Curtains and Blinds – Which One To Choose?

I’m just as guilty as anyone else of over analysing a problem, tossing all the advantages and disadvantages of things over in my mind until I get so caught up in the whole process that I forget why I was trying to decide in the first place. I’m also guilty of rambling on about curtains and blinds on this website without really giving you any indication as to which solution is best for any given situation. I’d like to try and alleviate that a little, and hopefully make your decision a little easier by laying down some black and white facts about these two choices. You may notice that I haven’t included shutters in this post, and the reason is that shutters differ a little from curtain and blinds. Shutters are an option on their own, and are useful for reasons that other window coverings aren’t.

Let’s start with curtains. Curtains usually consist of one or two lengths of material hung on a rod that sits horizontally over the top of a window, or door. They are almost always made of some sort of material, with the noticeable exception of beaded curtains and bamboo curtains. Their main aim is to give you privacy in your home, by blocking out the view into your house from outside. The added benefit of curtains, indeed the main reason that many people choose this style of window treatment, is their look. The soft flowing material of a curtain can really enhance a room, and adds a character that just can’t be matched by the hard lines of a blind. Because curtains are considered such an aesthetic window covering, they have been embellished throughout the years with all sorts of trimmings and additions. For example, valances, cornices, lace trimmings and tie backs have all become an overall part of the look that makes up a curtain. In the majority of cases, the curtain has become the focal point of the room.

Blinds, on the other hand, are considered to be a whole lot more functional. Although many people do consider the blind to be an attractive window treatment, more people admire them for their functions rather than their looks. One of the main benefits of a blind is it’s ability to control light that comes into your home. A curtain is either open, or it’s closed. It’s either keeping that direct sunlight out of your home, or it’s not. Because many blinds have slats in them, they allow the homeowner to adjust these slats to whatever position gives the best diffusion of light in their room, and they can keep changing it throughout the day, as the sun moves and the light changes. The other big benefit of the blind is that it is a great insulator. Although you can get curtains with thermal lining, they are never going to be as good at keeping the heat (or winter cold) out of your home as a snug fitting honeycomb blind can.

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So in conclusion, the choice between curtains and blinds really comes down to a choice between aesthetics and functionality, to a certain extent. It also depends on what your personal tastes are. Just because the majority of people prefer the look of curtains, that doesn’t mean that everybody does. If you prefer the look of a particular type of blind, then your choice is going to be a whole lot easier, otherwise you are just going to have to base your choice on variables such as your local climate, the aspect of the window you are covering and your budget. That said, there are bargains to be had with either style. If you look hard enough for cheap curtains and blinds online, you will find them. Many online stores also offer free shipping and money back guarantees on their items, so it’s worth doing a bit of shopping around.