"Need some window treatment ideas? Here they are!"

How to Choose the Right Window Treatment
by Sarah CrossetWhether you are moving into a new home or you have owned the same house for years, how you decorate your windows says a lot about your decorating style.
Over the years, window treatments have went from long flowing curtains to only a window topper and a venetian blind. While this look is in style, there are so many things that you can do with your window treatments that can spruce them up and give them life again.
Should you use blinds? This is one of the most popular questions. There are two good reasons why you want to use blinds; for privacy or to keep out cold temperatures.
Blinds are very important for these two reasons however just because you have blinds in your windows does not mean that you have to leave them down all the time. Get in the habit of putting them up and leaving them up unless you need your privacy or the weather is very cold outside.
Blinds are not only made from plastic they can be made from wood as well as other materials. They can be very decorative and come in a variety of colors. The blind can coordinate with the decor of the room.
Lace has been used for window treatments for years and it is still popular today. Lace allows the light to come through the window and into the room and it still offers a little bit of shade. Lace is more for spring and summer seasons because it allows more light and air through it.
Fabric is very important in your choice of curtains. If you want a casual look in any room, fabric blinds are very charming. They can make a statement yet they can be easy on the eyes. They look more homey then the other types of blinds. The fabric can be of many different colors or they can have a unique design on them as well.
If you want your room to look formal then you can add silk or suede. Silk is better for spring and summer, suede is better for fall and winter. Because the silk comes in a wide variety of color and design, you will need to choose it according to the theme or look you want to go with.
It's best if your curtains accessorize the room and not be the highlight of the room. In order to achieve that look you will want to have solid colors that are earth-tone, like cream, teal for a blue or green look, almond for beige or brown, and yellow for brown or white.
Earth tones help to bring balance in a room. Every earth-tone color does not always match every look but they do bring on balance whenever you add them to the right color.
A great way to get an idea of what you are looking for is to search online. You will find links that can point you in the right direction. You can also find places to order your curtains from the comfort of your home.
Senior writer Sarah says that if you want your room to make a statement then all you need to do is coordinate your window treatments with your area rugs - and she particularly likes this modern purple rug.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

How to Clean Wood Blinds
contributed by Daniel Frank
Wooden blinds add class and sophistication to any home’s window.Wood blinds are also great for blocking incoming sunlight. The problem with wood blinds is that they can get dusty very quickly. When they do get dusty it is extremely noticeable.
Wooden blinds are available in a variety of colors, but lighter colors tend to show more dust. Whites, eggshells and beiges are the most notorious for showing dust. If you would like to clean your wooden blinds, there are a few things that you should take into consideration before you get started. Here is a quick guide to help you along the way.
Use the blind string to close the blinds one way. It doesn’t matter which way you choose to close the blinds. Use a vacuum cleaner to get all of the superficial dust off of the blinds in that particular direction.
This will not remove all of the dust, but it will get the majority off. You should vacuum horizontally using a brush attachment. Start at the top of the blinds and then work your way down to the bottom.
Use the blind string to close the blinds in the other direction. Vacuum the blinds again horizontally so you are getting all of the superficial dust off of the blinds in the other direction. As you vacuum downward, any dust that you’re not picking up with vacuum will fall to the rest of the blinds you will be able to get it with another swipe of the vacuum.
Dampen a clean rag with a little bit of water. Make sure that the rag is clean so you’re not putting more dirt onto the blinds. Do not put too much water on the rag or you could damage the wooden blinds. Just make it damp enough to remove the dirt build up.
Wipe the blinds from top to bottom to remove the dirt. Again, work from the top to the bottom of the blinds. Flip the blinds again and remove the dirt from the other side.
Use a dry towel to wipe down the excess water from the blinds. Any excess water that has built up on the blinds could soak in and damage them. Wood is extremely susceptible to water so you don’t want to leave it sitting on the wood.
Once the wood is dry you can apply a dusting agent to the blinds. Dusting agents help keep dust from building up in the future. You can find these at your local supermarket for just a couple of dollars.
Get a new clean rag and spray the dusting agent onto it. Do not soak the rag in the dusting agent, but get enough of it on the rag so you can spread it evenly across the blinds. Wipe the blinds down with the rag so you are getting the dusting agent around the edges of the blinds.
Flip the blinds and work your way around the other side. Make sure that you’re getting around the edges of the other side. Use your clean towel to wipe the excess dusting agent off of the wood.
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