We're on the inside looking out at the latest styles in window treatments, and you can save a bundle if you do it yourself. Home fix-it contributor Lou Manfredini was invited on the “Today” show to talk about the latest trends in window looks. Here are some of his tips.

I have been building and renovating homes for almost 20 years, and a lot of people tell me they’re surprised by how expensive remodeling can be. While this is true, the real spending comes after we leave and the decorating starts. You'll run out to buy the furniture, the lamps, artwork and the piece de resistance ... window treatments. I would come back to a home that we had built and see these beautiful window treatments with custom valances and layered shades that had cost thousands of dollars. What always irked me was that we spent all the time building or renovating the home, and the guy who put up the window treatments got all the glory.

Well, that has changed over the past few years. Nice looking window treatments are now available to the do-it-yourselfer, and at truly affordable prices. There are not only retail stores like Eddie Z's and 3 Day Blinds, but Internet sites such as blindfactory.com, justblinds.com and blindsanddrapery.com, to name a few. Even the big boys like Home Depot, Lowe's and some Ace and True Value hardware stores are getting into the window-treatment business in a big way. And the best part is that, depending on what you choose, you can often leave a store with your new window treatments on the same day. And the Internet sites can get them to you in as little as five days.

The sky is the limit as to what you can do, so I narrowed it down to four of the most popular choices. Within those choices, you can customize any way you desire.  You should consider three things when selecting window treatments:

• Style. What is the room's general décor? Is your look contemporary, traditional, urban or country chic?
• Color and design. Will your window blend with the room or become a focus?
• Function. Consider the kind of light control you want, any safety concerns and energy-efficiency issues.
  

The latest in window treatments
Cellular shades: These are one of the most versatile treatments around. They come in a variety of colors, fabrics and cell sizes. These two-sided shades offer great accents to your rooms, or you can match the fabric to the room color to really get that custom look.  These shades are also available in cordless set-ups, which are easy to operate and are a safe alternative in homes with children and pets.  We featured a Levolor custom cellular shade, priced around $50 per window at levolor.com.

Mini blinds: They continue to be a great choice, but more interesting options have been available for quite some time. Larger-slat (two-inch or three-inch) wood blinds were the rage a few years ago, but the wood sometimes warped with exposure to sunlight. So faux-wood blinds came along, which look great and stay true under almost any condition, even in moist areas such as bathrooms. These blinds are available at retail stores like Lowes, and some Ace and True Value hardware stores. You can have them cut to size right in the store, then go home and hang them. Two-inch faux blinds should cost around $40 per window.

Woven wood shades: Look in just about any home magazine and chances are you'll see these window treatments being featured. These shades add texture to a room, both in the material and in the patterns of light that show through. Many of these window treatments are made from real bamboo reeds and come in a variety of patterns and colors. Cost per window starts at around $39.

Plantation shutters: This treatment definitely will be a focal point in your room. These custom-fit units will be an extension of your trim-work and will change the look of your room dramatically. These by far are the most expensive window treatment, at a cost starting at $350, and you can expect a lead time of at least five weeks. But, boy, does this treatment look sharp!

All of these do-it-yourself window treatments have one thing in common: You are the one doing the measuring. This is important, because the size you give to the company you do business with will be the size they send you. Some key terms that will come up when measuring a window for new treatments:

Inside mounting

• Emphasizes actual size of the window
• Allows trim work to be visible
• Can make the size of the window seem smaller

Outside mounting

• Makes narrow windows look wider
• May be necessary if buying a stock item that will not fit the inside measurement
• May be needed if window well is not deep enough to contain the mounting brackets

Once you know what kind of mount you prefer, you will need these items to do it yourself and get it right:

• A good tape measure that will stay straight to give you exact measurements.
• An electronic stud finder to locate framing behind the drywall or plaster to ensure a strong hold.
• A level to make sure what you are installing is level to the rest of the house. Laser levels do a great job if you are hanging multiple window treatments in one room to keep them all consistent.  The one I used on the show costs about $30 and works great. You can find it at zircon.com
• Good-quality hollow-wall anchors if finding the stud is not possible.  Quality is key, since there is a lot of junk out there that claims it can do the job. For the best wall anchors go to itwbuildex.com

Many of the Web sites I listed above, as well as others, offer detailed instructions on how to measure correctly.  One even offers a real-time video, so you can watch the entire process.  By following some of these tips I hope you can turn your windows into a new focal point in your home. 

If you have more questions feel free to visit Lou's Web site: www.hammerandnail.com

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