Choosing a Window Treatment Company in Champaign-Urbana

Champaign-Urbana has every kind of home: century-old houses near campus, mid-century ranches, new builds in Savoy and Mahomet, and plenty of rentals and investment properties. Whatever you live in, choosing the right window treatment company can make the difference between windows you love and a project you’d rather forget.

Here are the questions we’d ask if we were in your shoes.

Questions about the products

“Can I see and try them before I buy?”

A small swatch can’t show you how a shade moves, how the light glows through it or how a shutter feels when you tilt the louvers. A local showroom with working, full-size displays lets you compare options side by side.

Our Champaign showroom at 2003 S Neil St is the newest of our three showrooms and a Hunter Douglas Gallery® store. You’ll find shades, blinds and shutters on working displays, a fabric sample library and live PowerView® Automation demonstrations.

“Do you carry options for every room?”

Most homes need more than one solution. The family room might call for soft shadings, the bedrooms room-darkening shades, the bathroom something that handles humidity. And a rental or a basement doesn’t need the same thing as your primary suite.

Look for a company with a full range: shades, blinds, shutters, drapery and motorization. For secondary spaces, we also offer Alta, part of the Hunter Douglas family, a smart, cost-effective way to get a custom fit in rooms like a garage, laundry room or rarely used guest room.

Questions about the process

“Will you come to my home?”

Your windows, your light and your furniture are what matter, so the best advice happens in your home. Ask whether the consultation is free, whether the designer brings samples, and whether you’ll get a written quote.

Our in-home design consultation is free throughout Champaign-Urbana and nearby towns.

“Who measures?”

Custom window treatments are built to your exact measurements. An experienced measurer catches the things that cause problems later: shallow window depth, out-of-square frames, window cranks and alarm sensors. See our guide to inside vs. outside mount for why it matters.

“Who installs, and how much experience do they have?”

Installation is where a beautiful product either looks perfect or doesn’t. Ask who will be in your home, how long they’ve been doing it and whether they’re trained on the products.

Our installers include our own team and Hunter Douglas certified installers who work with us across Central Illinois. You can meet them on our team page.

Tip: Older homes near campus often have plaster walls, deep trim and windows that are slightly out of square. Ask whether the installer has worked in homes like yours.

Questions about after the sale

“What if something goes wrong in five years?”

Shades get used every day. A local company that has been in business for years, with a showroom you can walk into, is the one most likely to be there when you need an adjustment or warranty help.

Hunter Douglas products carry the Hunter Douglas Lifetime Limited Warranty, and our Central Illinois team handles service. The Well Dressed Window has served Central Illinois since 2008, and we also offer repairs, including Hunter Douglas products bought elsewhere.

“Can you help with motorized shades?”

If you’re considering automation, ask whether the company sets up the app and schedules for you, and who you call with questions later. Our team helped beta test PowerView Gen 3 for Hunter Douglas, so it’s something we know well. Read our beginner’s guide to motorized shades.

Red flags to watch for

• Pressure to decide on the spot. A good designer gives you a written quote and time to think.
• Vague answers about installation. You should know who is coming and what they’ll do.
• No local presence. If there’s no showroom and no local phone number, service can be hard to get later.
• One-size-fits-all recommendations. Every room doesn’t need the same product.

Let’s meet

We’d love to show you around the Champaign showroom. Stop in at 2003 S Neil St, call (217) 305-5113, or book a free in-home consultation. We serve Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, Mahomet, Tolono, St. Joseph, Monticello and Rantoul.