What solution is best for you? Venetian Blinds? Roman Blinds? Roller Blinds? Are Plantation Shutters a better choice? When there are many options, it can feel overwhelming. If you lack core product information it only gets worse. It’s like reaching around in a darkened room, trying to find your way. Well, if you’re going to navigate blinds, you really should take the hand of a ‘blind person’. We do blinds. We are your blind guides. Let us guide you.
This is Your High Quality Problem
Seeking a window covering solution is what we call a ‘high quality’ problem! It’s ‘high quality’ because we’re spoilt for options and can be potentially overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options and solutions. Yet, with so many alternatives, how could we complain?
This is also a problem worth solving. Some aspects of interior design can be small and insignificant; window coverings are not like that. They are a ‘major’ item!
When people enter a room, even one they’re used to, there is natural eye movement toward windows, light and space. As a result, window coverings are always going to impact the ambience of a room on multiple levels.
How you meet this challenge should be guided by a variety of considerations. Amongst these are your room’s existing (or intended) décor, your budget, environmental factors, your lifestyle, your personal preferences and of course, the features and benefits of the options available. We’ll unpack this list in another article, but here we’ll focus on the last item by looking at three different types of blind (Venetian, Roman and Roller) and also considering the option of Plantation Shutters.
Option 1: Venetian Blinds
Venetians are a well-established standard in many Australian homes. They are stylish, functional and often the most affordable solution. Polymer (or plastic) is the most common type, but Venetian Blinds can also be made from aluminium, timber and a hybrid combination of timber and polymer.
Their effectiveness comes from horizontal slats that are rotated to reduce direct sunlight, whilst also allowing indirect light in. If you choose a timber venetian, air flow can also be influenced. Another great feature is the ability to be completely collapsed (being gathered to the top of the window). This enables access to maximum light and air, as well as unobstructed vision.
Your colour options are almost limitless. Depending on your choice of model, colour matching (or at least an appropriate alignment of colour) is almost always possible. In addition, both timber and polymer slats typically come in a variety of slat widths.
Very low maintenance is also a plus: an occasional wipe using a slightly damp cloth should suffice.
Venetian blinds are also decorative, increase privacy and allow a measure of temperature and light control. A versatile window covering, they provide a clean and sharp look, whilst also being functional, practical and affordable to those on a budget.
Option 2: Roman Blinds
Roman Blinds are a knockout style statement. They’re simply beautiful! The way they work still has an innovative feel, because this style of highly functional and beautiful blind is yet to be fully appreciated by the market.
Made of soft fabric, they are opened and closed by being drawn up or down in staggered sections (or pleats). As a result, they provide a sleek, soft, appealing and flat look when down. When up, they deliver a stylish, practical, pleated appeal. When left half-open, with the fabric design on display, these blinds also enhance a room’s beauty and ambiance.
They are ideally suited to tall windows, narrow windows, awkward configurations (such as bay windows) and situations where partially lowering a blind is all that is required. They are not suited to wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens or laundries and they can be vulnerable to moisture in areas given to poor ventilation and mildew.
There is also the option of a dual-blind configuration, where two blinds are placed side by side. In this situation, a rear blind is translucent and provides diffused light, while the front blind is capable of blocking all sunlight.
There is also a potentially inexhaustible range of styles and colours available.
Roman Blinds are a stylish, clean-cut and no-nonsense statement of style.
Option 3: Roller Blinds
Roller Blinds are a clean, soft and more traditional window covering solution. They are also known as Holland Blinds.
Using plastic or stainless steel bead chains to achieve a no-nonsense roll-up action, these blinds are convenient, neat and unobtrusive when rolled up. When rolled down, they are under-stated in style and effective in purpose.
More resilient than Roman Blinds due to the stiffened fabric, these blinds are often used in kitchens, laundries and bathrooms.
The range of options in fabrics, textures, colours and patterns is enormous. Low-allergenic, and fire-retardant fabrics are also available. Like the Roman Blinds, a two-blind configuration can also be used to allow diffused light through when one is down, or completely block all light when both are closed.
Roller blinds are a seriously flexible solution!
Option 4: Plantation Shutters
There’s a reason why Plantation Shutters are popular: timber is timelessly beautiful and the shutter’s design makes them remarkably functional. Shutters also convey a sense of the luxurious, which can be a delightful feeling for you at the end of a long day, or a welcoming blessing for your guests as they enjoy your hospitality.
Plantation Shutters also deliver the unique sense of the organic that is evoked through timber. An ecological-morality also kicks into play due to the use of fast-grow timbers. If your shutters aren’t actually made of such timbers, the polymer substitutes available (such as those used in kitchens and bathrooms) look like they are.
Note that the the non-timber options won’t warp, crack or fade, so they can be placed in wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.
When it comes to colour options, while exact matching may not be possible (due to the need for affordable construction processes) we can certainly provide a diverse range of colour possibilities.
When closed, shutters block most light and deliver almost absolute privacy. Shutters with a centre bar also provide the option of closing the bottom half while leaving the top open, enabling privacy as well as light and air movement. In addition, depending on your choice of model, the shutters’ louvered panels can often be unobtrusively moved aside.
Plantation Shutters are a stylish and effective solution.
A Blind Person Can See the Difference!
We started by saying that too many options and a lack of product info’ can seem overwhelming. We invited you to accept our guidance, as ‘Blind Experts’; you’re here, so you must have accepted the invite. Congratulations!
We introduced you to Venetian Blinds, Roman Blinds, Roller Blinds and Plantation Shutters – yet there is so much more we could share. You should now be better equipped than you were. However, please be aware that we have only introduced each product. There is more we would like to impart. This high quality problem is worthy of your sustained effort and seeking out ‘blind’ counsel. Window coverings are a ‘major-impact’ item that usually results in enormous satisfaction or enormous regret. The difference between these two outcomes typically lies in the advice you receive.
Wherever you are on your home improvement journey, be encouraged.
You can call us on 0411 557 622 to ask questions or request more information. Alternatively, you can request a call back by completing the online form below. We’ll be in touch quickly.
