Out here on the West Coast, we like to think we set the trends. But in the heart of the country, Minneapolis has become a real design center, from graphic design to interior design. It’s the home of many great trend setting companies, including Target. So it comes as no surprise that we sell a lot of our latest designer blinds to people across the state. Every designer and DIY home project guru in Minnesota knows about the insulating value of cellular shades to save money on energy bills, but until recently, cellulars offered little in the way of patterns or textures. Now, there are unique patterns and textural prints available to add some dimension to your windows, without sacrificing the energy savings you need during tough Minnesota winters.

We really like the Good Housekeeping Collection of blinds and shades because they are not only super stylish, but tested for safety and quality by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. Some of our favorite patterns include the Fresco and Linen Texture Light Filtering series. These add depth to the room with very subtle tonal and textural elements for a rich, inviting look.

For more contemporary tastes, take a look at Good Housekeeping’s Floral pattern cellular shade. The modern floral vine motif is offered in six colors, ranging from very soft tone-on-tone hues to a bolder contrast in grey or mocha. One of our Minnesota customers said she wants to put these in her cheery sunroom. How thematic!

With all the new styles and upgrades on the market, people can overlook one of the most cost-effective window shades: pleated shades. Pleated shades are a very affordable way to update your windows without breaking the bank. And, now, they are offered in a huge variety of colors, fabrics and even textures. You may remember older styles with the cord holes, which many people found objectionable. Now, most manufacturers offer pleated shades in a no-holes style, with the operating cords being hidden on the back side of the shade. No holes means a seamless, clean look that will make your Minnesota home look polished and refined, no matter what color you choose.