For many homeowners, blinds might not be the first priority in their home improvement budget. But window coverings are a necessity in any house, whether you want to provide some privacy for your family or just give your home the finishing touches that have been missing.

Although the money you spend on blinds can vary, they are an investment that requires careful consideration before you even leave your home. So throw what you thought you knew about blinds out the window and consider these basic tips before you purchase them.

What’s Your Perfect Match?

Before you order your blinds, you’ll need to dig deep to discover what you really want. Write down your answers to these questions before you do anything else. And use a pencil, just to be on the safe side!

Quantity

Will you need blinds for your entire house, just one room or a number in between? Cost is definitely a consideration here, so look at the number that will best fit into your budget or set a realistic timeline for covering all your windows.

Size

How long or wide do your blinds need to be to fit your windows? Remember, width is actually listed first on window sizes.

Type

Would you like your blinds to be vertical or horizontal? What kind of material? There are tons of options here, and more arriving on the market all the time, so take note of the styles that catch your eye and keep an open mind.

Mounting system

Would you like your blinds to be mounted inside your window frame? An important consideration here is whether small children will be around the blinds. In that case, look at the cordless styles or use a cord cleat that brings the continuous cord loop back into the top of the blind to avoid any potential dangers.

Color

Which hues work best for your home? Don’t underestimate the impact the right – or wrong – blinds will make in your overall décor, and think about how they will match your trim.

Measure Up

Have you ever ordered blinds, only to discover that the size you received isn’t quite right? If so, you’re not alone. Few people have learned the surprisingly simple guidelines for measuring their windows for inside-mount blinds. No house is perfectly square, and as a result, bowed trim might cause the width of your windows to vary from point to point. Avoid this potential pitfall by measuring the width of the top, middle and bottom of the inside of the window. Use the smallest of the three measurements as your width when ordering. As you’ve probably learned from past mistakes, knowing your windows’ length isn’t as important as having the correct width.

You Can Do It

What is the good news about purchasing new blinds for your home? Installation is easy, even if you aren’t a die-hard do-it-yourselfer. If you can read directions, you can install blinds. Brackets and instructions are included with the blinds, so the only thing you’ll need is an electric screwdriver and a little time.

So open your mind – and your windows! Write a list of what you want in your dream blinds, dig out that tape measure, and get started on giving your home the privacy and polished look it deserves with window blinds