Maintaining an attractive and functional workspace can be a challenge for even the most interior decorating-savvy facility management team. Budget, taste and time constraints abound when trying to stay looking fresh and updated with minimal impact on the environment.
Let a building’s windows make a visual impact
One of the most impactful interior spaces to redesign is on those window panes. Select a high quality window treatment to use in a facility to introduce a consistent design element that helps tie in multiple room layouts and themes.
Freshen up décor with minimal investment and enjoy a functional design element that can lend itself to any number of color updates, event themes or future interior decorating scheme shifts.
With thousands of material, color and light control options available throughout the marketplace, window coverings could be anything from organic woven wood shades to warp resistant and long-lasting faux wood blinds to custom printed roller shades with the company’s logo on them. Sophisticated printing processes in the window covering world means being able to order custom patterns to match wall color or upholstery fabric.
Look great and save money on utilities
Window treatments are the unsung heroes of the energy efficiency world. According to the National Resources Defense Council, as much as one-third of a building’s energy can be lost through windows and doors annually. Installing insulating, well-fitted window coverings can help reduce that loss dramatically. Want an idea of how much? Blinds.com offers an energy savings calculator to help customers estimate their energy savings using a number of different window treatments.
Smart window covering habits are key. Just as people shut off lights when leaving a room, getting employees used to closing blinds and shades to keep rooms cool in the summer and warmer in the winter is important. Following are a few of the top insulating window treatments that look great and perform even better:
Unsure of where to start when updating window design? Below are some considerations to take when looking for updated window coverings:
- What is the purpose of the room? The way an organization uses rooms might entirely change a window covering strategy. For instance, conference or media rooms lend themselves well to blackout shades or window treatments with detachable liners provide a projector and video display friendly environment when needed.
Restrooms, kitchens or rooms that experience a lot of direct sunlight might be perfect candidates for the classy look of faux wood blinds. They offer the same classic style as traditional wood blinds, but are incredibly hardy, warp resistant and easy to clean.
- What kind of guest will be around the windows? Child safety is a major concern in the window covering industry and should be a priority for FMs who welcome children on to the property. Be sure to install cordless window coverings for any windows within reach and go above and beyond by retrofitting existing treatments according to the Window Safety Council (www.windowcoverings.org).
- Where are windows located? Are sunny windows hard to reach? There are many remote control operated window coverings that help manage those tall or hard to reach treatments to block out bright midday sunshine.
- Is difficult lighting limiting the usage of a space? A surprising number of buildings forget to tackle hot and uncomfortable sunlight with modern and easy-to-install solar shades. Not only do these shades make rooms more livable by acting as sunglasses for windows, but they also block harmful (and furniture fading) UV rays and eliminate glare.
- Is privacy an issue? Take advantage of the variety of lift options available on the market. For rooms wanting to let in light, but limit visibility from the outside in, many buildings are embracing the “top-down-bottom-up” feature. This lift system allows a user to completely adjust light and visibility by lifting or lowering the top and the bottom of a window shade. FMJ
Cellular honeycomb shades
When it comes to insulating a home or building, cellular shades can’t be beat. Thanks to their “pockets” or “honeycomb cells,” these shades trap hot or cold air from the outside which helps prevent temperature changes The more cells a cell shade has (usually available in single, double or triple cell form) and the larger those cells are, the greater the energy savings and added insulation. Look for blackout and light filtering cell shades too, as they’ll help reduce hot sunlight that can enter a room even more dramatically.
Another cell shade bonus? When not in use, the shade stacks high and tight providing a completely unobstructed view out of windows.
Shutters
Custom shutters are the closest fitting treatments that can be placed in windows. Because of this tight fit, they prevent the transmission of air between the window covering and the glass of the window, which reduces energy costs dramatically.
Solar shades
The beauty of solar shades is they are great for both indoor and outdoor light control. Fall back in love with a patio (sans the sunbeams and pesky insects) by installing outdoor shades to increase meeting and congregation space. Or install solar shades indoors to eliminate glare off computer monitors and television screens without losing visibility to the outside world.
Most solar shades come with the continuous cord loop option, make opening and closing even the largest windows’ solar shades a smooth and easy operation.
Wood blinds
For an upscale and classic window design look, consider wood blinds which also can go a long way in decreasing an energy bill. Look for the “routeless” option which eliminates the holes in the center of the wood blinds slats, allowing them to close tighter. When closing wood blinds, further maximize their insulation properties by closing the blinds with the leading edge up.
Earth happy window covering options
For the eco-conscious organization, there are many Earth-friendly window products to suit nearly any window design or function. Search for GREENGUARD certified products that bear the stamp of GREENGUARD Environmental Institute to promote products that meet standards for indoor air.
Don’t forget to look at the window treatment companies themselves to align a facility with smart and sustainable manufacturing, packaging and products from start to finish. Seek out window covering companies that are committed to using durable, natural and non-toxic materials are essential to taking care of the environment, visitors and tenants. There are window treatment companies that encourage customers to donate old window coverings to Habitat for Humanity or local nonprofits to help cover their windows at no cost and help eliminate landfill waste.
