Keeping Blinds Clean: Blinds are a great option for those looking for window treatments for their home or business, but to keep your blinds looking their best, you are going to need to clean them occasionally. If you have basic metal or vinyl blinds, you will be able to do this quite easily with a traditional duster or a cloth. However, you may need to take additional steps if you have a slightly more advanced type of blinds on your windows. But regardless of which blinds you have, it shouldn’t take you very long to get them clean. Whether you have wooden blinds, fabric blinds or vertical blinds, you should get into the habit of vacuuming your blinds across the slats at least once or twice a month, notes HGTV. This will prevent dirt and dust from building up on your blinds and reduce the risk of your blinds staining. In the event that you do experience staining of your blinds, perform a spot cleaning with an all-purpose cleaner and a dry cloth. You should never, ever spray cleaner directly onto your blinds, though, as this could make the problem worse. In the case of fabric blinds, you have the option of taking them to a dry cleaner if multiple stains set in or they become very dirty. You can also remove metal and vinyl blinds and take them outside to be cleaned with several drops of dishwasher soap and a car-washing brush. Different blinds call for different cleaning techniques, and you should research the best ways to clean your specific type of blinds if you aren’t sure how to do it. If you ever need your blinds repaired or you simply have questions about how to clean and maintain them properly, you should call on Boca Blinds for help. We have 40 years of experience working with a full range of window treatment options, including blinds, shades, shutters and more. Our experts know how to care for any type of blinds on the market and can help you with repairs or replacements, as well as finding new blinds for your home or business. Call us today at 561-368-5322 and learn more about our full range of products and services.
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Keeping Blinds Clean: Tips for Success
What Are Honeycomb Shades?
Your home is your castle. It’s the place you go to feel safe and to feel comfortable. It is very important that you can go home for a nice quiet place to relax, cool off and truly be yourself with your family. If your home is anything but this, then you may need to invest in some honeycomb shades. What are honeycomb shades, you ask? The may just be the answer to your home’s problems! Honeycomb shades are so named because when viewed from the side, they are hexagonally shaped, just like a honeycomb! This design provides extra padding, which is helps these shades ensure that your privacy is protected in your home. If you don’t want the world looking in on you, honeycomb shades are a great way to make a little private time for yourself. These shades also feature a double barrier due to the hexagonal construction, which does more than just offer privacy from your neighbors. This double padding can also keep your home cool even in the intense Florida sun and even help to muffle street noise. These blinds are also designed perfectly for motorized function, which means you can use them with an automated or remote system to make your life even easier. If you have young children or pets, safety is always on your mind, especially around your windows. Our honeycomb blinds are designed with breakaway cords as a safety feature. This means that if your young child, dog or cat gets tangled up in a cord, they won’t injure themselves. The cord will break off instead, preventing a choking or hanging hazard. Plus, once the cord detaches, it snaps back into place with ease, so there’s no reason to worry about ruining your blinds. Honeycomb shades are available at Boca Blinds and they are more affordable than you might think. Located in south Florida, our team of window treatment experts knows blinds and shades well, and you can trust us to help you find just the window options you need. To learn more about honeycomb shades or any of our other options, call us today at 561-368-5322.
A Look at the Classical History of Roman Shades
Roman shades are a window covering design that vastly predates Western civilization, yet they are here in abundance more than 2,000 years later. That means the ancient Romans must have done something right! Roman shades were originally simple wet clothes that were stretched over windows by the people living in the age of the Roman Empire. There were two reasons for doing so. The first reason was to keep out irritating dust. The ancient Romans were architectural aficionados, and there was often a great deal of construction and stone carving happening all the time. The early Roman shades helped keep the dust outside from getting inside, notes Cosy Home Blog. The second reason was the same reason we still use blinds today – to keep out intense heat and sunlight. The ancient Romans used their wit to make their lives more comfortable. Fast forward to present day, and we still use that same basic concept, dressed up with a little modern luxury. At Boca Blinds, we carry the Roman shades of the 21st century. They have a romanticized style, but with all of the perks of modernity. They roll, stack and traverse, and don’t have an exposed rear cord. Our Roman shades look light and elegant and will flow beautifully when installed in your windows. Roman shades allow light into your home without it being too intense, and a set of Roman shades from Boca Blinds will allow you to control the natural lighting of your space. The style and aesthetic of these blinds may come from the Old World, but the convenience, durability and technology comes from modern times. We believe that the ancient Romans crafted very effective blinds and shades, and with the addition of modern technology and features, our Roman shades are sure to be a marvelous addition to your home. Shop our selection of Roman shades online now, or give us a call today at 561-368-5322 to schedule your free in-home consultation.
Double Rollers, Doubly Beneficial: Four Benefits of Double Roller Blinds
There are lots of different kinds of blinds that you can buy to cover the windows in your home or business, but one of the best options on the market today is double roller blinds. Double roller blinds feature two different blinds on one bracket, and they offer many distinct advantages for your space. Control Lighting One of the biggest benefits of double roller blinds is that they allow you to maintain total control over the amount of sunlight that enters your home or business. Many people choose to put up one blind that is transparent and another that blocks out light completely, allowing the blinds to be positioned to allow in more or less sunlight depending on the feel of the room and the conditions outside that day. Prevent Fading A second benefit is that, by controlling the natural light that enters your home, you can prevent your furniture, flooring and upholstery from fading prematurely. By blocking the sun’s harmful UV rays, you can limit the amount of bleaching and dulling of color that occurs with items that are constantly exposed to bright sunlight. Low Maintenance The minimal maintenance that you will have to do with double roller blinds is yet another benefit of installing them. While you will typically have to vacuum or wash curtains that are hung over windows, you can simply dust off double roller blinds occasionally to keep them looking clean. Customizable Perhaps the most important benefit for many people will be that double roller blinds can be used to enhance the look and feel of your home or business. You can customize your double roller blinds to enhance the decor of your entire space. Choose from a range of colors and styles to meet your aesthetics, whether you’re looking for a matching shade of grey or a sleek and recessed option to minimize lines around your windows. With so many benefits, it’s easy to see that double roller blinds are worth the investment. When you have double roller blinds installed, you will immediately notice the difference in your home or business, and you’re sure to love the simple and convenient functionality. Boca Blinds offers a wide variety of these types of blinds. Learn more about how beneficial they can be for you and your home or business by calling us at 561-368-5322 to request your in-home estimate today.
Wood vs. Composite: Different Shutter Types
Plantation shutters are one of the most popular types of interior shutters in style today. They have wide louvers that can transform a normal room into something much more elegant. Here at Boca Blinds, we love plantation shutters and want you to know all of your options if you’re thinking about installing them. Take a look at the following choices of materials and see which one best match your needs. Composite The look one usually goes for with plantation shutters is wood, because wood looks nice, is known for its durability, and brings a rich feel into any space. Composite shutters are known as engineered wood because – you guessed it – they are designed to look exactly like wood when in fact they’re not. These shutters often look a little nicer than lower-end vinyl choices, and are a bit more expensive. They’re still more affordable composite shutters than real wood shutters and offer improved weather resistance and adaptability to high-humidity climates, making them a good option for enclosed porches and other such indoor-outdoor spaces. Wood When you think of authentic plantation shutters, this is what one usually pictures. These shutters are made out of real wood – most often basswood, to be specific. They’re incredibly strong, while still surprisingly lightweight. If you’re trying to match wood styles and colors, these shutters can be stained and painted any way you desire, as well, unlike vinyl and composite which are pre-made and can’t be stained afterwards. Wood shutters come at a bit of a premium, but the increased versatility and durability makes them well worth the investment. No matter which option you choose to go with, all of the Boca Blinds’ plantation shutter options are durable and fashionable. Check out some photos of our different types of shutters and give us a call at 561-368-5322 to learn more.
Four Advantages of Roller Shades
When you are looking for new window covering solutions for your home, you have a choice of many types of blinds and curtains. If you are looking for a design that is both beautiful and easy to use, consider roller shades. Roller shades are a wonderful addition to any home and offer many great benefits. Let’s take a look at four of the top reasons to consider adding roller shades to your home. A Cost-Effective Solution One of the biggest advantages of roller shades over other types of window coverings is the fact that you can use them to decorate your home without lightening your wallet. Curtains can use a lot of fabric, and using more fabric means spending more money. The installation of standard blinds can also be an expensive endeavor, but roller shades are so buyer friendly because of their simple design. They are commonly constructed from a single piece of fabric along with the rolling mechanism. These shades are light and colorful, but they won’t break the bank. Available in Elegant Designs The sky’s the limit to the many choices of designs you can have on your personal roller shades. Your design options include everything from solid colors to floral prints, and the benefits are two-fold. When the shade is closed, you not only block out excessive sunlight, but you also get a lovely pattern to decorate your home. Automation and Motorization Another fantastic benefit of roller shades is that the user has the option to have them motorized for ease of use. This function is especially important for high windows or for windows in the homes of users who may not have the ability to reach the raising mechanism. Specialized automation capabilities can be added to give users the opportunity to open or close the shades from a distance, even offering the ability to close the shades in one room from the comfort of another. This kind of functionality can work especially well in an “Internet of Things†connected home, where you want to open or close shades on a schedule or be able to control them when you’re away on vacation. This technology adds a whole new level of privacy and even security to your windows. Work in Any Room Not only do these incredible shades work on almost any size window, but they also look great in any room. The variety of shapes and sizes that roller shades are available in makes installation in everything from the patio door to the bathroom window a breeze. Add in the ease of use and elegant designs available with roller shades, and it’s easy to see why they are such a convenient and popular choice in homes throughout South Florida. At Boca Blinds, we offer a broad range of roller shades, and we would be happy to help you pick the perfect styles for your home. Call us at 561-368-5322 today to learn more or to place your order.
Beat the Heat with Window Treatments
Beat the Heat One of the best places to escape the unbearable heat of summer is indoors. Getting out of the beating sun to relax in the protection of an air conditioned house gives you a chance to cool down and refresh for the rest of the day. However, sunlight can still creep into your home through the windows, negating the coolness or making your air conditioner work harder to keep your house cool. An effective way to keep your home cooler this summer is to use curtains and drapes, shades and blinds to block the warm summer sunlight. Curtains and Drapes Closing curtains and drapes – especially on windows that get direct sunlight – during hot summer days can help you beat the heat. Thick curtains can block out and reflect a lot of the incoming heat. Draperies and curtains perform differently based on fabric type and color. According to Consumer Reports, medium-colored draperies with white, plastic backings reduce heat gain by as much as 33 percent. If draperies and curtains are your window treatments of choice, check out Boca Blinds’ wide selection of draperies and soft treatments that can both beautify your space and help you stay cool this summer. Shades Consumer Reports also noted that window shades are one of the simplest and most effective ways to save energy when they are properly installed and drawn all day. Mount your shades close to the glass within the window frame to create a sealed space that can trap heat and prevent your home from warming up. Reversible shades are a great option that allows you to switch out your shades depending on the season, using the white side to reflect the sun in the summer and dark side to absorb sunlight in the cooler months. Boca Blinds offers a diverse array of shades to suit the style you’re looking for. Applause Honeycomb shades and Duette shades are designed for energy efficiency, while thick Vignette Modern Roman shades can give you much desired heat protection. Blinds Blinds are great for beating the summer heat, as you can adjust the horizontal slats to control lighting and ventilation. According to Consumer Reports, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45 percent when completely closed. Blinds can also be adjusted to block or reflect direct sunlight. Light-colored interior blinds are effective at blocking sunlight and tend to offer the greatest reduction in solar heat gain. Silhouette and Nantucket window shadings from Boca Blinds offer privacy and relief from the summer heat while Faux Wood blinds are ideal for areas of direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Consider using curtains and draperies, shades and blinds this summer to keep your house cooler all season long. Plus, attractive window treatments will also help make your space more inviting, helping you stay comfortable in style all throughout the year. Check out our full selection online now, or call us today at 561-368-5322 for a free in-home estimate.
Trending Ahead: Popular Picks in Window Treatments
Trending Ahead: Windows give spaces an open, airy feeling and can tie rooms together with their various styles and color schemes. How you choose to decorate a window gives life and flair to the rest of your space. Ever wonder what’s in style right now? Well, let’s take a look at four of the top window treatment trends so far in 2016. Motorized Screens/Shades Technology brings a lot of unique options into the housing world. Nowadays, you can control objects such as ceiling fans and lights with the simple push of a button on a remote control. Another area technology is venturing into is blinds and window treatments. According to an article published on Angie’s List, motorized shades are one of this year’s exciting new home trends. Motorized shades take the functionality of window treatments to the next level, allowing you to operate your shades remotely using a smartphone or to schedule your shades to open and close at specific times. Boca Blinds offers motorized shades in exquisite designs, fabrics, colors and textures, all with superior operating systems. Woven Woods Decoration trends are slowly returning to natural woods and textures, giving the home a more green-friendly, ecological touch. According to HGTV, organic materials make the list of some of the more popular trends for 2016. Natural woven shades in subtle woods like sustainable bamboo let in diffused light to allow you to see outdoors while offering just enough privacy in your home. Woven wood blinds from Boca Blinds are made of natural reeds, bamboo, grasses and other woods that transform sunlight in a whole new way. Available in vertical and horizontal styles, these blinds are sure to look great in your home. Shutters Another popular trend noted by Angie’s List is architectural features like shutters. A streamlined shape, rich finishes, and understated fabric choices allow you to add some architectural detail to any room in your home. The article also mentioned that installing shutters could give you some architectural detail around your windows to achieve a more modern and ornate look. Boca Blinds once again has you covered here with our plantation shutters, a traditional décor option crafted from premium hardwoods and durable MDF composite. You have many options with these shutters, including designer frames and sliding door systems of any shape, all offered in numerous colors. Adding some shutters to your windows will give you a nice, solid frame for any space. Designed in Color A room’s color scheme is what ties everything together, from the colors of the walls and furniture to the drapes and rugs. HGTV has listed some popular color trends for this year, which includes blues (ocean hues, teals and soft greens in particular), soft lavender and grays, oranges, gold and browns. No matter which scheme you choose, Boca Blinds offers the variety you seek. Draperies and soft treatments by Boca Blinds help you beautify your space with side panels and board-mounted upholstered cornices. Check out our wide range of fabric selections and drapery rods to make your home look great and stay current with the latest trends. Shop our full inventory online now, or call Boca Blinds at 561-368-5322 to request a free in-home estimate today.
Horizontal vs. Vertical Blinds – How to Choose
Horizontal or vertical? If you’re outfitting a room with brand new blinds, you might be stuck trying to decide between horizontal and vertical blinds. Each of these options have different advantages, so let’s discuss some of the factors to keep in mind while making your decision. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Home Guides section suggests that you should first consider the type of window you are outfitting to determine the best type of shades. Sliding doors usually feature long, vertical shades, especially since they are typically easier to push out of the way than horizontal shades. Taller and narrow windows typically get horizontal shades. The thinner slats used on horizontal shades are a bit sturdier than vertical shades, and they are easy to open and close in smaller spaces. One of the biggest factors to also keep in mind when making your selection is the direction of the sun. Vertical shades are typically used on windows that face east or west, while horizontal blinds are more common for windows that face north or south. This has to do with the angle of sunlight that’ll be coming into your home – horizontal shades can be adjusted up and down to block light or allow light in better as the angle of the sun changes. North- and south-facing windows, however, don’t have direct sunlight, so they are well-suited for use in these locations. Horizontal blinds are also the better choice if you’re worried about privacy. You’ll have total control over the blinds, and be able to open and close them as needed. Vertical blinds tend to allow light to pass through more easily, and if a person bumps into the blinds, they can easily open slightly and allow unwanted eyes to see inside. When it comes to upkeep and care, there’s a bit of an argument to be made that vertical blinds are a bit easier to clean than horizontal blinds. You can easily dust a full section of vertical blinds in one sweep, while horizontal blinds have strings and other mechanisms that might cause some difficulty, or they may be placed in locations that are difficult to reach. Plus, with horizontal blinds, you’ll have to clean while the blinds are facing one way and then flip them over to clean the other side. If you still have questions about what type of blinds you should get or for help in deciding which blinds are best for your home, Boca Blinds is here to help. Check out our list of services and products to review all the options available, or head over to our design center to help customize a look for your home. To learn more or to request an in-home estimate, call us today at 561-368-5322.
Why Acoustic Paneling Is Important In Home Theaters
Why Acoustic Paneling You have this amazing HD or 4K television ready to go for your home theater, but you realize that the speakers are just not what you were envisioning. This is the case for so many home theater enthusiasts. The next step is generally to go out and buy some speakers. But still, the problem exists that your speakers do not do your new TV justice. That is where acoustic paneling comes in. With acoustic panels, your sound will come alive. How does this work exactly? The panels absorb mid and high-frequency sound waves that typically bounce around the room and can echo and muddy up the sound. This will leave you with a crisp and clean sound, just like you experience when you go to your local movie theater. You do not need to cover your walls completely with the panels, if you did that, it would create a dead environment and make the sound dull. If you are looking for some tips on where to place these panels in your theater room you should follow specular reflection – which is the reflection of light or sound waves from a surface to another. Search the internet and you can find tips on placements for acoustic treatments in your home. You may have seen these panels in a close friend or family members home, and they didn’t look quite right. They can look like an afterthought if you just hammer them into the wall and don’t care about how it looks. These panels now come in so many different designs and color options to match your room. There are framed panels, ones that are wood, fabric, or have design aspects to them as well. Get the best sound from your new television in your theater room by installing acoustic paneling. For a small investment, it will be worth the outcome of movie theater quality showings in your home. At Boca Blinds, we specialize in home theater acoustic paneling installation for your home. For more information about that or any of the services and products we offer, please contact us at 561-368-5322 today!