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I sympathize with today� �s consumer in the market for window treatments and coverings. There are a bewildering number of choices, costs, materials and vendors. But, armed with a little information this is a good thing.

For many, it is hard to think outside of the normal choices when considering new blinds or shades. At least it was for me. I was in a situation where it was time to upgrade my apartment with some new window treatments. When I accessed my memory for what to buy, I was thinking of the boring old default choices: mini blinds and vertical blinds. You may be saying to yourself, � �been there, done that.� � Well, so was I.

That isn� �t to say that roller shades are some brand-spanking new product. The old vinyl roller shades have been around a long time and, frankly, are not very decorative - functional yes, attractive, no. Times have changed and roller shades have come a long way to include new materials, colors and opacity. In my opinion they now offer a look that is contemporary and clean and you can outfit your rooms according to function, i.e. you can get roller shades that are nearly see-through (light filtering) all the way to blackout shades for your bedroom. If you are a light sleeper like me, this is a must.

I like the simple clean look, as I mentioned, but I also really appreciate the easy functionality. They have a cool chain driven clutch system that is easy to use and keeps the shade right at the level you set it. You can even purchase a motorized lift with remote control. This was something I considered but chose not to purchase. My apartment is small and it seemed a little silly. The one option I did go for though was a small cassette system. Allow me to explain. The cassette system is essentially a fabric-wrapped cover to the roll at the top of the shade that conceals the roll. This offers a cleaner, more decorative look.

In the end I chose the Hunter Douglas, semi-opaque roller shades, in a nice, light camel color which was a nice compliment to my walls. For my bedroom, I chose some blackout roller shades, also from Hunter Douglas in a nice, slate grey. The blackout shades work beautifully to darken my bedroom. They have a nice tight fit and the cassette system actually helps to block out light.

Lastly, I would definitely recommend mounting your roller shades to the inside of the window casing. I think the look is cleaner with a snug fit. Just make sure you get your measurements right. One website I visited had a how to measure video that was quite helpful. One of the take-aways I can share with you is to measure the length and width of the window casing in three spots instead of just one. Most window casings will have a slightly different length and width from one end to the other. So, what you do is measure in three places: the top, middle and bottom. Then take the longest of the measurements for your order.

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