Sunlight and outside air enter the house through windows. Too much sunlight and air are not desirable. Hence, window coverings are essential to control the amount of light and air entering the house. Window coverings also provide privacy to the inhabitants of the house. The two types of window coverings are curtains and blinds. Both curtains and blinds are available in a plethora of colors, styles and patterns. The main function of both the types of window coverings is to provide light and control air. However, there are some major differences between them which one should be aware of before choosing between the two types of window treatments.
Material
Curtains are made of fabrics. The fabrics are usually lightweight. You can also go for curtains made of heavy fabric for better light control. Blinds are made of wood, PVC, vinyl, plastic or aluminum. They give more precise light control than curtains.
Construction
Curtain is a piece of fabric which hangs from the window. Blind consists of slats that tilt open or close for light control. Blinds are also available as single units.
Mechanism
Curtains need to be pushed or pulled to open or close them for light control. On the contrary, blinds can be opened or closed using a cord mechanism. The vertical or horizontal slats of blinds block off sunlight from entering the room. Blinds also need not be lifted in entirety unless the window needs to be opened.
Décor
Matching the color scheme and interior décor of the house is easier with curtains than blinds. This is because curtains come in more colors, shapes and styles as compared to blinds. This is the reason why curtains are also used to cover up blinds which are not aesthetically appealing.
Cost
Blinds are more expensive than curtains. Thus, for people looking for decorative window treatments with frequent replacements, curtain is a better choice than blinds.
Thus, the choice between curtains and blinds is dependent on some factors which are mentioned below.
- The amount of light required in the room.
- Whether or not sound insulation is required.
- Whether the window needs to be the center of attraction in the room or appear nondescript.
- The mountings possible in the room as per the ceiling, window trims and nearby walls.
- The type of décor of the room.
There are many factors to consider when deciding the right window treatment between curtains and blinds for your house. Some have been listed here.
- Curtain is suitable when the decorative element is required to be added to the room. Blinds can be used in rooms which require more light control and privacy rather than decoration. For example, blinds can be used in bathrooms and bedrooms rather than in living rooms where the curtain is the best choice.
- Blinds are suitable for small rooms. This is because they do not occupy much space in the room. Curtains take up more space than blinds and should be used in rooms with adequate space.
- Blind is a better option for the kitchen. This is because blinds have the ability to absorb moisture and resist stains.
- Blinds tend to attract less dust than curtains. Blinds are also easy to clean with and only a damp cloth is required to clean them. Curtains need to be machine cleaned or dry -cleaned.
- A plethora of options in terms of fabric, colors and patterns are available when it comes to curtains. Blinds are also available in a host of materials and styles but they scoreless in aesthetics as compared to curtains.
The above mentioned points will help you in making a wise decision and choosing between curtains and blinds for your home.
