Insulating Properties of Carpets
Blinds are made from hard materials such as wood, metal or plastic and feature slats or vanes that tilt to control light and privacy. Blinds can be both vertical or horizontal and provide a clean, minimalistic appearance that fits home interiors really well.
Curtains are made from fabrics and are typically sold in pairs. Curtains offer a more softer, traditional aesthetic for a room and can add texture, colour and warmth thanks to their wide range of materials, styles, lengths and patterns.
Choosing Between Blinds and Curtains
You should take into account what features you are looking for in the room. Some of the common reasons for installing blinds and curtains include:
Light Control and Privacy
Blinds: offers superior control over light and privacy. Their adjustable slats allow you to specifically fine-tune the amount of light entering a room while also controlling how much visibility is possible from the outside.
Curtains: can range from sheer to blackout which offer varying degrees of light control and privacy. Whilst blackout curtains are excellent for the bedrooms, sheer blinds reduce the glare and harshness of direct sunlight while still allowing natural light into the room and offering a degree of privacy from the outside.
Insulation & Energy Efficiency
Blinds: are generally less-effective than curtains unless the blinds are made from particularly thick material like wood.
Curtains: offer significantly better insulation, particularly curtains with a thermal lining. These types of curtains can help keep the room cooler in the summer yet retain their warmth in the winter.
Aesthetic Appeal
Blinds: provide a sleek, modern look that complements contemporary and modern interior finishes. Blinds can help make small rooms larger and more open, and with a variety of styles and finishes available it can drastically transform the overall feeling of a room.
Curtains: with a wider ranger of styles, colours, materials and patterns available you may find it easier to find curtains that perfectly match your decor. Curtains offer a touch of elegance and warmth to any space.
Maintenance
Blinds: generally much easier to maintain, as they usually require a simple wipe or dusting to keep clean. However they are more prone to damage and breakage.
Curtains: can require washing and dry cleaning, depending on the fabric of the curtains. However curtains typically have a long life span if looked after properly.
Cost
There’s no definitive guide for the costs of blinds or curtains. There are many factors involved such as material, brand, sizes and customisations. Simple blinds can be inexpensive, however angled or shaped blinds can be particularly expensive as these are manufactured bespoke to your specific application. Made to measure curtains, whether handmade or machine made (handmade is our personal preference), will always incur additional costs due to the ‘making up’ fees from the curtain maker. Whilst pre-made curtains can be cheaper, if you opt for luxurious fabrics or styles the costs can increase particularly depending on the required size.
Room Considerations
You should also consider the specific needs of each room before making your ultimate decision. For kitchens and bathrooms, there will be lots of moisture present meaning ease-of-cleaning should be a priority – we’d recommend blinds in this situation. In living rooms and bedrooms, where style and comfort are more important, it might make more sense to choose curtains as this can provide depth, colour and a luxurious overall feel to your room. For offices, an uncluttered space is helpful for productivity and light levels should be controlled easily – so we’d strongly suggest blinds for an office environment.
Conclusion
Deciding between enhancing your space’s functionality and aesthetic with either option, the question “Should I install blinds or curtains?” ultimately boils down to your personal preferences, specific room needs and the ambiance you wish to create in your home. Shutters are an additional window solution that you should consider when looking for window treatments, with their specific light control and 28% in energy savings, these are a top level solution for furnishing your windows. We’d recommend you read our Shutters article (coming soon) for more information on how they can benefit your home.
Still need advice? We’re specialists at providing expert, tailored advice for your home and we would be delighted to assist you in choosing the most appropriate curtains or blinds for your home. Book an appointment or drop-by our showroom to learn more.
