Using curtains and blinds in our living spaces have been one of the common qualities we had as humanity. In almost every age and culture, curtains and blinds were used for various reasons from decoration to their unquestionable utility. In this article, we will talk about how different curtains and blinds work and how to buy curtains and blinds that are right for your space.
What is the difference between a curtain, a blind and a shade?
Let’s start with this question, what is the difference between a curtain, a blind and a shade.
Curtains are traditional fabrics that are mostly used in living spaces such as houses. Them being fabric offers a variety of figures, colours and textures that help improve the interior design. In modern houses today, we can see short, easy to wash and mass product curtains. However, in very old houses, this is not the case. The curtains are usually longer, has a better fabric quality and also come with accessories like belts and buttons or even fake jewellery on them.
Curtains used to be a symbolization of how wealthy a family was depending on how extravagant they looked. If you ever saw a period movie that sets place in a rich house, especially in Europe, you can see that every window in the house, however big or small, has a curtain. In middle-class families, these curtains are more modest but in luxurious places, you can see a variety of their forms. You can see the home of the Queen, Buckingham Palace as an example. You can have more information about the significance and history of curtains from here. 
A subcategory of the curtains blinds. While curtains are more see-through and able to let some light in, blinds are heavy fabrics that do not let any light in or out. They are, again, more commonly used in houses to achieve privacy. They are also very popular among night shift workers and analogue photographers. Certain blind types are so thick and heavy, they provide a pitch-black room even in the middle of the day. Which makes sleeping more comfortable and washing photographic films easier.
Blinds can also come in different colours and shapes for interior design purposes. The important thing while buying curtains and blinds is to have a good idea about all of the possible options both function and aesthetic wise.
However, using fabric in every space is not always a good idea. However fancy they look, they can also collect dust and they need to be washed, dried and ironed in order to be preserved as they are. For this reason, in work or public spaces, it is more common to use blinds.
A blind is a curtain that is made of solid materials such as plastic or wood and has slats that can be changed to let sunlight in or not. Since shades are made of hard materials, they are easier to manage and clean. You can simply use a damp cloth to wipe it and that would be enough. The main difference that they have is they usually provide less privacy and thus is more suitable to use in workplaces, banks or schools. Even when closed, one can see inside of a place if looked carefully. 
However, there are of course different types of blinds that can be used in interior spaces such as houses and does not have the same problem. When you buy curtains and blinds you can choose which one of them will be better for your space and can have an educated choice after getting familiar with all of the options and this is where we come in. Let’s take a deep dive into different types of them before you buy curtains and blinds.
Curtains For Your Interior And Outdoor Spaces
Bamboo Curtains
Bamboo curtains are curtains made from the bamboo trees. They are organic and delicate curtains that are fit for use inside living spaces such as homes and therefore high on demand when people buy curtains and blinds.
Having an organic raw material makes them one of the most popular types of curtains. they are also great at letting the natural light in even when they are closed. However, this
situation brings privacy issues with it. They do not fully block the view from outside the inside for they are usually things and have small spaces between them. 
Bamboo curtains have a large variety in terms of shapes and colours which is great for interior designing. However, their delicate structure makes it hard to preserve them if used carelessly. They are also not as easy to clean as common fabric curtains.
Bamboo curtains are great for interior spaces especially if you want to catch a curtains atmosphere but are not so good at blocking the light or providing privacy so you might want to keep that in mind while you buy curtains and blinds.
Draperies
Draperies look more like traditional curtains. They are made of fabrics and almost always used in homes or in hotels that try to give a feeling of home. In addition to traditional fabrics, draperies usually come with metal or wood rings.
Draperies are usually used for not just cutting the light but for also privacy, interior design and collecting the dust in the room. Since it is easy to clean them with a washing machine, they are a great way to collect dust rather than having it on other furniture in the room. 
Draperies can also be used not just for the windows but also around beds. And if you you use heavy fabrics for the draperies they can serve as natural sound insulation for both bedrooms and nurseries.
Light Filtering Curtains
Light filtering curtains help you get the perfect amount of light inside your living space. They are not perfect at giving you some privacy but they are definitely the right kind if you want to buy curtains and blinds that will allow you to have some natural light inside. 
These types of curtains are usually used in apartments during the day to adjust the light. They can also improve the mood in the room depending on their design.
Room Darkening Curtains
Room darkening curtains are one the thickest ones in the curtains category. They allow some light in for you to at least discerning whether is day or night outside but they cut a good proportion of the outside light. 
They are great to cut the strong light during the day to have a dusk atmosphere and they are also good at providing privacy. They are also in high demand for houses for people who are looking to buy curtains and blinds.
Sheer Curtains
Sheer curtains can easily be confused with light filtering curtains. However, they are much lighter in terms of fabric and they have a more delicate way of adjusting the light in interior spaces.
You can easily recognize them in the movies that are set in tropical places where the white, light curtains fly around large windows. 
Since they are unusually lighter, they can be used in layers inside houses to adjust the light level. Their shape and texture are also very suitable for these kinds of arrangements.
You just need to be careful with sheer curtains for they are also very delicate and can be easily ripped off or burned from the strong sun.
Valences
Valences are decorative pieces that became popular in the ’40s and ’50s. They are basically very short pieces of fabric that match your curtains that give a way of framed look. 
They can still be used in houses with more modern cuts and patterns.
Use Shades To Avoid Light And Curious Eyes
Honeycomb and Cellular Shades
Honeycomb shades, also known as cellular shades, are formed of pieces that be cloth or plastic that rolls or fold along. To offer insulation, the shade has
a single, double, or triple layered design that traps air between the layers of the shade in separate cells. They're also available in a range of pleat sizes, colours, and light control choices, including sheer and blackout. 
However distinct or original they look it is not a great idea to use them in small or crowded spaces for they block air ventilation. On the other hand, they can help keep a room warm in that aspect. You might want to keep both pros and cons of honeycomb and cellular shades when you buy curtains and blinds.
Motorized Roller Shades
Motorized roller shades are the latest gifts of modern technology. They help you adjust the light of the room not by standing up, waking to the windows and changing the shades in an old styles version by simply pressing a button. You can lower shades, move them up or change them the way that you want to alter the light in the room with a remote controller. 
These types of shades are usually used in offices or huge houses.
Outdoor Shades
Outdoor shades are usually made of polymer or metal like products and they provide absolute darkness for your living space. They are also a great way to keep the heat out and cool in on the hot summer days. 
They are usually used on houses in especially hot areas or in stores to keep everything safe and private from the eye when they close at night.
Pleated Shades
Pleated shades can look very similar to honeycomb and cellular shades. But when cellular and honeycomb shades are made of two different fabrics or materials and brought together, pleated shades are made from a single layer and crisped into shape. 
These types of shades have similar functionality to honeycomb and cellular shades but having a single layer help them ventilate the air, unlike the other ones so this must be in your mind when you buy curtains and blinds.
Roman Shades
Roman shades are a single piece of fabric that is supported by wood or plastic pieces which helps it fold when necessary. They have a similar use to light filtering curtains but they do not cut the light but help adjust it. 
Solar Shades
Solar shades differentiate themselves from roman shades in terms of the type of material that are used in their construction. They are shades that let most of the light in but provide some privacy by having a translucent texture. 
Trishades
Trishades are the common office shades that you can see pretty much everywhere. They provide enough privacy when needed, is effective enough when it comes to cutting light and are very easy to clean. 
Since they are usually made of plastic or similar materials, they are also easy to maintain.
Choose The Best Type Of Blind For Your Windows
Aluminium Blinds
Aluminium blinds are great blinds if you are on a budget and need to cover a big area. They are cheap, have a variety of colours and also thickness depending on your case of use. 
Arch Blinds
Arch blinds are elliptic blinds that usually take place above arched windows or doors. Since it is not possible to cover these curved places with a straight blind, we use arch blinds in those areas. 
Arch blinds also have different shapes, sizes and densities like any other type of blind. The thing to keep in mind is calculating the curve before you buy curtains and blinds or arch blinds for your doors and windows.
Faux Wood Blinds
Faux wood blinds are imitations of wood blinds. They are usually made of some sort of PVC material but are very good at imitating real wood. 
Since they are made of PVC they are lighter, have more life and are easier to clean. These blinds are usually preferred for aesthetic reasons when it comes to buy curtains and blinds.
Shutter Blinds
The difference between shutter blinds and other blinds is that shutter blinds can be fitted to your windows while other blinds are attached to the inside or above of the place that you want to cover. 
If you looking to buy curtains and blinds and have them perfectly fitted. This can be a good solution for you.
Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds are different from the other blinds in terms of stripe direction. They also usually have longer panels to cover the whole window. 
They are a good fit if you try to make a room look bigger than it actually is.
Zebra Blinds
Zebra blinds are made of a single piece of fabric that has a light and dark stripes over them. So when you want to let the light in you can use the light fields and use the dark fields when you want to block it. 
They also look aesthetically pleasing for the variety of colours they have. Zebra blinds became especially popular in the past few years and this led manufacturers to create more designs.
Buy Curtains And Blinds That You Can Use More Effectively
As you can see, there are tens of different types of curtains and blinds that can be used for various purposes. If you are looking to buy curtains and blinds that you can use more effectively take a look at our page and get the best offers for your unique needs.
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