How To Create Safe, Sunny Spaces For Children With The Right Bedroom Blinds

Whether you’re planning the nursery for a new arrival, or updating a bedroom for your school-age child, it’s likely you’re making choices on everything from dressers to bed linens. Chances are you’re also selecting kid-friendly window treatments—but here, the focus needs to be on more than just aesthetics.

A Danger that’s easily avoidable

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has long warned about the dangers linked to any window treatment that operates with cords. Sometimes, parents hope to sidestep the problem by tying the cords up, but the CPSC says that’s not an effective enough childproofing measure as cords can get tangled, and even tying and knotting them can create a dangerous situation for a child.

Here’s What the CPSC does Recommend:

• Examine all shades and blinds in the home (and homes where children frequently visit) for accessible cords on the front, side and back

• Replace corded products with cordless window products

Keeping Kids Safe

The good news: The Window Covering Safety Council recently launched its “Best For Kids™” certification program. Any window covering product that has earned the “Best For Kids” seal has met the highest available safety standards as certified by independent testing laboratories recognized by the WCSC.

If you’re shopping for kid-friendly window treatments—choices that not only offer optimal safety, but also address light filtering, sound insulation and other issues that can affect youngsters—these Stoneside options are particularly smart choices.

• Cellular Shades come in a variety of fabrics and colors, with four cell sizes and four levels of opacity (Sheer, Semi-Sheer, Semi-Opaque and Blackout), meaning you can control the amount of light in your kid’s bedroom and completely customize your shades. The cellular design is known for providing better insulation against heat and cold, making it ideal for kids’ rooms. And the Cordless Lift and Lock System makes hazardous cords obsolete: instead, all you do is gently push a handle up or pull it down to secure the shade and lock it in place just where you need it. You can also get these in a motorized version, which allows the cellular shade to be raised or lowered with a phone, tablet, remote, wall switch or other home automation device.

• Wood Blinds are available in an assortment of finishes (from Golden Oak to Mahogany), as well as decorative paint colors to complement any décor. The 2-inch blinds with a wood wand also carry the Lift and Lock feature, to eliminate any need for dangling cords (the wand, rather than a cord, is used to open and close the blinds as needed).

• Roller Shades can be the most versatile choice—they come in all kinds of fabrics, in styles ranging from contemporary to minimalist to playful, with an assortment of hem designs for added visual interest. They are available with a Lift and Lock system for ease of use, and they can be motorized if you prefer to add that feature. Roller shades allow you the option of filtering light precisely to your specification, whether you want something sheer or a room darkening blackout feature.

Making sure you're creating a warm, inviting, and playful space for your youngster's bedroom is a priority for all parents. Luckily, choosing the right window covering can help provide that final touch of turning a kids' room from flat to fun. Most importantly, you don't have to sacrifice safety to do so.

Want to learn more about how to ensure you’re getting "Best for Kids™" window products for your home? Contact us today for a free design consultation.