Window blinds may seem like just another home accessory, but these do more than add visual interest to a space. The addition of blinds can add dimension, dramatically altering the character and in turn the overall appearance of any room. This is why choosing the right blinds for the home is very important. If you are considering choosing blinds as the window treatment for your home, you must choose wisely, and to do so, you need to consider a few things.
Main Considerations
When choosing blinds for the home, there are four main things you have to take into consideration: the function of the room where the blinds will be placed, the size of the room, the furnishings inside the room, as well as the overall theme of the house.
Function of the Room
When shopping window blinds for your home, do not assume that one kind will work in every space. Every room is different and each has a different function. How the space will be used will dictate what blind type you should be getting.
Take the kitchen, for instance. This is one area with a lot of activity, as this is the place where you cook and prepare meals. Because working in the kitchen makes spills and splashes inevitable, it is a must for you to choose something easy to clean, especially for windows by the sink. Moreover, the blinds you choose for the kitchen must be able to withstand the constantly changing temperature as well as humidity. The most ideal choices for the kitchen are aluminum blinds or faux wood blinds. The latter looks like wood but is actually made from both wood and vinyl, and the vinyl is that which makes it moisture resistant and low maintenance.
Size of the Room
Blinds come in different slat widths and types (either vertical or horizontal). Before you settle on a particular slat width or type, think about how big or small the room is. Wider slats are best for bigger spaces while narrower slats are more ideal for small spaces. If you choose wide slat blinds for a small space, expect the space to look even smaller. As for the slat type, it will depend on how you want to enhance the existing space. Vertical slats force the eyes to look from top to bottom, causing an illusion of length; on the contrary, horizontal slats compel the eyes to look from left to right, causing an illusion of width.
Furnishings Inside the Room
The kind of furniture to be found in each space also matters when choosing blinds. Naturally, wooden blinds are ideal for spaces dominated by wooden furniture. If a space has a lot of wrought iron furniture, aluminum or vinyl blinds are good choices.
Theme of the House
Of course, the blinds you pick must complement the overall theme of your house. Do not opt for anything that will clash with the look of the space. Having PVC vertical blinds in a Victorian style house will be unsightly and do nothing for the space’s aesthetic value. So before you shop, remember the theme and use this as a basis as you look through your options.
This article was penned by Ericka for Style Rite Blinds, a reputable company and preferred source of blinds in West Lothian.