Curtains or blinds?
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Wow. That's a big question. The problem is, you can't decide one way or the other across your whole house, as there are different things to consider.
Aesthetics - both blinds and curtains (and sometimes both together) can add aesthetic appeal to a room, so this one is really about personal taste - are you looking to lighten or darken a room, make it minimalist or opulent, make a design statement or simply make your window dressing easy to co-ordinate with the rest of your furnishings? Blinds form crisp, clean lines and curtains soften hard edges, but both can be used for both purposes.
Privacy - ever notice that if you're inside a room and there's a crack in the curtains, you can see a lot more than someone walking along the street can? Even so, privacy is definitely a consideration especially when your home has windows close to the street (or even your entertainment area). Blinds are probably more reliable for this purpose (as curtains can sometimes fall differently depending on how you've pulled them).
Sunlight and sustainability - both curtains and blinds are good to decrease the amount of light that can enter your home (and therefore reduce the cost and impact of your cooling solution) but both can be great options. It's less about the choice between blinds and curtains and more about whether your choice is close-fitting or not. Of course, you'll know which windows in your house receive more light and make your decision appropriately.
Durability - torn curtains can be mended but ripped or broken blinds are difficult to repair. That being said, in high moisture or heat areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, wooden blinds can be less durable. The mechanism for blinds can also break after time but usually are under guarantee for a few years and relatively simple to have repaired. Take care to consider the damage sun can do to both curtains and blinds - the colour will fade over time if not treated properly.
Ease of cleaning - this ones tricky. To clean blinds there are many tools that help you clean venetian blinds easily, and regular dusting will usually reduce deep cleaning. Vertical blinds aren't as susceptible as curtains to dust collection (as they rarely have a static area exposed unless they're never used) but then curtains can usually be vacuumed on the rail or taken off and washed in the machine or by hand. The very tops of curtains is a favourite place for moths and sometimes spiders to hide too.
Safety - curtains close to an open fireplace or in the kitchen can be dangerous, especially if you cook with gas. Take care with grill heaters in bathrooms too. Then again, if you have small children the cords for blinds can be a safety hazard so if you do choose blinds make sure your cords are out of reach or included in your baby proofing exercise.
So, there's lots to think about when choosing between curtains or blinds but if you need an expert opinion and want some prices to fully understand which choice is better, post your job for a specialist curtain and blind company today.
You might also want to read about saving up to 30% on your cooling bills with window film or thebenefits of double glazing.
Also, here's a guide to choosing blinds and measuring your windows for new curtains.
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That's exactly what I love about blinds - the privacy it provides. Plus the fact that thye are easier to clean than the conventional curtains!
over a year ago by denise
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