Blinds and Their Uses in Interior Design

A look at the sheer variety of blinds available on the market today and how homeowners can use them as a stylish and elegant window covering.
Blinds, and especially the vertical variety are an excellent window covering for all types of room; they offer a practical and versatile solution to blocking light and granting privacy. In terms of the materials used in the construction of blinds fabric, aluminium, vinyl, wood and bamboo are all commonplace. The range of materials and immense versatility of blinds makes them perfect for any room and ideal for any design theme. For instance the clean lines created by plain white blinds can be an extraordinary addition to a minimalistic, contemporarily styled room. Shutters can also be used in conjunction with blinds opening up a variety of design options for the homeowner.
Blinds are an effective method or reducing the light in a room whilst controlling its temperature. For those with wooden floors, carpets and other soft furnishings the fact that blinds can completely control the light in a room means that fading is reduced and possessions last that much longer. As the slats, or veins of blinds can be tilted to almost any angle, the homeowner is given a window covering that allows control of sunlight throughout the day, for instance, a room that is especially bright in the mornings will benefit from a blind as the brightest parts of the day can be blocked whilst when it is darker, more natural light can be allowed in. Additionally the range of tilts means that privacy can be maintained throughout the day.
In the past blinds have not exactly been the most interesting of window coverings, this however is changing with manufacturers now realising the benefits of including colour coordinated slats and veins with distinct textures. These do not even have to be block colours, now a closed blind can resemble a Caribbean vista or a group of sunflowers. These modern varieties of blinds are an astonishingly original and elegant style choice and can be used to brighten up a plain office, or even decorate a child’s bedroom.
Cleaning blinds is also relatively simple, unlike curtains they do not require to be taken down in order to spruce them up. All that is needed is a damp cloth or duster that can fit between the slats and remove any dirt. Modern PVC treatments make blinds the ideal choice of window covering in bathrooms and kitchens where humidity levels can be high. Although it should be remembered that softwood blinds are rarely advisable in humid rooms as they have a tendency to warp in these conditions.
In the past there have been safety concerns when using blinds in children’s bedrooms as the cords can be considered a choking, or strangling hazard. This problem has been lessened however with the introduction of wands that hang from the side of the blind and with a simple twist can alter the angle of the slats. Especially important in children’s bedrooms is the blocking of light, once again blind designers has developed slats that mesh together tightly enough to effectively blackout any room.
Blinds are an affordable and versatile form of window covering. With the range of decorative options, they are today the interior designer’s choice in many homes as a chic and stylish way to block light and create privacy. So if planning a revamp for a tired looking room, consider blinds instead of curtains; for a modern, contemporary style solution there is no comparison.