<p>We’re sprucing up our 1940’s black-and-white bathroom. Right now the window, which is 36" x 50", has white mini-blinds which are about 25 years old. They need replacing, but I’m not sure with what. I know wider slats are in right now, but it’s a very small bathroom and I don’t want to overwhelm the space. </p>
<p>Also, should I go to a local blinds place, or have people had luck ordering on line? Thanks for any advice.</p>
<p>I’ve had those Duette honeycomb shades (Hunter Douglas) in my bathroom. They let in some light even when down and are pretty IMO. You can hang them outside or in the tub and rinse them off.</p>
<p>That’s a big window which is a valuable thing in a bathroom…natural light and all that. Depending on what the window looks onto (a private yard, a busy street, etc.) could you just put up a pole and swag a window-scarf to frame it? It’s relatively inexpensive and makes more of a statement than mini-blinds.</p>
<p>The problem with on-line ordering of window treatments is that you must measure the window yourself, being very sure about inside vs. outside hang, which side you want the controls, etc. If you order them locally, the shop should come measure for you…even Lowe’s or Home Depot will send somebody over to measure.</p>
<p>I did mail order double, triple checked my measurement. It worked out. A bit nerve wrecking but the price was good and it fit better/tighter than if they came out. The professionals leave more gap to be safe.</p>
<p>If you do order something yourself, be sure to measure the width at three points (upper, middle, low) and uses the smallest measure – we have old windows, and there are real differences. (And nothing is square. Nothing.)</p>
<p>We’ve had the honeycomb Duettes also. Very satisfactory. Also in another home, have roller shades, which we really like - [url=<a href=“http://www.blindsgalore.com/WindowProduct.asp?id=403528]Comfortex”>Shop Window Blinds and Shades | Blindsgalore]Comfortex</a> Envision Roller Shades - Shantung<a href=“don’t%20know%20if%20this%20is%20really%20our%20brand,%20just%20showing%20you%20the%20look”>/url</a>. They are reasonable in price, give you privacy but allow you to fully see view outside and block a lot of sun/glare if desired. They look best with a valance/header of some type at the top, which we have in our living spaces, but didn’t bother with in our bathroom, lol.</p>
<p>I also don’t think that the wide slat blinds would intrude into your room and make it look smaller - we’re talking an inch or two here, mostly if not totally inside the window frame.</p>
<p>The roller shades do have a nice advantage of not gathering dust as horizontal slats do. But I’d go with the look you like.</p>
<p>Ive done my own measurements before for levolors & bought them at Rodda for the living room , it was fine- I think Ikea has good directions.
<p>I would be fine without any window covering, the bathroom looks out onto the backyard ,but my H is very private , and even though the shower/bath is on the other side of the room, he wants the window covered up all the time.</p>
<p>I am hoping to have a garden window put in, with shelving so I can have plants in it & hope that will be enough " privacy" for him.</p>
<p>I don’t know how we ended up together- I like the windows without anything (& walk around in my underwear & he puts on his slippers & bathrobe to go two steps to the bathroom) & he wants heavy drapes shut- he reminds me of my great aunt who was worried about her furniture getting bleached- but her house was always so dark.
( we have her bedroom furniture- don’t worry Aunt Avnes- it looks great!) :)</p>
<p>I like those shades jmmom, then do you have sheers or any drapes to go with it?</p>
<p>We have interior shutters in our powder room. You can close the bottom half and open the top half which I like. Upstairs we have a cafe curtain. It works, but I feel like it’s a bit old fashioned. Might work for emeraldkity though - or perhaps those shades that roll up from the bottom instead of down from the top.</p>
<p>
In the bathroom, we have nothing else… goes with the spare style there. In a living space, we have upholstered valances only, just to cover the top “working” part and add some color/pattern to our room. In the Master Bedroom, we have drapes… kept pulled to the sides - again to add some color/pattern.</p>
<p>All work - just depends on the look of your room, imo.</p>
<p>Re shades rolling up from the bottom - we have that type of Duette in several rooms. Love them. Ours can go down from top (“normal”) OR up from bottom.</p>
<p>The bathroom is in the front of the house and looks out onto our street, which is fairly quiet, but we do need some privacy. The duette shades sound like a good possibility - I like the idea of letting light in while still keeping the window covered. I think I’ll go to a local place and see the options, prices, etc. and then compare online. Thanks, everyone!</p>
<p>I think February is generally when Penneys puts all their blinds on sale. I measured myself with no problems at all - it’s very simple. See post #5. It’s super easy. If you don’t trust yourself have a friend measure to double-check you.</p>
<p>I put in hurricane windows throughout house, and in the bathrooms, made them privacy. I got rid of all the blinds and the cafe curtain. All windows have screens, which is especially nice in bathrooms.</p>
<p>It would cost a lot less if I didn’t use hurricane glass, but that was the point of my project.</p>
<p>We like lots of light in our rooms so we merely installed a privacy film from Lowes on our bathroom windows. No bother with cleaning shades, curtains, blinds and inexpensive and super easy to install too.</p>
<p>^^^Or you could frost the glass. They sell the stuff at any craft store and it comes off easily if you don’t like it. You can even do patterns! Lets in the light but blocks the ‘view’.</p>
<p>originalloog, my daughters bedroom faces the walkway at her college ( she also has blinds) & we bought some of that film, but she says it doesn’t work. Do you mind sharing what kind you used?</p>
<p>We also used to have privacy glass in our bathroom window- but I busted it getting in when I was locked out ( it is double hung but it was stuck) & I wouldn’t let H replace it with the same thing.
(The bathroom window is currently the only practicallywindow that looks out into our backyard- Iv’e been landscaping for 4 years & I want to enjoy it!)
;)</p>
<p>I like being able to raise the shade completely and let the sun in.</p>
<p>I have one of those raise-from-the-bottom/lower-from-the-top shades and I like it but it does get dusty. </p>
<p>I think if you go to a home store you will be amazed by how many different selections they have vs. even a few years ago. I had roman shades in my last house – easy to operate and a bit more dramatic than standard shades. You can get them in fabrics to match whatever you need.</p>
<p>I like plantation shutters in the same color as the trim (dove white or navajo white for us, usually.) In a damp area, such as a bathroom or maybe even above a kitchen sink, I’d probably use faux wood to avoid problems caused by excess moisture. They allow for light while still maintaining privacy. A less expensive option would be top-down/bottom-up blinds. JCPenney often has deep discounts on theirs.</p>
<p>I have Roman shades in my bathrooms, made of the fabric used in the adjacent room. The reverse fabric (facing outside) is white. I like them because the fabric adds warmth and color, and there is no dusting or maintenance. In most of the rooms, they are raised during the day and only lowered at night when the lights are on.</p>
<p>I had mine custom made, but Smith and Noble makes an excellent mail order version with lots of fabric choices:</p>
<p>[Classic</a> Roman Fabric Shades - Custom Roman Window Shades - Smith+Noble](<a href=“http://www.smithandnoble.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&categoryId=14009&storeId=10101&productId=10047&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=14009&top_category=14000]Classic”>http://www.smithandnoble.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&categoryId=14009&storeId=10101&productId=10047&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=14009&top_category=14000)</p>
<p>for online I have used blinds galore (iPad wont let me type as one word but it is) dotcom several times and was happy with the product.</p>