Choosing Between Custom and Off-the-Shelf Window Treatments

As the most important investment you can make, your home deserves thoughtful choices when it comes to improvements. So, any time you can reduce your household expenses and add value to your home, do it. If you’re thinking of adding or changing window treatments, consider this: Custom blinds, shades, sheers, shutters, draperies and curtains will not only reduce your energy bill, but will add a custom look that will set you apart from everyone else. Ready-made or off-the-shelf window treatments are limited in sizes, colors, styles, textures and functions. At Altra Home Décor serving the greater Phoenix area, we carry a wide variety of window coverings that can increase the value of your home while also helping to cut your energy bills.

You Can Save Money With Custom Window Treatments

It’s no secret that homes lose as much as 50% of their cooling and heating through the window. So Hunter Douglas, the industry leader in custom window treatments, designs window treatment products that can contribute to saving energy at the window. For example, Daylight – transform natural light, reducing the need for other artificial lighting and saving energy. Also, Solar Heat – control solar heat in the winter and minimizing the amount in the summer. Finally, Insulation –reduce energy consumption and make for a more comfortable living area while saving on heat and cooling costs.

The Perfect Fit

The biggest problem with off-the-shelf blinds is that they don’t always actually fit. That is because window openings in either new or old construction are not always perfectly square. Specialty shaped windows are even harder to deal with. With custom blinds, professional installers will take three measurements—top, middle, and bottom—to ensure that your new window treatment will fit perfectly. They will also determine which mounting option is best for your window and your lifestyle. Blinds can either be Inside mount – inside the window opening, offering more insulation at the window (this may have slight light gaps on either side). Or they can be Outside mount – which adds additional inches to go past your window opening and/or molding to eliminate the light gap altogether.

With Custom Window Treatments, the Possibilities Are Endless

Our design consultants and professionally trained and certified installers will give your windows not only perfect function, but also a purpose and a beautiful finished look. You can mix and match fabrics, colors, textures and options. Product selection can be as unique as your decorating style. Hunter Douglas has blinds, shades, sheers and shutters to transform any window into a work of art, including the exclusive Alustra® Collection – an extraordinary collection that defines beauty and the quintessence of a home. As your local Hunter Douglas gallery, we also carry the exclusive Duette® Architella® honeycomb shades. With its honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb construction, this is the most energy-efficient shade on the market today. No matter your choice, you can’t go wrong with custom.

Custom Window Treatments in Phoenix

Altra Home Decor is your source for window treatments, custom drapery, flooring, and more! We serve the greater Phoenix area, including Peoria, Sun City West, Glendale, and Scottsdale, with a showroom in Surprise. Stop by our locally owned store to view our full-size window treatment displays and sample books. Contact us today to schedule an in-home design consultation!