Toombs County Magazine Fall/Winter 2022

Blinds or curtains: which is better?

Light control, insulation, privacy, décor and budget can all help determine the best window treatment for your home.

Blinds and curtains each come with specific benefits and drawbacks. Here we compare the two–blinds vs. curtains–with six key differences to help you decide which window treatment will be a winner in your home.

Cost can matter

Blinds, which feature movable slats, usually require less material and time to manufacture. They also take less time to install meaning their overall cost can be kept to a minimum. Plastic blinds are less expensive than wood and high-quality vinyl, but are not recommended if appearance is important.

Curtains are usually slightly pricier per window because they require more material and time to make and install. However, the addition of curtains to a room adds a soft touch and leaves plenty of room for making a statement with color and design – something not possible with blinds. Curtain costs can be reduced by choosing materials like polyester over silk.

Light Control

The slats on blinds, whether vertical or horizontal, can control light by either changing the angle that the light enters or lifting the blinds altogether. Even when blinds are fully closed, their slatted design means some light will enter. Curtains can virtually block all light depending on the material used and the curtain lining. This makes them especially functional in bedrooms and family rooms, in which total darkness may be preferred for sleeping or movie viewing.

Keeping it Clean

The slick, hard surface of blinds makes dusting with a microfiber cloth a breeze. To remove dust, close the slats and wipe from top to bottom. For stubborn dirt, wiping with a mixture of 25% white vinegar and 75% water. Curtains can be cleaned by vacuuming from top to bottom with a dust brush attachment. Use the same vinegar and water treatment for stains or try a storebought stain remover solution. Some curtains can be machine-washed and air dried to remove stains, but this is not recommend for more ornate curtains.

High-quality, wellmaintained blinds can keep their looks for up to 15 years or more. Blinds’ synthetic material, whether plastic, aluminum, vinyl or polymer coated wood makes them resistant to discoloration and staining. Their rigidity also makes them less prone to everyday wear and tear. Fabric curtains, are more prone to tearing, staining and mold, meaning they may need replacement within a decade. With curtains often being used as a design statement, after a decade, it may be time to update them anyway!

Energy Efficiency

Both curtains and blinds can add insulating power to your windows and help maintain heat exchange resulting in lower energy bills. But curtains have the upper hand when it comes to savings because they don’t have slats that allow heat loss. Curtains have been proven to reduce heat loss by up to 37% during chilly months, while blinds check in at only 14%. Thicker curtains and blinds have even more insulating power and honeycomb blinds offer the best efficiency for blinds.

What happens when weather turns warmer? On the one hand, blinds beat curtains in energy efficiency because they leak more heat from a room. They also decrease indoor heat gain more efficiently in the summer, by around 45%, which can lower air conditioning bills. Curtains leak less heat, reducing indoor heat gain by only 33% in the summer. On the other hand, curtains with solid black out panels can keep out light at peak times of day reducing heat gain from entering a room.

Sound Barrier

Both curtains and blinds aid in sound absorption to keep out neighborhood noises. But curtains, especially those made of heavyweight, tightly woven fabrics like velvet or velour, perform better than blinds because they’re thicker and lack slats through which sound enters.

Endless Design Possibilities

Curtains offer a wider variety of materials, textures, styles, colors, patterns, and levels of transparency, from geometric-inspired cotton curtains to sheer silk curtains. They work well in rooms with classic interior design styles, be it French country, midcentury modern, or full glam. Blinds tend to come in a narrower range of materials and styles and only in solid colors; this minimalism makes them better suited for the modern look of the Scandinavian, industrial, and coastal interior styles.

If you can’t decide which way to go, you can always combine blinds with curtains for a beautiful solutions with maximum lighting control.

If you need a boost of confidence when making your design decisions, don’t worry. You can find a design expert that will walk you through the decision making process right here in Toombs County. Cindy Reddick at Accessorize It Designs offers interior decor for residential and commercial applications specializing in window treatment and fabric applications. To discuss your window treatment options visit Accessorize It! at Seasons Design Center.

Cindy Reddick

Accessorize It! Designs by Cindy Reddick

912-537-7008

1015 East 1st Street Vidalia, GA