If you or a family member are light sleepers, consider installing a shade with a premium blackout liner, which can help a person get an extra 45 minutes to an hour of sleep each night. This shade is from Budget Blinds (don’t let the name of the franchise fool you—the window treatments the company offers are high quality—it makes curtains, shades, shutters and blinds for every budget—low to high—and provides top-notch custom service, too). And according to Budget Blinds expert Suzi Carragher sleeping problems aren’t uncommon. In fact, she notes that 65 percent of respondents to a 2008 Sleep Foundation study reported experiencing sleep problems at least a few nights a week, and 44 percent reported that they had problems sleeping every night.
One of the best ways to get a better night’s sleep, she says, is to get a blackout liner on your window treatments. This one is a simple cotton soft Roman shade with a premium liner that helps stabilize the fabric in addition to blocking light, though a little light comes through the small holes in the fabric where the liner is tacked to the shade. But for people who need total darkness, you can also add other light-blocking features like decorative tapes to block light that enters through rout holes or valances to block light that can enter through the small gap along the headrail. You can also get room darkening cellular shades, which block light and add a layer of insulation between the indoor air and the windowpane, too.
Another tip for troubled sleepers offered by sleep experts in the post was to aim to wake at the same time every day. Budget Blinds also offers a programmable motorization feature that can help you wake at the same time every day by timing your window coverings to open at a specific time each morning. But these sleep-enhancing features are just a fraction of the options available through this company. It represents all kinds of award-winning products from a wide range of manufacturers, including safety features for people with small children, eco-friendly options that save energy, and any kind of layered look with both structured and soft designs. For more information, check out its Web site, and take a look at its blog, too, for lots of good ideas on how window treatments can enhance your life.
