Window blinds have been used since ancient Egyptian times. The extreme heat and sandstorms that the ancient Egyptians faced led them to find a way to keep their homes cool and relatively sand free. These early blinds were constructed using cloth strips that could be wet when the temperatures rose.
Around the same time, other groups began using different techniques to create their own window blinds. The Chinese used bamboo stalks that they tied together to provide privacy and protection from the elements. The Grecians opted to use marble slats to cover their windows, and the Romans used overlapping fabric slats as window blinds.
Window blinds have adapted and changed over the years and have become an integral part of home décor as we know it. Buying window blinds can be tricky due to the different options available. So keep reading to find out more about the six things you need to consider when shopping for window blinds.
1. Consider Your Privacy
One of the key elements you need to consider when you’re looking to buy window blinds is how important privacy is. Unless you’re living in the middle of nowhere, your blinds need to be able to offer you privacy if needed.
The blinds you pick for street-facing windows and bathrooms will need to offer the highest level of privacy. You can choose less view-blocking blinds for windows that face your yard or areas you feel you don’t need much privacy from the outside world.
2. Natural Light Matters
While you want the option of privacy if needed, you also want blinds that can allow natural light to enter your home. Natural light provides health benefits, so you want to be able to capitalize on this in areas you spend a lot of time in.
It can be difficult to find the balance between allowing light in and privacy, so it might be a good idea to look at window blinds that offer you a lot of control. If you pick window blinds that can be adjusted to suit your needs, then you can have privacy and natural light when needed.
Light-filtering blinds, such as vertical blinds, give you great light control.
3. Safety Is Key
If you have children or pets in your home, you need to consider their safety when picking window blinds. Blinds with cords or pulls can quickly become a threat if a child or animal gets caught in it.
Between 1990 and 2015, more than 16,000 children in the United States were seen in emergency departments due to window-blind injuries. More than 12% of these children became entangled in window blind cords.
So it is crucial that you consider the safety of yourself and your household when buying window blinds.
4. Regulate Your Home Temperature
Your blinds play a big role in regulating the temperature of your home. If you have an area of your house that receives an abundance of sunlight year-round, you can consider insulating blinds to keep the temperature regulated. You can also consider thicker or dual-layer blinds to keep the heat out.
Motorized shades can be a great option as you can fully open and close the shades as needed without putting in the physical work.
5. Cleaning and Maintenance
Different blinds require different levels of maintenance. If you know you prefer a low-maintenance cleaning routine, then it doesn’t make sense to purchase blinds that require a lot of time and effort to keep them looking pristine.
While darker fabrics can be useful to hide messes, if you have pets, they can show shredded hair much quicker than lighter-colored blinds. You need to consider your routine and lifestyle when purchasing blinds.
6. Style Matters
Once you’ve covered all the key functions you need your blinds to fulfill, you can start looking at the fun part. Most of these factors will help you narrow down your selection, but now you need to consider your home aesthetic to help you make the final decision.
To ensure your home looks put together, you need to make sure the color palette of the blinds matches the colors used in your home. This is the point in the buying process where you’ll need to ask for samples and visit showrooms to see the blinds in action. If you can get samples, you can take them home to see how it looks in the room you want to place them.
Different styles of window blinds can also be used to help you achieve a specific look. If you’re looking for a more modern and clean look, then Venetian blinds can be used to pull it all together.
While it is believed that Venetian blinds originated in Venice, Thomas French actually discovered shutters being used in Persia and then brought the idea to Venice, where Englishman Edward Bevan finally patented Venetian Blinds in 1769. While Venetian blinds have been around for quite some time, and it shows you how well these blinds will age. Ten years from now, Venetian blinds will still be a fashionable choice.
Buying Window Blinds Made Easy
Buying window blinds can be a tricky process if you don’t consider all your options carefully. Your blinds not only need to offer you privacy and protection from the elements, but it also needs to match your home décor. So it’s important to take the time to fully consider all your options.
If you’re in the Port Orange area and in need of new blinds, feel free to contact us today! At Florida Blinds and More, we strive to provide our customers in the Central Florida area with high-quality blinds, interior shutters, and shades at affordable prices.
