Blinds; what's that all about then? They're the functional covering for our windows, a method through which to block out the prying eyes and cynicism of the outside world and trap in the love and comfort of your home. They keep out the cold and keep in the heat. On the whole, they're pretty useful.
Unfortunately, they also go unnoticed quite often. Think about it; when is the last time you looked at your blinds? Not just glanced, but had a good ol' look, really considered what they say about you and your home. What do you think? Do they give a good or bad impression?
If you answered the former then congratulations, you're content with your interior decor and can stop reading right now - actually, it's best that you stick around just in case. However, if you looked and were overwhelmed by a wave of disgust that your old self could have made such a hideous design choice then stick the kettle on and get comfy - this article is for you.
To understand how to choose the right blinds, one has to take it back to the very basics. Window blinds come in all shapes and sizes and picking the right one for you comes down to a fine balance of personal choice and interior design conventions. Of all the blinds on the market, the most popular by far are roller, vertical and venetian blinds. Each have their own merits and disadvantages.
Roller blinds are possibly the most popular of all three and are certainly the most functional. A flat sheet of material attached, unsurprisingly, to a roller, these blinds are great for trapping heat in and offering full coverage of your windows. They also tend to be the cheapest of the three styles and as such are considered the least 'luxury'.
Vertical blinds consist of slats held together vertically by cords; they can be drawn across the windows entirely or adjusted to let in a particular level of light. Vertical blinds tend to be the preferred choice of blind for patio doors rather than windows, although window variants are available.
Venetian blinds are similar to verticals expect in reverse; the slats run horizontally and are held together by cords running horizontally. Instead of drawing from side-to-side, venetians are drawn up and down in a similar manner to the roller style but can also be adjusted to allow for different levels of sunlight. Essentially, they combine the best of the previous two styles with a little extra which is one of the reasons they are one of the most popular styles of blind available.
There are no hard and fast rules on what particular style is best for a particular rule but generally rollers are preferred for 'utility' rooms such as the bathroom and the kitchen, whereas venetians are usually favoured for relaxation rooms such as the living room and bedrooms. However, the choice is largely yours!
Once you've picked a style, you can work through the plethora of different materials, colours and patterns. Fabric, plastic and wood tend to be the most popular materials, with each offering a different style to your home - wood, for example, is considered quite rustic. When it comes to colours and styles, the world really is your oyster - you'll be hard stretched not to find something you love! And even if you don't, many manufacturers will print a picture or logo of your choice onto your blinds, making for the perfect personalised home decoration!
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