While curtains are a popular window dressing choice, they aren't always the best solution. Blinds have some additional advantages, which might make them better for your home. What are the benefits of installing blinds rather than hanging curtains?
Curtains give you limited light control. If they are open, you get maximum incoming light; if they are closed, you get no light coming in at all. It's hard to control light in more incremental ways here. Curtains tend to be an all-or-nothing solution.
Blinds can give you more control over the light that comes into a room. If you use blinds with controllable blades or panels, then you can filter incoming light and sun. For example, you can change blade angles on venetian blinds to let some, but not all, light into a room.
If you're dressing a window that is overlooked, then you might want to find a way to boost your privacy. Curtains don't help much here.
If your curtains are open, anyone can see inside. You can shut off the view by closing the curtains; however, your room will then be dark. While you can hang sheers behind the curtains to block the view, you might not like the look of this dual-curtaining option.
Blinds can enhance your privacy without blocking out all your light or your view outdoors. They make it harder to see inside a room from the outside even if their blades or panels are fully open.
While curtains often work well in living rooms and bedrooms, they aren't the ideal choice for other rooms in your home. Their fabrics don't cope well with hot, steamy or damp environments in kitchens and bathrooms. In these rooms, curtains can get damp. They might start to develop spots of mould if they don’t dry out.
Blinds are better suited to these rooms. If you choose the right materials or treatments, then blinds can be resistant to heat, steam and damp. They'll look better and will be less likely to get damaged.
Curtains aren't always a sensible window-dressing option for people who suffer from allergies. Their fabrics can collect and hold a lot of dust, especially if the curtains hang low enough to touch wood floors.
Even if you run your hoover over the curtains regularly, you might leave some dust behind—you can't always see dust or dust mites on a fabric. You might spend a lot of time washing or dry-cleaning your curtains to keep them free from allergens.
Blinds might be a better option here. They don't collect as much dust. Plus, they are easy to clean—most blinds simply need a regular dust, vacuum or wipe down. You don't have to take the blinds down to do this. It's also a lot easier to see dust on a blind than it is on a curtain.
Curtains can be expensive. If you have unusually shaped or large windows, then you might find it hard to source ready-made products in the right fabrics and with the right fit. You might have to order custom-made curtains. If you can't find a style, colour or pattern to suit you, then you might have to buy designer products. Custom-made and designer curtains will be more expensive.
Blinds are typically more cost-effective. If you choose your blinds and their materials carefully, you could dress all your windows at a lower cost.
Bear in mind that blinds can give you some design flexibility. If you like the look of curtains but want the practical advantages of blinds, then you can buy vertical blinds made from materials that hang and look more like curtains.
For more advice, contact Redgum Blinds and Shutters. We can help you find the right blinds for any room in your home.
Visit our showroom in Brisbane to discover what you like and get a free quote. You’ll work directly with the company. Please call us on 07 3824 1452 if you have any questions.
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