Blinds Vs. Curtains: Which is Best?
It's a common decision for most homeowners to make: shall we choose blinds or curtains? The answer is easy - whatever you feel is best. But how can you weigh up your options to make sure you're making the right choice? Let's take a look at the differences between blinds and curtains so that you can decide what's best.
What's the difference between blinds & curtains?
Before you decide which one is best for you, you should understand the differences between the two. Let's take a look what to expect from both, and how they differ.
Blinds
These are window coverings typically made from fabric, wood, plastic and metal. They're operated using a cord, commonly, a wand or a motorised mechanism, depending on your budget. Their position can be adjusted allowing you to control the amount of light that enters a room. There are a few different types of blinds available, including:
- Roller
- Roman
- Venetian
- Vertical
- Pleated
- Partial visibility
Curtains
Curtains are made from fabric, from light netting to thick black-outs with heavy lining. They hang and move along a pole or a track and are opened and closed manually, although electronic opening and closing curtains are available for those with a large budget.
They're available in a range of fabrics, colours, patterns and thicknesses, so you'll find a set of curtains that are right for you. They're often considered to be more decorative than blinds and they're also heavier. Curtains are designed to provide increased privacy, insulation and light blocking.
Which option looks better?
This is really down to personal preference. It also depends on your needs and requirements. How functional do you want your window dressing to be? Are you choosing style over functionality?
Regardless of where your priorities lie, curtains and blinds differ considerably when it comes to how they look and perform. Blinds are considered to be cleaner and more streamlined when compared to curtains.
They fit well with modern, contemporary homes as their design and functionality is often simple and minimalist. If you want an understated look with some level of functionality, then blinds are the better option.
Curtains create a softer look with a more decorative appearance. If your home interiors are more cosy and traditional, then curtains would be more suitable than blinds. But with so many colours, patterns and fabrics to choose from, it's easy to make curtains work in a modern home.
Which option offers better light control?
When it comes to light control, both blinds and curtains can be just as effective. But it depends on the fabric, material and thickness you choose. For instance, PVC Venetian blinds won't offer the same light control as heavy fabric curtains.
But then netted curtains won't offer the same level of light control as black-out Roman blinds. As there are so many options and variations available, it's not fair to directly compare the two, especially if you've chosen a tailored, made-to-order option.
However, having said that, blinds have a light controlling property that makes them different from curtains. This is especially the case for Venetian blinds. The slats make it easy for light to be directed downwards, upwards, inwards into the room or to be blocked out completely.
Which option is better for privacy?
Both curtains and blinds are used to provide privacy for a home. But again, this depends on what your requirements and personal preferences are. Net curtains will not provide the same level of privacy as Roman blinds, for instance.
However, Venetian blinds can allow light into a room, but still provides privacy for room occupants, depending on the angle they've been placed at. The most effective option for complete privacy would be to pair blinds with curtains.
Which option is better for insulation?
When it comes to insulation, window coverings play a bigger role than you might have otherwise thought. The insulating qualities of curtains and blinds depends on the fabric you choose. It also depends on how well it fits into the window itself.
Usually, for warmth, homeowners will choose made to measure Roman blinds as the fabric is thicker. Alternatively, they'll choose heavy curtains with a thick lining that covers the window entirely, with no gaps present around the perimeter.
The very fact that thick, heavy curtains are designed to drape naturally around the entire window recess means that they're often considered to be better for insulation. This is definitely the case, in my experience.
Which option is easier to clean & maintain?
Typically, blinds are easier to clean and maintain, especially if they're made from wood, plastic or metal. They can be easily gone over with a feather duster to remove dust and debris. You can also use warm water and a soft cloth to clean blinds of those materials. If you have fabric or vertical blinds, then hoovering with the right attachment will easily life any dust and debris from the fabric and wall fittings.
Roman blinds are especially easy to hoover as they can be pulled flat for easy cleaning. Curtains, on the other hand, aren't as rigid. Their flexibility can make it harder to hoover them as they won't stay in one place.
If curtains become dirty, they often need to be washed in a domestic washing machine or, usually, they require dry-cleaning. This can be costly and washing in a domestic washing machine can be risky if you don't put them on the right cycle. For ease of cleaning and maintenance, blinds are definitely the easier option.
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it useful. Let me know in the comments below what you think the biggest differences are between blinds and curtains, in your experience, and I'll see you all again soon with some brand new content!
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