Horizontal fabric shades appeal to variety of tastes in window treatments

Sometimes do-it-yourselfers go too far in their quest to build a distinctive look for their homes, as shown by a new survey of what consumers considered among the worst home improvement trends in the past 30 years.


According to LetsDoDIY.com, built-in bars topped the list, followed by mock fireplaces, animal print rugs, net curtains and built-in cupboards made of medium density fiberboard.


Many of these decorative features came about in the 1980s, and homeowners have made the mistake of keeping them rather than changing with the times. In the survey, conducted by the Post Office, more than half of potential home buyers said they would walk away from a property if they spotted a home improvement project that was dated or badly done.

"While some prospective buyers will always see past out-dated decor, sellers who still cherish features such as built-in bars and artex walls might want to consider making some modernizations to appeal to the rest," Mike Cook, head of mortgages at the Post Office, told the website.


Horizontal fabric shades are a versatile choice for window treatments that will appeal to many tastes. They have the look of a window shade, but the individual slats are reminiscent of a venetian blind.