Deciding which window treatment to use in a living space is a personal decision and varies among individuals. It is always a good idea to weigh the advantages & disadvantages of each window treatment considered.
Curtains
Curtains are window treatments made of light fabrics & should not be confused with drapes. Drapes are heavier than curtains and floor length.
Advantages:
- More design possibilities
- Effectively block light
Disadvantages
- More expensive
- Harder to clean
- Cords can be dangerous (especially with children around)
Blinds
Blinds come in variants.
Venetian blinds: these blinds have horizontal sates & allow the user to control light.
Vertical blinds: the slates of these blinds are made from plastic or wood that hangs from a horizontal track. This type of blind usually hangs over a sliding door or an extremely long window.
Roller blinds: these are also known as shades and are fabric panels rolled onto a horizontal hanging pole.
Roman shades: these blinds re also made of fabric, but gather horizontally when raised.
Advantages:
- Less expensive
- Easier to clean
- More light control
Disadvantages
- Minimal design
- Cords can be dangerous (especially with children around)
Factors to consider when deciding between curtains & blinds:
Design
Curtains
- Curtains are used to add style and texture to a room
- Curtains can be sued to coordinate with furniture in the room or be the contrasting element
- Curtains create a feeling of warmth and coziness in a living space
- Curtains made from fabric can also be used to isolate sound
Blinds
- Blinds are not as versatile in design as curtains
- Blinds make a room seem larger by folding out of the way, making them less intrusive
Light and privacy
Curtains
- Depending on the materials transparency, curtains can block out incoming light, if desired.
Blinds
- Blinds are more versatile, in both horizontal and vertical slate cases.
- Blinds can be adjusted as desired to allow light into the room while maintaining privacy.
Safety
For safety around small children, no window treatment, being blinds or curtains, should have cords in children’s reach.
- Make single cords as short as possible
- Ensure that cord stops are installed, thus limiting the movement f cord
- Loop cords should be anchored to the wall
