Discovering Printed Window Treatments
Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of companies that offer printed window treatments. I've had the experience of working with a variety of these products and I have discovered that not all window scenes are created equally.
Printed window blinds are a unique option. There are a few companies that provide vertical blinds that have images transfused onto the surface. These are cool because you can open and close the blinds to change your few at any given time. Typically, these can be very expensive. Often costing thousands of dollars just for a set of sliding glass doors.
Another option is printed window roller shades. These may look great on the internet, but I can promise you that you will be extremely disappointed once you install these at home. While the concept is great, the physics simply do not work. When the sun hits the back side of a roller shade it becomes virtually invisible. At night time the lights are on in your home, your neighbors can still see directly into your home! I recommend staying away from this option.
If you still would like to enjoy a window with a printed view - you could look into printed static cling window film. This product applies directly to the glass surface. There a few companies that will actually print scenic window film (pictures of tropical views, mountain ranges, etc.). Decorative window film is enhanced when light hits the backside. The light acts as an illumination and makes the scene glow. It's also removable so if you care to take it on and off you can easily do so.
Other forms of printed window film offer textures such as stained glass and frosted glass. These are also great options and are often very inexpensive. Be careful not to purchase an option with an adhesive backing - this makes for a difficult installation.
Almost all of these options provide some protection against sun and heat. They can often be more energy efficient that window blinds. In addition to that, window films offer a great solution for hard to cover windows. For example: the arch above a front entry way is almost impossible to find a solution for. Static cling window film can be cut to shape and fit into the area. It's virtually impossible to find window treatments for sliding glass doors. Vertical blinds are about the only choice. However, window cling decals can be created large enough to cover the entire area.
I recommend to research your options wisely. Pay attention to the transparency of the product during the day, the adhesive quality, and the price. Arm yourself with this info and you'll be able to find the option that is a perfect fit for your windows.
You can find most of these options by a simple Google search. I discovered one resource that has multiple products for printed window treatments - Create My Scene.
Printed window blinds are a unique option. There are a few companies that provide vertical blinds that have images transfused onto the surface. These are cool because you can open and close the blinds to change your few at any given time. Typically, these can be very expensive. Often costing thousands of dollars just for a set of sliding glass doors.
Another option is printed window roller shades. These may look great on the internet, but I can promise you that you will be extremely disappointed once you install these at home. While the concept is great, the physics simply do not work. When the sun hits the back side of a roller shade it becomes virtually invisible. At night time the lights are on in your home, your neighbors can still see directly into your home! I recommend staying away from this option.
If you still would like to enjoy a window with a printed view - you could look into printed static cling window film. This product applies directly to the glass surface. There a few companies that will actually print scenic window film (pictures of tropical views, mountain ranges, etc.). Decorative window film is enhanced when light hits the backside. The light acts as an illumination and makes the scene glow. It's also removable so if you care to take it on and off you can easily do so.
Other forms of printed window film offer textures such as stained glass and frosted glass. These are also great options and are often very inexpensive. Be careful not to purchase an option with an adhesive backing - this makes for a difficult installation.
Almost all of these options provide some protection against sun and heat. They can often be more energy efficient that window blinds. In addition to that, window films offer a great solution for hard to cover windows. For example: the arch above a front entry way is almost impossible to find a solution for. Static cling window film can be cut to shape and fit into the area. It's virtually impossible to find window treatments for sliding glass doors. Vertical blinds are about the only choice. However, window cling decals can be created large enough to cover the entire area.
I recommend to research your options wisely. Pay attention to the transparency of the product during the day, the adhesive quality, and the price. Arm yourself with this info and you'll be able to find the option that is a perfect fit for your windows.
You can find most of these options by a simple Google search. I discovered one resource that has multiple products for printed window treatments - Create My Scene.
