Curtain or Blinds Window Treatments

 Curtain or Blinds Window Treatments

It all depends on what suits your interior need. Blinds or curtain window treatments can also be preference. But how do you know if your interior requires Curtain or Blinds for its window treatment?. My answer is to carefully think about it. Conceptualize it. Have a walk through. It will speak to you.

Last December a Client asked me; Kemi, which is in trend, Curtain or Blinds?. I replied and said; Madam, do you want something that's perfect for your interior or you want to follow trend?. She was like; ehn I want to know which is because I don't want my friend to call me old school. I told her that if you friends are interior experts and you use blinds when your interior requires curtain then they will mock you in their hearts. And moreover curtain and blinds are not even new trends, they have long existed, go with what suitable for your interior. And that case was closed. 

There are few situations whereby both are suitable. Then you have to make decisions based on other factors like; Budget, style you are looking to create and the general ambiance you want to get. 

BLINDS- Then lets talk about designs and specifications especially in Blinds selection. Not all kinds of blinds are suitable in specific spaces/rooms. And to be honest blinds comes in limited colours and designs so you have to pick with a lot of thought through. The DOS and DON'Ts of Blinds selections are so much and all these has to be put into consideration when selecting Blinds as a Window Treatment. Blinds comes in limited colours and designs. You can only get exact of what the companies are producing or can produce.

                   

      

CURTAINS- Curtain is more versatile, it's easy to play with. Its got options. Designs are enough. Here in Nigeria we have a lot of Curtain fabrics and accessories importers as against Blinds importers. It's more durable and it's also comes in different prices, fabrics designs, fabric colours and lots of curtain accessories are readily available and a lot much much more. 

 

But all said not all Interiors requires it curtains for example offices. So ability to choose carefully and to decided well is important when choosing the right window treatments. You need to think about what you are trying to achieve in such interior. The feel, the emotion and the ambiance you are looking to create. Blinds and curtain creates different kinds of mood. To me in a small space area, I will do Blinds most times to create the illusion of a much larger space. And in a large area interior space, I will do curtain. Blinds give this cool interior aura and Curtain creates a warm and cosy kind of feeling. It brings an interior together more than blinds window treatment                         

I have worked in some interiors that we used blinds and decoratively added curtain. It's like the blinds serves as the drapes and the  curtain can serve both decorative and main curtain function. In such interiors there is the need for it and it always requires it. It's beautiful, always beautiful when it's done rightful. And this type of combination is required in very large space areas and also where the window/source of light are concentrated on one wall. Like all those beach houses etc.

Maintenance Culture- Blinds maintenance even starts from ordinary opening and closing. You have to know what you are doing before you touch it or else you will embarrass yourself, smiles. Cleaning with the right elements is so important with blinds as against fabrics which an average adult know how to take care of and clean. I believe if you don't even know how to wash your curtains you can always send it to your dry cleaners. Blinds require personal treatments and touches. Some you don't even clean with water you dust, Some you use very dam and soft fabrics while some you need to use vacuum cleaner to clean. It takes conscious efforts to clean blinds more than to clean curtain.

I love working with both Blinds and Curtains for my window treatments. Both works for me depending on the interior I am working on. Even these days we tend to use more blind treatments in Toilets, kitchens and bathrooms. I wouldn't use Blinds for my kitchen window treatments just because of preference, nothing else. Whereas someone feels it's dangerous to use curtain in the kitchen. Different strokes they say.

    

So when considering what window treatments best suits your interior, think budget, think style, think durability, think maintenance, then think long term effect. Blinds are not as durable as curtains. My mum's old curtain is what my immediate younger brother uses in his house and when he got tired of it he gave it to his best friend who just got married. You see the sequence. My mum's old curtain as far back as 18 years ago my dear friends. They are still quality and still looks very decent. As long as you buy what's good. It will work for you.

Most of these blinds are China brands. They are mostly of simple quality. And to me you need to choose the right blind option. I would go for Day and Night blinds and Rollers blinds as against Wooden and Venetian Blinds cos of its durability. I believe those two types can stand the test of time. The only problem with those selected ones is that the designs and colour options are limited. But you go for the one that best work for your colour team. I go for a family of white, grey or brown most times. You know if you perhaps get tired of it, you can always transfer it somewhere else.

But your house, your rules and your window treatments. I wish you all the very best in the Decorating of your Interior space. Bigger you I pray, amen.