Window Trends to Look For in 2020
Just like general housing styles of building such as color, cabinetry, and floor preferences, window treatment trends can come and go often and fast. Of course the best window treatment trends maintain a timeless fashion statement, but some are more popular during certain years and tend to be used more often. The purpose of the window treatment and especially curtain trends 2020 is of a practical nature. Windows allow light in during the day, allow fresh air in the home when the weather is nice enough to open the window, but the blinds or curtains provide cover and privacy. Once such a purpose is achieved, there are plenty of ways to customize the treatments to compliment the rest of the home. Here are the latest 2020 window design trends!
Shutters, Blinds, and Curtains
Shutters and blinds have always been a timeless window treatment choice, and work well alone or in conjunction with curtains. Shutters and blinds open and close partially by allowing the sashes to fold together or be angled. Shutters open by folding together and swinging open, blinds stack together and raise up. Both are popular in wood or bamboo, providing a natural look to the window. Curtains are coming out of the neutral tone recent fad and is seeing the return of bold and bright colors. Curtains can of course be closed, but are typically left open while adjusting the blinds for light or privacy.
Pet and Child Friendly Window Coverings
Traditional blinds and certain types of curtains used long hanging strings to maneuver when opening or closing the system. Unfortunately, those strings could be rather enticing for a cat to play with, a dog to eat, or a child to get tangled up in. It seems the window design trends 2020 are opting for a simpler approach. People with children or pets have an obvious need for treatments without strings, people without, seem to like the trend also because the strings can look messy.
Technology Trends
Just because strings are out of popularity with replacement window trends, there are other options than having to personally adjust the open or closed status of window treatments. Mechanical systems can be motorized, and in turn run with a remote control or Smartphone. Using Smartphone technology adds the benefit of allowing you to close the blinds while away from home to keep prying eyes away, but you can have them open and inviting upon your return. A remote control isn't as versatile, but does allow you to open and close the window treatment without having to walk around the house to manually prepare them every morning and evening.
Takeaways
- Shutter or blinds work well by themselves or in conjunction with fabric curtains.
- Curtains can be sheer or solid, and although neutral colors always look nice there's no reason to be scared of incorporating bright colors into the room.
- Consider the needs of children and pets when determining what treatments will best suit your home.
- You can incorporate technology at whatever level you're comfortable with to make the window treatments easier to use and more likely to be opened and shut at your whim with minimal effort.
Window Installers in NJ
To discuss replacement window trends and stylish window treatments, give us a call at RWC Windows, Doors, and More or swing by our showroom. A representative will be happy to discuss what we can do for your bathroom windows, kitchen windows, or any other room to suit your goals of making your house look great while becoming more efficient. You’ll find each of our representatives to be professional, courteous, and knowledgeable with new window designs to meet your needs and preferences.
Updated for 2020: How Replacing Your Doors Can Help You Save Money This Winter
As winter approaches and heating bills go up, you're likely to wonder how you can save energy while keeping your home warm and comfortable. The first thing to do is check windows and doors for drafts. Typically, a draft can be addressed with a temporary fix until it can be properly repaired, in other cases a new door might be warranted. A new door is especially appropriate if the house needs an updated cosmetic appeal or if an older door doesn't meet modern energy efficiency standards.
Structure and Cosmetics of the Front Door
There are two aspects of the front door to consider, how it functions structurally and how it appeals to your sense of style. The importance of either consideration varies according to the preferences of the homeowner. Structurally, the door can be solid wood, or it can be a metal or vinyl shell filled with appropriate insulation. It needs to be installed properly to prevent drafts around the edges, and in some cases may need reinforcement for additional security.
From a cosmetic perspective, there are many choices available. Choosing a great looking door requires deciding which style best suits your personal sense of style along with determining what matches the rest of the house. Colors obviously need to look right, whether the door matches the other trim on the house or compliments it as a focal point of the facade. Whether it has windows or intricate contours is just as important of a choice, and how well it suits any screen or storm door used with it.
Why You Should Use Energy Saving Doors
Old doors can have a big impact on your overall heating bills when the weather gets cold. If your door isn't energy efficient, it could be letting in cold air even when it is closed tightly. A thin, single paned glass door can let in cold drafts, while a hollow wooden door can be a problem in cold weather areas. Invest in energy efficient doors to keep the cost of keeping your home warm down.
People often turn their heat way down when they’re gone to save on heating costs, but if you turn your heat down too low it will take too much energy to warm your home back up again. It’s more practical to put money into keeping the heat within your home, rather than constantly changing the temperature inside. Investing in new doors will help trap heat inside. If your doors are really old, they may be beyond repair. Energy efficient doors may be worth the investment. You'll end up saving money on heating costs, and your home will be much more comfortable.
Repairing a Drafty Front Door
There are several ways about how to fix drafty doors. New weather stripping will usually fix a draft coming in around the edges of the door. For a draft coming in from the bottom of the door, an aftermarket item can be helpful which is similar to the idea of placing a rolled up towel along the bottom of the door, except it's an item specifically designed for such a purpose. As such, it insulates better and looks nicer, and can be a simple fabric cover piece of insulation or can be decorative to match your other design choices. Otherwise, a new threshold might be in order, or a full door replacement might be the only way to fix a drafty front door.
Look for Ways to Keep Doors Protected
If you feel cold air is slipping into your home through the doors, you can protect your door from the harsh weather. Just like windows, you can use heavy drapes to keep the coldest air out of your home. When the sun is out during the day, open up the heavy drapes to let the warm sun heat up your home.
Improve Airflow Throughout Your Home
To maintain a more even temperature throughout your home, keep the airflow even. Block off rooms in which you may not need as much heat. Use ceiling fans on low to keep air moving from room to room. The temperature will be easier to maintain if the air flows freely throughout the rooms you want to heat in your home.
Door Replacement Options
When replacing a door, energy efficient exterior doors are going to be the best way to stop a drafty door. They aren't exactly “winter doors” because they are just as efficient in the summer with keeping cool air inside. The real issue is they're well-made to modern standards, including providing energy efficiency for the home.
Takeaway Points Concerning Drafts Around Doors
- An efficient front door is essential to saving on energy bills through the winter.
- There are ways to eliminate a draft on an existing door, but a new door might be a better option.
- There are several aspects of a door worthy of consideration before making a purchase.
- Energy efficient doors are going to be worth the expense by saving money on heating and cooling bills.
Contact Us Today
If your power bill seems to be higher than expected this winter, give us a call at RWC Windows, Doors, and More. We'll be happy to have a representative stop by at your convenience to evaluate whether doors, windows, or other issues might be making your home less than as efficient as it should be, and discuss a plan to correct the problem.
Kitchen Trends to Look for in 2020
With each new year, kitchen and bathroom designers will take advantage of new materials, new colors, and new interior styles that keep homes looking fresh and modern. The current 2019 kitchen trends include fixtures with a vintage vibe, open shelving, and contrasting textures to create layers of visual glamour. But the newest kitchen trends 2020 will feature a more unified look that is minimalist, tidy, and embraces clean-lines and muted tones.
Kitchen Color Trends 2020
The first step in laying out a kitchen renovation involves choosing a color palette that fits the family's style and supports the personality of the new interior. Your color schemes will encompass not just the floors and walls, but also your countertop material selection, cabinetry, backsplash, and window treatments. Current kitchen color trends are highlighting color pop or unexpected paint and color pairings.
The idea with color pop is to keep with the warmer colors for your kitchen finishes, but add an interesting color element such as painting your island base a deep blue or emerald green, choosing red appliances instead of stainless steel, or pairing white painted accents with wooden cabinetry. Hints of color can be added with brightly upholstered bar stools, a colorful backsplash, or a contrasting ceiling color.
White is a classic kitchen color, but adding color pop from the many tones and hues of green will be trending in 2020. Also consider shades of turquoise, avocado, or lemon.
2020 Kitchen Cabinet Trends
The best way to invigorate your kitchen is with a kitchen cabinet replacement project. If you have a tight kitchen renovation budget, you can always repaint dark brown cabinets and replace the hardware with hidden handles, handle cut-outs, or low-profile handles. For a minimalist look, and for homeowners that don't like an accumulation of stuff, glass cabinets are trending. This look increases a kitchen's simplicity and encourages order.
Current kitchen trends are also taking advantage of sustainable materials like bamboo or repurposed materials. Vintage plank timber are being used to create custom kitchen hutches and unique shelving solutions. But, it is bamboo that offers striking kitchen cabinet options for a fresh and contemporary kitchen. The material is moderately expensive, has a beautiful natural hue, and is a very durable and hard wood choice.
Warm and nuanced finishes like brushed gold, soapstone, and granite, are more popular for 2020 over dark or highly polished finishes.
The Double Island Takes Center Stage
Installing a kitchen island with a natural stone countertop is still one of the most popular kitchen trends that will last. Since kitchens are becoming larger and provide a gathering space for family and friends, the double island is a great way to use of floor real estate for a good use. Double kitchen islands can be of different shapes or sizes, space apart - or it can be two identical islands next to each other. Use your double island to cook large meals, entertain guests, or serve double-purpose for homework, office work, and game night.
Larders are Must-Have
Our final kitchen trend to look for in 2020 is homes that have created space to install a larder - a standalone cupboard that stays cooler to store staples and keep food fresher, for longer. Historically, basement areas would hold the homeowners excess canned and jarred goods. This transitioned into kitchen storage cabinets, and today homeowners are installing a full-height, larder to reduce kitchen cabinets without losing storage capacity.
Larger families may consider a walk-in larder, which is similar to a walk-in clothes closet. With the popularity of bulk grocery shopping to save money, a larder can be a great investment. Partner with a professional kitchen design and installation service to create your one-of-a-kind larder that can also be used to store wines, cheese, cookbooks, and oversized pots.
Take-Aways
Kitchen cabinet trends to avoid
- The white ‘shaker’-style door cabinets
- Highly polished and reflective surfaces
- Open shelving - choose glass cabinets instead
Kitchen cabinet trends that will last
- Muted, natural stone countertops
- Large kitchens for family and entertaining
- Pops of color with appliances, backsplash, or accent painting
For all your 2020 kitchen remodeling ideas, choose RWC Windows, Doors, and More as your one-stop solution serving West Caldwell NJ.
Holiday Tips for Entertaining in a Small Space
Hosting guests in a small home is not impossible - it just takes a little creativity. If the interior living spaces in your home tend to be short on square footage or if you have a small backyard, then you may want to consider a buffet style party. This way you only need a minimum of seating space and guests are more likely to socialize with each other.
There are ways to make entertaining in a small home run smoothly, and it all begins with decluttering and cleaning the space of unnecessary items on tables and in common areas. Temporarily removing most of your family's everyday items will go a long way in making a small space look larger. Here are more holiday tips for throwing an amazing party in a small space.
How to Throw a Party in a Small Space
Move Furniture to Create Gathering Spaces
If you have opted for a buffet style meal, then you should move sofas, tables, and chairs towards the walls which will create distinct areas for relaxing or moving around to socialize. Keep the seating places together to encourage conversation and interactions. Even the kitchen or dining room table can be shifted towards a corner, and serve as the party's eat and drink stations. Then use those dining room chairs around the perimeter of the room for guest seating.
Don't Overdo Holiday Decor
Keep your holiday decor simple, and if you are throwing a large party in a small space, then you may want to forgo setting up the Christmas tree until later. By all means, use your wall space to drape pine cones, hang wreaths on exterior doors, and consider some of these Gorgeous Christmas Garland Ideas along stairs or hanging from above! Keep your table centerpieces simple, so they don't hog the precious space needed by your guests.
Include the Kitchen for a Casual Area
Everyone wants to be in the kitchen with the cook, so why not open up your kitchen as part of your entertaining space. When you host a large party in a small space, you need to use all your available space. Consider speaking with a home improvement profession that can complete one of these small remodeling projects just in time for the holiday season:
- Open up a shared wall between the kitchen and living spaces
- Install a kitchen corner niche with bench seating and a small table
- Have a kitchen island counter installed to serve as a buffet space
- Add vertical shelving above counters and over appliances for storage
Increase the Light for an Open Air Feel
No matter what size home or apartment you have, interior designers know how to maximize space for a party with the illusion of light and mirrors. Plenty of natural lighting will create an airy and light feel to what is normally a small and cramped room. Also, hang large mirrors on the walls or even consider an entire mirrored wall to create the illusion of a larger space.
When natural lighting is limited, or you are hosting an evening event, use brighter light fixtures for serving areas and softer, incandescent lights for dancing and conversation. Use your table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces to separate spaces with light. And don't be afraid to go bold with a red or blue bulbs or even color-changing light bulbs to enhance the holiday festivities.
Take-Aways
- Begin with decluttering and cleaning your spaces of unnecessary items
- Move furniture to create gathering places and open floor space
- Consider a kitchen remodel that increases living and entertaining space
- Lights and mirrors can project the illusion of more space and create ambiance
Contact us at RWC Windows, Doors, and More, serving the West Caldwell, NJ communities with professional kitchen installations, bathroom remodeling, and replacement windows and doors. We've been relieving homeowners of the stress around home improvements since 1959. Talk with one of our design consultants about how we can help you with your home entertaining challenges through the holiday season.
2020 Bathroom Trends: What to Look For & What to Avoid
Home design trends come and go circularly, and 2020 bathroom design shows this concept with modernized versions of traditional bathroom styles coming back into fashion. The bathroom interior design trends for 2020 are really exciting this year as traditional tiles and color schemes allow for a wide variety of bathroom remodels according to individual tastes. Well built high quality bathrooms are gaining a new level of appreciation, and a certain clean simplicity reflects the functionality and versatility of open spaces.
Bathroom Tile and Color Trends
Bathroom tile trends of 2020 are the epitome of timeless class and functional quality. Neutral colors are a great starting point, as they allow towels, appliances, candles, and flowers to change the color palette seasonally or whenever you desire. Because of the tiles' durability and inherent waterproof qualities, they are great for floors and walls, counters and backsplashes, and even for custom designed showers or sinks.
Bathroom color trends 2020 have a wide range of popular designs according to what your preference is. Consider what you find relaxing when you want to take a long bath, what colors you enjoy while getting ready for work in the morning or getting ready for bed in the evening. Again, you can't go wrong with neutral colors and use decorations to set the color scheme, but unlike tiles paints and stains can be reapplied fairly easily if you decide to change them later, so don't be afraid to make a bold choice if you know that's what you like.
Bathroom Trends to Avoid
The main bathroom trends to avoid 2020 are any designs which are overly gaudy. Excessively fancy lighting, faucets, or hardware distract from the intended focal point which might be wonderful tile work throughout the room, a gorgeous well crafted vanity, or a luxurious tub and shower. An open and elegantly designed room is far more pleasant to be in than one which feels closed in and cluttered. Although there are plenty of great options and accessories to choose from to make your modern bathroom more functional, they can be overdone. Choose the features you know you'll use daily rather than trying to incorporate everything that “seems cool” in the showroom and you'll be happy with your bathroom for years to come. When it comes to bathroom remodeling trends to avoid, just remember that less can be more.
Small Bathroom Design and Remodeling
Even though large open designs are a popular trend this year, some home blueprints simply don't allow for a large bathroom. Using small bathroom design trends in 2020 can make a small space into a really unique, functional space. Consider perhaps having shelves instead of cabinets under the vanity, it will open up the room and make it feel less cluttered, as you'll intuitively keep the space organized. The same goes for a linen closet, removing the door is a great way to make the room feel larger, perhaps add drawers or sliding bins to keep everything in its proper place. When kept simple and clutter free, a small bathroom can be just as nice as a larger one.
Bathroom Ideas for 2020
- Consider neutral colors and classic tiles proven to work well in the bathroom.
- Avoid adding features you aren't going to wind up using.
- Keep the space as simple as possible to provide an open elegant feel to the area.
- Don't let a small bathroom make you think it can't be just as nice as a larger one.
Conclusion
If you're ready for a bathroom renovation, contact us at RWC Windows, Doors, and More to discuss what we can do to build your dream bathroom. As experienced bathroom remodeling designers in NJ, we can provide both small bathroom remodeling and master bathroom remodeling ideas! Visit our showroom, or have a representative come to your house at your convenience to discuss how we can provide you with a great new bathroom or any other remodeling project your home might need.