New window coverings are one of those purchases you live with every single day. They shape how your rooms feel, how well you sleep and how much privacy you have from the street. So it’s worth taking a little time to choose the right store. Whether you’re furnishing a new build in Maple or updating a family home in Vaughan, here’s what we’d look for, and the questions we’d ask, if we were in your shoes.
What to Look for in a Window Covering Store
An In-Home Consultation
The best advice happens in your home, not just in a showroom. Your light, wall colours, flooring and window sizes all affect what will look and work best. A good consultant will look at each room, ask how you use it and bring samples so you can see them against your own walls and in your own light.
Pay attention to how the consultation feels. You should come away with clear options, not a hard sell.
A Custom Drapery Workroom
If drapery is part of your plan, ask whether the store has its own workroom or works closely with one. A dedicated workroom means your panels are made to your exact measurements, and someone on the team understands how fabric, lining, pleat style and fullness all come together. It also makes adjustments easier if something needs tweaking after installation.
Professional Measuring and Installation
Custom window coverings are only as good as the measurements behind them. A store that handles its own measuring and installation takes responsibility for the whole job. That matters on tall windows, two-storey foyers, bay windows and wide patio doors, where a small mistake can be expensive.
Ask who will be doing the install and whether they’ll take care of hardware, track placement and final adjustments.
A Wide Product Range
Every room is different, so it helps to work with a store that can offer more than one answer. Look for a range that includes:
- Drapery, including modern styles like ripple fold and classics like pinch pleat
- Roller shades, from sheer and solar fabrics to blackout
- Shutters, for a timeless, architectural look
- Blinds and shades in a variety of styles and opacities
- Motorization options for hard-to-reach or frequently used windows
When a store carries a good mix, the recommendation is more likely to be about what suits your room, not just what’s on the shelf.
Warranty and After-Sale Service
Ask what’s covered after the install. Find out who you call if a cord frays, a motor stops working or a track needs adjusting. A local store that services what it sells can be a big help years down the road. Get warranty details in writing so you know exactly what’s included.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
Bring this short list to any store you’re considering:
- Do you offer in-home consultations, and do you bring samples?
- Is your drapery made in your own workroom?
- Who measures and installs, your own team or a subcontractor?
- What products do you carry for my type of windows?
- Can you motorize the windows I’m thinking of, and what does that involve?
- What does the warranty cover, and who handles service calls?
- How long does a typical order take from consultation to install?
A good store will be happy to answer all of these clearly.
Why a Local Shop Often Beats a Big Box
Big box stores have their place, especially for a quick, standard-size blind. But for custom work, a local specialist usually has the edge.
Personal Guidance
At a local shop, you’re often working with people who have been doing this for years. They can talk you through fabric choices, light control and how everything will look in your room.
Made to Fit
Off-the-shelf sizes rarely fit perfectly, especially in newer Vaughan homes with tall or oversized windows. Custom products are made for your exact openings.
One Point of Contact
From consultation to measuring, ordering and installation, a local store can manage the whole process. If something isn’t right, you know exactly who to call.
Local Knowledge
A shop in your area knows the homes. They’ve seen the same model homes, the same foyer windows and the same patio doors many times, and they know what tends to work.
Supporting Your Community
Choosing a local business keeps your money in the community and supports neighbours who live and work in Vaughan and Maple.
How Centurian Can Help
Centurian has been helping homeowners in the Vaughan and Maple area with drapery and window coverings since our Vaughan showroom opened in 2012, and our owner Tony brings over 35 years of experience in the business. We offer free in-home consultations, professional measuring and installation, and a product range that includes ripple fold drapery, roller shades and shutters, and we’re here after the install too. Our installations are backed by a lifetime workmanship warranty, so if anything goes wrong with our installation, we take care of it. We also provide local support of the Hunter Douglas Lifetime Limited Warranty.
If you’re comparing stores, we’d love to be one of your stops. Book a consultation and see what we can do for your home. You can also browse our custom drapery page.
Visit our showroom at 3737 Major Mackenzie Drive, Vaughan, ON L4H 0A2, or call (416) 998-9993. We are open Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM, and Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM. Sundays are by appointment only, and after-hours appointments are available on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a window covering store in Vaughan?
Look for in-home consultations, a custom drapery workroom, professional measuring and installation, a wide product range and clear warranty and after-sale service.
Is it better to buy window coverings from a local store or a big box store?
For standard sizes, a big box store can work. For custom drapery, tall windows or motorization, a local specialist usually offers more guidance, a better fit and easier service after installation.
What questions should I ask before buying custom window coverings?
Ask about in-home consultations, who makes the drapery, who measures and installs, which products suit your windows, motorization options, warranty coverage and typical timelines.
Why does professional measuring matter?
Custom window coverings are made to exact sizes. Professional measuring helps make sure they fit properly, especially on tall, wide or unusually shaped windows.
Does Centurian offer in-home consultations in Vaughan and Maple?
Yes. Centurian offers free in-home consultations and works with homeowners across Vaughan and Maple. Book a consultation to talk through options for your home.
