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If you are decorating your home, one of the most important decisions is how you dress you window. You may be struggling to decide whether you should choose blinds, shutters or curtains. This article covers the practical advantages and disadvantages of these three options.
Blinds come in many different materials, such as wood, bamboo, plastic and metal. Blinds are opened and closed by moving them up and down using string. They have slats (also called louvers) that can be opened and closed accordingly to let light and air through. This is operated be using a rod. Blinds will give a beach house feel to your home and are useful if you want air coming through the window, but at the same time want shade. The louvers can be opened and closed to control this.
Shutters are essentially interior blinds that are mounted in a solid frame. The most popular variety are Plantation Shutters. They are not moved up and down like shutters though, but are opened and closed by swinging them in and out. They are thought to have been around since the middle ages, and originate from the Caribbean and South America . There were originally used in these places for buildings with window spaces but no glass. Shutters have most of the advantages of blinds. They are, however, much more durable.
The louvers on shutters are wider than those on blinds. This means there is a better view when looking out through the opened louvers. Shutters can be very long lasting, often lasting a lifetime. They are though, more expansive.
Many feel that curtains give a house more of a homely feel. There is more variety in design with curtains than blinds or shutters. They come in all different colours and patterns. It is much easier to find curtains that fit in with the interior design of your home. Blinds and shutters will fit certain types of homes and interiors, while curtains can be designed to fit any design you choose. The disadvantage is if you redecorate. Although curtains can be made to fit the interior of any room, the same curtain is less likely to fit many different designs. One type of blind is more likely to fit different interiors.
As they are made of cloth, curtains can be washed by removing them and either hand washing them or using a washing machine. Blinds and shutters gather much more dust than curtains so are harder to keep clean. Curtains are longer lasting than blinds as there is less to go wrong.
Curtains keep all of the day light out, as they can be closed completely. Due to the louvers, this is not the case with blinds or shutters. If you have a bright lamp post, for example, right outside your window, it is likely that you will be able to see it even with closed blinds. This is not the case with curtains.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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