If you’re trying to attract tenants to your commercial space, window coverings play a huge role. Not only do they elevate the style of a building, they contribute to the overall functionality and convenience of an office, restaurant, store or any other kind of business.
Certain window treatments work better depending on the type of rental property that you’re working with. But how do you know which one will work best for you? In this article, we’ll cover all the things you’ll need to look out for and know before making your final decisions. The results will be a beautiful space, both internally and externally, so you can attract the eye of potential renters.
Look for Beautiful Blinds
First, let’s talk about blinds. Blinds consist of either horizontal or vertical slats that can be adjusted with cords or handles to allow for varied amounts of visibility and luminosity. Blinds can be easily custom-fitted and treated so that that won’t fade over time. They function as great window coverings for your rental property and are easy to clean.
There are two different types of blinds that you can choose from, horizontal or vertical. Horizontal blinds are an economical and proven choice for commercial spaces. Horizontal blinds feature slats that can be rotated 180° for complete light control and can be lifted up entirely for clear outside views. They’re a common choice for small windows or wider windows.
Vertical Blinds feature flat, overlapping louvers suspended from a track. Vertical blinds are great for large and long windows as they help elongate the walls. If your commercial space has sliding glass doors, vertical blinds are your best option because they open and close from left to right on a track. Each louver can be rotated 180 degrees, which allows you to customize the amount of light that enters the room. The louvers can also traverse along a track and stack neatly at the sides, which allows for unobstructed outside views.
Spruce up Your Space with Shades
For the most part, commercial spaces usually benefit the most from roller shades. Unlike blinds, roller shades consist of one single, unified layer of material that can be pulled down or up to cover windows and doors. Shades are crafted to stretch and roll down or fold up into themselves, making them an incredibly versatile and user-friendly treatment.
Many options and customizations are available for roller shades. Twin roller shades, for example, can accommodate two different types of fabric as there is one shade in the front and one in the back. You can have one outfitted with blackout fabric, which allows you to completely block out the sun’s rays, while the other shade can have light filtering fabric for when you need natural sunlight. The shades can also be customized with such fabrics as solar shades, environmentally friendly shades, or shades with glare-reducing technology.
Both blinds and shades can be motorized or automated, which is a major plus for many commercial spaces. If a potential tenant sees that the window treatments in the space are motorized or automated, it can be a major selling point. When a window treatment is motorized, it means that a person can control the shade or blind via a remote or central control system. Automation is a similar process, but there’s no manual intervention needed. With automated shade or blinds, you can program them to open and close at different times of the day.
Play Around with Fabric
We touched on it previously, but fabrics play a huge role in commercial window treatments. You’ll want to carefully consider your options to figure out which fabric will work best for your space, before you make a purchase. Let’s go over some of the most common fabrics you can find.
Performance Fabrics
Performance fabrics offer specific elements of protection and enhanced features.
This includes UV protection, reduced glare, heat reflection, fire safe, and noise reduction. Performance fabrics are easy to clean and hold up under the general wear and tear of everyday life.
Green Fabrics
Green fabrics are made from environmentally friendly materials or recycled materials. They’re as beautiful as they are sustainable and can nicely contribute to a commercial space, particularly if the client or potential renter is environmentally conscious. On the other hand, some green fabrics also help you save money on energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint by insulating a space or blocking out heat.
Blackout
Blackout fabric can offer 100% UV protection and complete light blockage. The colour of the fabric itself can be bright and inviting, but if the space requires complete darkness, this is the fabric you want. Blackout fabric works wonders for labs, studios, or offices where lots of presentations might be held.
Hospitality
The hospitality industry requires different window treatments than other commercial spaces, so many custom window specialists will offer fabric specifically designed for restaurants, cafes, or hotels. This fabric usually has a welcoming ambience, as well as a broad variety of features to accommodate a large population of people. If the space you’re working with is in the hospitality industry, then look for fabric specifically designed for it. Sheer fabric that brightens up a room is a good choice as it can always be paired with blackout fabric.
The Best Rental Property Window Treatments
Depending on the rental property you’re dealing with, certain products and fabrics are going to serve you and your tenants better in the long run. Think about how the space is going to be used, the type of people that will be interacting with the space, and the surrounding environment. Seriously consider motorization or automation, as this will elevate your property to a whole new level, delighting potential renters.
Reach out to commercial window specialists to get a better idea of what will work with your specific project.
