Five Great Options for Decorating Your Home

Window blinds have been around for a very long time. It is a known fact that the ancient Persians protected their homes and themselves from dust by hanging wet cloths on their windows. The Chinese used bamboo slats in order to have more private homes. We also know that Venetian traders combined these ideas and brought them to Paris, creating what is now known as the Venetian blind.

Towards the end of the 18^th century, blinds as we know them today started to make a comeback. This was also due to the fact that new materials were available, which made the blinds more functional. Its primary function in those days was to create a sense of privacy, but also to have some control over light and to stop heat from escaping or coming in. Nothing has changed since then, really.

Today, almost every household will have at least one type of blind. While there are many categories and subcategories out there, they can be divided into a few main types. Let’s take a look at your available options.

Types of Blinds

• Roman blinds are made from fabric that folds up in a really nice way when raised. The slats stack horizontally and the blind is operated by a cord or chain. These blinds are perfect for increased insulation during the winter, when they are lowered all the way down.
• Roller blinds are very similar. However, instead of using horizontal slats, these have a roll at the top over which the blind wraps when raised. Springs or cords are used to pull these up.
• Venetian blinds use no fabric and only have horizontal slats. These slats stack up when you raise the blinds. Users have control over the slats, which allows them to decide how much light is able to come into the property, even if the blind is lowered.
• Vertical blinds are sometimes called Louvre blinds. They work in the same way as Venetians, but the individual slats are vertical rather than horizontal. Also, the individual slats can be made of a stiffened fabric, whereas Venetians always use a hardened material such as PVC, vinyl, aluminum or wood. Vertical blinds are the preferred method for large windows.
• Panel blinds, which are very similar in use to verticals. There is one difference, however, which is that the slats are track mounted. This means that they can glide either to the right or to the left, or both. These types of blinds are also frequently used as room dividers in offices and banquet halls. Interestingly, quite a few people are now using them as room dividers in their own home, to create an unusual décor effect.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of options available to you if you want to purchase new blinds. Luckily, there is no law that states you can only use one type of blind and stick with it throughout your home. It is up to you to design something that works for your personal taste.