Design Studio™ Roller Shades
If you’re shopping for blinds, shades, or curtains for your child’s room, you might have questions like…
- How safe are they?
- Do they block enough sunlight?
- Will my child like the design?
We’ll go through all these considerations and more.
Focus on safety first
Did you know that child-safe window treatments are a great investment, even if you don’t have kids? These days, more and more homebuyers are requiring child-safe blinds as part of the home inspection process. Plus, many pet owners also understand the importance of choosing a safe option.
Modern Precious Metals® Aluminum Blinds
Cordless Systems
Long, dangling cords can be dangerous for little ones. Cordless systems completely remove that hazard. You might choose pull-down shades, retractable lift cords, or a motorized system.
Your options are nearly endless when it comes to cordless operating systems. The Hunter Douglas options that we offer include:
- Literise®: Simple and easy to operate. Just push up or pull down on the bottom rail to raise or lower your shades.
- Simplelift™: No handle is required. You can gently raise and lower your window treatment by pressing a button on the contoured bottom rail.
- Vertiglide™: Cordless side-to-side operation with a shade that collapses horizontally instead of lifting up and down.
- Duette® Ultraglide: A single retractable wand or cord (your choice) always remains a constant length whether your window treatment is raised or lowered.
Motorization
Motorization offers the best combination of safety and convenience. Cordless, motorized window treatments can be opened and closed simply by pushing a button or tapping a mobile device. If your window coverings are connected to a smart-home system, you can even control them with voice commands.
One major safety benefit that remote controlled window treatments offer is privacy. For example, if your kids will be in the house before you get back from work, you can program the blinds to close at 3pm, or you can choose to close them remotely from your smartphone.
Motorized systems to consider:
- PowerView® Motorization: An innovative system that allows you to move your shades according to schedules you set. Or you can operate them with a tablet, smartphone, or remote. PowerView is also compatible with home automation systems.
- Softouch™Motorization: A battery-powered system that lets you adjust your shades by gently pulling down or pushing up on a wand that remains safely up off the ground.
- Skylift™ Skylight System: Motorization is a convenient option for hard-to-reach skylights in children’s bedrooms and playrooms.
Other child-safety features
Here are even more options for avoiding potentially hazardous cords:
- Wand control can easily replace a cord system, and many homeowners also prefer the simple, sleek design.
- Cord tensioners can hold looped cords taut and keep them out of the way, so that children and pets can’t get tangled up in them.
- A wand and cord combination combines the tilt and open/close functions of your blinds into one control that keeps cords out of reach. Here’s a picture:
Luminette® Privacy Sheers
Light dimming or blackout shades for better sleep
Kids tend to need more sleep than adults. While adults are advised to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend the following amount of sleep per day for kids at various ages:
- 4 to 12 months: 12-16 hours (including naps)
- 1 to 2 years: 11-14 hours (including naps)
- 3 to 5 years: 10-13 hours (including naps)
- 6 to 12 years: 9-12 hours
- 13 to 18 years: 8-10 hours
Every child is different, so there’s not one single sleep prescription that works for everyone. However, early school days, homework, and increasing time (on average) spent looking at screens all work together to prevent many kids from getting as much sleep as they need. Light dimming or blackout shades can help kids get better sleep, especially during summer when there are more hours of daylight.
Some parents don’t like the idea of blackout curtains because they don’t want their kids’ rooms to feel like a dark cave. Luckily, there are many modern options that aren’t overly thick and stifling. The room-darkening shades and curtains we carry at Portland Window Coverings give you complete control over the amount of light that enters the room, especially when you choose the right combination of shades and curtains.
Does your child like the design?
EverWood® Alternative Wood Blinds
Safety and functionality are probably at the top of your list, but they might not be your child’s highest priority. Situations like this are exactly why custom window treatments are such a great option. It makes it easy for you to get all the features you’re looking for in a design that your child loves!
Our designers can help you select the perfect window treatments for your child’s room
Visit our Tigard showroom to see our full collection and choose from a huge selection of styles, colors, and materials. Our designers will be there to answer all your questions.
You can also schedule a free in-home consultation, which is a great option if you have specific safety concerns in your home that you’d like us to take a look at. An in-home consultation is also helpful for anyone who has uniquely-shaped windows or unusual spaces.
Whether you’re decorating your infant’s nursery, setting up a playroom, or putting the finishing touches on a teen’s bedroom decor, we’d love to help however we can!