A guide to buying blinds for windows

The main reason anyone would buy blinds for their windows would be to keep sunlight at bay to create a mood, protect furniture or keep a room cool. Buying blinds depends on quite a few factors, like window size, design of the room, colours of the room. Blinds are substitutes for curtains and they are popular, because of their durability, affordability and appearance.

The style of the blinds

With so many styles and materials to choose from, buying the right blinds for your home can seem over-powering. Depending on the size of the window, as well as on the location of the window, you should determine whether vertical blinds or horizontal blinds would work best. Horizontal and vertical blinds Horizontal blinds look good in bedrooms, and they block out more light, while vertical blinds are better for large windows, because they can come in any size at any length. Horizontal blinds are much heavier, so people opt for vertical blinds on long windows. You must remember to look at different blind materials, before you buy and even get a few samples, because they have to match your decor. Horizontal blinds (or Venetian blinds) can come in faux wood, normal wood and aluminium. Vertical blinds are either in fabric or in PVC vinyl. Faux wood looks real, but is heavier and a lot cheaper. A sheer fabric will allow more light to come through. Measure your windows You can use a metal measuring tape and make sure that you get the correct measurements of your windows. If you are buying customised non-refundable loft blinds, roof blinds and indoor window blinds, you need to make sure that you get the correct sizes so that you do not waste money.

Include accessories

If you have a larger budget for your blinds, you can buy valances, which add a classy touch or motorised blinds, which are very easy to operate with a remote control. Other useful tips Window blinds or shades are commonly used and styles include honeycomb blinds or Roman shades (both of these reduce energy costs). Vertical blinds work well with more contemporary styles, whereas wood and faux blinds work well with traditional decor. Horizontal blinds get dustier than vertical blinds. Faux wood blinds are perfect for humid rooms (like bathrooms), because they are water-resistant. You need to make sure that you do not use real wood in areas where excessive moisture is present. If you have a tight budget, you can easily buy cheap blinds at any furniture store or even online. Aluminum blinds are usually the cheapest, while real wood blinds would be much more costly.