Even if you are not “frugal”, there are still plenty of good reasons to use cheap blinds in your window treatments. Since, as we’ve just seen in the Ikea blinds post, you don’t have to sacrifice fashion for price cheap blinds can be used anywhere in the house. Here’s a list of the places that i would use cheap blinds, regardless of my budget:
1. The Kitchen: Even the best housekeeper is going to have to deal with the grime that can buildup in a kitchen just from normal cooking. That grime tends to settle on your blinds and it is nearly impossible to get off. Scrubbing and washing blinds is tedious work involving lots of bending over a large bathtub full of water. Since that’s not my idea of a fun time, I’d rather use cheap blinds in the kitchen and then throw them away when they get nasty.
2. The Play Room: Kids can be really rough on blinds. Since the cords on blinds can be a choking hazard the pull cord should always be out of the child’s reach. That means that when the kids want to look out of the window, they’re going to pull the blinds slats open and look out. Before long this rough treatment is going to result in broken blinds slats. Instead of yelling at the kids every time they do this, just use cheap blinds and throw them away when they break. Since replacements can be purchased for only $14.99, it’s really nothing to get worked up over.
3. The Bathroom: If you think that you’re the only living thing that occupies your bathroom, you’d be wrong. Mold, mildew, and humidity can wreak havoc on fabric window treatments. However, you still need privacy for bathroom windows so roller blinds are a great option. If you have windows near the shower, roller blinds will offer better water protection than venetian blinds, and they will also be easier to clean. The mildew is bound to make inroads on them at some point though, so throw them away when that happens.
4. The Living Room: Roller blinds are also a great option for living rooms. The most expensive furniture, fabrics, and carpet are probably in your living room and you don’t want those items to fade. A roller blind can provide protection from the sunlight that causes fading, but can be quickly hidden from sight as needed. Window treatments for living rooms tend to be expensive, so a cheap roller blind will give you the protection that you need, without the added dusting and cleaning that comes with venetian blinds.
Ikea is one of my favorite stores for frugal decorating. Everything is of good quality and is very stylish; but it’s all pretty cheap due to Ikea’s business model. If you’re shopping for cheap blinds, find the nearest Ikea and plan on spending a good half day browsing through all of their great stuff. Here’s what you can expect to find:
1. ENJE Roller blind – $19.99: This dark roller blind filters the light and reduces reflections on TVs and monitor screens. This dark blinds would be great for an office or living room. I’d also consider it for a child’s room to help block out the light during naptime. The blinds is available in purple, dark gray, and white. 
2. LINDMON Venetian blind – $19.99: I really didn’t know that you could get cheap venetian blinds that look this good. The LINDMON blinds are available in brown, natural, and white. The adjustable slats can be tilted, raised and lowered for full control of light, sun and view. The blinds can be shortened by removing the desired number of slats. Divided blind cords make for for greater child safety. 
3. MELINA Roman blind – $19.99: Roman blinds are great for rooms where you want complete privacy, but want something a little less common than venetina blinds. The MELINA Roman blind is available in beige and brown which should work in wide range of window treatments. You could even paint or stencil your own designs on the fabric for a truly unique look. 
4. TUPPLUR blind – $14.99: This is a true blackout blind that does not let any light through. If you need to sleep during the daytime, but have trouble getting to sleep you should try this. With the right curtains this blind could look very stylish and unique in your bedroom. At at only $14.99 you could definitely add some trim or other decoration to the blind itself to add even more interest. 
5. LUPIN Venetian blind – $14.99: The Lupin Venetian blind is not quite as nice as the LINDMON and only comes in white. However this is a perfectly acceptable and cheap blind for functional window treatments. This would be at great option for the laundry room, or any windows that tend to get dirty quickly. 
6. ISDANS roller blind – $7.99: For the truly frugal homeowner, truly cheap blinds. At this price, you might even consider adding this roller blinds to all of you window treatments. It can be pulled down during the day to increase the energy efficiency of your home and prevent the fading of your window and furniture fabrics. However, when guests are coming over you can quickly roll the blind up so that it disappears from sight. 
If you take the time to plan, it is possible to create very nice window treatments with cheap blinds and cheap curtains. There’s no reason to break the bank on window treatments when you can achieve the same effect with some planning, some hunting, and a little elbow grease. Follow these steps for great looking windows:
1. Scour your favorite magazine. The first step is all about inspiration. Visit your local library and grab a bunch of home decorating and lifestyle magazines. Look for pictures of window treatments that you really love. Pick treatments that reflect your style and the way you live. If you’re home is very formal, stay away from plain venetian blinds. If your style is casual, don’t pick anything with silk. You get the idea! Make copies of all the window treatments that you like and take them home with you.
2. Choose a window treatment. Once you get home, take all of the pictures into the room that you want to start in. Find pictures of window treatments that you think will work well in the room, and then hold them up towards a window. Try to visualize what the window will look like with that treatment. Question how it will work for your family. If you have young children or dogs then you’ll probably want to stay away from drapes that are hard to wash and anything that can entangle young heads.
3. Make a list of materials. After choosing a window treatment, make a list of the materials that you will need in order to copy the magazine picture. If you’ll be using blinds, note what type and finish you want them to have. If you’re using drapes, job down the style and color that you want. Many window treatments, like roman blinds and drapes can be handmade if you’re crafty. If you want to do all the sewing yourself, then jot down the lengths of fabric and other materials that you’ll need. Don’t forget curtain rods, nails, screws, a hammer and screwdrivers.
4. Go on a scavenger hunt. This is where the cheap aspect of the decorating comes in. Now that you know what you need, start hitting yard sales and thrift stores to gather it. Take you time and find the cheap blinds, cheap fabrics, and cheap hardware that you need to make the perfect window treatment. Be creative and flexible. I bet that once you’re done, your window treatment will look 10x better than anything that you could have purchased!
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