Stay Warm This Winter With Custom Window Treatments
Old Man Winter is here in Florida, and it’s likely that he’ll stick around for at least another few weeks. While we do not have to deal with the snow and freezing cold winds like our northern neighbors do, Floridians do usually like to keep a warm home during the winter months. Here are some ways that your window treatments can make the difference between having to turn on the heat and just letting the sun keep your house comfortable this winter.
Figure Out Which Way Your House Faces
If you aren’t sure which way your house faces, it’s important to find out if you want to take advantage of natural light and heating. If you’re up early enough, take a look at where the sun rises; that will be in the east. Barring that, watch to see where the sun sets, and that’s to the west. If you’re facing east, north will be to your left, and south will be to your right. In the winter, the northern and eastern rooms will tend to be chillier than the southern and western rooms.
Open and Close Your Curtains, Blinds and Shutters Throughout the Day
Now that you know which direction each window of your house is facing, it’s time to plan how you will keep your rooms warm. In the morning when you wake up, open the curtains, blinds and shutters in the windows that face east. This will allow the gentle morning rays to come in. If it’s a windy day, you’ll want to keep the northern, southern and western window coverings closed, as they will add an extra layer of insulation.
As the sun rises higher in the sky, you’ll want to switch how you have your blinds. Begin covering those on the eastern side once the sun is on the other side of your roof; this is when you should open the blinds on the windows facing west. Keep those open until the sun has gone below the tree line (or, if you’re on the beach, until shortly before sunset).
Use Curtains and Shutters as Insulation
When the wind is blowing and the temperatures are low, keeping almost all of the windows (not counting those in direct sunlight) completely covered will minimize the amount of cold air seeping into your home. Keep the shades down and the blinds and shutters closed. If you have thick curtains, draw those, too. Of course, the darker a room is, the colder it feels, so you’ll need to compensate by turning on the lights or lighting candles to help brighten the space.
When used in conjunction with turning on the heat for just a little while at night and in the early morning, you can reduce your energy bills when you rely on the sun and your window treatments to warm your home through the winter.
If you are looking for custom shades, blinds and shutters in Florida, please call Florida Shutters and Blinds. We can provide a free consultation appointment so you can see the products we carry and decide what would work best for your windows. Call today!