Curtains and blinds can improve the appearance of your house.

It is one aspect which can be customized according to your style and colour preferences.

But an issue may arise if you are not able to decide between curtains or blinds to decorate the windows of your house.

From the shape, style, and design of the window to the colour, size, and length of the wall all result in the decision of choosing between curtains or blinds.

Overview of curtains and blinds

a) Curtains

Curtains have always been the priority for the majority for so many years.

The availability and the variety it offers have not been able to be matched by blinds.

But the setback it brings to the table is the inability to choose a pair of curtains to match all the windows of your house.

Choosing a single type would give a monotonous touch to the home, and you would want to mix things up to get the best effect on your home.

b) Blinds

On the other hand, provide a lot more privacy than any typical curtain, and it is also easy to maintain as any dust or stain can be removed by the use of a cloth.

So let us compare them on the basis of seven different factors.

1. Aesthetic of Curtains and Blinds

a) Curtains

  • Styles: The variety curtains offer through fabric, lining, and heading styles are unmatched for. These factors, combined, define the aesthetic of curtains. The ability to achieve different styles and varieties all depends on the fact of where in your house you are using the curtains.
  • Designs: The fabric determines the functionality of the curtains. You can also get the help of your style consultant to find an image or pattern for the curtains which would bring out the boldness of the room.
  • Tracks: The rod or tracks used to hang the curtain can be used to match the wall. It helps to be out the contemporary or traditional feature of the room.
  • Feeling: The overall feel of the room is dictated by the heading styles by determining the fall of the curtain. Like the track or rod, it helps to bring out the contemporary or traditional feature of the room.

b) Blinds

  • Materials: Depending on its intended use, blinds are made using wood, fabric, plastic, or veneer. It is ideal to bring out a clean and simple aesthetic of your rooms. A minimalistic look can be delivered by the use of plain white blinds, which would give the room space to breathe.
  • Feeling: Wood Blinds would be the best choice to bring out the natural and warm aesthetic of the room. It also brings out a minimalist, clean and tidy look if used appropriately. It provides the option to let all the light in when needed as it can be rolled up without any disturbance. A cost-effective option is to choose roller blinds
  • A blend of Curtains and Blinds: If you have roman blinds, which is the right balance between curtains and blinds. It provides all the functionality of blinds, and at the same time allows you to choose the right fabric which matches the style and the furniture in the room.

2. Cleaning of Curtains and Blinds

a) Curtains

  • Vacuum: The best way to keep a curtain clean would be through the use of vacuum cleaning.
  • Soft Brush: Everyday dust and dirt can be cleaned using a soft brush which can also be attached to the vacuum.
  • Hand Wash: Curtains made using delicate materials need extra care, and the best way to clean it would be through hand washing. There is the risk of shrinking otherwise.
  • Washing Machine: Lightweight curtains can be cleaned using the washing machine. It will be easier to get the dirt out that way. Curtains made of heavy materials would need good dry cleaning process to clean it properly.
  • Steam cleaning: This would help in reducing the time taken for cleaning heavy curtains.

b) Blinds

  • Vacuum: Similar to curtains, a vacuum would be the ideal way to clean blinds. Blinds have the issue of accumulating dust. It can be an issue if you are someone who suffers from an allergy. So the use of a light vacuum cleaner on a regular basis would be the best way to stop this dust accumulation.
  • Spot Cleaning: Cleaning roman blinds is a tougher task in comparison to normal blinds. Spot cleaning would be the best way to clean dirt and stains off of a roman blind. You can also take the help of a consultant to get to know better ways to clean blinds.

3. Functionality of Curtains and Blinds

a) Curtains

  • Operation: Curtains can be operated in two ways. Either by manually pulling the cord or by using an automated mechanism to do it.
  • Sheer curtain: It can give a great deal of protection against sunlight by filtering the amount which reaches inside.
  • Net curtain: It provides a soft feel to the room to enhance the contemporary look. Using curtains in places known for its moist climate can lead to the build-up of the mound. So, proper care has to be taken.

b) Blinds

  • Lifting blinds: When opened, does not take up any of the space of the window.
  • Venetian blinds: On the other hand, deliver enough light and also privacy just by tilting it.
  • Venetian blinds: Venetian blinds have water-resistant properties. It also reduces the process of mold accumulation. So in places with high moisture such as kitchen and bathroom, Venetian blinds would be a great option.
  • Roman blinds: Roman blinds are very effective at blocking light. This makes it the number one choice of blinds for media and bedrooms.

4. Warmth

Sunlight can make or break the beauty of your room. It can make the room look beautiful with all the natural light glowing the space and it can also make a tough living environment with the harsh sunlight being unbearable to sit through.

It can wake you up early when you want to sleep in late or make your furniture fade.

So there definitely is a need to understand the kind of insulation provided by curtains and blinds to help you choose the one which suits your room the most.

a) Curtains

  • Thermal lining: Heavier fabrics for curtains would enhance the insulating properties, but it will definitely have its effect if the room is small. A thermal lining will be a great addition if you are looking to make the room energy efficient. It will also help retain the heat and help with the warmth of the room.
  • Sunlight Protection: Certain types of Curtains would allow you to block the harsh sunlight getting into the room during the hot day, creating a cosy atmosphere inside. But it also results in blocking the natural sunlight during the rest of the seasons. The sheer curtain is the best way to tackle this problem. It always blocks the unwanted harsh sunlight and also provides privacy. But at the same time, it filters natural light through it.

b) Blinds

  • Sunlight Protection: Roman blinds with thermal lining or honeycomb blinds are the best way to protect your room from sunlight. Both the style of blinds are also great insulators and holds on to the energy efficiently. Roller, Vertical, and Venetian blinds are comparatively not as energy efficient.Sunlight can be completely blocked using faux wood and wood blinds.
  • Insulation: Vertical and Venetian blinds have gaps in between which gives room for energy to escape. This can be controlled by the use of insulation methods which might add to the cost of installation. But the insulation needs depend on the kind of room, so if the room does not need energy efficiency, these blinds would be ideal.
  • Ultraviolet protection: If you are looking for a way to protect yourself from the ultraviolet rays, sunscreen roller blinds are available for you.

If you need complete darkness so as to get easy sleep during the day, a wise option would be to combine a bit of curtain too. To double up the defence against the sun, you can add a layer of a curtain over the blinds.

Conclusion

Curtains and blinds are two great ways to treat your windows. But the tough task is to choose the one that is right for your home.

In an ideal world, the best thing to do would be to go for a combination of both.

But due to affordability reasons, it will be better to methodically work it out and use a combination of both only in rooms used very often.

Spaces like laundry rooms, guest rooms, bathrooms, and any other informal rooms are less visited. So it will be ideal to use either curtains or blinds in this room.

Use a combination of both of these in rooms to get the desired style and effect.

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