FAQs

You can use just about any window treatment in a bathroom if it's not directly covering the shower area. Vinyl shutters, mini blinds, faux wood blinds, cellular shades, and roller shades are some of the most popular options that offer moisture resistance, some full waterproof, and essential features such as privacy, light control, durability, and style.

Window treatments like blinds and shades are the simplest and quickest way to add privacy to your bathroom windows. Some of our most popular choices are vinyl plantation shutters or faux wood blinds mounted over the window or vinyl roller shades fitted into the window frame itself with sheer shade to add more depth and dimension to large windows.

Household objects in front of the window can block the view or create a covering using window film or glass paint. For a more permanent option, planting trees for privacy offer a subtle and well-placed screen without blocking views and restricting light from your window, or hang blinds and shades, or install plantation shutters. Whatever your options are, your home will look fantastic once you add your personal touch!

Easy-care washable curtains that are light and sheer are perfect for any bathroom. We recommend starting with a bright or patterned polished cotton to coordinate with your shower curtain, or sheer curtains are great gathered behind plantation shutters.

Tinting your bathroom windows will maintain natural lighting while offering privacy. Solar tinting can reject the heat but still give you the option of enjoying the sun.

When choosing window coverings for your bathroom, privacy and durability are essential, but you also want style. Faux wood blinds and shutters are suitable for privacy, style, and compatibility with moisture and humidity. Other popular bathroom window treatment options that stand up to the humidity and moisture while offering privacy and style include vinyl roller shades or aluminum and vinyl blinds.

Cellular shades are one of the most energy-efficient window treatments and blackout shades available. The honeycomb construction of the shade creates pockets of air within the shades. These pockets of air add extra insulation for your windows, keeping the sun out in the summer and keeping warm air inside your home in the winter. Many brands even come with the option of adding extra cells for better temperature control. There are cordless options available as well as top-down, bottom-up designs available.

It’s important to differentiate between “room darkening” treatments and true blackout solutions. Most window coverings are simply room darkening, meaning that they block some or most of the light coming in from outside, but not all of it. Different types of window treatment will darken the room differently. It’s important to select treatments that provide the level of light control that you want in your home. Some styles of window treatment, including cellular shades and traditional curtains, are available in lined and unlined options. Lined treatments create a darker space and include an extra layer of fabric that is used specifically to block light. Unlined treatments will allow more light to filter in, even when they’re closed.

Cleaning blackout shades is usually the same as cleaning any other type of fabric window treatment. A handheld vacuum attachment with a brush end is best. Gently sweep across the fabric surface of the shades with the brush attachment while supporting the shades from behind with your hand. Don’t vacuum without the brush attachment, as strong suction may crumple or deform the fabric of your shades. If you find heavier dirt or stains on the blackout shades, the fabric can be wiped gently with a soft cloth and warm water with a little mild soap or detergent. Don’t overdo the soap! A little goes a long way and you don’t want to end up with sudsy shades.

Blackout shades can help keep unwanted heat out of your home in the summer and help your home retain its heat in the winter. Blackout shades block light and sun heat in the summer months which can reduce your energy costs for home cooling. Your home’s energy consumption can be reduced by as much as 25 percent! Cellular shades in particular are great for energy efficiency. The fabric of the shade blocks the sun and the pockets of air created by the honeycomb construction create additional insulation by trapping hot (or cold) air. Blackout shades also protect your floors, walls, and furniture from sun damage.

Often referred to as “soft” treatments, shades are any window treatments made from a roll of fabric instead of slats or vanes. The best blackout shades are fabric window treatments available in lined options. The three most popular blackout shades are cellular shades, roller shades, and Roman shades. Each type of shade has several design options available so that there is a style for every interior. Many styles are available in dozens—or hundreds!—of colors and patterns. If you prefer a hard window treatment instead of soft shades, you might like horizontal blinds or shutters instead.

The process to measure and install blackout shades is a little different than other window coverings. You will probably want to use two layered window treatments, such as cellular shades combined with blackout curtains. The first treatment should go inside the window frame. Measurements should be precise to ensure that the window shade fully fills the window frame, blocking out as much light as possible. This is true for any type of shade, blind, or shutter that you might use as the first treatment. The second window treatment, blackout curtains, should be measured to extend about 4 to 6 inches beyond the window (both top, bottom, and both sides) to fully block out any light halo that escapes around the first treatment. You can even extend the curtains to reach floor-to-ceiling for an elegant look that adds height to the room.

Because a true blackout solution involves two layered window treatments, the cost of blackout shades depends on the two treatments used. There is a wide range of pricing options, meaning blackout shades are an option for every budget. Combining custom real wood shutters with luxurious floor-to-ceiling blackout curtains in an artisan fabric will be on the higher end cost-wise. Combining economy aluminum blinds with simple window-sized curtains creates a very economical option. Layering cellular shades or roller shades with blackout curtains is a good mid-range option that still allows for a polished look to compliment any décor.

Blackout shades refer to a category of window coverings that are used to achieve darkness in your home at any hour of the day. To achieve a true blackout, it is usually necessary to combine two types of window coverings: first, a covering that fits inside the window frame and blocks most of the light coming through the glass. This could be cellular shades, traditional blinds, roller shades, or shutters. Second, add blackout drapes that cover all edges of the window to block out any light that is coming in around the edges of the first treatment or between the slats/louvers of blinds or shutters.

If you’re looking to completely darken your room but maintain elegance in your decor, using motorized curtains with drapery tracks is a good option. Newer drapery tracks can curve around your curtains for an optimally dark room. And you have many options when it comes motorizing these treatments or setting up a manual pull system.

There are several factors to consider when looking at the price of motorized blinds. The first is window treatment styles – many blinds, from vertical blinds and horizontal blinds, including the classic Venetian blinds, can be motorized. The material's price — from aluminum to composites to genuine wood — will impact the overall project's cost. The second factor is motorization technology. Because of the broad range of options available, it's challenging to provide a precise cost estimate as prices can range between $129 - $300 per window.

There are several great power options for motorized blinds. The most common power options are hard-wired, battery or solar operated. Hard-wired power can come in two forms: either having an electrician run wires through the walls to connect each window covering to your home’s primary electrical system, or simply running the power cord from the window blinds window coverings to the nearest outlet. Battery power is available in three forms: built-in rechargeable batteries, external non-rechargeable, or external rechargeable batteries. The last option is to operate the blinds using solar power, which is suitable for windows that get six or more direct sunlight hours per day. Most solar-powered shades have enough power to open and close once daily.

Motorized window treatments controlling natural light and privacy in your home at the touch of a button are an excellent convenience. Although the benefits of motorized blinds are innumerable, here are a few of our favorites: - Motorization decreases the wear on your blinds—no uneven pulling or hurried tugging on the lift mechanisms when you’re in a hurry or your hands are full. - It allows you to lower your shades with ease via the push of a button, remote control, or even a programmed schedule, so you don’t have to do anything at all. - Motorized blinds can be connected to the smartphone and smart home automation technology that you already use in your daily life.

Motorized window blind batteries last you up to an entire year. The type of battery, how fresh the batteries are, how often the blinds are opened/closed, and the size and the weight of the blinds all will be part of the contributing factors. Most rechargeable batteries will wear down over time, and the older batteries may need to be recharged more often than when they are starting brand new.

Let's talk about power supply! Motorized window shade batteries last anywhere from six months to an entire year. Your individual experience will depend on a number of factors: the type of battery, how new the batteries are, how often you open and close the shades, and the size of the window treatment. Because most rechargeable batteries wear down some over time, older batteries may need to be recharged more often than when they’re brand new.

You can make your home work for you using motorized window treatments, controlling natural light and privacy in your home at the touch of a button. Although the benefits of motorized window treatments are innumerable, here are a few of our favorites: Motorization decreases the wear on your blinds—no uneven pulling or hurried tugging on the lift mechanisms when you’re in a hurry or your hands are full. It allows you to lower your shades with ease, via the push of a button, remote control, or even a programmed schedule, so you don’t have to do anything at all. Motorized window coverings can be connected to the smartphone and smart home technology that you already use in your daily life.

There are several great power options for motorized blinds and shades. The most common power options are hard-wired, battery, or solar. Hard-wired power can come in two forms: either having an electrician run wires through the walls to connect each window covering to your home’s main electrical system, or simply running the power cord from the window coverings to the nearest outlet. Battery power is available in three forms: built-in rechargeable batteries, external non-rechargeable, or external rechargeable batteries. The last option is solar power, which is suitable for windows that get 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. Most solar-powered shades have enough power to open and close once daily.

There are two types of hard-wired motorized shades: running wires through the walls of your home, or running a power cord from the window covering to the nearest outlet. Running wires through the walls of your home to connect to your home’s main electrical system is best done at the time your home is built or during a substantial renovation, although it is possible in some cases to wire motorized shades as a stand-alone project. This is a project for a qualified electrician and probably not a good idea to try yourself. The second option is running a power cord from the window covering to the nearest outlet. This option may not look as neat, since there will be power cords running from each motorized shade to a nearby outlet; however, it can be done yourself since no wiring is required.

There are several factors to consider when looking at the price of motorized shades. The first is window treatment styles – many types of blinds, shades, and even shutters can be motorized. The price of the window treatments themselves will impact the cost of the overall project. The second factor is the motorization technology. 3 Blind Mice is your motorization specialist for QMotion, Somfy, Lutron, Graber, and Mechoshade motorized blinds and shades. Considering the broad range of options available, it’s difficult to provide a precise cost estimate as prices can range between $129 - $300 per window. If you’d like to explore exact pricing for your project, schedule a safe and convenient Free Virtual Consultation with one of our Window Covering Experts. The average home in America has 17 windows. If you raised and lowered those shades each day, it would take you one full 24 hour day each year. How much is your most valuable asset, your time, worth to you?

Yes, you can hang roman shades over blinds. Due to how blinds and roman shades are mounted, when you consider pairing them, one will need to mount inside the window frame, and the others are mounted outside the window frame. Due to the soft aesthetic of roman shades, they are more commonly paired with drapes or curtains.

There are free kits available to help prevent the danger of sagging or looping cords, but the best solution for child safety is to use cordless window coverings.

The best way to ensure you have child safe window treatments is to go cordless.

To keep your wood blinds clean, regularly dust or vacuum them. For deeper cleaning, wipe with a damp cloth. Stained finishes can be treated with lemon oil.

Vertical blinds are best cleaned when hanging. The easiest way to keep your vertical blinds clean is to vacuum them with a brush attachment during your regular cleaning routine. For fabric and vinyl blinds, you can use a dry sponge to remove any spots that the vacuum was unable to remove.

Faux wood blinds are a great choice when you want the look of real wood blinds, but may have less than favorable conditions for wood. They are resistant to extreme temperatures as well as moisture and humidity and they are budget friendly.

Vertical blinds are a very versatile choice as it is easy to control light and privacy and they come in a variety of materials and options. They are easy to care for and have a cord free wand which is safe for homes with children.

This becomes a questions of functionality over fashion. Both curtains and blinds are effective in keeping energy costs down. For example, a sheer curtain will not be super effective against blocking the sun but a canvas blind will completely block the sun will also insulating your home in the cold months.

Sheer shades are a product the combines the functionality and aesthetics of blinds and shades. They consist of horizontal slats placed between layers of sheer fabric. These slats can be opened and closed just like slats on regular blinds. There are also room darkening options.

All fabrics used for window treatment are to be dusted frequently with a feather duster. If cleaning is necessary plan is use a reputable experienced drapery cleaner. These types of fabrics are not washable.

To keep your wood blinds clean, regularly dust or vacuum them. For deeper cleaning, wipe with a damp cloth. Stained finishes can be treated with lemon oil.

Vertical blinds are best cleaned when hanging. The easiest way to keep your vertical blinds clean is to vacuum them with a brush attachment during your regular cleaning routine. For fabric and vinyl blinds, you can use a dry sponge to remove any spots that the vacuum was unable to remove.

Take your blinds outside and rest them on a carpet, towel or blanket. Use a soft brush and a bucket of water with a few drops of dish detergent and gently scrub from side to side. Make sure to wash both sides of your blinds. When done, rinse gently with a garden hose and hang to dry.

You should dust or vacuum your blinds with your regular household cleaning routine. You can deep clean your blinds once or twice per year.

Gentle Cleanings. A light dusting or vacuuming will do the trick to keep light in or out.

The best option in window coverings in homes with smal children are cordless options. Cellular shades, roller shades and roman shades are all cordless options. Some roman shades have cords on the back of the shades, so be aware of this.

There are free kits available to help prevent the danger of sagging or looping cords, but the best solution for child safety is to use cordless window coverings.

The best way to ensure you have child safe window treatments is to go cordless.

There are many options available for sliding glass or patio doors. You will usually want to select a treatment that opens in the same direction as your doors, and you will also want to make sure the treatment complements the other window coverings in the room and that it is durable because of the daily use. Some good options include vertical blinds, sliding door track panels and vertical cellular shades.

If you look at french doors as another type of window, it makes selecting a treatment easier. Many treatments will work on french doors, allowing function and design. Some options include cellular shades, roman shades, roller shades, sheer curtains and all types of blinds.

Sheer curtains offer privacy during the day while it is brighter outside than inside, but they do not provide privacy at night. If your space requires evening privacy, layer your window treatments, or attach high-quality plastic or blackout material to your sheer curtains. Sheer curtains are available in a wide variety of colors, fabric types, and textures so they are likely to compliment your interior space no matter your aesthetic.

Layering two different window treatment styles can result in a very chic look. Sheer curtains layered with drapes are an appealing combination not only for the practicality of the pairing but for the balanced visual aesthetic. It is common to see a sheer curtain hung centered over the window, accompanied by solid or patterned drapes on either side. This pairing offers privacy during the day and evening without sacrificing natural daylight or the beauty of a visually balanced space.

Sheer curtains do block out some UV light while still allowing for natural light to filter into your space. When layering sheer curtains with drapes, the sheer curtain can protect your drape liner from UV damage. Although sheer curtains do not block UV light completely, they do offer some protection and can save your furniture and rugs from spotting or fading.

Blackout curtains allow you to control the brightness of your space and provide the ultimate privacy. But blackout curtains can also make space feel darker, smaller, and less inviting. By pairing sheer curtains and blackout drapes, you can transform your space during the day with natural light, and during the evening, you can enjoy privacy and complete control over the light pollution in your room. These two window treatments can be combined effortlessly with a double rod solution, with one rod close to the window for the sheer curtains and one rod on the exterior for the blackout curtains.

Drapes are typically a heavier weighted fabric and they are installed above the window frame and run the length of the wall to the floor. Curtains can vary in length, either running the full length of the window or installed from floor to ceiling. In addition, curtains are usually a lighter weight fabric and are often layered with another window treatment like cellular shades.

Depending on what you’re trying to achieve with your window treatment selection, sheer curtains can be an excellent choice. Sheer curtains have unique properties compared to other window treatments. When installed in a space, they can make the room feel bigger, airy, and comfortable. They can appear stately or casual and are affordable for many different budgets. Also, due to the transparent nature of the window treatment, sheer curtains carry their hue and shade into your interior space, transforming your space throughout the day as the sun rises and sets.

Yes, by all means hard window coverings (Blinds, Shades and Shutters) can be used with fabric treatments. Putting a valance over a shade/blind adds a finish look, warmth and a complete look to your room. Also, adding side panels to shades, blinds or even shutters adds warmth and color in addition to making a small window look larger.

If you’re looking to completely darken your room but maintain elegance in your decor, using motorized curtains with drapery tracks is a good option. Newer drapery tracks can curve around your curtains for an optimally dark room. And you have many options when it comes motorizing these treatments or setting up a manual pull system.

All fabrics used for window treatment are to be dusted frequently with a feather duster. If cleaning is necessary plan is use a reputable experienced drapery cleaner. These types of fabrics are not washable.

There are many considerations when selecting draperies. Price, exposure to elements such as smoke or steam, protecting floors, furnishings or artwork, the need for temperature, sound or light control, energy efficiency and allergens or healthy living concerns can all be factors in your choice. We only offer custom draperies. Our draperies are handmade and custom fit to your needs and desires. We can help you determine whether you are truly looking for custom draperies or off the shelf style draperies. Fabric, style and options greatly affect the pricing.

After you have selected and agreed to purchase custom window treatments they can take from 8-12 weeks to fabricate and be installed, depending on the availability of the fabric. Since the window treatments are custom 3BM requires full payment to begin the fabrication. We accept all major credit cards and checks.

Our designers will design the best style for your home and your budget. The designer will bring fabric samples to your home for you to hold and feel to ensure it's a match for your design goals.

It is possible to use your fabric, but not advised. When you purchased fabric from 3 BM we know the fabric content and suitability that will work best for your home.

Three Blind Mice offers a variety of different fabrics for any type style of drapery you choose for your home or office decor. We have a variety of custom fabrics, trims, and rods that can be incorporated into any type of design. Curtains or drapes can be used alone or in combination with the many other types of window treatments that we have available. We offer sheer curtains, blackout & darkening curtains and valances in addition to a wide variety of motorized options for each. Styles of curtains we offer include flat panel, tab top, grommet and rod pocket.

Choosing natural materials for you window coverings is a great way to make sure they are Eco-friendly. Wood and bamboo are both good natural options. Also, bamboo and woven window coverings break down faster in landfills after their life cycle is complete. Another option is to choose items made from recycled materials, such as aluminum blinds.

During cold months properly installed cellular shades can reduce as much as 64% or more windows heat loss which equates to about 16% heating energy savings!

Light filtering fabrics are designed to let some light in, making them perfect for rooms where you want to trim the heat and prevent UV damage. Blackout fabrics block 99% of the light and incoming heat to the room, making it more energy-efficient.

The sun's heat can warm your home uncomfortable, especially during summer. Instead of relying on a cooling system and fans, learn how to block sunlight-generated heat from windows, reduce your costly energy every month on your energy bill, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy your home. - Heat blocking window shades - Blockout roller or panel blinds - Hang drapery made room darkening fabrics - External window shading - Bubble wrap window insulation - Heat reducing window film - Combining multiple methods

Here are the top 6 things you can do to improve the efficiency of your existing windows: - Check existing windows for leaking air - Caulk and Weatherstrip your windows and doors - Add or replace with energy-efficient window coverings - Add storm panels or storm windows - Add solar control window film - Add exterior shadings, like awnings, overhangs, or exterior shutters

The "best" energy-efficient window covering will depend on the consideration of the existing windows, the design and arrangement of your home, and your family's needs. 3 Blind Mice Window Covering's designers can examine your space and provide the best energy-efficient recommendation: shades, blinds, drapery/curtains, shutters, or treatments! Here are some of our favorites solutions: Honeycomb shades aka Cellular shades, Roller shades with solar blackout fabrics, Blackout shades & curtains Smart Blinds aka Automated Shades, and Solar films.

After you have selected and agreed to purchase custom window treatments they can take from 2 -8 weeks to fabricate and be installed, depending on the availability of the fabric. Since the window treatments are custom 3BM requires full payment to begin the fabrication. We accept all major credit cards and checks.

3 Blind Mice not only has quality products at an affordable price, but we also provide professionally certified installers and an outstanding customer support team. Our commitment to our customers has been rewarded by winning the coveted Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for marketplace ethics multiple times and through our customers’ referrals and online reviews.

3 Blind Mice not only has quality products at an affordable price, but we also provide professionally certified installers and an outstanding customer support team.

Our designers will design the best style for your home and your budget. The designer will bring fabric samples to your home for you to hold and feel to ensure it's a match for your design goals.

Three Blind Mice offers a variety of different fabrics for any type style of drapery you choose for your home or office decor. We have a variety of custom fabrics, trims, and rods that can be incorporated into any type of design. Curtains or drapes can be used alone or in combination with the many other types of window treatments that we have available. We offer sheer curtains, blackout & darkening curtains and valances in addition to a wide variety of motorized options for each. Styles of curtains we offer include flat panel, tab top, grommet and rod pocket.

There are so many factors when choosing coverings, your choices can seem overwhelming. The biggest factor in your decision is knowing whether you need privacy, light, or a combination of both.

When choosing the right window treatment for your home, it's important to take all the elements into consideration. Wall color, type of window, how much light you want coming in, etc.

There are many good light-blocking shade options on the market. Both blackout cellular shades and blackout roller shades are great options for motorization. Cellular shades have a unique honeycomb structure which makes the air pockets an excellent insulator for both heat and sound. Blackout roller shades offer maximum light and heat control. They offer slightly less insulation than cellular shades but are an excellent choice for large areas that get a lot of sunlight.

Let's talk about power supply! Motorized window shade batteries last anywhere from six months to an entire year. Your individual experience will depend on a number of factors: the type of battery, how new the batteries are, how often you open and close the shades, and the size of the window treatment. Because most rechargeable batteries wear down some over time, older batteries may need to be recharged more often than when they’re brand new.

You can make your home work for you using motorized window treatments, controlling natural light and privacy in your home at the touch of a button. Although the benefits of motorized window treatments are innumerable, here are a few of our favorites: Motorization decreases the wear on your blinds—no uneven pulling or hurried tugging on the lift mechanisms when you’re in a hurry or your hands are full. It allows you to lower your shades with ease, via the push of a button, remote control, or even a programmed schedule, so you don’t have to do anything at all. Motorized window coverings can be connected to the smartphone and smart home technology that you already use in your daily life.

You can make your home work for you using motorized window treatments, controlling natural light and privacy in your home at the touch of a button. Although the benefits of motorized window treatments are innumerable, here are a few of our favorites: Motorization decreases the wear on your blinds—no uneven pulling or hurried tugging on the lift mechanisms when you’re in a hurry or your hands are full. It allows you to lower your shades with ease, via the push of a button, remote control, or even a programmed schedule, so you don’t have to do anything at all. Motorized window coverings can be connected to the smartphone and smart home technology that you already use in your daily life.

Battery-powered motorized blinds are a great option when wiring or solar options are not feasible. There are several options for using battery-operated motorized blinds. The first is built-in rechargeable batteries. This means that the battery pack is built into the window covering itself and is usually hidden out of sight. The battery charge can usually last anywhere from 6-12 months on a charge and take just a handful of hours to recharge fully. There are also external batteries, in both rechargeable and non-rechargeable options.

There are several great power options for motorized blinds and shades. The most common power options are hard-wired, battery, or solar. Hard-wired power can come in two forms: either having an electrician run wires through the walls to connect each window covering to your home’s main electrical system, or simply running the power cord from the window coverings to the nearest outlet. Battery power is available in three forms: built-in rechargeable batteries, external non-rechargeable, or external rechargeable batteries. The last option is solar power, which is suitable for windows that get 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. Most solar-powered shades have enough power to open and close once daily.

There are two types of hard-wired motorized shades: running wires through the walls of your home, or running a power cord from the window covering to the nearest outlet. Running wires through the walls of your home to connect to your home’s main electrical system is best done at the time your home is built or during a substantial renovation, although it is possible in some cases to wire motorized shades as a stand-alone project. This is a project for a qualified electrician and probably not a good idea to try yourself. The second option is running a power cord from the window covering to the nearest outlet. This option may not look as neat, since there will be power cords running from each motorized shade to a nearby outlet; however, it can be done yourself since no wiring is required.

There are several factors to consider when looking at the price of motorized shades. The first is window treatment styles – many types of blinds, shades, and even shutters can be motorized. The price of the window treatments themselves will impact the cost of the overall project. The second factor is the motorization technology. 3 Blind Mice is your motorization specialist for QMotion, Somfy, Lutron, Graber, and Mechoshade motorized blinds and shades. Considering the broad range of options available, it’s difficult to provide a precise cost estimate as prices can range between $129 - $300 per window. If you’d like to explore exact pricing for your project, schedule a safe and convenient Free Virtual Consultation with one of our Window Covering Experts. The average home in America has 17 windows. If you raised and lowered those shades each day, it would take you one full 24 hour day each year. How much is your most valuable asset, your time, worth to you?

Motorized solutions are all controlled by a remote. However, many are now controlled through apps which you can manage right from your smart phone or your smart home system.

Motorizing your indoor window coverings simplifies control over hard to reach coverings as well as managing glare and protecting your furnishing from potential sun damage.

There are several factors you will need to consider. Durability, compatibility, cost, noise, power source and remote control options are all important things to consider when making your choice.

Most window treatments can be motorized, but you will need to make sure your treatment and motor are compatible. Our experts can help you decide with motorized solution will work best for you.

Mounting shutters inside the window opening are recommended when windows have a decorative trim or molding surrounding the window. Inside mounts allow shutters to attach directly to the window frame with hinges or by adding a small wooden shutter frame.

Yes, plantation shutters can be configured for motorization and automation, giving you an easy hands-free louver operation. Our system comes with an exclusive override feature that allows for manual operation.

One of the disadvantages of faux wood is the material’s weight, which may cause mechanical failure from wear on the lift mechanism. Overall, faux wood shutters are functional, reasonably priced, and aesthetically pleasing alternative window treatments to real wood shutters.

Plantation shutters are a perfect addition to French doors—they look great and give you lots of options for controlling your light levels and in-home privacy. Depending on the width of your shutters and the design of your French doors, you may need a door handle cut out to accommodate lever-style door handles.

Yes! Plantation shutters are a safe and easy-to-use covering for sliding doors that can be customized to match the rest of your window coverings. Unlike with shutters for windows, which are usually mounted to the left or right side of the window, shutters for sliding glass doors are installed in a track above the doors that allow them to slide open like an accordion. This provides you with full access to open and close the sliding door without the shutters in the way.

The front door of your home can be a statement or a seamless part of your overall décor. No design rule says which is best. Real wood shutters can be a beautiful pairing with a matching wood front door, but a bright pop of color on the front door can provide an excellent contrast with neutral or white shutters.

Begin on the left-hand side of your bay window and measure the width of each section, noting the width of each individually as well as the total width of the window. For example, if you have a multi-angle bay window with 3 panels, your width might measure 24” for the left panel, 48” for the center panel, and 24” for the right panel—with a total width of 96”. For the height, measure from the sill of each window to the top of the window. Record each measurement to the nearest 1/8” and round down to the nearest 1/8” if you land on a 1/16”.

Yes! Shutters make a great window covering for bay windows, and it might be easier than you think. If you’ve struggled with attaching blinds to your angled bay window or are tired of covering it up with curtains, shutters can be the perfect solution. They can be custom-built to fit your bay window’s exact dimensions for a fit that looks great and gives you total control over light, visibility, and privacy in your bay window.

When you measure your arched windows for shutters, make sure to record your width and height measurements, recording to the nearest 1/8” (and rounding down to the nearest 1/8” if you land on a 1/16”). To measure the width, use a steel measuring tape to measure the widest point at the bottom of the arched window. To measure the height, measure from the very center of the bottom up to the arch’s tallest point. If your arched windows have legs (straight sides that end in a curved arch at the top), you’ll need to measure the height of the right and left legs in addition to the middle of the arch.

Unlike wood shutters, composite shutters can be installed in high-humidity rooms like bathrooms and kitchens without fear of warping. They are available in a wide array of colors to match any décor and can be anywhere from 30-60% cheaper than real wood shutters, making them the more affordable option.

Anywhere from 10 to 25 years is a typical lifespan for interior vinyl shutters. During these decades, homeowners benefit from the minimal care required: just a light dusting now and then is usually enough to keep your shutters in good condition! Composite shutters are UV resistant, so they hold up to direct sunlight for a long time. Plus, they’re not harmed by steam or humidity.

Composite or faux wood shutters are more affordable than 100% wood shutters. The price varies based on the materials and the size of your windows and can cost between $75 and $250 per window.

Composite shutters, sometimes called faux wood shutters, are usually made of engineered wood wrapped in a PVC or vinyl coating. Engineered wood or “composite wood” is produced by fixing wood strands or fibers with a binding agent to form the shutters’ slats. Because of the vinyl coating, composite shutters are durable and easy to clean. They can also be ordered with a wood grain appearance or in a wide range of colors.

Faux wood shutters are extremely easy to clean and maintain. Dusting the slats regularly with a dry microfiber cloth is usually as much as they need. If a deeper clean is in order, you can wipe them with a damp cloth and warm water with a little mild detergent. Ensure you know what your shutters are made of, as it can be harmful to clean real wood shutters with water.

Many factors impact the lifespan of wood shutters, including environmental humidity and how you care for them. However, with proper installation and regular cleaning, you can expect your real wood shutters to last 10 to 20 years, or even longer. For some homeowners, this lifespan exceeds the time you own the home—and, as a bonus, plantation shutters are a unique selling point that can add to your home’s sale price.

If you love the warm, glowing look of sunlight illuminating real wood, then true wood shutters are hard to beat. While there are some very good faux wood shutters on the market, nothing provides the classic and enduring beauty of true hardwood. Wood shutters are not a good fit for every room in the home. The wood is susceptible to warping and cracking with excessive humidity, so vinyl shutters are a better choice for bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.

Basswood, a type of hardwood grown in the northern United States, is the best wood for shutters. Basswood is lightweight yet durable and does not warp, something very important to ensure your shutters look and function great for many years. It has an exceptionally uniform texture and easily accepts stain to match every interior. Basswood is a renewable resource harvested at only half the rate it is grown, ensuring responsible forestation.

Fabric curtains have long been known for their ability to help block unwanted noise from outside your home, but wooden shutters are also the right choice. The wood used in the slats is suitable for sound absorption because of the small air spaces found naturally within the grain. These air spaces trap sound and stop it from coming into your home (or at least reduce the level). Another factor is the wood grain direction. Wood conducts sound along the grain, and since shutter slats are usually made with the wood grain running parallel to the window, this means that sounds from outside your home are coming at a perpendicular angle – allowing for maximum sound absorption and leaving you with a quiet, peaceful home.

Due to the thickness of plantation shutter slats, these window coverings are an excellent room darkening option. Fully closed shutters can block nearly all of the light from outside and usually do a better job than just blinds or shades alone. For a total blackout effect, consider layering a lined curtain over the shutters to stop any light from getting in around the edges of the coverings.

Both real wood and faux wood composite shutters require regular dusting. Use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe down each slat on all sides gently. Real wood shutters can be cleaned once every month with a little furniture polish to give them a little glow and keep their natural grain visible. It’s crucial never to clean real wood shutters with water, as over time, this can degrade the wood, causing it to warp and crack. However, faux wood or composite shutters are adequate to clean with a damp cloth and warm water with a mild detergent as needed.

Roman shades using traditional fabrics are not a good use case for humid environments like kitchens and bathrooms. Selecting fabrics that will not collect dust or develop mold due to dampness is imperative in kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchen window treatments tend to soak up oils and grease, eventually caking dust on them. It is essential to clean the grime and grease regularly so that your shades maintain cleanliness.

Light-filtering or blackout liner fabrics are available to help control light and protect privacy for every room of your home. Most importantly, these energy-efficient window shades keep warm air in during the winter months and cooler air during the summer, enhancing energy efficiency.

Dual sheer shades are made of a single fabric with alternating light-filtering and room-darkening solid bands. The bands align to give natural light diffusion or overlap to provide complete privacy. 3 Blind Mice Window creates various fabrics, colors, patterns, and textures.

Sheer shades feature solid pieces of fabric called veins that can be angled to let in light or block it out while providing total privacy.

Cellular shades are one of the most energy-efficient window treatments and blackout shades available. The honeycomb construction of the shade creates pockets of air within the shades. These pockets of air add extra insulation for your windows, keeping the sun out in the summer and keeping warm air inside your home in the winter. Many brands even come with the option of adding extra cells for better temperature control. There are cordless options available as well as top-down, bottom-up designs available.

Let's talk about power supply! Motorized window shade batteries last anywhere from six months to an entire year. Your individual experience will depend on a number of factors: the type of battery, how new the batteries are, how often you open and close the shades, and the size of the window treatment. Because most rechargeable batteries wear down some over time, older batteries may need to be recharged more often than when they’re brand new.

You can make your home work for you using motorized window treatments, controlling natural light and privacy in your home at the touch of a button. Although the benefits of motorized window treatments are innumerable, here are a few of our favorites: Motorization decreases the wear on your blinds—no uneven pulling or hurried tugging on the lift mechanisms when you’re in a hurry or your hands are full. It allows you to lower your shades with ease, via the push of a button, remote control, or even a programmed schedule, so you don’t have to do anything at all. Motorized window coverings can be connected to the smartphone and smart home technology that you already use in your daily life.

There are several great power options for motorized blinds and shades. The most common power options are hard-wired, battery, or solar. Hard-wired power can come in two forms: either having an electrician run wires through the walls to connect each window covering to your home’s main electrical system, or simply running the power cord from the window coverings to the nearest outlet. Battery power is available in three forms: built-in rechargeable batteries, external non-rechargeable, or external rechargeable batteries. The last option is solar power, which is suitable for windows that get 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. Most solar-powered shades have enough power to open and close once daily.

There are two types of hard-wired motorized shades: running wires through the walls of your home, or running a power cord from the window covering to the nearest outlet. Running wires through the walls of your home to connect to your home’s main electrical system is best done at the time your home is built or during a substantial renovation, although it is possible in some cases to wire motorized shades as a stand-alone project. This is a project for a qualified electrician and probably not a good idea to try yourself. The second option is running a power cord from the window covering to the nearest outlet. This option may not look as neat, since there will be power cords running from each motorized shade to a nearby outlet; however, it can be done yourself since no wiring is required.

There are several factors to consider when looking at the price of motorized shades. The first is window treatment styles – many types of blinds, shades, and even shutters can be motorized. The price of the window treatments themselves will impact the cost of the overall project. The second factor is the motorization technology. 3 Blind Mice is your motorization specialist for QMotion, Somfy, Lutron, Graber, and Mechoshade motorized blinds and shades. Considering the broad range of options available, it’s difficult to provide a precise cost estimate as prices can range between $129 - $300 per window. If you’d like to explore exact pricing for your project, schedule a safe and convenient Free Virtual Consultation with one of our Window Covering Experts. The average home in America has 17 windows. If you raised and lowered those shades each day, it would take you one full 24 hour day each year. How much is your most valuable asset, your time, worth to you?

Yes, you can hang roman shades over blinds. Due to how blinds and roman shades are mounted, when you consider pairing them, one will need to mount inside the window frame, and the others are mounted outside the window frame. Due to the soft aesthetic of roman shades, they are more commonly paired with drapes or curtains.

The Roman shade has a base bar, and each front pleat has a ring or bar on the backside of the fabric for the cord of the lift mechanism to pass through. When the roman shade is lifted, each ring or bar comes into contact with the bar at the base of the shade, creating a collapsed folded shade. When the shade is entirely open, it appears flat against the window.

Maintaining clean window treatments is essential to the longevity of the window treatment. For roman shades, cleaning helps avoid stains from setting and ensures that the fabric is kept beautiful for years to come. Roman shades can be constructed with a large variety of fabric choices. Review the fabric type for each window treatment to ensure that the cleaning regiment will not harm the fabric. It is suggested that the shades be vacuumed weekly with an upholstery brush attachment or dusted with a microfiber cloth or new duster. In addition, to prevent a spill or stain from setting, immediately blot the fabric with club soda and a cloth.

Sheer shades bring the best features of several window treatments all in one package: softening, diffused light with some privacy during the day, blackout options when you need it, complete light when the shades are raised, and privacy at night with the shades lowered and vanes closed. You can expect to pay less for sheer shades than you would if you combined two other window covering options for the same effect (for example, combining traditional horizontal blinds with simple sheer curtains). Still, sheer shades will cost more than some of the simpler styles. If you’re looking for something with a similar effect to sheer shades that are more budget-friendly, roller shades can offer an excellent middle ground between features and cost.

Cleaning sheer shades are quick and straightforward with the tools you already have on hand at home. We recommend cleaning your sheer shades with the brush attachment on your vacuum. Gently sweep across the blinds’ flat fabric surface with the brush attachment while supporting the sheer shades from behind with your hand. Don’t vacuum without the brush attachment, as strong suction may crumple or deform the fabric of your sheer shades. If you find heavier dirt or stains on the sheer shades, the material can be wiped gently with a soft cloth and warm water with a bit of mild soap or detergent. Don’t overdo the soap! A little goes a long way, and you don’t want to end up with sudsy shades.

Sheer shades are made of two components: fabric vanes (similar to the wood, vinyl, or metal slats of traditional blinds) and two sheer fabric layers. The sheer fabric layers fill the entire window space, and the fabric vanes are suspended between the two sheer layers. This means that when the vanes are open, light is still gently diffused through the sheer fabric, creating a soft and inviting daytime space that brings a little privacy without sacrificing your views. There are several operating choices for sheer shades, including traditional corded systems, child-safe cordless operation, and even cordless motorization options.

Sheer shades provide the best of both blinds and shades in one convenient window treatment. Like regular window blinds, sheer shades can be closed, angled partially open, or opened fully to control light levels in your home quickly. Instead of the slats that traditional blinds use, sheer shades have vanes that serve the same purpose. Vanes are solid pieces of fabric suspended between two transparent material layers that allow you to open and close the shades to your preferred light quickly and privacy levels.

Roller shades are motorization compatible, which makes controlling your shades with your phone, tablet, remote, or voice with automation solutions a dream. If you already have roller shades installed in your home and would like to add automation, you can add solutions that are battery-powered if you prefer to avoid electrical work. If you are considering blackout roller shades for your space, automation allows you to schedule your privacy! At sunset or at sunrise, you can have privacy with the push of a button, flip of a switch, or the accuracy of a timer.

Whether custom vinyl roller shades or beautiful fabric roller shades are destined for your space, the first step to installing roller shades is to measure. First, measure the depth of the window casing to ensure all of the hardware can be sufficiently installed within the window casing. If it can’t, you’ll want to opt for outside-mounted roller shades. Depending on the style selected, you’ll need between 1.5-3 inches of depth. Next, measure and record the width of the window at the top of the casing. Last, measure the length of the window in three places: the left, center, and right, recording the longest of the three measurements, for each measurement, round to the nearest one-eighth inch.

Although roller shades are a durable window treatment option, occasionally they need to be adjusted. A roller shade can become too loose, causing the fabric on the roll to hang off the roll or preventing the shade from rolling up. To fix a loose roller shade, the spring inside of the mechanism will need to be tightened. Remove the blind from the bracket, tighten the flat pin, pull down the blind and roll it back up manually, and then check the blind for correct resistance by pulling it down and releasing it up. If a roller shade is too tight it will quickly snap back or be difficult to pull down, so ensure you do not over-tighten the flat pin.

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