Energy-Saving Window Treatments | Orlando Motorized Shades

Beat The Heat This Summer With Energy-Saving Window Treatments

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The Florida summer is just getting started. If you’ve already noticed an increase in your A/C usage and energy bills, you’re not alone. Your HVAC system accounts for about 40% of your utility bill and for every degree setting below 78°F, cooling costs rise by as much as 8%. Relying on the air-conditioner alone to keep your home cool can become very costly, very quickly.

Reduce Heat Transfer For A More Comfortable Home

There are passive ways to keep your home more comfortable and when used in conjunction with your HVAC system, they can also help you rein in your energy costs. One of the most effective ways to reduce interior temperature levels is to prevent heat from getting in the home in the first place. The thermal transfer of heat through windows is one of the biggest sources of heat infiltration. If you can block the sun’s rays from entering through the window, you can better manage the home’s interior temperature.

Energy-Saving Window Treatments

Orlando Motorized Shades offers a variety of energy-saving window treatments that will help keep your home more comfortable year-round. The best choice for your home will depend on the amount of sun you receive through a particular window. South-facing windows with no shade will have the highest amount of heat transfer, while north-facing windows or windows protected by a porch or deep shades will have less heat transfer. Our three top product options for reducing interior heat are:

  1. Solar Shades. Solar shades are made of special materials that filter and diffuse light to block UV rays and reduce room temperature. They are available in a classic roller shade design and are best for sunny windows.
  2. Cellular Shades. Cellular shades utilize a honeycomb design to trap heat in between pieces of fabric, reducing heat transfer.
  3. Energy-Saving Materials. We offer hundreds of fabric choices and colors in energy-saving materials, which means you can design custom window treatments in any style you choose and still reap energy-saving benefits.

Schedule a Free In-Home Consultation Today

Orlando Motorized Shades offers free in-home consultations to help you design custom window treatments that will keep your home more comfortable and reduce your energy bills.

Contact us at (407) 977-0886 or schedule online today to start feeling more comfortable before the summer really heats up!

Modern Window Coverings For 2020

Is 2020 The Year To Refresh Your Window Treatments?

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2020 brings us not just a new year but an entirely new decade! It’s the perfect time to update the look of your home or office with new window treatments. Better yet, take advantage of modern technology and opt for motorized shades or blinds so you can raise and lower window coverings with the touch of a button. Talk about embracing the new decade!

Modern Styles In Every Color

Window treatments are so much more than boring and blah functional items. The right choice can become part of your home décor, enhancing the look of a room while still doing its duty of protecting privacy and guarding against intruding light. Orlando Motorized Shades offers window coverings in the following styles:

  • Cellular and Honeycomb Shades. These are a great choice if you want to regulate room temperature because the cellular design traps air to prevent heat transfer between the interior of the home and the window.
  • Pleated Shades. Accordion-style folds deliver a crisp, clean look. Choose from solid or patterned designs to add interest and color to the room.
  • Roller Shades. This is the classic shade that rolls down and then rolls back up with a little tug. Also called solar shades for their ability to block out the sun, these shades can be used alone or with curtains or drapes.
  • Roman Shades. If you want variety, look to Roman Shades. These are available in balloon, teardrop, relaxed, or cascading styles to complement any room. Fabric choices add texture and interest, block sunlight, or reduce glare, depending on your choices.
  • Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds. Our blinds are available in different stain and paint colors as well as slat sizes to work in any room. Motorized tilt functions make it easy to control light and privacy, even in rooms with a lot of windows.

Out With The Old, In With The New

If your window treatments are looking a little dated, it’s time for a refresh! Orlando Motorized Shades makes it easy to replace your old window coverings with new selections. We offer free on-site consultations for homes and businesses, so you can look at samples and see styles in the room where the shades or blinds will hang. Meet with a professional designer who can help you choose new window treatments that you’ll love for years! Call Orlando Motorized Shades at (407) 977-0886 to schedule a free consultation today!

Living Room Window Treatments | Orlando Motorized Shades

Spruce Up The Most Public Area Of The Home With Fresh Living Room Treatments

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The living room is one of the most public areas of the home. It’s where we entertain guests, where families hang out, and where many people focus their home décor. Rooms like this deserve to look their best and the perfect living room window treatment can be the finishing touch that pulls it all together.

Experiment With Window Treatments In The Living Room

The living room is a great place to play with different types and styles of window treatments. They often feature the largest windows in the home and are usually some of the biggest rooms in the home as well. They also aren’t limited by the room’s function like a bedroom or kitchen might be. This gives homeowners a lot of creative freedom to try styles, colors, patterns, and designs that might not work as well in a different room of the house.

Bedrooms, for example, might be limited to room-darkening curtains, but in the living room, you can play with sheers and light-filtering materials, and more! Larger room sizes mean you can go with bigger and bolder patterns and not overwhelm the room too. Since you don’t have to worry about moisture, food, or odors as you do in bathrooms and kitchens, you can splurge on luxe fabrics like silk or velvet without fear of ruining the living room window treatment.

Popular Living Room Window Treatments

  • Wood and Faux Wood Blinds. Wood and faux wood blinds work with just about any type of décor from modern, minimalist living rooms to earthy, natural rooms and casual, comfortable environments. They are a timeless choice that allows you to control light and privacy and they can be “softened” around the edges by hanging curtains up too!
  • Cellular and Honeycomb Shades. Cellular and honeycomb shades are a smart choice for drafty living rooms or those with large windows. If you experience significant heat transfer through your windows, these shades offer a layer of thermal protection while still looking great.
  • Roller Shades. Roller shades have come a long way from the days of pull-down vinyl shades. Today’s shades can go up or down with just the slightest of pressure and are available in colors, patterns, and styles that will have you pulling the shades down more often just to enjoy their look!
  • Roman Shades. Roman shades are increasingly popular in living rooms due to their elegant appearance and carefree operation. Tie them up when you want to let in light and untie them for privacy. There are hundreds of colors, patterns, and styles available to enhance any living room windows!
  • Motorized Shades. Motorization can be added to any shade offered by Orlando Motorized Shades. Once you try motorized shades, you will wonder how you ever lived without them! Just the press of a button will allow you to control light and privacy and make it easier to manage awkward or hard-to-reach windows.

Browse Living Room Window Treatments In Your Home

Update the look of your living room with help from Orlando Motorized Shades! Call us to schedule a free, in-home consultation where we’ll measure your windows, offer advice, and share with you our hundreds of living room window treatment styles and designs. Your home will look better than ever with custom window treatments from Orlando Motorized Shades!

Call Orlando Motorized Shades at (407) 977-0886 or schedule online today!

Kitchen Window Treatments | Orlando Motorized Shades

Best Kitchen Window Treatments For Ambiance and Comfort

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The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home. It’s the room where food and memories are made and is one of the most heavily trafficked areas of the house. Kitchen window treatments make kitchens more inviting and comfortable, protect privacy, and complement the décor. But not all window treatments are recommended for the kitchen.

Choose Kitchen Window Treatments With Care

There are safety and practicality concerns to think of when selecting kitchen window coverings. If windows are located near the stove, sink, or food preparation areas you might want to shy away from heavy fabrics and instead go for easy-clean up wood or faux wood blinds or shutters. Windows that are located away from mess-prone areas present more opportunity, but you’ll still want to factor in the location of the window in relation to the sun, any privacy concerns, and how the windows are used.

Popular Kitchen Window Treatments

  • Wood and Faux Wood Blinds. Wood and faux wood blinds are a smart option if there’s a chance of the window treatment getting splattered with grease, water, or food. Blinds clean easily with soap and water or a quick wipe down, but still provide natural light and privacy when needed.
  • Cellular and Honeycomb Shades. If your kitchen is drafty or you notice temperature fluctuations based on the season or even time of day, cellular shades can help stabilize the situation. The air pockets that are built into these shades add an extra layer of insulation, helping to reduce energy consumption and control room temperature.
  • Roller Shades. Classic roller shades, also known as solar shades, can be used in just about any situation. They boast simple functioning and a wide range of colors, fabrics, and textures to meet any need. Light-filtering materials allow light in, but block prying eyes. Thermal materials help insulate the room. Treated fabrics can even provide UV protection in sunny kitchens. 
  • Roman Shades. Roman shades are an elegant, yet carefree, option. Simply tie them up when you want light and let the ties out for privacy. These are a particularly good option if you have an eat-in kitchen with a nearby window as they bridge the gap between kitchen and dining décor. 
  • Motorized Shades. Motorized shades can’t be beat for large, high, or awkward windows and sliding glass doors. With the press of a button, you can easily open or close your shades or blinds to control lighting and privacy. With our Somfy systems, you can even program your shades and blinds to open and close on a schedule. 

Schedule a Free In-Home Consultation For Kitchen Window Treatments In Orlando

Orlando Motorized Shades has your next kitchen window covering! We carry hundreds of colors, textures, and fabrics so you can design a custom window treatments that meet the exact needs of your home and look great while doing so! Schedule an in-home consultation to learn more about our kitchen window treatments!

Contact Orlando Motorized Shades at (407) 977-0886 or schedule online today!

Bedroom Window Treatments | Blackout Curtains | Orlando Motorized Shades

Rest Easy With Orlando Motorized Shades’ Bedroom Window

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Sleep is so important for our physical and mental health, yet 45% of Americans report that poor sleep affects their daily activities! One reason for this may come down to the bedroom environment. A dark environment is essential for a good night’s sleep, but too many of us have devices in our rooms that emit a blue glow all night or have light coming in through the windows all night.

Orlando Motorized Shades can help you sleep better with our bedroom window treatments! Blackout shades, room-darkening curtains, and programmable, motorized window treatments can all keep your bedroom dark when you need it to be.

Create A Sleep-Worthy Environment

After great pillows and a comfortable mattress, appropriate window treatments are a must-have for a restful bedroom. Here are some options:

  • Light-Filtering. Light-filtering window treatments diminish harsh light but still allow some outside light to come into the room. If you live in an area that doesn’t have a lot of street lights, light-filtering roller shades, drapes, or curtains may darken your environment just enough for you.
  • Room-Darkening. Room-darkening window treatments make a room noticeably darker than it is outside. If the late summer sun bothers you or if you live in an area that has a lot of buildings or street lights that are on at night, room-darkening blinds or curtains will block much of the external lighting so you can rest.
  • Blackout. The darkest of dark window treatments, blackout window treatments prevent any light from getting through. They are a must-have if you work at night and need to sleep during the day or if you need a very dark room in order to get some sleep.
  • Motorized. Our motorized blinds and shades are perfect if you have trouble sticking to a sleep routine or prefer to wake up naturally with the sun. A programmable system allows you to determine when your window treatments will open and close, so you can set it to open the curtains at sunrise and wake up gently instead of to a blaring alarm.

Explore Bedroom Window Treatments At Orlando Motorized Shades

We have hundreds of colors, styles, and fabrics to choose from to make your room a restful retreat. Schedule an in-home consultation today to learn more about our bedroom window treatment options!

Contact Orlando Motorized Shades at (407) 977-0886 or schedule online today!

Popular Shade Styles | Which Shade Is Right For Me?

What Motorized Shades Are Right For Me?

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Motorized shades are an increasingly popular window covering choice. They’re convenient, less expensive than blinds, easy to operate, and available in enough styles, materials, and colors to complement any home décor.

When they meet with us, many people are surprised by just how many different kinds of shades are available at Orlando Motorized Shades and wonder which ones are best for them. With that in mind, we thought a quick overview of each type of shade could help you make your choice.

All About Shades

First things first, shades are solid pieces of fabric that filter or block light from entering through a window. They can provide privacy, filter or block out light, and roll up to the top of the window to store tidily away when not in use. At Orlando Motorized Shades we offer shades in many different materials from cotton or polyester to linen. Special coatings are available to help resist stains, make cleaning easier, and to help the shade retain its shape.

Shade Types

Orlando Motorized Shades offers five different types of shades – and each one can be motorized for added convenience and functionality! Learning more about each style’s characteristics can help you choose what style is best for your needs.

  1. Pleated Shades. Pleated shades are a clean, classic choice. Consisting of just one single piece of fabric that is pleated in accordion-style, these shades are the perfect privacy provider for any room. Different colors and materials allow in different amounts of light.
  2. Cellular Shades. Cellular shades are made up of two pieces of fabric that are glued together, making them thicker than pleated shades. The design of cellular shades features several open “cells” in between the two layers. These cells trap air between the two layers of fabric, helping to regulate indoor air temperature by preventing heat transfer between the room and the window.
  3. Honeycomb Shades. Honeycomb shades are similar to cellular shades but instead of one layer of cells, there are two layers. This makes them an extremely good choice if you want energy-saving window treatments.
  4. Solar Shades. Solar shades are made of special fabric that prevents UV rays and heat from entering the home. These shades look just like the roller shades your remember from the past – a single layer of thin fabric, but are better at keeping out the sun. They are a great choice for south-facing windows and warm climates in general.
  5. Roman Shades. Roman shades are defined by their elegant folds. Some designs have a permanent folded bottom, others have multiple folds which disappear into one another as the shade is raised. Roman shades are typically made from light and airy materials, which gives them an elegant look even when folded, but reduces their light blocking and energy efficiency capabilities.

Shop All Of These Shade Styles At Orlando Motorized Shades

The best way to decide what shade style would work best in your home is to schedule a consultation with Orlando Motorized Shades. We can bring samples of each shade style and hundreds of fabric options right to you. Shop for the perfect shade in the room where they will be hung! There’s no easier way to pick the perfect shade.

Call (407) 977-0886 to arrange a free on-site consultation today!

Blackout Shades - A Must Have For Every Bedroom

Blackout Shades – A Must Have For Every Bedroom

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Time and time again, we hear the same reports: Americans aren’t getting the sleep they need! According to the CDC, about one-third of U.S. adults report not getting the recommended 7 hours of sleep a night. Do you fall into that category?

Unless you have a condition that makes it difficult to get the sleep you need, there are steps you can take to make your bedroom a welcoming, restful place to get some shut-eye. It’s no surprise that a comfortable mattress and bedding play a strong role in sleep success, but it may surprise you to know that 73% of people surveyed by the National Sleep Foundation said a dark room was important to getting a good night’s sleep.

Dark Rooms Promote Sleep

There’s a biological reason why humans sleep better in a dark room: melatonin. This “sleep hormone” plays a strong role in our sleep-wake cycle and its’ production by our bodies is regulated by exposure to light (natural or artificial) and darkness. Exposure to light of any kind is stimulating to our brains and signals the body to wake up and melatonin production to decrease. Darkness, on the other hand, speeds up melatonin production to help us sleep.

The Best Type Of Blackout Shades For Good Sleep

Blackout shades are one of the best investments in sleep you can make. Even more opaque than room-darkening blinds or shades, blackout shades truly black out a room. Our top choice for the best sleep shades are blackout cellular shades.

Cellular shades are unique in that they offer blackout features as well as light-filtering features as well as thermal and sound-deadening qualities – all in one window treatment! This is important for people who like to let natural light in during the day but struggle when light disrupts their sleep at night. Depending on the material uses, cellular shades can also provide thermal insulation against external heat or cold and some materials deaden outside noise making your bedroom dark and quiet for better sleep.

Blackout cellular shades work great during the day too, making them an ideal solution for night shift workers who need to sleep during the day.

Contact Orlando Motorized Shades To Get The Sleep You Need

If your bedroom is letting light in and it is preventing you from getting the sleep you need, place a call to Orlando Motorized Shades to learn about our blackout cellular shade options.

Arrange a free on-site consultation today by calling (407) 977-0886.

Care And Cleaning Tips For Pleated Shades

Care And Cleaning Tips For Pleated Shades

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One of the biggest questions customers have about pleated shades is how to care for them and keep them clean. Pleated shades consist of a single layer of fabric that is folded accordion style. Like any fabric, they can collect dust, dirt, and allergens, but unlike curtains or blankets, you can’t just toss them in the washing machine. Use the tips below to keep your pleated shades clean and looking great.

Pleated Shades Care Tips

Cleaning pleated shades isn’t difficult once you learn how to do it. Here’s what you need to do to clean pleated shades:

  1. What does the manufacturer recommend? Always check the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning instructions before trying to do any cleaning on your own. Deviating from the instructions can damage fabrics or cause stains. You can find manufacturer cleaning instructions on the original packaging or on the manufacturer website.
  2. Gather your supplies. You won’t need any fancy cleaning equipment to clean pleated shades. In most cases you can use a feather duster, a vacuum with a soft brush attachment, a bucket of warm water and mild detergent/soap, and a hairdryer if you have areas of heavy staining. A hairdryer allows you to quickly spot dry those areas, which will help prevent fading, warping, and staining.
  3. Start cleaning. Starting at the top and working your way down, use the feather duster and vacuum to dislodge dust and debris and clean stains with a damp sponge or rag. Don’t apply too much liquid or pressure to the shade or you may damage the fabric.

Alternative method: If your shades are heavily soiled or if you have allergies and want to conduct a more thorough cleaning of both sides of the shade (and the manufacturer okays water cleaning), take them down and soak them in the tub:

  • Use lukewarm water and a mild cleaning solution.
  • Set shades in the water, but keep the headrail dry and out of the water.
  • Let them soak for a 5-10-minutes, then start wiping away dirt and debris.
  • Once the shades have been wiped down, remove them from the water and towel dry or use a hairdryer.

Regular cleaning will keep your shades cleaner and it will be easier to clean them if you’re wiping them down every week or so as opposed to every year.

Learn More About Pleated Shades at Orlando Motorized Shades

Browse pleated shade styles, colors, and motorization options at Orlando Motorized Shades. Call (407) 977-0886 with questions or to arrange a free in-home consultation.

Cellular Shades Vs. Honeycomb Shades: What’s The Difference?

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If you’ve been shopping for window treatments, you’ve no doubt come across Cellular Shades and Honeycomb Shades. Since these varieties have similarities, the terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between them. Knowing those differences can help you make an informed buying choice when the time comes.

Similarities Between Cellular and Honeycomb Shades

Both Cellular and Honeycomb Shades feature three-dimensional, 6-sided fabric cells as opposed to one flat length of fabric. Unlike blinds, which have slats and can be opened and closed both horizontally and vertically, pleated and honeycomb designs are made of one long strip of fabric. They do not have slats and can only be raised or lowered, not adjusted to allow some light through slats.

Both styles provide energy-saving efficiency, excellent privacy, sound-dampening and light-filtering abilities, and disappear almost completely when raised. They are popular choices for living rooms, dens, and bedrooms or in south-facing rooms where strong sunlight is a problem. They are available in blackout fabrics for even more room darkening benefits.

Differences Between Cellular and Honeycomb Shades

How these shades differ is in the number of cells they have. Cellular shades usually have only one layer of hexagonal cells where honeycomb shades have two layers. These dual layers make honeycomb shades more energy-efficient, more sound dampening, and more light-filtering than cellular shades. It also makes them more expensive, but that is a trade-off many Florida property owners are willing to accept in exchange for a darker, cooler room.

Shop Cellular And Honeycomb Shades At Orlando Motorized Shades

If elegance, energy-savings, and light-filtering are important to you, you can’t go wrong with either type of shade. The choice really comes down to how much of each of these features you want.

It’s even possible to mix and match. Orlando Motorized Shades offers the same or similar fabrics in cellular and honeycomb styles so it is possible to install one type in one window and the other type in another window, helping you meet the specific challenges of each window without sacrificing style or your budget. Both types are available with motorized functions for additional ease of use – something that is very handy as the sun makes its way across the sky!

Contact us at 407-977-0886 to learn more about Cellular or Honeycomb Shades, explore our fabrics, and receive a custom quote!

Inside Cellular Shades: How Honeycomb Designs Improve Energy Efficiency

Inside Cellular Shades: How Honeycomb Designs Improve Energy Efficiency

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Cellular shades are known for being among the most energy-efficient shades on the market. The reason for that is found in the design of the shades.

Cellular Shade Design Is The Secret To Energy Savings

Cellular shades consist of two pieces of fabric that are glued together at certain points but left unattached at others to form a honeycomb design or air pocket in between the two layers. The honeycomb shaped opening helps protect rooms from heat gain or heat loss by trapping air in between the two pieces of fabric. The trapped air acts as an insulator and temperature regulator. It blocks outside air from coming in to the house and prevent inside air from escaping through the window.

This is important since most heat loss/gain occurs through the windows of a home. In the summer, heat from outside and intense sunlight can warm up a room very quickly and cause A/C units to work almost continuously to maintain the home’s temperature. In winter, the opposite happens, with warmer indoor air, trying to escape through the window to the cooler outside air.

Cellular shades are so effective at preventing heat transfer that they can boost a window’s R-value by anywhere from 3.50 to 5.00.

Fabric Selection Plays A Role Too

Cellular shades and, in particular, the pockets of air inside the shades, provide insulating benefits by preventing this transfer of air. But supporting those insulation benefits are the fabrics used in cellular shades. Thicker, more opaque fabrics can further reduce heat transfer and filter sunlight, which can warm up a room all by itself. Thinner fabrics let in more light and are a good choice for rooms that face north or east or don’t get a lot of direct sunlight.

Start Enjoying Energy Savings With Cellular Shades

No matter what kind of fabric you choose, the cellular shades at Orlando Motorized Shades will transform the look and feel of a room – how much it is transformed is up to you. We have thousands of fabrics to choose from, allowing you to select the absolute perfect shades for every room of your home.

Contact us at 407-977-0886 to learn more about the energy-saving benefits of cellular shades or to make an appointment for an in-home consultation.