Get Ready for Spring with Great New Looks Around the Windows
BWS Design • February 15, 2019

For many of us, we have had our homes closed up with the fireplaces glowing and the heaters blasting. Once Valentine’s Day passes, we are ready to celebrate the Easter Season when flowers bloom, and we throw our windows open to let the fresh breeze push out the last traces of winter. 

Never Too Early to Organize and Spruce Up

Will this Spring bring changes coming your way that entails putting your home on the market? What better time to begin planning the best ways to spruce up your home to impress your lookers.

Has it been a while since you have given your home a new look? Organizing and planning now will illuminate the freshness of Spring throughout your home.

A Thorough Spring Cleaning

Many people do take their Spring cleaning seriously when they take the time to clean every nook and cranny in every room. There is a great service, where companies bring and pick up mobile storage containers to make cleaning your home easier than ever. Found on  moving.com , you will find a list of nationwide companies that offer mobile storage for the big jobs you need to get done around your home.

Just in case you want some help, you may want to hire a company that offers home cleaning services.  Consumer Affairs  gives you a good review of the companies that are nationwide. You can even download a  Spring Cleaning Checklist  from those services such as  Merry Maids.

Beautiful Ideas to Welcome Spring into Your Home

It is always nice to see what is trending in 2019 by the experts at  Better Homes & Garden . Bright colors mixed with “energetic patterns will brighten up your home and welcome in the Spring.

Frame your windows with lightweight draperies that allow the Spring breezes and sunshine to flow into your home. As the article notes, simply adding or changing window treatments can totally transform the look of a room. With beautiful patterns, you can make your windows a “work-of-art” to create a new look that you and everyone will admire.

Many of us don’t even  notice how aged our window treatments  can get. If you are looking to sell your home, making your windows look clean and fresh can give your potential buyers a wonderful feeling about your home. Maybe it’s just time to give your home a fresh, new look.

Why not start with your windows, since Spring brings all the wonderful smells of flowers blooming and freshly-mowed lawns.  Better Homes & Garden  gives you other wonderful ideas to add or change out a few accent pieces to complete your Spring spruce up.  Forbes  also offers inexpensive ideas to spruce up your home that will help you compliment your new window treatments.

Just Blinds’ Window Treatments Will Spruce Up Your Home This Spring

Woven wood shades, bamboo shades, and beautiful floral or light-colored custom draperies can refresh your home in the Spring. There is nothing more enticing to any home than a fresh, new look. To us, windows are more than a way to let the light into a home. For us, windows are what completes a room’s décor, and we have been creating beautiful rooms for more than thirty years.

Bamboo Shades

If you favor a more natural look, woven wood or bamboo shades are popular window treatments that can add warmth and a lighter feeling to any room. Bamboo shades are a hit with  Architectural Digest , and you find that they are not very expensive. Not only are bamboo shades affordable, but you will also find that they are  excellent window coverings.

Woven Wood Shades

Another creative look for anyone wanting something else other than draperies, woven wood shades are excellent choices. These shades have  some wonderful benefits  while adding unique textures and a variety of colors to any room.

Custom Draperies

Like we mentioned above, your windows can be the art that is the focal point of any room. When it comes to our custom draperies,  there are styles , colors, and patterns for every home.

Ready to Start Planning for a Beautiful Spring?

See how we can bring the Spring into your home right through your windows. For anyone getting their homes ready to go on the market, we can help you spruce up your windows with great looks at affordable prices.  Give us a call  with any questions. It is always an honor to be your choice when you are ready to spruce up your windows with exciting new looks.

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!