I need to buy blinds for my new place and don't really know anything about them. I was looking for some suggestions for what brand to get, where to get them, and is it worth to pay for them to be installed.

6/12/2007 12:51:06 PM

installing blinds is not hard at all.. but it depends on what level of handymanness (word?) you feel comfortable with.

6/12/2007 12:57:49 PM

just go to Lowe's or Home Depot and ask someone who isn't busy. There are many different types and sizes-some have to be cut. It's not hard to install them-it's hard getting the ones you like in the sizes you need.

6/12/2007 1:03:22 PM

yeah, make sure you measure what you have/need before you go in..

6/12/2007 1:06:14 PM

i am about to buy some for my new house and i don't really want to pay 2K for it, I might look at some online sites to get them from, cause lowes wants about 65.00 a window (installation included). Fuck that shit - blinds shouldn't be that fucking much. Should be able to find some online for a lot less...

6/12/2007 1:09:43 PM

keep your eye on the thursday circulars for Home Depot. Whenever we do decor pieces, we almost always have deals on Bali and other window treatments/blinds/etc.

[Edited on June 12, 2007 at 1:11 PM. Reason : .]

6/12/2007 1:09:56 PM

Blinds and shades are fairly inexpensive if you have standard window sizes, and ridiculously expensive if you need them custom ordered,

6/12/2007 1:17:56 PM

^^ good advice... i'm gonna have to buy at least a few windows worth as the ones i have are real wood, but finished in that circa-1984 dark-brown wood stain color (as is all the trim in the house).. i'm painting all the trim white and the blinds obviously need to match.

[Edited on June 12, 2007 at 1:18 PM. Reason : had to add ^]

6/12/2007 1:18:03 PM

levelor blinds ftw

6/12/2007 1:22:41 PM

ft$ though

6/12/2007 1:28:34 PM

I got my faux wood blinds from Wal-Mart (bark all you want, they were cheap).

It may sound obvious, but don't just measure from edge to edge and get that size. It needs to be a bit skinnier than your edges. 34" blinds fit inside a 36" hole -- obvious, but you'd be surprised how you can get to the store and think "Does this box mean it's a blind meant for a 36" hole, or are these actually 36" wide..."

Hanging them isn't EASY, but it's not worth paying for someone to do. All you need is a screwdriver, maybe a ladder, and a drill is mighty helpful. Typically, the directions inside blind boxes are garbage, but I'm sure there's a tutorial on Google if you need it.

6/12/2007 1:30:13 PM

did the one's you got have a smooth finish to them and look like the wood ones? a lot of the cheaper ones have a cheap looking finish. I don't mind installing them, but i don't really want to pay more than 30 bucks or so a window...

6/12/2007 1:39:48 PM

I got mine @ JC Penny, 5 pair for $19 each. They were on sale but they go on sale frequently.

6/12/2007 4:12:22 PM

You got faux wood blinds for $19 each???

Anyone ever hear of this guy http://www.cjsblinds.com/ ?

6/13/2007 11:05:39 AM

If anyone else is looking for blinds, you can get a coupon for 15 percent off window treatments from JC Penney if you pick up a change of address packet from the post office. Plus right now they're having a "summer shade sale."

6/13/2007 11:14:10 AM

Damn, looks like we have a winner.

http://tinyurl.com/2dr2w6

How the hell do you measure for blinds? I couldn't understand their explanation.

6/13/2007 11:16:36 AM

can you get those blinds without the textured finish, i want some with a smooth finish for cheap

6/13/2007 11:41:03 AM

Those JC Penney sale prices are good. Their regular prices and custom prices can get ridiculous though.

I ordered some double cell room darkening blinds from AmericanBlinds.com and they are awesome. They were about $100 each but it was a significant savings over any place locally.

For the rest of the house I used Lowe's 2" faux wood white vinyl blinds. Most of the windows in our house were 35x52 or thereabouts so I bought and installed a crapload of them. I believe they were less than $30 each. Each took about 15 minutes to install after I got all the tools out.

If you are placing the blinds inside the window frame, take exact width and height measurements of each window with you to the store. The blinds I bought took into account the measurements so when I bought a 35" blind it was actually 34.5" so there was a little space on each side. But check on this before you leave the store. You may need to open a box or two to verify.

-- Dave

6/13/2007 11:54:22 AM

I love the blinds I got from Home Depot. They were reasonably priced (maybe 35) & look very nice. I got the standard, in stock, wood colored ones.

I also have the standard wood ones they keep in stock at Lowes in the upstairs, but I don't like them as much. When it's sunny, they look very orange.

6/13/2007 1:14:03 PM

Thanks for posting that link David0603. I think I'll go ahead and get some for a couple of rooms in my house.

6/13/2007 1:30:51 PM

installed them at my new place right after move-in - have a friend help and it will take no time at all - drill some holes - screw in the screws - slide in - close latch - add valence - done

the worst part of it all is shortening them - which on most of your windows hopefully will be optional

6/13/2007 2:19:59 PM

Why do you shorten them? So you don't have the extra stuff resting on the bottom?

6/13/2007 2:37:00 PM

yeah so when they are fully extended there aren't a lot of extra slats - i'd pay someone to just shorten them if possible just because it angered me doing it - i only did it on the front door window because it looks stupid otherwise

6/13/2007 8:04:18 PM