Guest Blogger: Choosing the Perfect Outdoor Home Window Treatments

 Entry #2077, February 7, 2012

When we think about remodeling our exterior home we may think about getting some new siding or putting up a new fiberglass door. However, what may not cross our minds is purchasing some outdoor window treatments.

Although the window treatments for the interior can provide a pleasing aesthetic to any room of the home, by placing some on the outside, it can help to significantly reduce the amount of sun that comes into your home, which can ultimately cause your energy bills to be much lower than what they would be without them.

What type of outdoor window treatment is right for your home?

Image via: Allegro Ltd

If this is something that interests you, perhaps you are wondering what you should take into consideration before making a purchase. You’re in luck, because we have five tips for getting the ideal set of window treatments for your house below:

What type suits your needs?

Just like there are a variety of options to choose from for the interior of your home, there are quite a few as it relates to exterior window treatments as well. You can get blinds, shades or shutters. Then, you have to choose what kind of material that you’d like them to be made from: aluminum, vinyl, real wood and faux wood are just some of the kinds that are available to you.

What kind of climate do you live in?

For obvious reasons, if you live in a place where there’s a lot of rain or high humidity, because wood tends to swell, you probably would not want to go with real wood blinds. Or, if you live where there are a consistent amount of tornadoes, storm shutters are probably the ideal route to go. So, in assessing which ones are best, be sure to speak with the sales associate in order to get their opinion on which ones would be the wisest purchase.

What amount of maintenance do you want to put into them?

Some people actually enjoy working on their house. If you fall into that category, you may not mind having some real wood or perhaps even ordering some AOL outdoor blinds. Just remember that with wood window treatments, they tend to disintegrate after spending a significant amount of time in the sun if they are not properly cared for. Due to the fact that outside of your home is what people will see long before walking into your house, you definitely want to make sure you buy the ones that will fit into your “house maintenance routine”.

Does your outdoor home need window treatments?

Image via: Cornerstone Architects

What is your budget?

Exterior window treatments range in prices. You can find some for as low as $40 per treatment and some for that are over $200. This is why it’s a good idea to spend some time online researching the ones that you have to choose from so that you can get what will fit your budget. Your local home improvement stores’ websites and also Menard’s and Payless Decor are places where you can see what is currently on the market.

Will you need help with installation?

It may seem like a simple question (that has a simple answer) initially, but some window treatments are easier to install than others (especially if you don’t live in a one-level home). There is always an additional fee to have someone come out and put them on for you, so when you’re close to making the final decision, definitely make sure to take if you can put them on yourself or if you’re going to need a professional to do so into account.

For more outdoor home ideas on Stagetecture, click here.