Blinds have gone from bland to bold this year thanks to interesting new fabrics and sexy trimmings. Whether you want a clean contemporary feel or long for something luxe, perk up your panes with the latest designs in blinds advises House and Home.
Roman blinds are still a favourite because they offer lots of scope with colour and fabric combination, from the increasingly popular floral patterns to bold geometric prints.
Striped linens are a great way of dressing windows broken into different sections. As well as the ruche track system where the string is tied around a pleat, a chain mechanism track which is easier to pull, will stop where you want it, and is recommended for large areas.
Vertical blinds are no longer associated with functional office spaces and are now available in materials like woven naturals and perforated metals. For an even more contemporary look, choose panels custom made in your own choice of fabric and your own width of panel, neatly placed on one track.
Natural wood and cream Venetian blinds have replaced aluminium Venetian blinds in modern homes. They're perfect for privacy and also allow you to control the amount of light you want to let into your space.
Roller blinds are perfect for introducing a splash of colour into any living space and as fabrics can now be laminated it makes them the perfect choice for kitchens or bathrooms. With the new digital ranges, it's also now possible for people to personalise their blinds with their own photographs.
How to measure for blinds
Blinds can sit either inside or outside a window recess. It's important to decide which you want before taking measurements.
- Inside a window recess: Measure the length from the top to the bottom of the recess and also measure the width at the top of the recess where you want the blind to hang. Then measure the width at two other points of the recess - in the middle and at the bottom - and record the lowest measurement of the three to ensure the blind does not snag when being lowered.
- Outside a window recess: To get the correct length, measure from where you want to hang above the window down to the bottom of the pane, or your preferred length. To get the correct width, measure the width of the window and add 14cm to allow sufficient overlap at each side of the window.
Blind styles
- Pleated blinds: Made from a single piece of pleated fabric, they provide a soft, diffused light, without totally darkening the room, and are elegant in style. They are also ideal for difficult angles or shapes as they adapt to most contours and can be positioned at any point on the window.
- Roller blinds: Made up of stiff fabric wound onto a roller. When tugged a spring mechanism allows you to raise or lower the blind or recoil it completely.
- Roman blinds: Draw up from the bottom in a series of folds by means of cords threaded through rings with dowels threaded through horizontally.
- Venetian blinds: Horizontal blinds, available in wood, metal and vinyl, in which slats are held together with cotton tape. They are useful for blocking out sunlight, for heat gain reduction or redirecting the light.
- Vertical louvre blinds: Fixed at the top with a track, they are made of thin strips of canvas, wooden slats and silk or synthetic fabric. Louvres can pivot open or closed, or be pulled clear of the window, depending on the amount of light or privacy desired.
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