CURTAINS VS BLINDS

CURTAINS VS BLINDS

Understanding curtains and blinds, what makes them great, and how you can choose the best for your home.

Window Coverings for Your Home

Designing your home can be a fun experience. Choosing the right theme, colour scheme, furniture, and even window covering for each room needs to be just right to bring the entire space together.

When designing or renovating a home or room, most people overlook window coverings, which can have a huge impact on the overall look of a space. If chosen correctly, curtains and blinds can add or create a great visual change in a room by altering the look and atmosphere.

Window coverings can also enhance your décor style by either standing out with splashes of colour and design or blending in seamlessly with the décor.

Choosing the ideal window covering is a matter of personal choice, but there are many who still wonder which would be better: curtains or blinds?

How to Choose the Ideal Window Covering?

Choosing the best window covering for your home should be done after considering the style of each room, your light requirements, the architectural design of the space, your budget, and you and your family’s lifestyle.

By understanding the functionality of the different window coverings available and the requirement of each room, choosing a suitable window covering should be much easier.

Curtains are perhaps one of the most popular window covering options around because they are easy to make, fit, and maintain. They are also quite versatile with a number of different curtain types, each with its own specific features.

Blinds are also quite popular these days as they come in a wide variety of styles, offer maximum privacy, provides excellent protection from light, and are space efficient alternatives. They are easily motorised meaning they can be controlled by a wall switch, keypad, remote control, computer, or even smart phone, essentially removing the dangers of hanging cords.

Curtains v Blinds

Choosing between curtains and blinds can be difficult, so we’ve summarised a few of the important points to help you make the right choice:

  • Design possibilities:

Curtains offer more options for an assortment of interior styles since they come in a variety of thicknesses, patterns, and colours and can add style and texture to the room. You can opt for lighter sheer curtains which are great for emitting more light and creating a light, airy mood in a minimalist interior or work space. Heavier, richer curtain fabrics are excellent for maintaining a cosy, comfortable space such as the bedroom. You can also use bright curtains to add a splash of colour to a room with white or light-coloured walls (without the hassle of re-painting!).

Blinds: also come in assortment of styles and materials (timber, aluminium, Venetian, etc.) which can be chosen according to the décor, style, and space of the room. They are also a great way to make a small space seem larger because they are less intrusive and can be easily folded up and kept out of the way.

  • Durability:

Curtains: They can last you years, if not decades, but over time (and after countless washes) they can begin to experience wear and tear requiring a replacement.

Blinds: They are more durable than curtains and with proper care can last a long time. However, they can break easily when cleaning etc.

  • Blocking out light:

Curtains: If you are looking for a window covering to block out light, then curtains are the way to go. You can opt for a thick, dark curtain to completely block out light especially for bedrooms.

Blinds: They are more flexible and are excellent for controlling the amount of light you want to enter the room.

  • Cost:

Curtains: Depending on the type of curtain, the material used and how much manpower is needed to mount it, curtains can be considered the more expensive option. You will also need to fork out some cash every few months if you choose to dry-clean your curtains.

Blinds: They can also be quite costly depending on the materials used (aluminium and wood blinds tend to be more expensive than vinyl), cost to have it fitted, etc.

  • Cleaning:

Curtains: They are generally considered easier to clean because most fabrics can be cleaned using a washing machine or having them dry-cleaned. The only downside to cleaning curtains is having to bring them down before washing, which could be time-consuming and strenuous. If you suffer from allergies, then you will also need to be constantly vacuuming dust from the folds of the curtains.

Blinds: They gather dust easily (which is also quite visible) but cleaning them means wiping them down every few weeks, so no need to take them down for cleaning or worrying about constant dust troubling your allergies.

  • Privacy:

Curtains: Most curtains can be either opened or closed limiting your privacy. If you enjoy your privacy, then you should opt for a thick curtain, which when closed, can block everything from curious eyes. You will however need a liner to go with it to allow in light during the day.

Blinds: Blinds can offer more privacy since you can choose how much to open it.

  • Sound:

Curtains: Thicker curtains can help muffle sounds so you won’t be distracted by loud outside noises and can muffle your sounds as well. They also don’t make much sound aside from slight rustling when it’s breezy outside.

Blinds: They aren’t great at muffling sounds and can make a lot of noise when it’s windy.

Curtains and Blinds at Timms Curtain House

Choosing the ideal window covering is an often-overlooked task, and one which many people don’t consider seriously when decorating or renovating a room.

Choosing between curtains or blinds can be a difficult choice but one which ultimately comes down to your personal preference and ideas. Either way though, Timms Curtain House has a beautiful range of curtains and blinds, any of which can help you create the perfect room!