Fabric Roman shades are great window dressing to combine personal expression with other benefits, such as privacy and taking up less space than traditional drapes. Choosing the right one can be complicated, especially as they come in many fabrics, textures, and patterns. You don't just want to pick "good" Roman shades, but rather the right ones for the specific room you are putting them in. Here are some tips on how to choose Roman shades for every room in your house. Living Room Your living room is where you spend a lot of your waking hours and often invite friends. For the living room, you want Roman shades that coordinate with your furniture and express your personality. It's also a higher traffic area, so you want to choose durable fabrics that are easy to clean. Bold prints or textures will draw the eye to your windows, but if you have, say, a lot of nicknacks, you may want to go with solids for a neutral background that helps your interior decor pop. If you have a home theater, consider blackout liners to reduce light when watching movies. Layer with drapery for a cozier look. Bedroom Roman shades are not always the best choice for your bedroom, depending on the style of your window. Make sure that your shades will fit snugly, blocking light. A blackout liner is a good idea, especially if you work shifts or enjoy naps during the day. You can also extend the overhang to keep out more light. The need for a blackout liner may reduce the available styles, but you should definitely coordinate with bed linens as much as you can. This is another great place for layering with curtains, both to keep out the light, and to present a relaxed appearance. Dining Room For your dining room, you may want to maximize natural light in the summer. Sheer shades can block glare and keep the room cool, while allowing plenty of light in. They can also diffuse light from annoying street lights or your neighbor's bright patio light...or even your own bright patio light. In general, go for lighter fabrics, but not too delicate. While candlelit dinners are great, so are summer meals with the sunset streaming in. Home Office This is a lot like the dining room - you are most likely wanting to preserve natural light while preventing glare. Screen glare from your windows can really impact your productivity. Choose sheer, delicate fabric that allows plenty of light through. You can also apply a bit of color theory. Blue is great for productivity and focus, while purple helps creativity. Consider what colors help you personally focus and get your work done. \ Nursery A lot depends on the age of your kids. But fabric Roman shades are available in cute patterns ideal for younger children...you can get floral or teddy bear prints, for example. Keep the trim inside the window...that way your kids are less likely to pull on the drapes. They are great window coverings for any kid's room . If your child finds it hard to sleep in total darkness, Roman shades are a great option to dim the room without completely excluding light. Alternatively, blackout or light-filtering shades help with daytime nights. Older kids should get a say in the patterns they want...dinosaurs? Superheroes? Their favorite book series? Bathroom Bathrooms have a particular concern: Moisture. Because of this, you need special waterproof fabric that is designed to handle being splashed and exposed to high humidity. Privacy is also a concern for many bathrooms, so you want to use a thicker shade that blocks any view of activities within. For smaller bathrooms, choose a lighter color that opens out the space. Kitchen Kitchens also warrant waterproof fabric because of high levels of moisture, but you typically want a lot of natural light while baking or doing meal prep during the day. Choose waterproof fabric that lets more light in if you can find it. And consider subtle patterns that invoke your cooking style, such as herbs or flowers. For any room, think about how the shade pattern fits in with your overall sense of style. Choose colors and patterns that blend in with your home. If you're not sure where to start, contact Just Blinds to talk about our custom Roman shade designs and what might work for your room.

Plantation shutters are a great statement. They help your home stay cool in summer and warm in winter, while maintaining a southern style that speaks to Alabama's traditions. They're still a solid option for many homes, adding an air of elegance, lowering energy bills, and supporting not just privacy and light control, but also noise control, especially if you live near a highway...or a neighbor who insists on using one of those leaf blowers. But you might be asking how best to clean and maintain plantation shutters, especially traditional wooden ones. What Do Plantation Shutters Need? The short answer is: Not much. They need remarkably little maintenance . In fact, the biggest problem people have is over-cleaning their shutters and causing damage. What they do tend to do is attract dust. Use a feather duster to remove obvious dirt, running it between each blind and making sure to hit the tops and the bottoms. A clean, dry cloth works too, but a feather duster is much easier. Alternatively, put the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner and run it over the shutters. Either way, consider vacuuming the carpet around your shutters to pick up any dust you dislodged while cleaning. Then, run a dryer sheet over your shutters. This helps reduce the amoujnt of dust that sticks to them. Do this about once a week. Some people also use a microfiber cloth. What If They're Super Dirty? Obviously, the goal is not to let them get that way. But if you have kids or pets, they can get quire grimy. In that case, use a clean sock or cotton glove and dip it in white vinegar. Place it over your hand and run it over each blind slowly to remove dirt and stains. You may need to use more than one sock or glove. Many people find cotton gloves easier if they have them. You should keep going until you don't see any dirt on your sock after cleaning...then just toss the sock in the laundry. This can take a couple of hours, so be ready. If you have vinyl plantation shutters you can use warm water and a mild soap solution in a spray bottle. Don't forget to clean the shutter frame and hinges. For wooden shutters, you can also use a wood-safe cleaner on a barely damp cloth. If you do use water, dry your shutters thoroughly to avoid mold growing. What Not To Do That's what to do, but here's what not to do so as not to damage your shutters: Use water. If you have faux wood shutters, this might be fine, but expensive wooden shutters can warp if they get wet - remember that plantation shutters are interior window treatments and not set up to handle getting wet repeatedly. Never, ever soak the slats. Use liquid cleaners routinely. Only use vinegar when your shutters are particularly dirty, use the smallest amount you can, and never use bleach, ammonia, or other harsh cleaners. Use abrasive pads, as these can damage the stain or paint on your shutters. How to Protect Your Shutters So They Last Longer Stained shutters should be treated with a compatible conditioner or polish every three to six months. Painted wood shutters should be repainted every three to five years, but if you have paint damage you can do it sooner. You can also repaint them to change the appearance of your room. If you have vinyl shutters, you need to use exterior acrylic paint, even though they are indoors. Other paints will not adhere to the vinyl and will peel. If you have composite shutters, check with the manufacturer.  But the best way to preserve your plantation shutters is to dust them every week so they stay clean and fresh and don't need heavy cleaning. If you're looking into plantation shutters for your home, contact Just Blinds - we have a great selection and can advise on the best options for every room.