Designer's Corner: Trends In Window Options

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“There’s a lot of really low quality being made in bulk overseas that have hit the market to compete from a price standpoint,” says Parlin. “In our industry there isn’t a lot of brand recognition. It’s very confusing for customers.”

“In today’s economic downturn, people tend to purchase products, especially blinds and shutters, from the lowest priced salesperson,” says McBride. “They don’t stop and ask how long the blind or shutter will last without yellowing, fading or warping. They don’t ask for a copy of the warranty. When something happens, they have no one to turn to.”

And there’s one more mistake customers make. When considering window coverings, they don’t think about the design and function of the room itself.

But this gets a little confusing. Should you really consider each and every room? Won’t different styles make a house seem disjointed? This is basically why both Parlin and McBride are skilled designers. Parlin gave me a few examples of how he looks at specific situations. For example, if exterior continuity is really important to someone, he might advise doing a wide-slatted blind on all the windows facing the street, like he did in his own home. But at the back of the house, he wanted an unobstructed view, so he opted for honeycomb shades, which stack tight and disappear under a valance or cornice board.

“A blind that’s got a bigger stack and has more strings wouldn’t have been a good option,” Parlin says. Yet it’s the perfect option for someone who covets privacy more than the view. If it’s light control you’re after, take a look at solar shades. This mesh-like shade will protect your furnishings and carpet—as will solar film on the windows—but still allow for a partial view. But if you don’t like folks looking in on you at night, opt for something else.