From company office buildings to multi-use centres, windows play a key role in the space, acting as a focal point, source of natural light and a way to anchor the room. Often times, accenting and leveraging a space’s windows is key to its functionality. As such, choosing the appropriate commercial blinds and shades for the various types of windows found in different buildings is vitally important.
Here are a few key characteristics many commercial spaces will see in their windows, and some of the best and most suitable window treatments.
Spaces With Great Views
If you’re furnishing a commercial space with a great view, whether scenic or skyline, you’ll want to ensure the window treatments you choose do their best to accent this feature. If you want to ensure you’re making the most of showing off these views, look for window treatments that can be pulled up as tightly as possible. Motorized roller shades are great options for this, especially because they can be programmed to raise and lower during specified times of day to allow in optimal amounts of light. Honeycomb shades are equally popular, especially those with motorized functionality. Additionally, top-down bottom-up shades are a versatile option when it comes to providing privacy and unobstructed views. These can be especially useful when furnishing a space that offers a great view but isn’t several storeys tall.
Whether these windows are in a high-rise building, recreational centre or a condo building, you’ll want to ensure that all users and residents are afforded great views.
Spaces With Large Windows
If you’re working with a space that has very large or oversized windows, you’ll want to ensure that you choose suitable window treatments and pay special attention to the weight of the blinds or shades. Continuous cord loops are one option that will make raising and lowering blinds easier, especially if they are particularly heavy. Alternatively, cordless and motorized shades make it easier and more efficient to operate blinds that span across a large window.
Alternatively, rather than having one set of blinds or shades to cover the entire window, consider opting for multiple window treatments installed on a single rail, or installing them side-by-side. This can help break the window up, and can be configured to suit the aesthetic of the space, especially if you opt for customized blinds or shades.
Leveraging large windows within schools, healthcare centres, high-rise buildings or even multi-use centres is key for taking advantage of natural light, scenic views and creating a feeling of openness throughout the space.
Spaces With Multi-Storey Windows
These windows are most often found on high-rise office or residential buildings, and are best suited for top-down bottom-up window treatments. These shades allow you to cover the bottom half of the window without blocking your view. Depending on the direction the windows face, blackout shades or other window treatments with light-blocking capabilities can be especially useful to keep the sun’s rays at bay.
Top-down, bottom-up window treatments can be an important consideration especially within residential buildings that face other high-rise buildings, as they can afford residents an appropriate level of privacy.
Space With Direct Sunlight
If you’re furnishing a commercial space that has west-or east-facing windows, you may consider window treatments that can keep sunlight and heat in check. Honeycomb shades, also known as cellular shades, are ideal for this, because of their insulation properties. More specifically, you can consider room darkening cellular shades, or light-filtering shades which have light-blocking capabilities without totally blocking out sunlight. Alternatively, blackout shades offer the most blockage.
These types of window treatments are ideal for office or educational buildings and other commercial spaces where occupants use screens, as well as bedrooms within residential buildings.
Hard-To-Reach Windows
There are many commercial spaces that have windows in hard-to-reach places, making it tricky to find window treatment solutions that are functional. Motorized shades are perhaps the ideal window treatment for these types of windows as they can be pre-programmed to raise or lower, or controlled remotely. Many honeycomb and cellular shades leverage motorized capabilities, and some horizontal blind styles also offer remote control and motorized tilt options.
These types of windows are commonly found in industrial buildings, schools and multi- or high-rise buildings.
Undoubtedly, there are window treatment solutions currently on the market that will likely suit the space whose windows you’re contending with. From commercial motorized window shades to honeycomb and cellular shades, there are a number of window treatment options ideal for any commercial space.
