How to Fix Those Annoying Light Leaks

Blinds are meant to control the flow of light into your home and give you the privacy that you so badly desire, rather than to leak light into your home and cause you hours of annoyance. Unfortunately, that is the case all too often. Window treatments should work perfectly, block out the light when asked to, and look great while doing it. The reality is that some common mistakes cause a lot of headaches. What’s worse is that the extra sunlight and gaps in the blinds not only mess with the feng shui of the room, but also allow in extra heat and glare. If you want to fix those annoying light leaks to get the perfect home appearance, then you’ve come to the right place. Here’s how to fix them quickly (or avoid them in the first place).

First, start off on the right foot by measuring properly

To selectblindscanada without getting the right measurements is like building a house without setting a foundation: it doesn’t matter how beautiful the house is, it’s going to fall apart and look terrible without the right base. If you want a flush, leak-free window treatment experience replete with happiness and lack of headaches, then you need to measure properly! If yours fit snugly, you won’t have to deal with any of those annoying leak problems. All you really need is a steel tape measure and a pencil (stepladder is optional!).

Find out how to measure properly here.

Install them slowly and carefully

We know how awesome your blinds look and how beautiful they will make the house  appear once they hang proudly on the window, but it’s important not to rush ! We find that the major cause for light leaks and off-kilter posture is when homeowners haphazardly install their blinds without using these tips. If you want yours to look beautiful and get the job done right, then take your time to install them correctly. Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions or go on YouTube and look for some videos on how to install blinds properly. Here are a few things to remember when installing yours:

●       Make sure the head rail is flush with the top of the window!

●       Make sure you are installing the correct window treatments on the window that they were designed for

●       Check for any defects in the design before hanging

Go without outside-mounted frames

The issue with inside-mounted frames (blinds that are installed within the window sill itself) is that by the nature of their manufacturing, they will be pretty leaky. Since they’ve got to go within the sill, it means they must be smaller than the frame. This will allow extra annoying light the chance to seep in through the cracks.

Outside-mounted blinds (ones that hang from above the window) can be measured to perfectly fit your window, or even be much larger to give the appearance of a bigger window! Exterior mounts will require measuring and some extra effort to hang (unless you are very tall), but are well worth the benefits that they bring.

Maybe shades instead?

Shades are like a comfy blanket that gets draped all over your window and doesn’t let anything through. Whereas blinds are susceptible to light leaks because they are separate slats, shades are one continuous piece of fabric that effectively block out the sun when you need them to. They are also stylish and can be anything from bright and upbeat to warm and cozy in design, but they aren’t quite as convenient as getting blinds.

Check out some awesome design ideas for shades and window treatments here!

There are also models of blinds that are meant to mimic shades when fully closed. They might cost a bit more, but they give you total privacy and block out all light when shut.

Other tips and quick fixes!

Now that we’ve gotten the stuff out of the way that can prevent leaks from happening, let’s focus on what you can do to stop them once they have happened. There are a few options, most of which involve adding something to fill in the gaps.

●       Try a blackout liner- blackout liners are an opaque, foam-based fabric designed intended to block out the light that would normally enter a room when the blinds are closed. They are most common in hotel rooms but are a great fix for those annoying light leaks that plague most houses. Another plus is that they act as an extra barrier of insulation against heat coming in from outside.

●       Aluminum foil- this for when you’re really in a pinch and need to eliminate the light quickly. Cut the foil to the exact dimensions of the outer lining of the window and close it up. It won’t look pretty, but it will get the job done.

●       Foam- normal foam from a hardware store can also do the trick if you really need to block light out and you’re on a budget. Cut it down to the exact dimensions of your windows and stick it in! Nobody will notice if you totally close the curtain. This is only an absolute emergency solution though.

Too much light leaking through your windows? Are you annoyed by the glare or the fact that everyone can see directly into your personal space? Don’t worry, follow these tips and have them closed up immediately.