First off let me just say, we really like roller blinds and we also really like curtains. Sometimes they work great together and sometimes they look better by themselves.
So if you are doing the finishing touches to your renovation or your new dream home then you may find yourself faced with the common dilemma: curtains or blinds?
With so many options of colours, fabrics and patterns to choose from, it’s not always an easy decision to make. However it’s one you should think about as it will alter the whole look and feel of your room and home.
It will also be a long term investment in your home so take the time to find the style that you want.
Curtains
As most people know, curtains have been around for centuries. There is no denying that a grand set of curtains draped from a decorative rail can add a luxurious, glorious and soft finish to any room.
The thick material not only looks magnificent, it also sets your room up and is perfect for blocking any drafts or heat loss from your windows. This keeps your room nice and cosy on those cold nights.
Drapes offer the best insulation out of all window furnishings keeping your home warm in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Curtains also offer great sound insulation, especially for homes situated on main roads and they are also all the rage in theatre rooms everyone is putting in their new homes.
Curtains provide the best blockout of light in comparison to any other blockout window furnishing and they can be the most expensive form of window furnishing.
This is due to the amount of fabric that goes into making a curtain and the hand-sewn qualities, the hanging and track mounting requirements and the quality of fabric.
However, they are a worthwhile investment if the fabric is timeless as they will last a very long time if looked after.
Although curtains are beautiful and luxurious, they are more challenging to maintain and clean compared to roller blinds.
Curtains come with their unique care instructions and the cleaning process can involve washing and re-hanging, dry cleaning and or ultra sonic cleaning.
If you want to have a fuller look in a large room curtains will certainly look the best.
Curtains create a lavishness feature adding character to any room.
Roller Blinds
Roller blinds on the other hand can offer a completely different array of benefits. With many different fabrics, you’ll be guaranteed to find one that suits your style.
You can even get curtain fabric bonded to an acrylic backing to make a roller blind!
Above all, roller blinds are effective at what they are meant to do and that is to function efficiently, bock light and insulate rooms. They can offer a range of practicalities; for instance light filtering roller blinds allow light to enter your room whilst giving you privacy at the same time.
Whereas blockout roller blinds can be used to completely block any light coming through, which is what you want in a bedroom or lounge room to completely block the light.
Roller blinds are very easy to clean with a damp cloth and warm water or vacuum attachment to remove the dust.
Blinds are by far the most cost effective way to furnish your windows, however, just be mindful of the quality of the fabric you are purchasing. A roller blind from some of the big hardware stores, will not last nearly as long as a roller blind made with quality fabrics and installed by a professional.
Above all, the one thing that roller blinds offer that curtains cannot is the fact that they remain timeless.
This is due to the simplicity and durability of blinds, they can remain undated and endure the test of time.
Veri Shades
If you’re still in two minds whether to go for blinds or curtains, then Veri Shades is your answer.
Veri Shades offer the style, softness and elegance of curtains with the versatility of blinds.
Veri Shades are known as the ‘clever curtain’ because they can be closed but you can still walk through the fabric folds without opening the curtains!
They are a blockout blind/curtain or a sheer light filtering blind/curtain and are ideal for sliding doors and French doors.
Or Do both: Blind and Curtain
Another option that is extremely popular today is having a blockout blind installed into the recess of the window with a sheer see through curtain in front to create a lovely softness and ambience to your room.
Window furnishing can become much more complex than it may at first seem.
However, if you know clearly in your mind the type of look you want to create and it follows a strong theme, then you will know the curtain is the right option for you.
If you don’t have such a strong sense of direction about your interior but know you want something that’s classy and suitable for your room, then blinds can be the perfect option helping you achieve your desired look and feel.
Or you can always do a bit of both like the option above.