About Bamboo Blinds

Many people when faced with the task of installing bamboo blinds become unsure of their abilities. This bamboo blinds how to guide is designed to give you peace of mind and will save you hundreds of dollars in install costs. Bamboo blinds are one of the easiest styles of wood blinds to measure and install. This guide will teach you how to measure for you new bamboo blinds.

How to Measure Bamboo Blinds
The first choice you have to make is whether you will install your new blinds on the inside or the outside of the window frame. If you have a small window that you want to look bigger you will perform an outside mount, if you want your large window to look smaller then you will perform an inside mount. It is very important that you decide prior to ordering for your new bamboo blinds or heading off the your local home improvement store.

Inside Mount:
You will start at the top of the window by measuring the inside of the frame horizontally. Do not allow for room on either side for the blinds, you want the exact distance from left to right. The manufacturer has already accounted for this by about a half an inch. The measurement on the box is the size of the window frame not the blinds. If ordering custom bamboo blinds specify the width of the window frame to the manufacturer and they will cut them accordingly. Also specify the length of the window frame from top down to the bottom of the window seal.

Outside Mount:
When installing blinds on the outside of the window frame you have more room for error. You will want to allow for about two to four inches on either side, depending on the size of the window. If buying precut blinds understand that the horizontal measurement on the box is about a half an inch larger than the actual blind width. Knowing this little tip will save you time and frustration. Custom bamboo blinds will give you the luxury of getting the perfect fit, horizontally and vertically.

Roll-Up Blinds vs. Roman Slat Blinds
When purchasing pre-cut blinds you will also want to consider your style choice by ease of adjusting the vertical length. Roll-up bamboo blinds are not adjustable. Whatever the length on the box is the length you will be installing, always error on the side of too long as opposed to too short. Roman style bamboo blinds can be adjusted with little difficulty and will give you that “exact fit”. This option is much cheaper than custom blinds and will work well on most normal sized windows.
Take your measurements, choose your style and start browsing!

There are a variety of different types of bamboo blinds available to choose from. They vary in color, style, size, cost and whether you are in the market for interior or exterior blinds. Prior to going shopping for your new bamboo blinds it is best to be aware of what is available, as many times you may discover a type of blind you didn’t even know existed.

Colors
Bamboo blinds come in an array of different colors. Many times our first reaction is that they are all an earthy brown color. But this could be further from the truth. The blinds can range any where from a bright white on down the scale to midnight black. Some of the colors you may find include: Mahogany, rosewood, and cappuccino, nutmeg, cherry, white oak and antique. Bamboo blinds will often color coordinate with any décor.

Style
There are two main styles of bamboo blinds. The first is the roll-up style. With this type you roll them up and secure at the top with a string. Another variety is you pull one string to raise the blind and another to release it. The roll-up style blind is the cheapest and often the easiest to install.

The second style is the Roman blinds style. The slats are larger and you push a rod upwards to raise the slats allowing the sunlight to pass through. Roman style bamboo blinds can be a bit costly but add an element of class and elegance to any room.

Bamboo blinds also are available for your outdoor patio. If you are getting too much sun in the afternoon and want to add a little shade, bamboo is the way to go. They clean up easily and remain weather resistant year after year with very little maintenance.

Cost
The roll-up style of bamboo blinds can be purchased for as little as $20 and you will find the Roman style blinds starting at about $45. The blinds in this price category are for pre-cut blinds. If you have a standard window size you will find more than enough styles to fit your fancy. If your window is anomalous you will then want to purchase custom blinds. Custom blinds are still well with in the budget of most homeowners. When it comes to trying to “make it fit” and having the “perfect fit”, custom bamboo blinds are the way to go.

The best course of action is to shop the internet and find the best styles that fit your décor. Choose your price range, style and color. You won’t be disappointed.

Sustainable Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources being used in homes today. With the concerns of global warming many eco-conscious consumers have opted for a more “earth smart” way to furnish their homes. Bamboo blinds offer a stylish way to enhance your decor with the satisfaction of knowing that you’re doing your part to give back. But what makes bamboo such an attractive “earth smart” alternative to hardwood blinds?

Bamboo and Maturity
Let’s start with the amount of time it takes for hardwood trees to reach maturity. Many of us have an oak tree or a maple tree sitting in the back yard that has been there for years, from year to year it seems like it barely grows. In fact it will take an oak tree 80 – 120 years before it will reach maturity. When you compare this to bamboo, which takes just five to seven short years to mature, the obvious choice is bamboo. It can take well over a hundred years to replace a hardwood forest after it has been logged but only takes a few short years to regenerate a bamboo forest. With this being said bamboo is considered to be the fastest growing plant on earth, at times measured to grow over 48 inches in a single day and can grow to full height in a single growing season. Bamboo blinds offer an affordable solution to deforestation in North and South America.

Bamboo and the Atmosphere
By choosing bamboo blinds you are choosing to reduce your carbon footprint, literally. It has been estimated by the World Wild Fund that an acre of bamboo can store 6.88 metric tons of carbon per year. In comparison that’s 70% more than an acre of hardwoods. When the bamboo is used in flooring and household furnishings a treatment is applied that locks in the carbon for decades, not allowing it to escape into the atmosphere. Another fact that will help you breathe a little easier is that a bamboo plant can give off 35% more oxygen than a hardwood tree, providing a further benefit to you and the atmosphere.

Be Delighted
So if you are a responsible eco-conscious consumer, bamboo blinds are a great alternative to hardwood blinds. Bamboo grows ten times faster than hardwood and provides a much cleaner atmosphere and environment. Now you can breathe a fresh breath of air every time you enjoy your new bamboo blinds and be delighted that you made an “earth smart” selection.