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When deciding which blinds will work best in your home, there are a number of things you must first consider including the material, style and colour. In this guide we’re going to be taking a look at different materials you can choose for your blinds as well as evaluating the practicality, style options and light control of each one but first, let’s discuss what you should consider before choosing blinds for your home.

Things To Consider Before Purchasing Blinds

Your Budget

This might seem like an obvious one but knowing how much you have to spend on new blinds can really help to narrow down your search. Start out by counting the number of windows you wish to dress, and the size of each window as blinds tend to be priced by size. It is also important to consider whether you have any usually shaped windows which might require custom sized blinds. Custom sizing, high quality materials and any added features will add to the cost. If you have a limited budget, you may wish to prioritise some windows over others, spending a little more on main rooms such as the living room and bedrooms. 

Lighting and Privacy

You should think about how important factors such as privacy and light control are in each room. For example, some fabric blinds aren’t entirely opaque and allow some light to filter through which could be a problem for those who prefer total darkness in their bedrooms at night, in which case they would prefer blackout blinds. Similarly, some prefer higher levels of privacy than others, particularly those who live in busy locations where other people regularly walk by their windows. These people may prefer Venetian style blinds that offer a great amount of privacy whilst still allowing light to enter the room as opposed to a roller blind which must be pulled up in order to let light through (unless very sheer).

Practicality

Over time your blinds will gather dust and other debris which you will most likely wish to clean, however, some blinds are easier to clean than others. It is worth thinking realistically about how much time and effort you wish to put into cleaning your blinds. For example, a roller blind gathers much less dust than Venetian blinds and certain materials such as metal and plastic are much easier to clean than fabric and wood. If you have less time to spend on cleaning or if you have young children or pets that lead to sticky fingerprints and muddy marks, you will benefit from opting for one blind style over another.

Child Safety

If you have children, you should consider taking certain measures when purchasing blinds to ensure their safety. According to RoSPA, on average, 2 children a year die as a result of strangulation from looped cords on blinds and many other children visiting A&E with near misses. Most accidental deaths involving blind cords occur in children aged between 16 and 36 months when they get the cord tangled around their neck.

At Aspiration Blinds, we are committed to raising awareness of this issue and offer, for a little extra money, to fit child safe versions of our blinds or, for no charge at all, we can install child safety measures which help to minimise the potential risk. This means you can still have the luxury of stylish blinds or shutters with the peace of mind that your child is safe. For more information on child safety, click here.

Your Interior Style

This seems obvious but you should always consider your home’s interior before purchasing blinds to ensure they integrate seamlessly or provide a desired contrast as opposed to one that stands out in the wrong way. Vivid colours are great to add a dramatic effect to bold rooms and subtle tones are perfect for more neutral coloured rooms. The style of the blind is also important. For example, roller blinds are perfect for modern homes with sleek lines and Roman blinds are great at softening edges for a cosier feel. 

The Best Materials for Blinds

The best material for your blinds depends entirely on the factors above and your personal preference. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular blind materials.

Fabric Blinds

Fabric is an incredibly attractive and versatile material that is available in a range of different blind styles including, Roller, Roman, Pleated, Venetian, Vertical and Blackout. 

From an interior design perspective, fabric blinds offer more flexibility as they come in a great range of different styles, patterns, colours and textures that can be selected to match other features of your home such as the furniture or decor. 

Fabric blinds are also very practical, especially when they are synthetic fabrics that offer the benefits of flame resistance, moisture resistance and a greater level of UV protection. At Aspiration Blinds, we only use the highest quality fabric to ensure you have long lasting sturdy blinds that look great too, with the option of a stain resistant finish to make cleaning easier and to prolong the lifespan of your blinds.

Depending on the type of fabric and blind style you opt for, you can adjust your privacy levels and control the amount of light in your rooms. Venetian blinds can be positioned in a number of ways thanks to their open and close mechanism as well as the ability to be pulled up when not in use. This makes them great for privacy whilst still letting light and air into the room as well as the option of a full window view when desired.

With our more opaque blackout blind range, you can get complete control over the light in your room, helping you to sleep peacefully by counteracting streetlights and glare from outside your home as well as total privacy.

If you’re looking for a more luxurious feel in your home then Roman blinds are the perfect fit. These types of blinds boast a continental edge in textured fabric that’s high quality and perfectly suited to both your tastes and budget. Roman blinds gently slide open and fold together to allow more light into the home, with such versatility they can be made to suit most interior properties, window sizes and shapes. 

Wooden Blinds

Wood is a popular choice of material for blinds due to its attractiveness and practicality. At Aspiration Blinds, our wooden Venetian blinds are custom made to your exact requirements and can be accessorised with decorative tape in a choice of eight colours for an extra touch of luxury.  

From an interior design perspective, wooden blinds are great due to the natural touch they add to a room. Whilst there aren’t as many style or colour options as fabric blinds, almost any type of wood can be used and they can be finished in different colours to match your furniture or decor.

From a practical point of view, wooden blinds offer the advantage of durability and are great for controlling privacy as they are completely solid and opaque. Wood is also a very effective insulator, meaning wooden blinds can help to keep your home warmer during the colder months, lowering your energy bills and saving you money in the long run.

Despite the advantages, wooden blinds do have their limitations. Like any real wooden product, excess moisture can do a great deal of harm to wooden blinds as they absorb liquid, causing them to expand and warp. This means they don’t fare too well in humid rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom and makes cleaning slightly trickier as you can’t use lots of water or liquid chemicals. Another slight downside is the price as they tend to be more expensive than their fabric counterparts, however, they are long-lasting, great insulators and a very attractive feature in any home, so for many it is worth spending a little extra. 

Faux Wood Blinds

If you like the look of wooden blinds but don’t fancy the cost, faux wood is a more affordable alternative. Faux wood has the same if not larger appeal as real wood due to have the same appearance and durability at a budget friendly price. Not only are they more affordable, but faux wood blinds tend to be more practical too as they are moisture-resistant, making them much easier to clean and perfect for bathrooms and kitchens, unlike real wooden blinds.

Metal Blinds

Metal blinds are usually made of aluminium, which is a cheap, flexible and rust-resistant material. Due to their budget-friendly cost and durability, metal blinds are ideal for offices and other business spaces, though they can still look great in your home, especially in modern or industrial themed interiors.

Other advantages include the ability to control lighting and privacy due to metal being solid and opaque as well as metal being one of the easiest blind materials to clean. One disadvantage, on the other hand, is that metal blinds can be noisy, especially if a window is open and a draft causes them to move. Metal blinds also sometimes have sharp edges, which is a factor worth bearing in mind if you have young children who may risk hurting themselves.

Plastic Blinds

Plastic blinds are typically made out of vinyl such as PVC and are one of the cheapest options of blind materials, once again making them popular in offices and other business spaces due to their affordability. Whilst they aren’t the most attractive of the materials, they are practical due to their easy to clean surfaces and durability and although plastic blinds aren’t as solid as wood or metal, their flexibility makes them less likely to dent and therefore prolongs their lifespan. These types of blinds are also available in a range of different colours and textures (and are sometimes made to look like wood) meaning you can match them to your room. High quality plastic blinds can look very effective in your home, particularly when used to add a pop of colour or integrated well to compliment the rest of the interior.

Thinking about getting some new blinds? Why not check out some of our fantastic range of blinds here or book a free home visit and design consultation here.