several of them seriously cheap) for better insulating your windows:

1. Time to use that bubble wrap?! Put old bubble wrap to good use and save some money in the long run. In just about 15 seconds per each window, you can reduce the heat in your house significantly. The only drawback is that it isn't the snazziest look - and as it will cause distortion, don’t use this method for any window you need to see clearly through. Check out Build It Solar to find out how to do this simple, cheap insulation improvement.
2. Weatherstrip your windows. Weatherstripping can be used to seal air leaks throughout your home. Many easy-to-get materials can be used for weatherstripping, including felt, foam, vinyl and metal. You should choose a type of material that will hold up well with friction, weather and temperature changes. For more details, you can go to the U.S. Department of Energy’s article on weatherstripping.
3. Decorate with cell shades. This window option isn't just pretty, it is practical. The term "cell" describes each visible side pocket on a honeycomb shade. The more cells there are, the more energy efficient the shade is. Also, the larger the cell size, the better the insulation since the cells "trap" air in the pockets, which helps prevent extreme temperature changes in your home. You can go here to peruse and buy insulating cell shades and cool off your home fast.
4. Increase your insulation with shutters. Shutters are also very good insulators because they are the thickest, tightest fitting window coverings. They successfully prevent the transmission of air between the window covering and the glass of the window, which reduces energy costs. To shop for the best fit for your home, you can shop insulating shutters here.
5. Apply high-reflectivity window film. These films help decrease heat gain during the summer – meaning your house stays cooler. They can be applied yourself or by a professional.
6. Make a draft snake. Feeling crafty? This is a perfect project for someone who wants to save a few dollars and use a bit of their creative energy at the same time. Here's a simple draft snake how to, but I challenge you to come up with a fun, unique design (and make sure to let me know if you do!).
7. Get energy efficient windows. Are all these options just not getting the result that you want? It may be time to upgrade your windows themselves. In order to select an energy-efficient window for your home, you need to understand the components of your window as well as energy performance ratings and what they mean. 

Have you tried any of these insulation projects? Or any of your own that you'd like to share? Please comment here or send your ideas in to Esther (at) blinds.com.

Home Insulation – How Window Treatments Keep Your Home Warm in the Winter

If you think all you need is a Snuggie to keep you warm in the Winter, you are sorely mistaken. Window treatments are an critical part of home insulation. Home insulation is a topic on everybody’s minds these days, but most people don’t really understand their options. There are plenty of super expensive ways to help keep the heat inside your home (aluminum siding, attic insulation), and you should most likely do those things too, especially if you live in colder climates. But window treatments, believe it or not, do a great job of insulating your home. Certain blinds and shades trap expensive heat in, just as they block solar heat in the summer. Plus, there are some new, exciting, and innovative products on the horizon that you’ll want to know about for even better insulation!

First, take stock of what you already have. A good rule of thumb is that shades, which are made from a single piece of material that can’t tilt open and closed, are better insulators because heating and cooling can’t escape through the slats.

There are a few shades that I highly recommend for home insulation:

1. Blinds.com ComforTrack 3/8” Double Cell Blackout Shade: The ComforTrack products at Blinds.com are approved for federal tax credit, meaning that because they are so energy efficient and help reduce energy spending so much, the government is actually going to give you a refund for putting them in your home. They are Energy Star approved. The system consists of side tracks that attach to your window frame with magnets. They have specially fitted end caps which, along with the notched sides of the shade, minimize energy loss. They are available in Light Filtering too, but the Blackout version will provide total light blockage and privacy when you need it.
2. Blinds.com One Day ¾” Single Cell Blackout Shade: This shade will not only be made for you in record time (one day! seriously.) but the cells are lined with mylar. Mylar is a strong but thin polyester that lines the wall of each cell, creating a real and noticeable barrier between you and the frosty outdoor air. If you’ve ever stood by a window that has no covering on a cold day, you know that air can and will seep in through little cracks. This shade will prevent that from happening.
3. Bali DiamondCell 3/8” Midnight Double Cell Blackout Shade: Another great insulating honeycomb shade from one of my fave brands, Bali. This shade comes in more colors than you can imagine.

6 Ways to Decorate Your Patio or Backyard for Summer

Are you dreaming of sunning by the pool, margarita in-hand? Ready or not, Summer is here! Birds have headed home, gas prices are steadily climbing, and warm weather wardrobes are just waiting to explode from closets everywhere. There’s no better time than right now to decorate your porch, patio, or backyard. Maybe you’re feeling inclined to opt for a stay-cation this summer. If so, turn your backyard into a relaxing sanctuary for you and your family. Toss out your old white plastic patio furniture, and make your backyard a place you can be proud of. Then, invite your friends, family, and neighbors over for a little Summer vacation barbeque. Bring on the hot dogs… Hebrew National, of course!

Give Your Mom the Gift of Beautiful Windows For Mother’s Day

When you head over to your parents’ house for a home-cooked meal, do you notice that the old blinds in your childhood home are starting to look a little, er, yellow? Has your wife been hinting that it’s time to replace the old, saggy blinds that came with the house? If you love your mother or wife, treat her to a gift that keeps on giving for the same price as a bouquet of flowers. Maybe less.

Mom deserves the best, so this year, instead of that grocery store cake and dozen roses, Give her a unique, unusual gift, one that she won’t expect. Giving her new window treatments will make you a hero in her eyes, and who doesn’t want to be the hero? When she’s bragging to her friends – who, by the way, received vacuum cleaners this year – that her husband or son bought her new blinds… trust me, Hero-Status reached.

Check out the Blinds.com Mother's Day Guide for blinds and shades that are sure to make mom smile. Plus, hear what real families had to say, and check out pictures of real homes:

The Right Way to Use a Drapery Valance

Valances are a wonderful way to dress up a window without a full-on fabric overload. They’re great in so many situations. If you have small windows, a simple accent, like a valance, is a great way to keep your windows feeling open but not bare. If you have a lot of windows side by side and touching, you can install one long valance over the top of all of them. Savvy Blinds.com customer Katie B. shared her bathroom décor with me a few days ago. Check out her great use of a grommet valance.