Types of blinds: how to choose the best option?

Blinds are a worthy alternative to traditional fabric curtains, drapes and drapes. They not only allow you to adjust the lighting of the room, but also serve as an effective addition to the interior. Tips on which blinds you can choose for plastic windows will be useful to everyone.

INTERESTING FACTS!

• Blinds were invented back in the Middle Ages by cunning and jealous men of the East. At home, their wives did not wear a burqa, which meant that passers-by could see the woman’s face through the window. And these curtains let in daylight, leaving the space of the room invisible to prying eyes.
• In 1841, the ingenious invention was refined and patented in England. From that moment on, industrial production and distribution of blinds began in America and European countries.

Which blinds to choose, vertical or horizontal?

There are two options for blinds: horizontal and vertical. They differ in the way the slats are attached and moved.

In the first option, the rotating strips are located horizontally, parallel to the window sill. The width of the lamellas is from 16 mm to 25 mm. Such a curtain can be partially or completely raised to the top of the window frame.

Horizontal blinds are fixed to PVC windows in two ways:

1. Hanging: mounted above the window, like ordinary curtains.
2. Attic: fixing a plastic window on each sash allows you to open or close the window without interference.

With fastening above the opening With fastening on each sash
Models with vertical slats are popular among designers for two reasons:

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• there is no danger of individual lamellas sagging;
• There are different ways of moving the canvas: it can be moved to one side of the window opening or moved apart from the center of the window to two sides. Modern models are equipped with an electric drive.

The vertical type of blinds sometimes serves as a hanging screen for zoning an apartment or room. To maintain the correct shape, each lamella can be equipped with a lower weight.

concrete-area.com

If you have finished renovating your home, then the time has probably come when you need to equip your home with beautiful blinds. However, this does not mean that you should completely abandon decorating your window with beautiful, elegant curtains. Both blinds and curtains have their advantages. Therefore, it can be difficult for home owners to choose between them. And if you belong to this category of people, then an article from the construction portal will allow you to find out the answer to the question of what is better to choose blinds or roller blinds for plastic windows.

All about blinds

French blinds mean jealousy. In the colonies of France - (Algeria, Morocco), according to tradition, windows were closed with special shutters, which consisted of thin strips. This invention made it possible for the residents of these houses to peep from behind the blinds and observe what was happening on the street at that moment, while remaining unnoticed. And this completely satisfied jealous men.

There are 2 types of blinds - horizontal and vertical.

The most common are vertical blinds. This option is considered more neutral. They can be used to decorate a window in an office or apartment by choosing a beautiful color. Although it should be noted that if we consider this product as an original accessory for a window, then it will not be very relevant in residential premises, unless you choose blinds made of beautiful fabric, or imitation of some non-woven materials.

And yet horizontal blinds are more popular today. And the most popular are classic blinds made of wood. Such designs are usually equipped with ribbon and cord, but thick wooden blinds are considered summer blinds. Wooden blinds are a special window decoration. And all because:

• First of all, this material is pleasing to the eye and is also environmentally friendly.
• Secondly, wood can be combined with thin and light tulle or curtains, or lambrequins made of linen and cotton, etc.
• Thirdly, the color scheme of these products increases every year due to the emergence of new finishing materials.

In order to protect your home or cottage from the sun's rays, very often shutters with wooden sticks are installed on the windows, which are attached to frames at certain angles to each other. These shutters can be easily opened to the outside. If the window frames are very large in width, then very often folding shutters are installed on them. And panels that create an imitation of shutters with slits are usually mounted on veranda frames or glass entrance doors.

If you are the owner of exquisite classic curtains, then placing them together with blinds in the opening of one window will be quite difficult. Try installing blinds between the frames. This will allow you to protect the room from excess sun, and you won’t have to look for additional space. By the way, you can place inter-frame blinds in unscrewing wooden frames. You can also purchase PVC windows with existing blinds, complete with an adjustable remote control.

Pleated blinds

From this article you can find out what is better: blinds or roller blinds. It is worth saying that modern blinds today have several options. In addition, they can be made of completely different materials. If you have not heard about pleated blinds, then in this part of the article we invite you to find out detailed information about them.

So, pleated blinds are relatives of classic blinds. They are a one-piece product that can be easily stretched and folded. This design is similar to accordion bellows. Pleated blinds are most often presented in the form of a horizontal product. But in turn, there are also vertical ones. They are usually used for interior decoration on glass terraces. If you stretch pleated blinds, you can see that they resemble a large number of hollow and soft cylinders that are tightly fastened to each other. Some types of pleated windows can be installed to the window frame itself without external damage. The window can be either wooden or plastic. This way you will save a lot of space. Models of blinds consisting of many layers resemble a honeycomb, and single-layer ones resemble a chain. In order to protect yourself as much as possible from the sun, the latest model is most often used. Pleated blinds are mainly made from cellulose fabrics. And to maintain its shape, the fabric used in the production of this type of blinds is impregnated with special compounds.

These compositions also contain many useful properties. For example, they can perfectly repel dust and various contaminants, and also protect blinds from external influences (high humidity and temperature changes). But let’s say blinds made of fiberglass are fireproof; when burned, they just melt. Therefore, it is recommended to install this type of blinds in the kitchen.

Pleated blinds have another advantage. Thanks to their special design, you can easily protect yourself from bright sunlight. They can be triangular, round and even trapezoidal. Many types of these blinds are available in dual colors. Let's say: on the outer surface of the pleated pleats there is a delicate pastel color, and their inner parts are in dark tones (dark gray or blue). This method creates an amazing visual effect and also fulfills its main role - protecting the room from the sun.

Roman curtains

People came up with the idea of ​​lifting curtains and gathering them into small folds quite a long time ago. Roman blinds can be classified as this option. Initially, the manufacture of Roman blinds was made from very dense linen and cotton fabrics. Currently, you can find a large selection of different curtain fabrics (for example, tapestry), as well as very light ones (organza).

Roman blinds are made from a rectangular piece of fabric that completely matches the size of the window opening. These curtains can also have side curtain rods, with which you can easily lift this fabric, thereby obtaining elegant folds. Depending on what fabric is used in the production of Roman blinds, they are:

• winter (keep the house warm),
• summer – (maximum protection of premises from the sun).

The first version of the blinds is sewn using a lining. These blinds completely match the size of the window opening and cover all the cracks. It is better not to combine this type of blinds with lambrequins. Most often, the lambrequin effect can be detected on the product due to the peculiarities of the cut: the upper part of these blinds is sewn from a different type of fabric. Drawstrings located on the side parts of this product can also be made from it. The most important thing in this case is the correctly selected combination of all fabrics used in color and pattern. For example, a Roman blind is made of a plain fabric; the drawstring and cornice also do not have a pattern, but have a bright contrasting color. An elegant tulle with a beautiful pattern, which will match the color of the main curtain, will look very beautiful next to it.

Blinds and curtains made of various materials

Bamboo is still considered one of the most sought-after and popular materials. A lot of different types of wooden blinds are made from it. The benefits of bamboo are very difficult to overestimate, since bamboo is resistant to moisture, is an environmentally friendly material, and also practically does not fade from exposure to sunlight. This material is quite aesthetic and can be combined with a wide variety of interior styles.

But the most popular blind in the world at the moment is straw. Today, blinds made from straw are very popular. The Japanese offer another option to beautifully shade your room. Japanese curtains consist of light translucent fabric and a thin frame that can move along curtain rods and strings stretched horizontally.

Quite a beautiful solution in the interior are fabric blinds. Sometimes, you can find on sale or order blinds that will completely imitate various textile accessories found in the room - a bedspread or furniture upholstery.

In addition to all of the above, there is another method to protect yourself from the annoying sun - roller blinds. Just like Roman blinds, this type of blinds is a rectangular canvas along the width of the window opening. But to be able to lift these curtains, you will need to roll them into a roll, which acts as an upper curtain rod.

• The upper part of the roll can be hidden with a plastic lambrequin of the same color as the fabric itself.
• The lower part of a roller blind, as a rule, can be trimmed with scallops.

In addition, roller blinds can be more impressive, especially if you want to combine classic curtains next to them. It is necessary to make a rectangular pattern from a piece of fabric, the width of the window opening, but quite long. The upper part of this curtain is firmly mounted to the upper cornice, and the drawstrings need to be sewn evenly along the entire canvas. Decorative tapes are inserted into the latter, which subsequently secure the lower part of the edge of the fabric, which is rolled into a roll. This type of curtains perfectly complements the interior and looks great on high windows.

The most popular at the moment are roller blinds - mats. This type of blinds goes well with wicker furniture and will also suit an oriental interior. It is worth noting that decorating in the form of mats is very diverse, which is why in this case you can choose different thicknesses of slats or select the appropriate tone, method of fastening, etc. On sale you can find mat curtains that are stitched with regular thread (matching color). There are also models in which a fabric border is sewn onto a wood base.

Maybe you have free time to read the site’s article: What you need to build a Russian stove with your own hands

conclusions

From this article you were able to learn about what is better: blinds or roller blinds. In addition to our information, you can also read reviews from various people who decorate their windows with similar things. If you carefully read our article, you were able to understand that blinds still have more advantages. However, the choice is always yours. We wish you good luck and hope that you can make your interior as beautiful as possible with the help of our tips.

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Classic, roll, cassette or pleated?

Horizontal blinds are divided into several types, each of which deserves attention.

Classic

Horizontal (Venetian) blinds are a classic option. They consist of several dozen thin slats fastened together. Strong cords connect the individual strips in such a way that they can rotate freely around their own axis.

This design has many advantages:

• Stability: the slats are made of dense materials, so the entire system remains motionless even in moderate gusts of wind.
• Aesthetics: a variety of colors allows the product to become a full-fledged decorative element of the interior. Sometimes a pattern is applied to the slats, which is visible in the fully open or closed position (see photo).

• Functionality: Using the controls you can adjust the amount of daylight penetration. Individual lamellas can be in three positions: closed with edges - complete shading, inclined position - partial shading, the planes of the lamellas are strictly parallel to each other - maximum illumination.
• High performance: such curtains are durable, retain their original appearance and shape even with changes in temperature and humidity.

• Hygiene: horizontal blinds do not absorb dust, although they accumulate it on the surface of the slats. Therefore, housewives are advised to wipe the product several times a month with a damp cloth or powder puff, or collect dust with a vacuum cleaner.

A special brush that grips both sides of the lamella at once will help maintain cleanliness. If heavily soiled, you can remove and soak the blinds in a soapy solution. Or, without removing them from the window, spray detergent from a spray bottle on the surface of completely closed blinds. Then rinse with clean water and wipe dry with a rag.

Cassette

This model of light-protection systems is specially created for modern plastic windows and takes into account all their features. Cassette blinds have several advantages over the classic version:

• When the curtain is raised, the curtain is hidden and compactly placed in a small cassette located at the top of the window opening.

• A completely retracted canvas opens up the view from the window and does not obstruct the access of sunlight.
• The curtain assembled in a cassette does not get dirty and does not accumulate dust.
• All operations (raising, lowering, rotating the slats) are performed using one chain.
• Side guide strings stabilize the slats when raising/lowering the blade.

Rolled

In roll-up light-protection systems, the main moving part is the fabric sheet.

With the help of control elements, it is wound onto a strong axis, which is located in the upper part of the window opening. By installing and fixing the canvas at a certain height, you can regulate the degree of illumination in the room. All the variety of roller blinds is presented in this article.

Pleated

Pleated blinds are made from specially deformed (smoothed) panels of fabric or thick paper. They are relatively cheap, practical and compact. Can be mounted on window openings of unusual shapes.

How to choose the right plastic blinds?

Plastic vertical and horizontal blinds are in demand due to their ability not to bend and maintain their shape. Their disadvantage is low resistance to temperature changes and fragility. Cheaper varieties of plastic blinds gradually lose their color. Therefore, if you want to protect yourself from such problems, it is better to opt for higher quality plastic. A wonderful place to use plastic vertical and horizontal blinds are offices glazed with plastic windows, loggias, and kitchens. Plastic products do not accumulate static electricity.

We select the material (plastic, fabric, wood, bamboo, aluminum)

Plastic blinds are made from PVC or UV polymer. They contain substances that resist exposure to direct sunlight. They are often white, but can have different colors or imitate other materials (natural wood, metal or textiles). Decorators use curtains with photo prints or patterns to decorate rooms.

Aluminum blinds are more durable than plastic sunshade systems. Sometimes the slats are coated with a polymer layer that imitates wood.

Interesting are the perforated aluminum models, which create a pleasant atmosphere in the room. Even with the slats completely closed, they allow some light to pass through the small holes. But you need to keep in mind that the material heats up, so you shouldn’t hang them on the sunny side of the apartment.

Beautiful fabric blinds, reminiscent of ordinary curtains, are made of polyester, jacquard or fiberglass. Compared to plastic or aluminum, they have wider lamellas, impregnated with compounds that repel moisture and dirt, and increase resistance to fading.

The very first models of horizontal blinds had wooden slats ranging from 3 cm to 15 cm in width. The individual lamellas were connected and assembled together using ropes or narrow ribbons. Wooden models are highly valued by decorators. These light-protection systems add solidity to any room, be it a living room or a bedroom, and go well with furniture and small design elements.

Wooden slats are coated with compounds that protect them from destruction and fading. Blinds made of this material can only be maintained dry (sweep or wipe with a brush).

Light and thin light-protection systems made of bamboo are compact and take up very little space when folded. Bamboo slats allow light to pass through even in a completely closed (strictly vertical) position. The golden yellow color creates the illusion of a sunny day indoors.

But it is undesirable to use systems made of this material to cover large window openings. Bamboo is elastic, which means the slats can bend under their own weight.

Benefits of blinds

All designs of this type are distinguished by high levels of efficiency and attractiveness, which distinguishes them especially favorably from ordinary curtains. On the balcony, blinds will be simply irreplaceable. They consist of elements such as lamellas, that is, stripes and runners. They are connected to each other by special chains. There is a special cord for high-quality control.

Choosing blinds for an apartment

Among the main advantages of modern blinds are:

1. High levels of practicality.
2. Optimal functionality.
3. Significant space savings.
4. There is a huge range of structural and design solutions to choose from.
5. Relatively easy to maintain.

How to choose this piece of furniture correctly, how not to regret wasted material resources? What should you pay attention to first when choosing?

If you give preference to thin-structured curtains, it will be impossible to protect the room from direct sunlight, but if you choose darker options, there is a danger that they will block the access of fresh air to the rooms. It is for this reason that standard blinds, which are able to please every owner, are becoming more and more popular and in demand.

Important! Modern blinds are unique in that they provide the most even illumination of the room, do not take up much space, and the availability of a fairly wide range will help you choose an option that will become a striking detail of the interior design.

Speaking about the choice of such designs, it may seem at first glance that there is nothing complicated here, but this is not entirely true. It’s not enough to decide on the color scheme and type, but also to give preference to certain manufacturers and know how to install blinds on plastic windows.

The choice of blinds should be made as reasonably as possible, since after installation it may turn out that the Roman blinds in the children's room are too heavy, the slats do not allow light to pass through, and so on. To avoid such problems, it is worth considering all the necessary factors during the selection process. You need to know the basic selection criteria, as well as have an understanding of each type of blinds.

Tips for choosing blinds for different rooms

To choose blinds, in addition to appearance, you need to pay attention to several important parameters, which include:

• Design. The area of ​​space required for installation will depend on it.
• Control type. Manual (mechanical) control using a rotating cane and rope is used in blinds installed on small windows. For large structures, it is convenient to use automatic control using an electric motor, which is activated by a button on the remote control. The most modern models are controlled remotely and equipped with light-sensitive sensors and timers.
• Model weight. The stronger the supporting structure, the heavier the blinds can be.
• The number of positions in which the slats can be fixed.
• Environmental friendliness - the level of noise generated, the absence of harmful additives released into the air.
• Aesthetics – resistance to fading, deformation of individual lamellas, duration of preservation of the original shape of the product.

How to make the right choice between curtains and blinds?

Let's figure it out. Firstly, Voronezh blinds are an excellent means of protecting a room from sunlight and dust. They are great for regulating air and heat flow. Many models do not fade in the sun, which allows them to perform their main functions and maintain an attractive appearance for a long time. When comparing them with regular curtains, it turns out that blinds are superior in most respects. For example, lighting. Thanks to blinds, you can easily adjust the lighting in the room, while curtains either create real darkness in the room or let in too much light. But before answering the question of how to choose the right blinds , you need to familiarize yourself with their main types.

To the bedroom

The bedroom is a place of rest and relaxation, where there should be no harsh tones, loud or unpleasant sounds. Therefore, practically silent fabric blinds (roller, pleated) of horizontal and vertical designs are most appropriate here.

Models made from natural materials (cotton, jacquard) are suitable for the bedroom. Often fabric slats are impregnated with a special solution, which makes the fabric completely impenetrable to light.

Rolled fabric Vertical fabric

Advice from Mr. Build: for a bedroom in Provence, shabby chic, country, or eco-style, we recommend choosing wooden blinds. For a room in a minimalist or Japanese style - made of bamboo.

Tree

Wooden blinds for plastic windows (customer reviews confirm this) go well with fabric curtains, even with lambrequins, and classic wooden furniture. Often wooden slats are varnished, which gives them a particularly elegant and solemn look. In addition, this coating reliably protects the wood and simplifies the care of the product.

Wood is known to be an environmentally friendly material. Therefore, such decor would be appropriate in eco-style interiors. Wooden blinds can be vertical or horizontal. Bamboo is used in roller, roller, and cassette models.

To the kitchen

Practical horizontal blinds made of plastic are suitable for the kitchen: they do not absorb odors, are not afraid of humidity and temperature changes, and are easy to clean.

If you want an interesting color and texture, you can choose a fabric option. Due to impregnation, such blinds will not absorb odors, grease and moisture. And curtains with photo printing can become the main accent of the kitchen.

Aluminum models are appropriate in a high-tech kitchen. But we must not forget that they heat up in the sun and rattle in a draft.

You can save space on the kitchen window sill by installing cassette blinds, which are completely assembled into the upper cassette.

The classic white color of the blinds allows you to notice and remove dirt in a timely manner and harmonizes with kitchen appliances and furniture. This design looks neat and fresh and perfectly complements modern styles: minimalism, contemporary, Scandinavian.

Fabric blinds

Vertical fabric blinds allow you to create unique design compositions, providing all the color possibilities for your most tireless imagination.
Special antistatic and dust-repellent impregnation guarantees the durability of fabric vertical blinds and allows them to be cleaned easily and quickly (see care instructions)

offers more than 300 fabrics of various colors and textures: plain, patterned, jacquard, rubberized.

The light transmittance of vertical fabric blinds also varies, from light-diffusing to completely opaque.

In addition to the classic design of vertical blinds, we can offer lambrequins - these are blinds with a shaped bottom edge. This type of blinds is convenient in cases where there is no need to block out the sun, but you need to decorate the window opening. And the variety of shapes will allow you to fit the lambrequin into any interior style.

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For a loggia or balcony

For a loggia, which often serves as a complete and cozy room for work or relaxation, there are also rules for selecting blinds.

• For aluminum and sliding frames, only hinged structures are suitable, preferably with vertical slats. For casement windows, choose horizontal models with sash mounting.

• For the south side it is better to choose curtains made of thick fabric; for the north side, light translucent designs are suitable.

• On a small balcony, short models with an attic type of fastening look better.

• Curtains with wooden slats are combined with plants and outdoor furniture, are resistant to gusts of wind, create a comfortable environment, and fit into any style.

• Bamboo blinds are good for a balcony in eco- or ethnic style, chalet, oriental.

Roll structures

Many modern types of blinds for plastic windows are successfully used not only in auxiliary rooms (bathroom, kitchen), but also in living rooms. When opened, roll structures move along special guides and are rolled up. They are made from fabrics with antistatic, antibacterial and dust-repellent impregnations. The fabric can be either transparent or matte (blackout). The choice in this case depends on the lighting of the room and the preferences of the homeowners.

The canvas consists of alternating, usually horizontal, stripes of thin but dense fabric. In recent years, a “mini” version of this variety has appeared, designed for plastic windows. Such structures are mounted on the window sash using special fasteners. They can be opened manually or using an electric drive and remote control.

How to choose the right size blinds for plastic windows

The dimensions of the product will depend on the method of fastening the light protection system.

Horizontal

Dimensions for horizontal models:

1. For a window sash: the width of the blinds should be 30 mm less than the width of the glass, and their length should be 1.5–2 cm shorter than the height of the window opening.
2. In the window opening: the dimensions of the blinds are the same as in the first option, but you need to take into account the protruding upper cornice of the structure, which can rest against the slopes. Openings are not always level, so it is better to take measurements at several points.
3. Instead of a window cornice, on the wall: the width of the structure is 10–15 cm wider than the window opening, the length is arbitrary.

Horizontal systems can be mounted in a hinged manner, covering the entire window opening. And in order to completely free up the window sill space, you need to install them using drilling on each window sash. It is desirable that the model have a side hole, and the individual lamellas are fastened with a metal string or nylon fishing line. Such fastening will tightly tension the canvas on the sashes and prevent unnecessary movements (chattering) of the slats when opening/closing the window.

Advice from Mr. Build: you should not buy or order horizontal blinds with slats longer than 2 meters. Such long strips begin to bend under their own weight. Often, for horizontal structures, a lower clamp is installed, which prevents the blinds from sagging.

The side fixation of cassette horizontal blinds is much neater, making it almost invisible. The canvas of this model fits tightly to the glass, which ensures more complete and reliable protection from light.

Vertical

Dimensions of the vertical structure:

1. In a window opening: subtract 2 cm from the width of the opening, and 1 cm from the length. These will be the dimensions of the mounted curtain.
2. In place of the cornice, on the wall: the width of the product should exceed the width of the window opening by 10–15 cm, the length should be arbitrary. But a window sill covered with blinds looks more aesthetically pleasing.
3. On the ceiling: the length is chosen arbitrarily (to the window sill or almost to the floor), the width of the blinds is 10–15 cm greater than the width of the window opening.

Vertical blinds are rarely used for small windows: wide slats (89–127 mm) are located close to the glass, which makes them difficult to rotate.

Caring for horizontal blinds

It is recommended to clean horizontal blinds from dust approximately once a week .

Basically, it is enough to wipe them with a clean soft cloth or use a vacuum cleaner with a fluffy attachment. If the contamination is severe, it is recommended:

1. Remove the blinds
2. Wash them with warm (not hot) water and detergent.
3. Rinse under tap or shower and wipe dry
4. Hang the blinds in place and wait for their surface to dry completely.
5. Wipe with a rag if stains from dried water have formed.

It is worth paying attention that water should not get on the top cornice of the blinds . In the case of white models, it is not recommended to use a detergent containing ammonia, as it can spoil the appearance of the product and make it unsuitable for further use.

Which blinds are better? Manufacturers rating

The rating of manufacturers of light protection systems, compiled on the basis of customer reviews, will help you make the right choice. Users rated the blinds based on their price/quality ratio.

1. "Cosiness".
2. "Escar."
3. Sunlight.
4. Gira.
5. Kauffort.
6. Isolit.
7. "Verend-Design".
8. Redi Shade.
9. JANG.
10. Penie.

How much do blinds cost?

The cost of specific models of blinds is influenced by the price of the material from which the slats are made (type of wood, type of plastic, quality of fabric), and the complexity of the control mechanism (type of control).

Custom-made blinds can be of unusual shape, combine several materials (multi-texture) or colors.

Sometimes an original drawing (photo print) is applied to them. Roller blinds are embroidered with silk, gold thread, beads, and decorated with a graphic pattern or ornament.