There are three main ways to dress your windows: curtains, blinds or shutters. Each option has its own stylistic and practical advantages. Below is a comparison guide of all three options and their pros and cons so that you can make the right choice for your home.
Curtains
Curtains are the most popular and traditional choice. Their soft pillowy appearance can be great for bringing a sense of cosiness to a room. Curtains come in all shapes, fabrics and colours – light and airy curtains can be great for providing ventilation in summer, while thick and heavy curtains can be useful for providing insulation in the winter. The ability to easily put them up and take them down means that you can continuously try new styles.
Having to clean curtains can be a hassle and some materials may need to be dry cleaned professionally – if you have messy young kids or pets this could be something to consider. Curtains can also take a lot of extra space compared to blinds and shutters, potentially making a small room seem pokier.
Blinds
When it comes to affordability, blinds tend to be the cheapest option on average. They offer better light and privacy control than curtains – the option to keep blinds down but open the slats allows light in while still distorting the view into your home (net curtains can offer these perks, but don’t offer the same visibility when looking out). On top of this, blinds are also fairly easy to clean.
If you’ve got young children, they may not be the best option – they can be easily damaged and the cords are known to be a strangulation hazard. Blinds are also less efficient at keeping the heat in than curtains.
Shutters
Shutters are much like blinds, but are fixed to the window frame rather than hanging loose from the top. When closed, they can offer much better insulation and greater security than both curtains and blinds. They’re also more resilient against damage and easier to clean than blinds, making them an ideal option if you’ve got kids or pets.
Shutters tend to be more expensive than both curtains and blinds. Putting up shutters oneself is also more challenging – you’re better off investing in the help of shutter installation services. The fact that they are a permanent feature also means that you can’t as easily change them up as you can with curtains or blinds.
So which option is right for my home?
Curtains are best suited for people that value a cosy atmosphere or for those that frequently change the style of their home.
Blinds are best suited for those on a tight budget and for those that want a space-efficient easily replaceable option.
Shutters are best suited for those that want to improve security and insulation and for those that are prepared to invest in a permanent modification.
It’s worth noting that combinations can be used – some people combine blinds and curtains to achieve the benefits of both. You may also want to try different options in different rooms such curtains in your living room, blinds in your bathroom and shutters in your bedroom.