In ancient times, the average person was more concerned with survival than aesthetics. If a family had enough to eat, a safe place to live, and its members could stay warm in their dwelling, they were living a good life. Decorating their hut or home was irrelevant. If they had a window of some sort, they covered it with an animal skin to keep out the sun and insects. For these people, every day was an effort at survival and interior decorating was not relevant.
Fast, forward to the present day, where most Americans are not living a subsistence life. Generally, they are safe from predatory animals, have enough to eat and have sufficient disposable income to be concerned about the appearance of their homes. They are not in survival mode so they have the capacity to consider the appearance of their living spaces and the accessories that will make their homes attractive. These days, many Americans are looking at blinds for covering their windows since animal skins are neither effective nor affordable. There are a number of considerations and choices to make if you are thinking about buying blinds for your home. Below are some of the questions to consider.
Why do you want blinds? Is your goal to eliminate heat from the sun? If so, blinds may not be the answer because they can significantly reduce the sun’s rays but not eliminate them. If your goal is to control of the amount of sun penetrating from the outside, while also providing a stylish appearance, blinds are a good move. If you have very young children make sure that you buy blinds without looped pull-strings or cut the loop yourself to prevent potential harm to your kids.
Do you have any environmental concerns? Blinds are constructed from several different materials. The higher end versions tend to be wood, while lower end blinds can be thin plastic or metal. If you want the look of wood, but have concerns about the environmental impact of the harvesting of that wood, you might look into faux wood blinds. Faux wood replicates the appearance of wood without causing the cutting of basswood trees. Also, faux wood stands up to humidity and intense sunlight better than real wood. Finally, it is less expensive, though it is heavier.
What is the humidity in the room of installation? If you intend to put blinds in your bathroom, laundry room or any other area subject to high humidity, do not use wooden ones. As mentioned above, there are many alternative materials.
Do you want Venetians or another kind? Venetian blinds are the standard blind configuration seen most often. Alternatively, there are other configurations that people find attractive and useful. For example, you may want the slats to be much narrower, which will give you mini blinds. Or, you may want blinds that have fabric surrounding them so that you can leave the blinds open, while still ensuring a bit of sun protection.
Vertical or horizontal? If you want to cover a very wide area, such as a sliding patio door, vertical blinds are the way to go. If the window is longer than it is wide, horizontal blinds will work best.
Are you concerned about energy efficiency? In this case, especially in areas with strong sun, faux wood blinds work the best. The PVC in these blinds does not conduct heat so the slats will not get hot or add heat to your room. Furthermore, they will stand up to the sun better than wood.
Blinds are a great choice for covering your windows, while maintaining the style of your home’s interior. Make sure that you select the ones that work best for you.
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