How many times have you risen in the morning with sever grogginess and fatigue, feeling tired from the night before? You're not alone - the CDC classifies sleep deprivation as an actual disease, with a recent article that suggests this to be a public health problem, with an estimated 50-70 million US adults having sleep or wakefulness disorder. The National Sleep Foundation even has a set of tips to improve your sleeping habits and overall sleep health. Imagine what you could do if you woke up everyday rested and brimming with energy.
The first step toward avoiding sleep deprivation is to control the amount of light within your bedroom. This concept is rather simple, yet you may not be taking into consideration all of the different light sources. The National Sleep Foundation suggests that your body needs time to shift into sleep mode, "so spend the last hour before bed doing a calming activity such as reading." This is critical as your body needs time to wind down and lower your heart rate. While it might seem hard to relax under the weight of hectic schedules, you’ll find that it’s even harder to fall asleep and stay asleep if you just hop into bed after a demanding day. Start with easy sleep solutions that will help your whole household unwind and bed-down for a night of much needed sleep. For those who typically go to bed in front of the TV, the National Sleep Foundation suggests that, "using an electronic device such as a laptop can make it hard to fall asleep, because the particular type of light emanating from the screens of these devices is activating to the brain." Some suggest that technology is actually changing the way sleep. Most importantly, make sure bedrooms are quiet and the right sleeping temperature. Noises and temperature (too hot or too cold) interferes with sleep. Energy-efficient window coverings and shades with sound-absorption features would make stylish additions to your home’s bedrooms while creating a perfect sleeping atmosphere.
Another aspect of a quality sleeping environment is darkness. Spend at least 20 to 30 minutes before bedtime to turn off the TV. Shut down your devices, and find a calming routine. Little lights on computers, tablets, and phones can impair sleep. The solution is to cover them up, or keep them out of your bedroom altogether. Outside ambient light is yet another consideration. Don’t let the headlights of passing cars or the glow of streetlights interfere with your sleep cycle. Consider window shades that include blackout shade functionality with room-darkening fabrics. Blackout shades create a cavelike environment. A consistently dark environment helps to train your body and regulate your circadian rhythm. Eliminating other triggers like alcohol, cigarettes and large meals before bed also helps to maintain your body's natural rhythms. Sound sleep can be more than just a dream for you and your family with the sleep solutions that light control and window coverings offer.
When it comes to blackout shades look no further than the intuitive technology of Hunter Douglas PowerView window shades. Create and save the right positions for your home’s window coverings throughout the day, and then schedule them to occur automatically. PowerRise Automation takes it from there. Your shades will rise in the morning and move with the sun throughout the day, then lower at bedtime – all without you having to lift a finger. As part of your sleep solution, Hunter Douglas PowerView help you rest easy. Amid the chaos of life, let the incredible benefits of window coverings transform your home into a place where you can let go of the day and enjoy some glorious slumber. Contact our team at Horizon Window Fashions for your free, in-home consultation today. Start sleeping and living better today
You’ve already noticed that it's darker when you get home and that temperatures are chilly at night. No doubt you’re starting to think about your monthly energy bill. If you have an older home or non energy efficient window treatments, like uninsulated window blinds or shades, then almost certainly your energy bills are going to skyrocket. Here are some common energy efficiency complaints that crop up every winter, so we’ve put together some explanations and advice that's sure to keep your home warmer, while saving you some long-term cash. The best part is that you can begin living a more comfortable, stylish, functional, and energy efficient life.
You're not crazy - in-fact, it is cooler by your windows, and here’s why: the air inside your home is constantly moving. When the temperatures are cold outside, the warm inside air gives up some of its energy and cools off as it passes over the surface of the window. As the air circulates away from the window, you then feel the chill. With insulation you can prevent this from happening, while creating a more energy efficient home. We suggest installing window shades with a cellular design. For example: Hunter Douglas Duette honeycomb shades are made to trap your home’s warm air in pockets at the window. As air circulates in your home, it circulates around the shade, instead of the cold window. This helps to maintain your home's temperature. The result: if your thermostat reads 72°, you'll be at a cozy, comfortable 72°--even by the windows. What's a cheap way to block heat from windows? The other solution is to insulate yourself. By throwing on a sweater, you can trap heat against your body. This lets you turn the temperature down in your home a few degrees without feeling cold. It can also save you up to 4% on your monthly heating bill. Save energy and money by insulating yourself and your windows this winter.
There’s nothing like a ray of sunshine on a chilly winter day. The sun is a great asset during our Reno winters. It allows you to use solar heat to warm your home; however, its hard to make the most of the sun’s supplemental heating power on a consistent basis. You may leave for work in the morning with gorgeous sunshine streaming in and then come home to a bitter draft flowing throughout your home. If that’s the case, then Hunter Douglas PowerView automated window shades are the answer. These automatic power shades hold the key to making your home more energy efficient. PowerView enables you to program your shades to raise or lower automatically at set times to set positions. This means that you can modulate your home's energy efficiency around the sun's position and the outside temperature. PowerView automatic shades from Hunter Douglas also utilize GPS data to determine the exact sunrise and sunset times in your area. You can capture every second of solar heat without ever having to lift a finger.
The beautiful daylighting you see in all of your favorite home magazines and websites isn't unattainable. With window shades and curtains drawn in the winter, you probably wish you could stop living in a cave and let some natural light into your life. Not only will this boost your mood, but it will result in a more energy efficient home. Dressing your windows with energy efficient window treatments that allow for top-down, bottom-up function will let natural light work in incredible ways. Window shades that diffuse light, block harmful rays, and let you control the direction of lighting will also make your home beautiful, comfortable, and also reduce your need for artificial light. With the right window treatments, you'll save electricity and money, Our solution to this problem are Silhouette and Vignette energy efficient window treatments; these are two of the best options for achieving magazine and website worthy daylighting throughout your home. As winter darkness creeps in, save your lamps and chandeliers for creating awesome dinner party ambiance, and enjoy days filled with smiles and glowing natural light. If you can relate to drafty windows, a busy life that conflicts with the sun’s schedule, and annoying glare or cave-like living, then it’s time to find solutions. The right window coverings make a huge difference in your home and in your life. At Horizon Window Fashions, we’re here to guide you in selecting the best window treatments for your unique spaces. We come to you and asses your window covering needs. If you hurry, you can still take advantage of the best savings of the year during our Season of Style Event. A comfortable, beautiful, energy efficient home is just a phone call or click away. Connect with our team today. Stop by our showroom or schedule an in-home consultation today.
Do you find yourself living in certain parts of your home based on the time of day instead of feeling comfortable anywhere at any time? What’s holding you back from moving forward and having the home of your dreams? Is it that you are just too busy to research solutions? Maybe you look at window covering options, but feel overwhelmed by all of your choices. Is buying window coverings just at the bottom of your to-do list? Whatever your reason, it’s time for a real transformation. Check out this dramatic before and after and see what proper window shades did to this living room. it's easy to bring this kind of change to your own home - find out how with Horizon Window Fashions.
Bare windows allow the sun to wreak havoc in open living rooms like this. Walk into the space, and you’re already squinting into an unyielding glare. Try to relax with a book or your favorite device on a summer day, and you’re sweltering as the sun shines in on you. The winter is equally unbearable, as cold drafts freeze you out. Not only is all of that unmitigated sun potentially damaging your eyes, but UV rays are also damaging your furnishings. The “before” of this before and after transformation is painful. Without window coverings all you can do is avoid this room until the sun goes down. Does this remind you of a space in your own home? It doesn’t have to. By taking charge, you can enjoy light and privacy control and protect your valuables. You can live in comfort and in control.
These Silhouette window shadings changed this room immensely. The shades pull in and spread out natural light. The window coverings diffuse the light and cut glare, better allowing for a breathtaking view. Instead colors are no longer washed out by the sun, instead they accent the space. There is now also protection from harmful UV rays. These Silhouette window coverings are not only beauty, they also restore functionality to this space. The temperature is now more stable and it's easier to imagine relaxing here. The window shades provide effortless adjustability, allowing you as much light and privacy as you like. Silhouettes are one of many window covering options Horizon has to offer.
We understand that life is busy, and that’s why we are here to help. We offer you our design expertise and are always on-hand for consultations. We're here to help you discover the best window coverings for your home, regardless of your needs. It’s time to move forward and have the home you’ve always wanted. Connect with us today to set up a free, in-home consultation with one of our design consultants. We’ll help you choose the right window coverings and give you the best value for your investment with great promotions.
Window treatments can make a huge impact on energy consumption. As much as 50% of a home's heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows. All Hunter Douglas window treatments provide window insulation, offering your home increased protection against heat loss during the winter, while minimizing the sun's heat or "solar heat" during the summer.
In winter months, indoor heating escapes through windows to the outdoors. During the summertime, outside heat flows the opposite direction and into your home. Many Hunter Douglas window treatments help insulate homes; this reduces energy consumption, saves on heating and cooling costs, and creates a more comfortable room setting.
The warmth provided by the sun (solar energy) may be desirable during winter months, yet this same heat can make a room overly hot and uncomfortable during the summer months, driving up air conditioning costs. Many window treatments are designed to reduce the amount of solar heat that passes through the window, which is known as the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The lower the SHGC, the more protected your home is from the sun's heat. Enjoy the sun's warmth when desired, is as simple as raising or opening window treatments.
Daylighting is the practice of lighting rooms with natural light rather than generating illumination from electricity. With Hunter Douglas window treatments, you can control how much natural light comes into your room. Sheers and other select styles actually diffuse light as it enters, helping to draw it deeper into the room. You may also direct incoming light where it's needed most by tilting louvers, slats, vanes, window blinds and panels. Proper window treatments drawing natural light into a room and reduce your need for other types of lighting, netting energy savings.
Learn more about Horizon Window Fashions and check out the extensive line of Hunter Douglas window treatments that we offer. To see our window coverings in person, contact us or stop by our showroom located across from Reno Costco.
When Pantone announced the 2017 Color of the Year in December, results were mixed and people were a little confused.
“Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.” -- Pantone.com
While some people loved the bright, fresh and modern shade of green, others felt it was too vibrant a color and not reflective of the earthy greens found in nature. For those that loved the color, greenery invited an opportunity for redecoration along with the revitalization. This redecoration process often starts with a wall color and is finished with new window treatments. With such a bright color, window treatments can bring the final touch to tie your new color scheme together. 
To jumpstart your redecorating process, picking a feature point can be a great place to begin. Select your feature in Pantone’s ‘Greenery’:
Utilizing a Greenery feature point will draw your eye to the bright color without overwhelming your space. This fresh greenery color traverses across seasons well - whether reminding you of spring weather on a dreary winter day, or taking the bright summer colors from outdoors to indoors. 
Greenery is a versatile color that can be incorporated into your window treatments in several different color palettes to match your tastes. Pair the bright green with other pastels and vibrant colors to give a fulfilling spring vibe. Or, choose to pair the greenery with browns, taupes, and rich copper tones to reflect the natural feel of a forest floor. Any color palette can be pulled together through the use of stylish window coverings. If you find yourself drawn to Pantone’s Greenery, but not quite sure what to do with it, check out Pantone’s color palette options to get you started with a style you’ll love.
Our team at Horizon Window Fashions will be happy to help you incorporate this new color into your window treatments too! Contact us for a free consultation to begin revitalizing and rejuvenating your space.
Nothing adds more versatility to a room than a designer screen shades from Hunter Douglas. These shades offer excellent UV protection while allowing you to keep a great view of the outdoors. Read on to find out some of the features that we have to offer with our Hunter Douglas shades.
With a selection of colors to choose from, you are sure to find a window shade that will complement your home. Beige, grey, or white are the best colors to accomplish this. Or, maybe you are looking to add a bold accent of color? If that is your goal, orange or red would be the perfect colors for you. Our designers can help you choose the best colors to match your room.
Ordinary shades might not effectively block out light or be easy to raise or lower. With Hunter Douglas, you can forget tangled cords or pulling on your shades to brighten or dim your room. Each shade has a flawless operation that is precision engineered to deliver a minimal light gap and a quiet, smooth operation.
Ready for the best part? Hunter Douglas products always come with a free in-home consultation and installation by a local design expert. You can forget about stressing out over the installation process, or choosing the right size, color…the list goes on. Leave it to us to come to your house and help you choose the best designer screen shades for your home. Benefits of Choosing Horizon Window Fashions: • Local, family owned company in Reno • Reputable business since 1999 • In-house skilled window fashion experts • Quality service and installation, every time • We help you get competitive pricing
It doesn’t matter if your windows face east, west, or in between. If you own a home in Reno, you know shutters are important. Shutters lower electrical costs, keep the sun out of your eyes, and provide an extra layer of security and privacy. They also add an elegant touch to your home décor. Window shutters are more than window dressing. In Reno, they are a necessity! Did you know window shutters and window blinds are not the same type of window covering? Shutters close in a single motion and do not utilize a cord like blinds do. This durable feature is helpful when you have curious pets or kids who like to peek out the window. If you are considering shutters, how do you choose the right ones for your home? This quick guide can help you. Horizon Window Fashions carries the well-made, durable, and prestigious Hunter Douglas brand of traditional and motorized shutters.
Palm Beach PolysatinTM Vinyl: These window shutters are a dynamic choice to brighten up your home, designed to give you the feeling of being in Palm Beach. Made from a PolysatinTM compound, these window shutters are UV resistant. They are guaranteed to withstand anything Reno can throw at it. Extreme moisture and heat will never crack, fade, discolor, warp, peel, or chip these beautiful shutters. We offer our Palm Beach PolysatinTM Vinyl Shutters in a range of best-selling whites. The fresh, clean look of these shutters is designed to last. You can clean and maintain these shutters with ease.
Newstyle© Hybrid Composite: These are the shutters for you, if you are looking to purchase beautiful shutters at a value price. Made from a durable blend of advanced modern-day materials and attractive real wood, the Newstyle's are where advanced technology and modern innovation come together. We also offer our exclusive Finetech finish and select hybrid materials. Your home will exhibit classic styling and sophistication at an affordable price.
Heritance© Hardwood: These beautiful plantation-style shutters are artfully crafted from real wood. They are durable and strong due to the dovetail technique used in their construction. Best of all, you can choose from a large selection of stain and paint finishes to match the interior of your gorgeous Reno home. The classic styling and long-lasting durability of shutters adds a distinguished look. Featuring the largest options for paint, stain and design choices in the industry, these shutters suit the unique qualities of style, shape, and function for your home.
You know how when midsummer roles around, and all you want is the light of that bright sunny day without all the scorching heat that comes with it? Without a good window dressing setup, your home can quickly become a hotbox. But have no fear, we have a few great window designs for you that are functional, as well as energy efficient. Take a look for yourself:
Did you know window awnings can reduce heat from the sun by as much as 65% on southern facing homes, and 77% on those of you facing west? Originally made of metal or canvas, awnings used to have to be resurfaced fairly routinely, but with the emersion of synthetic materials such as acrylic, this isn’t so much the case anymore. If you decide to go with one of these energy-friendly shade providers, be sure to pick an opaque color, as this allows for optimum heat repellent and as a result, a happier you.
While lacking in the heat retention department, interior window blinds are a great way to keep the heat from getting in. With great adjustability and a reflective surface, window blinds can reduce heat in your home by as much as 45%. And if you really want to impress the neighbors at the next barbecue, consider painting your ceilings a light color to help with heat reduction—with blinds, you can direct sunlight onto the ceiling, which with a light pigment can diffuse the light and eliminate the heat that accompanies it.
Seems simple, right? Well sometimes, simple is best. Shades are a great way to reduce heat in your home, especially when placed close to a wall which creates a sealed air space. To be especially energy efficient, get your hands on some duel shades. These bad boys are dark on one side, and reflective on the other, allowing you to reverse them depending on the season for either a nice cool living room, or a toasty den in the depths of winter. Just remember: face the reflective side toward the place of greatest heat—whether that’s outside or in your living room.
Your children mean the world to you, and their safety is a top priority. We want you to know that our team at Horizon Window Fashions cares about the safety of you and your family, too. October is window covering safety month, and we know you have lots of questions. We’re here to give you answers and ensure that your home is equipped with child-safe window coverings.
A: When it comes to window coverings, cords are the main hazard for children. While they might not look overtly dangerous, they can get wrapped around a child’s neck and cause serious injuries. Safety experts recommend that homes with young children have only cordless window treatments.
A: We’re excited to share that, with Hunter Douglas’s innovative technology and design, there are lots of ways to go cordless. Two of the most popular options are the Hunter Douglas LiteRise and PowerView motorization. The LiteRise operating system turns window blinds and shades into cordless wonders! Allowing you to simply push or pull them with your hand, your window coverings easily slide right where you want them. For child-safe window coverings coupled with convenience, look no further than PowerView motorization. A sleek Pebble remote or your favorite device takes the place of a cord. Just tap a button, and your window treatments adjust. You can even program your shades to move automatically! Hunter Douglas PowerView supports your busy life and your desire for safety.
A: While cordless is the ideal option for child-safe window coverings, sometimes a cord is necessary. The good news is that you don’t have to compromise safety. Hunter Douglas has revolutionary products that make cords safe. The UltraGlide operating system features a retractable pull-cord. This means that your cord maintains the same length whether your window coverings are raised or lowered. You can make the cord short so that it is up and out of the way of little hands. The continuous loop cord is another great choice. Looped inside a mechanism and secured inside your window frame, your cord operates like a pulley. Pulling on the front half of the loop lowers your shade, and pulling on the rear of the loop raises it. With either option, you’ll never have to worry about strings dangling and endangering your family. You’ll have the function of a cord and the peace of mind that your window coverings are safe for your kids.
A: Yes, yes, and yes! Life is full of hazards. While you can’t safeguard your children from all of them, you should take steps to prevent the ones that you can. Installing child-safe window coverings will prevent injury and death, and your child’s life is worth that investment! At Horizon Window Fashions, we understand that the safety of your children is priceless, but the cost of protecting them isn’t. That’s why, this month, we are offering free cordless upgrades on products that are already on sale during our Season of Style event. We want to help ensure the safety of your family at the best price.
A: If you’re ready to make your home safer for your family, we are ready to help. You can stop into our showroom, or you can let us come to you. We’ll gladly visit your home, help assess your needs, and guide you to child-safe window coverings that are just right for you and your unique home. Contact our team at Horizon Window Fashions for a free, in-home consultation today.
