The Main Types of Blinds for your Home
The Main Types of Blinds for your Home
Roller Blind
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| Types of Blinds |
Roller blinds have been popular since the 18th
Century. A roller blind is basically a stiff fabric wound onto a (usually)
wooden roller, which incorporates a spring mechanism so that the blind can be
raised or lowered to any position then released to recoil to its top rolled up
state. It has a firm lath at the bottom to keep it straight, and the base
is often decorated with frills, braid, fringing and accessories. They can
be made of waterproof substances for bathrooms and kitchens and most are sponge
cleanable, typically made of fabric or vinyl.
Roller blinds provide a very neat and tidy look and can be used on their
own or have curtains over them. They can be made to measure or you can
purchase a do it yourself kit. They are one of the most unobtrusive forms
of window treatments as they take up a minimal space and cover only what is
necessary when they are down.
Conventional-blinds roll from the back
exposing the roller at the front, reverse-roll blinds roll from the front with
the roller behind, and just to be different, bottom up blinds can be fixed to
the windowsill and pulled upwards.
Roman Blind / Shade
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| Types of Blinds |
They are flat when they are down. They are
usually lined as they sit better. They use less fabric than curtains, but are
more detailed to make.
They can be installed inside the window frame
or above the window frame to cover the joinery. They have a classic, elegant
sophisticated look and suit living and dining rooms, and interiors that have
simple lines and are not fussy.
Be careful when selecting large patterned
fabrics, as when folded up they can give a distorted look.
A variation of this blind is the softfold or
hobbled roman blind. This is when the blind stays in soft folds when it is
fully extended.
Austrian Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
Austrian Blinds are like Roman, as they move
up and down with cords and rings, but they have a gathered heading and use a
vertical shirring which transforms the folds into soft scallops.
Balloon and Cloud Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
It is raised and lowered by cords threaded
through rings at the back. When raised these billow into scallops along the
bottom edge of the blind, a balloon blind has inverted pleats at wide spacings
from top to bottom and a cloud blind has a gathered heading.
Tailed blinds happen when the cords and rings
are not installed to the side edges, therefore the bottom corners hang down
below the scallops.
Wooden Slat Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
Similar to Pinoleum but they are coarse and
heavier.
Quill Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
Similar to Pinoleum but made from white
plastic quill.
Cane Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
These are made from whole or split bamboo,
they are good for use in conservatories, and they can roll or pleat up. They do
not completely block the sunlight or vision.
Festoon Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
These are similar to an Austrian Blind but
they have additional ruching, which means it keeps its gathered effect even
when it is down. They have a narrow heading tape at the top and vertically
which creates the gathers.
Honeycomb Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
The side view looks like a stack of honeycombs.
It is a cellular insulating blind and has numerous brand names.
It is a very efficient blind with great
insulating properties and when pulled up, takes up only a small amount of room
and is not intrusive on the window.
Venetian Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
They are horizontal blinds which have 2 inch
wide slats held together with 1 inch wide cotton tape. They were the original
horizontal blind and are heavy and difficult to clean. They are very useful for
blocking out sunlight, for heat gain reduction or redirecting the light. They
are not in common use today, but are having resurgence with the “Retro” look.
Vertical Louver Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
Fixed at top with a track and sometimes
bottom, they are made of thin strips of canvas, wooden slats and silk or
synthetic fabric. They pivot open or closed and can be drawn across to the
sides of the window. They are often used in floor to ceiling windows. They suit
contemporary settings and large picture windows.
Paper Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
These are made from a tough stiff permanently
pleated paper or fibre. They are available in a wide range of colours. They are
an inexpensive practical and decorative product that is easy to dust. They can
be combined with curtains.
Balastores
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| Types of Blinds |
They are an inexpensive blind made from strong
treated paper or fibre, which is accordion pleated with holes punched out all
over it. They allow plenty of light to filter through and restrict glare.
Pleatex Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
They are made from tough super calendered wet
strength craft paper with permanent pleats. They are cheaper than roller
blinds.
Mini Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
They are an updated version of venetians;
their vinyl slat width is smaller. They are available in almost any color
vinyl as well as metallics and perforated metal, and color coordinated cord and
rod operational gear. They can be pulled up to reveal almost all the
window, so they are useful if you require an unobstructed view. Mini
Blinds were originally designed for commercial use, they have a slim
architectural look and they suit contemporary interiors and are in frequent
use. They are difficult to clean, and are noisy with an open window. They
are good insulators in winter and are very useful for covering large windows.
They can be purchased in modular sizes and colors or custom made to suit. They
can be used on doors and sloping windows.
Micro – Mini Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
They are also known as Slimline blinds, they
are the same as mini blinds but have an even smaller width and are finer to
look through, being ideal for maintaining a view. They are very delicate and
easy to bend and twist which is a downfall.
Cottage Blind
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| Types of Blinds |
A cottage blind is a half-length blind, which blocks
a view or creates privacy, usually used in a bathroom. It can be mounted on
curtain wire or a curtain rod as they cover the lower half of the window. They
are often co-coordinated with a small valance at the top of the window.
Pinoleum Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
Pinoleum blinds are made form matchstick like
slats of wood.
They can be stained or left natural. Pinoleum blinds are woven together with cotton. Pinoleum blinds have the same spring mechanism as roller blinds. You can see through them, and they allow a soft light to filter through. They are a very cheap way to cover large expanses of glass. They can be fixed to sloping ceilings.
They can be stained or left natural. Pinoleum blinds are woven together with cotton. Pinoleum blinds have the same spring mechanism as roller blinds. You can see through them, and they allow a soft light to filter through. They are a very cheap way to cover large expanses of glass. They can be fixed to sloping ceilings.
Timber Venetian Blinds
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| Types of Blinds |
These are thicker that standard venetian
blinds, they are usually manufactured in cedar, and provide a wonderful mellow
glow through the window. Timber venetian blinds are expensive but are well
worth the money for the fantastic look. They are more effective as insulators
than metal or vinyl blinds.
Timber venetian blinds are a sturdier blind than the venetians.
