The Perfect Blinds For Your Home

For a long time, most homes depended on just curtains to add visual appeal to their windows. These days, however, many home owners go for blinds for various reasons. Aside from being even more aesthetic, blinds are also more practical in so many ways.

Aside from décor and sunlight control, blinds also provide you privacy. More importantly, blinds help your home become more energy efficient, especially during the summer when the scorching heat of the sun passes through your glass windows and makes your air conditioner work harder, which results in larger electricity bills.

If you’re thinking about switching to blinds, you need to know how to choose the perfect blinds for your home. To help you get started, here are the types of blinds that are available in Australia.

1. Venetian blinds

Venetian blinds are the most common type of blinds not only in homes but in offices as well. Made of horizontal wood or plastic slats that tilt up and down to control light, Venetian blinds are pretty low maintenance, quite easy to install and generally the least expensive type of blinds. Offering superior privacy and a very neat appearance, Venetian blinds come in a wide range of styles, sizes and colours to fit any décor need.

2.  Plantation shutters

One characteristic of plantation shutters that sets it apart from other types of blinds is its wide louvre or slat. Durable and quite energy efficient, plantation shutters are a popular choice for kitchens. Quite versatile and less expensive than custom drapes, plantation shutters have been known to increase the value of any home. Plantation shutters typically stay with a home when sold, because home owners want them for their durability and its ability to help you save energy.

3.  Roman blinds

Do you want a window treatment that is lighter than drapes but with more texture? Roman blinds are for you. Made of soft fabric, Roman blinds is made up of a single panel which, when extended, lays flat and unbroken. Pull it up, and it will transform into a series of neat, horizontal pleats. With this set-up, you can easily customise the amount of privacy that you want, as well as the amount of light that you want to let in or keep out. Stylish and sophisticated Roman blinds, however, are not recommended for damp rooms.

4. Roller blinds

If you want the ultimate in privacy, roller blinds are perfect for you because they cover the entire window when drawn. Durable and practical, roller blinds are usually made up of a fabric stiff enough to be rolled up onto a tube when not in use. They are easy to operate and not too expensive. You can purchase roller blinds in a variety of fabrics, colours, depending on your style preference.

5. Blackout blinds

Blackout blinds are another type of blinds that are perfect for people who want complete privacy. It’s actually a type of roller blind, but with a coating that virtually blocks light. If you’re the type who like staying in bed longer, blackout blinds are the blinds for you. If you want to enjoy a DVD during the day, you can use blackout blinds to keep the glare away and make you feel like you’re in a theatre.

6. Light filtering blinds

As its name suggests, light filtering blinds soften and diffuse the light that enters your room. Made of some kind of mesh, light filtering blinds work like roller blinds, but they let more light in when down and still give you complete privacy. With the diffused light, the glare on your TV or computer monitor would be significantly reduced and even eliminated. Light filtering blinds are popular choices for kitchens and living rooms.

The most cost efficient blinds and shutters

Generally, all types of blinds are cost efficient, but some are just more cost-efficient than others. For instance, vinyl or aluminium Venetian blinds or vinyl roller blinds tend to be cheaper to buy and install. Shutters, on the other hand, offer much better insulation than other blinds, and therefore more energy efficient. For wet rooms like bathroom and kitchen, blinds made of waterproof material are the logical choice. Venetian blinds and roller blinds made of synthetic materials or acrylic-coated fabrics are what you should buy for your kitchen and bathroom.

For first-time blinds buyers, you can take comfort in the fact that many shops have showrooms that display a wide range of blinds and shutters. That should give you the widest array of choices possible. If you need someone to help you install blinds, call us at Tradebusters, and we’ll help you find a reliable tradie from our exclusive network to work with you.