Interior design tips for selecting the right blind
Written by Catherine Seagrave
There are so many blinds available - every colour, pattern and style possible. So where do you start when choosing a blind for your window?
It can be hard to know what you need, or want. But really we can break it down into two parts - practicality and style. Once you know what you need your blind to do practically, you can choose the right kind of blind. Then you can determine what kind of style you want the blind to be.
Practicality is a big one. You might have grand ideas of what you want but understanding your window and what’s possible is the first step.
Important things to consider are:
1. Do you need your blind to offer a degree of privacy all day? Is the window overlooked?
A sheer roller blind or a Venetian blind will give the right balance of privacy and light.
2. How much sun comes in the window? Do you need it to provide some shade or is the room dark and you need to maximise the light?
A sheer roller blind can help to filter the light, and a perfect fit blind can have thermal properties to help block the heat. If you need to maximise the light a Roman blind placed high above the window on the outside of the recess will allow as much light into the room as possible.
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3. Is the window in the kitchen and exposed to moisture and cooking smells? Or a humid bathroom?
Avoid natural materials such as linen, silk and wood and instead choose a faux wood or metal venetian or a wipeable roller blind made from PVC.
4. Are there children or animals in your home?
A perfect fit blind would be a sensible choice as they are free of cords and control mechanisms. Always check the child safety rules before installing a blind.
5. Do you need the blind to provide greater darkness in a bedroom?
A Roman blind with a blackout lining would be a good choice, or a blackout roller blind fitted in the recess.
6. Do you want a blind for a door but don’t want it to bang about when you open and close it?
A perfect fit blind would work well as it simply clips into the UPVC door. When you open or close the door, the blind will move with the window itself as it is clipped between the glass and the rubber glazing bead. Clever!
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Now that you have narrowed down your choices based on the practicalities of the blind, you can consider the style you would like to achieve. Blinds can make a big difference to a scheme and can be as bold, luxurious or understated as you like.
Tips to achieve the best blind style:
1 . Colour
If you love colour, roller blinds come in every colour of the rainbow! It can look great to pick out an accent colour from your wallpaper or rug and use this on your blind for a pop of colour, as we have below with the zingy lime.If bright and bold isn’t your thing, you could opt for a blind in a tonal colour to your walls for a harmonious, cohesive look. And if you prefer not to draw attention to the blind, go for a simple white roller blind that once raised will seem to disappear into the white frame.
2. Texture
Natural materials like wood can help bring warmth to a room. A wooden Venetian can be a stylish option to add texture to the room without adding another colour. A linen look Roman blind like the Linosa Linen is a great option if you like the relaxed boho look. Or a roller blind in the Henlow fabric provides a two tone textured effect to bring warmth and a luxury feel to any room.
3. Pattern
Pattern on a blind can create a real wow factor. And it can help to bring the whole scheme together. Below we have used Palmero Greenery Roman blind fabric, and picked out the colours for the sofa and paint choices. Roman blinds can be a little more formal and structured than a roller blind and look great in living rooms.
If you would like help to decide on a blind, or have a larger project and need help redesigning the whole room, we’d love to hear from you! The Living House offers online interior design with affordable flat fee packages. We work to any budget and any style, and are a friendly, down to earth bunch that would love to help you. Take a look at our pricing page on our website for more information www.thelivinghouse.co.uk.
All blinds are available from Blinds by Post who are the UK’s best manufacturer and retailer for window blinds. Hosting a wide range of great looking blinds, which are all made to measure, they use quality materials to produce a quality product.
