Whether you’re designing an office space, hotel room, or a storefront, window treatments will play a big role in creating a comfortable, functional commercial space. But with hundreds of options at your disposal–blinds vs. shades, motorized vs. manual, sheer vs. blackout–choosing the right commercial window treatments can seem daunting. To help you get started in making your decision, we’ve listed some of the most important factors to consider when you’re deciding what commercial window treatments are right for your business.
- Light control. Before you begin shopping for window treatments, it’s important to determine what problems you’re trying to solve in your space. Is there a 2 p.m. glare in your office every afternoon that makes it hard to see computer screens? Are you trying to prevent UV damage to items in your retail store? Hoping to prevent the sun from shining directly into the eyes of the customers at your coffee shop? Each of these problems can be met with a different solution, so narrowing down the exact issues will help your window treatment company create the best plan for your space.
- Motorization. Ask yourself how much time you want to spend thinking about your window treatments, as well as how much control you’d like yourself and your customers or employees to have over them. If you know the sun will be shining in your eyes at promptly 2 p.m. each day, you may want to consider motorized window treatments, which you can program to open and close throughout the day. Manual window treatments might be best for places where customer experience is key and personal preference will vary, like in a coffee shop or hotel room. Of course, there is also the option to install remote-control operated window treatments, which can offer the best of both worlds.
- Costs. Window treatments are a major investment, but it’s also important to consider the cost-savings and energy reduction certain window treatments can offer. Window treatments with insulation properties, like honeycomb shades or lined drapery, can keep an environment warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer by preventing heat loss through window panes, for example. Or, by choosing light filtering window treatments that automatically open and close according to the placement of the sun, you can maximize the use of natural light in your space, minimizing the energy required to illuminate it.
Want to learn more about creating a commercial window treatment plan? Get in touch with The Shades Company to schedule a complimentary on-site consultation with one of our experts.
