Window Coverings Combine Flair with Safety

wallcovering tips

    Buying a new house? Or do you plan to re-model because the house you love needs a fresh attitude? Whatever your stage of decorating decision-making, dealing with windows and their coverings is undoubtedly high on your list.

    When you figure that each room of a house averages at least two windows, you begin to realize that the color and style of the window coverings will play a starring role in your overall decorating scheme.

    Today there are more choices than ever, ranging from draperies, vertical blinds and curtains to miniblinds, pleated shades, roller shades and wood blinds. And more and more consumers are using one or more of these choices to "layer" their window fashions.

    For instance, with wooden blinds you can add an exotic fabric fashioned into drapes to soften the look and to complement your furniture. Or how about this combo for a family room? Roller shades for privacy in a bright yellow, topped with a lighter color yellow in a soft and airy sheer voile to give fashion flair.

    The good news about all of these window fashion options is that manufacturers now have the technology to make them without the potentially dangerous window cords.

    In fact, many industry executives predict that within just a few years, cords will be obsolete, replaced by spring-loaded miniblinds and pleated shades that simply require pulling up or down on the bottom bar to raise or lower them.

    But if you plan to keep your older window coverings for a while, here are some simple steps that can make a world of difference to your peace of mind and eliminate the possibility of your child becoming entangled or strangling.

    Parents should also be aware of the danger posed by inner cords that run vertically from the headrail to bottom rail. When corded blinds and shades are lowered but not locked into position, infants have reportedly been able to grasp a portion of the inner cord, pull it into their cribs and around their necks. To eliminate this problem, install cord stops, which prevent inner-cord slack when a blind is lowered but not locked.

    First, when furnishing and decorating, make sure to locate cribs and beds away from windows where dangling cords are reachable. But look beyond the bedrooms. Living rooms, home offices, or any room where there is a corded window covering should be childproofed so sofas and chairs cannot provide children with climbing access to a window.

    If you have two-corded horizontal blinds or pleated shades made before 1995, cutting and tasseling cords is the next step. Cut the looped pull cord above the tassel (the thimble-like knob). Then remove the buckle and add two new tassels at the end of each cord.

    If you have window treatments that feature a continuous pulley system, such as vertical blinds or certain draw draperies, secure their cords or chains to the floor, wall or window jamb using a cleat or tie-down device.