Owning Your Office with Custom Window Blinds
bwsit • July 18, 2017

Most businesses choose their commercial office space for the address, the spaciousness, and how well it suits the needs of their day-to-day activities. Some office spaces are new, some are old, some are built with wide open spaces and others are a labyrinth of private offices. Wherever you are leasing, one thing is for sure: The space wasn’t built for you, but you could make it yours. Offices are mostly built with a sort of bland generic design in order to accommodate the needs of a series of different businesses, and you are only the most recent. However, for as long as you are the occupant, your office space should reflect the company culture and the collective personality of the employees. One amazing way to completely transform an office space without remodeling is with custom window blinds.

Your Office Windows

Take a moment to really look at your office windows. All too often, the windows in our environment slip into the background. We know there are windows but don’t really remember anything about them. You probably have some sort of shades, but if you haven’t changed anything since moving in, those shades are mostly likely a set of old, grimy aluminum mini-blinds or possibly generic pull-shades. While you may not officially notice your blinds, ask yourself what kind of environment that creates and what kind of messages you’re sending to clients and employees. Your window treatments are an opportunity to shape your space and make a statement about company attitudes, but with default blinds that statement is currently “no comment”.

The Right Custom Blinds

When choosing new window treatments for your office, you want something that matches the personality and culture of the company as a whole. Consider not only what your motto is and how the employees interact, but also the kind of attitude and ambiance you want to create within your office. Are you folksy or formal? Serious or fun? Anachronistically charming or cutting-edge tech? However you define your company, there’s a way to convey it with window blinds.

Wood Slat Blinds

If your company is all about the book shelves and solid wood furniture, then beautiful dark wood blinds could be the perfect addition to your interior design. These add a touch of class and value to even the most generic space, making it clear that the occupants understand fine things and like to keep it practical.

Woven Wood Blinds

If your company likes a more naturalistic style and would like to bring some of that to the commercial office space, woven wood blinds are a great option. These are a stiff ‘fabric’ made from woven wood strands and function like cloth shades rolling up and down as needed. The soft natural colors and renewable material source should particularly please eco-friendly organizations.

Elegant Drapes

From law offices to advertising firms, sometimes a company culture has formed around a sense of elegance and aplomb. If your business aligns with this self-image, you may enjoy the appearance of long, beautiful draperies. Light, filmy drapes give the impression of a breezy beach while darker, heavier draperies will remind your employees and clients of wealth, quality, and beauty. For a combination look, you can even add elegant roman blinds behind the curtain for a lovely accent and additional control over indoor light levels.

Cozy Blinds

No matter where you are, HQ is where the heart is. Whether you’re in a cottage office or a 15th floor expanse, if your company culture is one of good neighbors, families, and children, you might enjoy decorating every window as if it were in a  cozy kitchen in a country home. With a combination of valances and cheery cloth draperies, you can create this effect in a way that is seldom seen inside a commercial office building.

High-Tech Blinds

Do you pride yourself on being at the cutting-edge of technology? Sleek and practical vertical blinds are a great way to cover your windows and even add privacy to a glass-walled conference room. Better even than that is the ability to smoothly open and close them with a remote control, adding that space-ship feel to any office.

No matter what kind of office you have, simply by changing your window blinds you can give your space an entirely new ambiance. While your employees and clients may have easily forgotten those old mini-blinds, you can create a workplace that will be both beautiful and unforgettable. Whether you want natural woven wood blinds, roman shades, or floor-length draperies, Just Blinds can create the perfect window treatments for your office. For more information or to start your consultation, please  contact us  today!

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

Performing Routine Maintenance On Your Exterior Shades: Everything You Need to Know

July 24, 2025
Outdoor shades are wonderful additions to your home. Not only do they allow you to enjoy mornings and evenings on your porch or patio in comfort, but they also protect you from some of the harshest side effects of the sun, including excessive UV exposure , which can lead to serious health consequences over time. If you have exterior shades installed, one of the best ways to protect your investment and ensure that your outdoor shades stand the test of time, protecting you and your family over the long haul, is to institute a routine cleaning and maintenance plan. How Often Should You Clean And Maintain Your Exterior Shades? Because needs will always vary by season and climate, it's best to visually inspect your exterior shades once a month. If you see any buildup of dust or pollen, or any obvious maintenance issues, address them immediately. At least once per quarter, you should also schedule a thorough cleaning and maintenance check. Every three months, around the time the seasons change, schedule a day to clean and thoroughly check your blinds for any routine maintenance. Particularly if you live in the Southeast, we recommend scheduling thorough cleaning and maintenance in January, April, July, and October. 3 Steps to Cleaning Your Home's Exterior Shades First, start by thoroughly cleaning your exterior shades. Step 1: Gather your cleaning supplies. You will need the following: A bucket and a mild cleaning agent A hose and water supply A soft brush or broom A soft cloth When it comes to your cleaning agent, be sure to avoid any solutions with harsh chemicals. If you haven't received information on any manufacturer-specific suggestions, we recommend using a mild dish soap diluted in water. Step 2: Dust away dirt and debris. Using your soft brush or broom, gently remove all excess buildup of dust, dirt, and debris. Make note of any trouble spots that will need more extensive cleaning. Step 3: Thoroughly clean your exterior shades. Begin by testing your cleaning solution in a small, hidden area. If you see any strong reaction, including erosion or discoloration, stop immediately and seek more information. Only if your shades respond well should you proceed with a full cleaning. Start by using your hose to gently rinse your exterior shades from top to bottom. Next, using your soft cloth, clean the shades, removing all accumulations of dirt and grime. After a final rinse with the hose, allow the shades to air dry in the sun. If necessary, repeat this step until your shades are fully clean. What Routine Maintenance Issues Should You Check For As You Clean? As you clean your exterior shades, keep your eyes peeled for any routine maintenance issues that may need to be addressed. Trouble spots to watch out for include the following: Fading color. Though color fading in itself is not an emergency, it can show that your exterior shades are beginning to show wear and tear. Assess the extent of the damage and consult with Just Blinds to evaluate the projected longevity of your current shades. Sagging shades. Sagging shades don't necessarily need to be replaced, but they may need to be re-tensioned. Check the external hardware and see if anything needs to be tightened up or replaced. Rips, tears, gaps, or holes. No matter how small, these issues need to be addressed immediately. Addressing these issues early can prevent the damage from growing, preventing more costly repairs down the line. Buy a patch kit and follow the instructions for sealing up any trouble spots. Just Blinds Is Here to Help  To hear more about how to maintain your exterior shades, or to learn more about how outdoor shades can add value to your home and help you better enjoy your outdoor living areas by reducing heat, offering increased privacy, and lowering your UV exposure, feel free to contact us . We look forward to serving you.

5 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat With Eye-Catching Window Treatments

June 18, 2025
When the mercury soars, never underestimate the power of blinds, shades, and other window treatments to keep your living space cool. With the techniques that follow, you can limit demand on your air conditioner, lower your energy bill, and maintain stunning aesthetics both inside and out. 1. Go For the Layered Look If you don't want blackout blinds that completely block out light and heat, consider layering your window treatments for the summer months. This is a great way to add depth and texture to your rooms while still maintaining a tight home envelope and limiting solar heat gains. Use wood or faux wood blinds to create a solid base layer. Then, add sheers and custom curtains to finish the look. Layering creates levels of flexibility and adaptability that single window treatments cannot match. You can close all three layers for maximum heat blocking, slant your blinds and close your sheers to let limited sunlight in, or open your drapes and your blinds and use your sheers for light filtering. 2. Beat the Heat With Outdoor Window Treatments Some of the best window treatments for blocking heat and light during the summer months belong on the outside of your home. If you haven't done so already, consider investing in shutters. Shutters can vastly improve the efficiency of your home while providing excellent UV ray protection. This will keep your flooring and furnishings from fading while offering a fair amount of skin protection. In addition to tightening home envelopes, shutters provide excellent noise reduction and offer added protection against the natural elements. With your shutters standing guard as your home's first defense, you'll still have one or more window treatments at the interior of the building during the next big heat wave. Outdoor Shades Work, Too If shutters aren't the right look for you, opt for lightweight, retractable shades. Installing outdoor shades gives you yet another way to safeguard your home from solar heat gains whenever temperatures spike. You can use outdoor shades with layered indoor window treatments to create an airtight space and reduce stress on your AC during the hottest portion of the day. Once the sun sets, you can easily draw them open. 3. Optimize Airflow According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be up to five time more contaminated than outdoor air. Even though air conditioners and heat pumps filter the indoor air during operation, they don't extract volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other gaseous chemical contaminants. When the sun's out and you're running your air conditioner non-stop, all the contaminants introduced into your home by off-gassing building materials, cooking, room freshening sprays, and chemical-laden self-care products and cleaners remain trapped indoors. Blinds are great for optimizing airflow. When the sun sets, the mercury dives, and a cool breeze rolls in, you can turn your blind slats upwards to reflect light from the setting sun and slightly crack your windows. This technique works well for giving ACs an early evening break. It's also an excellent strategy for improving indoor air quality (IAQ). As natural light decreases, you can open your blind slats wider and let more fresh, outdoor air flow in. This easy air exchange will get your home and your IAQ ready for the challenges of the next sweltering day. 4. Keep Indoor Moisture in Check With Shades With a high-functioning air conditioner or heat pump, you'll get reliable humidity regulation whenever your cooling system is on. The right shades can support this by keeping outdoor moisture outside and preventing the buildup of condensation on your windows. Cellular shades are made for high-moisture areas, and they're the perfect addition to any other southern home. You can get similar benefits from faux wood blinds, vinyl blinds, and aluminum blinds. Moisture-resistant blinds or shades are an essential upgrade if you currently have heavy fabric drapes or multiple layers of sheers. Some materials capture and retain moisture. They're also prone to problems like mold and mildew and can lower IAQ as a result. 5. Go Motorized Don't worry about dragging your ladder out to draw your outdoor shades or running through your home to manually adjust your blinds. Shop for motorized window treatments that you can open, close, and adjust with just the touch of a button. This way, as lighting and temperatures change, you can quickly adapt your window treatments to reflect your most current needs. At Just Blinds, we're all about comfort. We want your window treatments to look amazing, but believe that you should feel amazing too. We offer a fantastic selection of blinds, shutters, shades, and custom draperies to help our clients beat the heat in the summer months . Let us help you stay cool in style. To speak with our design consultants, contact Just Blinds today!