The Importance of Blinds and Curtains in Design

Most individuals come to take window treatments, by and large, for granted, Window treatments are the name given to such items as drapes, shutters, blinds, and of course, curtains.

Despite being something that many people take little interest in, they can have a huge impact on interior design, and the appearance of a home. They can also affect a room or the whole house in many other ways. And, they are big business.

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global window treatment market was worth $10.83 billion in 2020. While many individuals will buy curtains and blinds for practical reasons, there are some more aesthetic values to them as well.

Here is a little on the importance of blinds and curtains in design, in the home, and for other practical concerns.

The history of blinds

For some time, blinds suffered the ignominy of being unfashionable and something that was only seen in dull office layouts. Metal blinds were common in the seventies and eighties in some offices and did little to improve the aesthetic appeal of any workplace.

However, this wasn’t always the case and blinds date back a long way.

According to Almanac, Edward Bevan patented his design for a new type of blind in 1769. He called it the Venetian blind, although it was not designed anywhere near Italy, or by an Italian. It is believed they came from Persia originally, before making their way to Europe, and finally being patented by a British man.

Blinds though date back much further. There is evidence of ancient cultures using strips of material to lay across openings to protect from the sun. These strips would at a glance give the appearance of blinds that you see today. Without the mechanism to move and adjust of course.

Nowadays, there are a huge variety of different blinds made from different materials to suit different areas of a home or office.

The history of curtains

Curtains were also something that was born out of necessity. Where desert-dwelling civilizations such as the ancient Egyptians required shelter from the sun, Europeans required warmth.

In some regions, curtains started as a way to keep draughts out of buildings, and to try to keep buildings warm. Remember, there were no windows back then, and castles would be extremely drafty.

However, before the Europeans, there were the Egyptians again. Curtains perhaps date back as far as 3100 BC.

Now though, curtains are used to improve the appearance of a room and are chosen to match furnishings and other decors. They are no longer just for keeping out draughts.

Why are blinds and curtains so important?

Homes have windows to let light in, and offer in some cases, gorgeous views of the outside world. Therefore, they tend to catch the attention of anyone in a particular room.

People’s eyes are drawn to windows naturally, so it is crucial that the window treatments are well thought out along with the rest of the decor.

When looking at any room’s furnishings, blinds and curtains are as important as any other area. They help with the aesthetic appeal of a room, and they also offer practical solutions to problems you may not have considered.

Curtains offer warmth and can make a room more energy efficient. They can shade a room from the hot sun, but they can also keep in the heat from radiators or fires.

They and blinds can help with improved privacy, and they can help improve sleep patterns. There is a concern in many areas now about light pollution. Black-out curtains and blinds can blot out this light, and make sleep easier for some people.

They can also look very good when chosen carefully.

How do they affect a room from a designer’s point of view?

Curtains can play a big part in how a room looks. Depending on the style, material, and color chosen, they can add a touch of elegance to any room. They can help to lighten a room if a pale color is chosen, or they can add contrast to other furnishings.

Blinds and curtains can make windows appear bigger also. By using extended curtain rods, your windows will look wider than they actually are. Using white curtains that let the light through will accentuate this effect when they are open.

Hanging shades and curtains higher can make the window look like it stretches further vertically. Blinds can help with this effect too.

There are many room design ideas for students on a budget. Choosing patterned blinds can draw the eye upward, and make the window look taller, even in the smallest of student rooms.

Can blinds and curtains be mixed and matched?

For some, maintaining a standard look throughout a home is important. When a home is viewed from the outside, seeing matching Venetian blinds in each window can give it something of a uniform feel and appear very neat.

However, there is no reason why curtains and blinds shouldn’t be mixed up within a home. And for practical reasons as well as for design or aesthetic ones.

Some rooms simply don’t suit curtains. Bathrooms and kitchens are two rooms that are far better suited to blinds.

Another question that gets asked is whether blinds and curtains can be used together.

Can you put a blind on the same window as a curtain?

To some, this may seem a little like a belt and braces approach to interior design. Nonetheless, there are some good reasons to use blinds and curtains on one single window.

By using blinds and curtains together, you can keep the aesthetic that the curtains bring while controlling the light better with the blind.

With a certain approach, the combination of window treatments can help with making the window look larger than it is. As previously mentioned, this is a desirable effect for many rooms.

How do you pick the right blinds and curtains for your home?

When choosing blinds and curtains it is crucial to consider the room they are going in, and your other decor and furnishings.

You will need to think about the length of the blinds or curtains, and the purpose of them. Do you need easy-to-clean blinds for a bathroom or kitchen, or are you looking for elegant silk curtains to add a sense of luxury?

The lining on curtains is another important consideration. Some regions will benefit from heavier drapes to keep a home warm, while others require lighter materials and lining to help cool a home and let air circulate easily.

Some simple interior design updates can help sell a home, and curtains are certainly one of them. The window draws the eye as a person enters the room, so therefore, the window treatment being used will be very noticeable.

You also need to think about color and whether you require patterns or some design on the curtains. Consider if you wish your window treatments to harmonize with the other furnishings, or to contrast with them.

Summary

Curtains and blinds offer some very practical benefits in a home. They can help regulate heat, improve air quality by blocking dust, and they provide privacy.

They also help to make a room look more pleasing to the eye, and they can contrast or assist with other decor and furniture.

There are considerations to be made when choosing blinds or curtains, but their importance should never be overlooked. They are more than just something to block the light, they are an essential part of interior design.