ShadeZone Tip of the Month: May 2023

Live in a townhouse or condo? Check with your strata before committing to a product

When you order new window treatments, one of the worst possible outcomes is having them arrive only to learn that you are not allowed to install them. If you live in housing that is governed by a strata council, make sure that you are able to install the product you want in your home before you commit to ordering it, so you can be sure to avoid this unfortunate scenario. One of the most common requirements that strata councils impose is limiting the outside-facing colour of window treatments to white or off-white. Check with your strata about which colours are available to you before going through the process of making your colour selection. If you’re already in the fabric selection process, and aren’t sure whether your strata imposes this rule, you can always pick out both a white and a more colourful fabric that you like and wait to confirm your final selection until you have verified which options are available to you. You can also get around this problem by selecting a fabric with a white liner facing out, allowing you to enjoy a bit more colour inside while conforming to the white colour scheme outside. Verifying that the product you want will be one that you can actually install is crucially important, so don’t forget to check before committing to anything.