Styling your windows: Curtains vs blinds

When it comes to styling the windows in your home, choosing between curtains and blinds can be a tricky decision.

Each boasts unique features that can completely transform the overall look and feel of a room; and there are some key pros and cons to the functionality of both curtains and blinds too. All of these things should be taken into account when making your choice, as they can greatly influence your overall perception and enjoyment of a room. 

To discover which window furnishing will best meet your needs, read on to learn about how curtains and blinds fair in light of important considerations.

Practicality

Windows are an important light source within your home, so, naturally, how you furnish them will affect how light enters and impacts your living space. Firstly, you should think about the types of windows and glass you’re looking to dress. If they’re already tinted, for example, then the levels of light entering a space will already be controlled.

If you want to manipulate how much light floods into a space, which is useful in a home office, for example, then screwless blinds will allow you to do this. Slatted blinds, often in wood or plastic, have a great deal of functionality, offering a full range of coverage over windows. You can easily open them completely to allow lots of light in, or have them down and semi-open when you want to allow just a little sunshine in.

Curtains don’t compare so well when it comes to controlling light, though you can certainly experiment with different materials, thicknesses and colours to affect how much light they actually block out. This is particularly useful in a bedroom if you need something that eliminates heavy light, while maintaining important design elements.

Warmth & design

Choosing how much light to allow into a room is one way of controlling the overall ‘warmth’ in a room; but style is another way, which can have a considerable effect on the feel you get when you walk into a space.

The range of materials, designs and colours available with curtains, makes this furnishing a truly effective way to add warmth to a space. With an endless abundance of style options, curtains are a real design feature in a room, meaning you can be bold and playful in your decision. They  can be used to make a statement, and contribute to your chosen interior design, and are also famed for creating a homely and cosy environment.

While blinds are considered far more basic and unimposing in their form, which may well be the perfect look for your home, you can opt for Roman blinds instead, which offers a hybrid between the two. You’ll still have creative freedom in terms of choosing different materials and designs, while they maintain some key benefits of blinds, such a inhabiting less space. 

Maintenance

At first glance, you may think blinds rank top when it comes to their ongoing care. They don’t appear to need a lot of maintenance in comparison to curtains, which can be difficult to wash - especially if you’re dealing with delicate or heavy-duty material.

However, with a large number of small slats, blinds can be dust-collectors and will likely require a daily spruce, especially if you opt for white or a dark colour. Curtains, on the other hand, usually do well to mask dust and only require the occasional shake or wash.