Curtains or drapes were originally used to block or obscure light through our windows, either darkening the room in the day time, or giving privacy from the outside during the night. Heavier curtains were also used to add thermal insulation to defend against cold and draughts in the winter months. These days however, curtains are becoming primarily a decorative feature with ornate drapery, swag, valances and tie backs. In many cases the functional aspect of the curtain has been replaced by the blind. In some homes or rooms, the curtain has gone altogether in favour of the blind.
On the upside, curtains can add and aesthetic quality to a room. On the downside, curtains are expensive, they harbour dust, they’re a pain to launder and if you’ve gone down the swag and valance route, can take a considerable amount of time to get them looking just right. It’s no wonder that curtains are seldom drawn these days. Blinds on the other hand are relatively cheap, easy to fit and use and come in a range of styles including Venetian, vertical, Roman and roller blinds.
Venetian blinds consist of a number of horizontal slats which can be tilted to allow a variable amount of light through or retracted altogether. Materials are usually metal, wood or plastic and come on a variety of colours. Vertical blinds are similar to Venetian blinds but with vertical slats which hang from a rail. These are often made from fabric but could also be made from wood, metal or plastic. Vertical blinds can also be tilted or withdrawn altogether making them, along with Venetian blinds more versatile than both roller and Roman blinds. However they do tend to be a little more expensive than roller or Roman blinds.
Roller blinds are easy to fit, can easily be trimmed to size and come in a massive range of designs and colours. Similarly, Roman blinds are also available in a variety of colours and designs, but are a little more tricky to trim to size at home. Buying blinds direct from the internet means you can specify the width and drop required, which will save you having to trim them down to size yourself. One can also specify which side of the blind you want the control on, something people tend to overlook when buying from the high street as they are focused on the colour or design and forget all about the other options available.