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One choice that is often made at the last minute is what to put on the windows. After all, picking out paint colours, bedding, art, and furniture is more fun.
But since window treatments are an important part of interior design, you should think about them from the start, even if they’re the last thing to go in.
There are a few things to think about whether you want curtains, blinds, or shutters. That’s because each choice comes in different styles, such as roller blinds, roman blinds, venetian blinds, vertical blinds, and honeycomb blinds, and each of those styles has even more options (i.e. block out, light-filtering or sunscreen). You can even find motorized blinds that can be automated to open and close at set times – great for large cities where privacy can be an issue.
Blinds come in many different styles and can be used in many different ways, so they can fit any style and any room.
- Pros: Blinds are a good choice if you want something simple, which is great for small rooms or windows that have furniture under them. Some types of blinds are as good at blocking light and keeping heat in as heavier curtains.
- Cons: Honeycomb and roman blinds insulate well, but venetian and vertical blinds don’t save as much energy. Dust can build up on slatted blinds, which need to be wiped down often. This could be a problem for allergy sufferers.
Different Kinds Of Blinds
- Roman blinds are made of fabric and stack neatly at the top of the window frame when they are up. When they are down, they lay flat across the window. They do a good job of keeping the sun out and are better for bedrooms and living rooms than kitchens.
- Horizontal slats made of wood, PVC, or aluminium. Angie says that it’s easy to control the amount of light and privacy with venetian blinds.
- Vertical: Vertical slats that can bend and are usually made of stiff fabric in wide panels. They are easy to use because they move to the side instead of up and down.
- Roller: A cheap and effective way to block out light that creates a simple, clean look. They give you full privacy and use less energy. Sunscreen roller blinds will block some of the light to keep UV rays from damaging your furniture. They are also resistant to mould and mildew, which makes them a good choice for the kitchen and bathroom.
- Cellular, also called honeycomb, is a style of window that has horizontal folds and looks like a honeycomb. They are the best way to control the temperature, and they are light and easy to use. Angie says, “They have two special layers of fabric that make a honeycomb shape when put together.” This pocket traps air and makes a barrier between your warm room and the cold window to keep heat in. Studies have shown that they can cut a home’s average heating costs by up to 43.3%.
Things To Remember
Custom-made or ready-made? Custom-made blinds are more expensive and take more time to make than ready-made ones. Even though ready-made blinds are cheaper, they may not fit your window frame perfectly, and you could lose some of the insulation, light-blocking, and privacy benefits.
- Fit: The cleanest look comes from blinds that are put inside the window frame, but only if the frame is deep enough. Installing blinds above the window sill and outside the window frame is a better way to block light.
- Roll from the back or the front: You can choose between a back roll or a front roll for roller blinds. A front roll will leave a bigger space between the blind and the window, which is good if you want to hide or reach a latch or handle. This choice works best for blinds that go inside the window frame. Back rolls hang close to the window, which is better for blocking light and saving energy. This choice works for blinds that go outside the window frame.
Honeycomb can be opened and shut from either the top or the bottom (which means you can get light from the top half of the window while maintaining privacy from the bottom).
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