Blinds are the newest window treatment you can opt for, but selecting the right type of blind is essential that goes well with your decor style.
As far as ease of selection goes, you can see mock up samples of different types of blinds such as Roman, roller blinds, vertical, zebra blinds. These mock up samples are for you to understand the mechanism and see the look how it will go with your home types of window frames.
Fabric Selection
But when you go for the fabric selection, the samples/ brochures are small as you can fail and bit difficult to visualise the final product. Comparatively, curtains are either displayed in full, or a complete roll of unstitched fabrics as you can see in the picture, or catalog size is bigger. It is comparatively easier to imagine compared to blinds.
Curtain fabrics are available in a wide variety like Sheer fabrics with floral design, Motif, geometric pattern, or polka dots. A lot of textured fabrics are available in Sheer as well as Opaque. Opaque curtain fabrics with prints, Self-work, if you want to get a good Fall/Form of these curtains then you can also go for Velvets, Suede or similar looking fabrics.
Consider Space
If your space is compact or the width is less and you want to add Horizontality to your space. You can also go for venetian blinds as many horizontal lines are seen, acts as a horizontal element in a space.
Similarly, if space is not a problem for you and if you have everything neutral, you can add a bit of drama or add a deep colour in the room, definitely go for curtains. If we talk about smart spaces, if you go for 2 layers of curtain in a compact space, you will end up losing 7”-8” space from the window wall.
Single or Two Layer
For 2 layers of curtains to function properly and to look good, and then place your furniture, you will have to leave 8”-9” and then place your seating/ side table/ sofa. That space will go waste if you want curtains.
Blinds are installed within the window frame as nothing is protruding out. Hence one can place the furniture 1”-2” away from the wall saving almost 5” of space. Black out option is possible in both cases. You can add a lining cloth to a bedroom or a tv room curtain where complete black out is required i.e., this is a layer of thick black out cloth stitched to the curtain.
With blackout curtains one would not even realize if it’s daytime or nigh time. 100% blackout possible. Similarly, blinds are available in a range of fabric. Some are semi translucent while blackout blinds are also available. But the options are less. If you want to go for black out in any space, blind installation is also possible & also a good option.
Automation is possible in both. Automation is a way in which you can control your curtain or blinds with a remote by adding a motor. You can control them with a push of a button on a remote.
As a designer if you ask me my personal favourite, I love the combination of curtains and blinds. Curtains in front and blinds in the frame behind. I have used this combination and it looks amazing. Sheer curtain in front and if you would like a wooden look, it looks amazing.
I hope reading this article have cleared some of thoughts and confusion how to go for window treatment. Both blinds and curtains have their specific advantages and flaws, you need to consider your requirement, budget, and style to go with.
