Blinds; The Elegant Form Of Window Covering

Blinds are an understandably popular form of window covering in nearly all environments. Today the blind is used to dress windows in the industrial, commercial and domestic spheres. On the market there are numerous designs and styles meaning that the interior designer is given a great deal of choice when utilising blinds. The use of blinds in the domestic sphere has been steadily growing over the last twenty years, with designers choosing to use them for their straight and clean lines that are an essential element of minimalist, modernist design.

Ultimately the choice of style is that of the homeowner or designer. Styles include space saving, mini blinds that fit within the recesses of the window, large verticals that hang from floor to ceiling and classic wooden types for the warm, Mediterranean look. This article intends to highlight some of the most popular styles of blind and the materials used in their construction.

Of the varieties on the market one of the most affordable has to be the PVC or vinyl blind. This relatively cheap material has drastically reduced the cost of blinds and effectively has opened their usage up to the masses. Today it is even possible to obtain faux wood blinds that whilst resembling real wood, with all of the patterns and grain, they are in fact manufactured using PVC. The benefits of this type of blind are numerous. Firstly they bring the elegance of real wood without the downsides. For example a faux wood blind will not warp or bend over time, particularly in highly humid rooms. On addition, due to modern UV inhibitors they will not fade like real wood can.

Aluminium has been used in the manufacture of blinds for over fifty years, it was the first of the 'wonder materials' used in the blind industry and remains popular today. Benefits include space saving and easo of use. Being so thin however limits their thermal retention properties, in the summer months they are ideal at keeping interiors cool but in the winter they do little to keep the room warm. That said if blinds are fitted correctly, for example in the window recess they can limit the amount of heat lost through convection currents in the home.

It is not just plastic, wood and aluminium however that are used in the manufacture of blinds. Although they may fall under the category of shades roman blinds, made from fabric are also popular with interior designers. This form of window covering combines the heat retention properties of curtains with the style of blinds. With overlapping strips of fabric they are excellent way to bring Mediterranean style into a home. Naturally modern roman shades are available in a number of patterns and colours making them perfect for use in the home.

While it may seem a strange place to fit blinds, glass interior doors can benefit from their addition. This usage has the benefit of creating privacy between rooms whilst remaining to allow considerable amounts of light into a home. The forms of blind normally used are verticals although this does not have to be the case, additionally they can also be used on exterior doors such as French windows.

Blinds today are one of the most versatile window coverings available to interior designers. As they can be bought in so many different styles the homeowner is given unrivalled choice. Add this to the wide array of colour and patterns that are available and blinds can be considered a practical, beautiful and ultimately elegant way to dress windows in the home and elsewhere.

Source : content4reprint