Peculiarities
The word "jalousie" is translated as "jealousy". And this is not just like that. A long time ago, men in the East covered the windows in their homes with wooden strips. This way light penetrated the house, but at the same time everything that was happening inside was hidden from prying eyes. In this way, husbands protected the dignity of their wives while they arrived without a burqa.
Today, blinds, as a rule, are provided in the form of plates that are triggered by mechanical or electronic control. The first method, when chains are used, is more popular. But in the case of high windows, it is more convenient to use electric blinds.
Which styles are best to use?
The use of sun blinds for interiors in various styles has no limits.
For Provence, wooden slats coated with colorless varnish would be appropriate. They will create a pleasant atmosphere in the room and will not spoil the natural beauty of Provence with their appearance.
The photo shows light wooden slats in a Provence style bedroom.
And for a loft-style interior, aluminum or plastic blinds in light colors are suitable. Such models will look very stylish and will retain the feeling of wide space in the room.
In a modern style, the main thing is that the blinds match the color scheme of the room and combine effectively with surface textures.
The photo shows wooden blinds in the interior of a living room in a modern style.
Metal overlays, perforated or reflective structures in silver, gold, steel, bronze colors will not stand out against the general background and will perfectly highlight the interior in the high-tech style.
The photo shows silver horizontal slats in a high-tech kitchen.
When decorating a room in a classic style, you can use both horizontal and vertical planks in light shades, which will be repeated in the interior decor.
For a Scandinavian interior, the main selection criterion is color - white, black and white or gray colors dominate. Horizontal blinds are suitable, well emphasizing the originality of the Scandinavian style.
Vertical
Vertical blinds for plastic windows are characterized by a vertical arrangement of plates, which allows you to visually increase the height of the room.
The lower part of the plates is united by one chain. The structure can be secured above the window opening, the upper slope or the ceiling. Their special feature is resistance to dust formation.
Room interior design options
When choosing blinds, first of all you need to take into account the individual characteristics of the room.
Such designs will be an ideal and high-quality solution for the kitchen. Blinds in the kitchen make using the window very comfortable.
Using blinds on bedroom windows not only allows you to protect the room well from sunlight and heat, but is also an excellent way to decorate.
Horizontal, vertical slats or pleated blinds in various bright shades of pink, turquoise, yellow or lilac, due to their practicality and functionality, are perfect for both a child’s room and a teenager’s room.
The photo shows a teenager’s room and bright two-tone pleated blinds on the window openings.
Various models, intelligently combined with the overall palette of the living room, will create a unique and stylish interior.
The photo shows the interior of the living room with horizontal bamboo slats on the windows.
Blinds on balcony windows are the most optimal and correct solution; they make it cozy and modern.
For the bathroom, choose products made from materials that are not afraid of high humidity and temperature changes. In addition, in the bathroom, slats can be used not only to decorate the window opening, but also to disguise communications or niches in which washing machines are located.
If the toilet has a window opening, then it can be decorated with both vertical and horizontal models, which can also be used as a screen and hide water or sewer pipes behind them.
The photo shows horizontal blinds on the window opening in the bathroom.
Horizontal
An option that has already become a classic is horizontal blinds. They consist of horizontal plates that are joined together by a piece suspended from a cornice. The peculiarity of this design allows you to visually expand the space. They can be set in motion using laces stretched through the edges of each element.
Combination ideas
Slats also have many successful combinations with other types of curtains; such combinations require special experience in interior design, so you should carefully use this decorative technique.
Tulle curtains will smooth out the strict appearance of the blinds and add aesthetics to the window design.
The combination of blinds with linen or cotton curtains is a win-win option in interior design, because it gives the window a more cozy look.
The photo shows pleated blinds in combination with dark curtains in the living room.
Horizontal slats in combination with a rigid lambrequin will look very harmonious.
The photo shows a dining room and horizontal slats in combination with a rigid gang lambrequin.
Rolled
Fabric roller blinds are the only fabric that is attached to a shaft. They are also called roller blinds. They can be installed in two systems: with a single piece of fabric (mini) or with alternating stripes (zebra mini).
Types of fastenings
Let's consider the types of fastenings for blinds on windows:
- Outside the window opening (wall, ceiling). This option allows you to visually enlarge a room or a narrow window.
- Interframe. Suitable for horizontal slats or pleated blinds. Thanks to this fastening, it is possible to securely fix the structures to the frame.
Pleated
The canvas, assembled into an accordion, looks compact, elegant, fits into most interiors and is at the same time unpretentious in care. The structure is installed on the glass itself or on the frame; it can be used as an interior door if placed in the opening.
Classification by size
There are main length options:
- Short. They save space and provide free access to windows and sills.
- Long. They look beautiful on panoramic or floor-length French window openings.
Plastic
Advantages:
- low price;
- strength;
- versatility;
- diversity;
- ease of care;
- moisture resistance;
- resistance to mechanical stress.
But despite such a large number of advantages, plastic blinds have a serious drawback - cheap plastic does not have most of the listed positive properties.
Material of manufacture
The material from which the slats are made plays an important role. The durability of the product, its compatibility with the microclimate of various rooms, and the range of textures and colors depend on this. Classic options include fabric and wooden curtains.
More modern models already use plastic, bamboo and paper. Let's consider each type separately.
Plastic
Plastic curtains have quite impressive strength, but they lose the strength of aluminum structures earlier. PVC is lightweight, easy to install and inexpensive. The material has great rigidity and is easy to clean.
It can be used in environments with difficult microclimates, as it will successfully withstand tests of humidity, high or low temperatures and heavy contamination. There is a wide range of plastic curtains - manufacturers offer designs in various colors and textures.
PVC is a popular and affordable material that can only be combined with modern styles in interior design.
Fabric
Fabric curtains look incredibly beautiful in the interior of a room. In addition, they are less practical than structures made from more rigid materials. Of course, fabrics are pre-treated with special impregnations that increase their resistance to dust and dirt, but the material will still have to be cleaned more often than aluminum or plastic. There are two types of curtains:
- Made from non-woven materials. They are distinguished by their low cost and short validity period. They quickly lose their shape and presentable appearance.
- Made from woven materials. They are painted with special pigments that do not fade under sunlight. They last much longer than the first type of construction.
Fabric curtains are taboo for kitchens, bathrooms and rooms where a lot of dust or dirt accumulates (laboratories, libraries).
Wooden
The first tents were wooden. This material is still popular today as it can be easily integrated into any environment. Wood brings a warm and cozy atmosphere to the room.
The cost of such blinds is low. Special compounds are applied to the material to prevent moisture from penetrating into the pores of the wood and its subsequent swelling and deformation.
However, even impregnation will not save the material from fire when in contact with an open flame. It is not recommended to hang such structures in the kitchen near the stove or in the living room next to the fireplace. For the production of lamellas, light-weight wood species are used. For this reason, structures do not sag over time.
Wooden shutters are easy to clean and retain their presentable appearance for a long time. Since the material is environmentally friendly, it is recommended to use it for decorating bedrooms and children's rooms.
Metal aluminum
The classic option is aluminum shutters. The width of the slats ranges from 16-25 mm, the type of mechanism is cassette, available in both vertical and horizontal versions.
Aluminum roller shutters are characterized by increased rigidity. For this reason, it is recommended to purchase material for finishing windows of complex configurations.
Aluminum shutters will last a long time and even get boring, although their stylistic versatility allows you to adapt the decorative element to any design solution. The material is easy to clean: just periodically wipe the slats with a damp sponge.
Aluminum does not need to be cleaned only with abrasive compounds, which will inevitably leave scratches on the soft metal. The material is insensitive to extreme temperatures and high humidity, so it can be used to decorate kitchens and bathrooms. Aluminum shutters are also suitable for windows on verandas, loggias and cold attics.
There are products that are fully or partially painted in different colors or with a pattern applied to the surface.
The main advantage of the material is its hygiene and ease of care - just wipe the fabric with a damp cloth. Another advantage is high corrosion resistance. For this reason, metal curtains are often installed in public buildings and on apartment balconies.
For high-tech style, this version of the canvas is more acceptable. The color palette is not very diverse, mainly white, bronze, silver, imitation wood.
An interesting option is with factory-perforated slats, which provides a measured flow of light into the room and a smoother transition when opening or closing the curtains from light to shadow.
Bamboo
Bamboo blinds are made from environmentally friendly materials. Thin slats have a presentable appearance, pleasant natural colors and low weight. The rigid frame prevents deformation of thin curtains. The material is suitable for decorating windows in the bathroom and kitchen, as it is not afraid of contact with water.
This option is ideal for the Japanese ethno-style and its closest and modest “relative” - minimalism. Apartments decorated with mats, shoji instead of doors and lanterns will harmoniously combine with bamboo shutters. The lamellas can be made not only from smooth plates, but also have an original texture and texture.
Bamboo curtains do not cause allergies and are absolutely safe for health. Such curtains are acceptable in any interior, but look great in an eco-style design.
From so many materials, you can easily choose suitable curtains for the living room that will meet all the buyer’s needs.
Shutters can be horizontal or vertical.
Horizontal blinds are raised and adjusted according to the angle of inclination. The advantages include a visual expansion of the space of the room.
This technique will be useful for owners of small living rooms.
Vertical patterns create the impression of a high ceiling. The shutters open to the right or left of the window, and you can also adjust the opening level of the panels.
Types of fasteners
Interframe. Quite rarely, installed between window frames.
Frame. A common type of support installed directly on the window frame.
Frame. The most popular type of fastening is installed instead of the cornice or behind it.
When choosing blinds, you should consult with a specialist about the method of attaching them.
Modern innovations include roller and multi-structure blinds.
Multistructured fabrics consist of different types of fabric and have a rich color palette. The top of the blinds consists of vertical panels, often made of plastic or wood. The lower part of the curtains is made of non-woven fabric or tulle.
Such curtains look very interesting and luxurious in the interior.
Laminated models managed to show their best side. They are usually made from woven and non-woven materials, but there are also bamboo curtains.
Roller shutters require a special frame into which the roller shutters are rolled. Roller blinds are attached to the ceiling or window opening. This design is easy to use and durable.
The convenience of roller shutters is undeniable, and the appearance can decorate any interior of the room.
Wooden
Advantages:
- creating coziness, especially a comfortable atmosphere;
- a wide range of textures, colors and patterns;
- high strength.
Flaws:
- natural wooden blinds have a beige-brown color;
- poor resistance to strong humidity;
- the price is completely undemocratic.
Control methods
There are several options for lowering or raising your blinds.
- Mechanical. The most common way. Adjustment is carried out by a cord, chain, or control knob.
- With electric drive (automatic). This involves the movement of the structure using a special control panel, which at a distance allows you to lower, raise, move the slats to the side or even change their angle of position.
Installation
It is better to leave the installation of blinds with drilling to specialists in this field. They will handle this without fail and in a short time.
But there is a simpler option that even a beginner can handle - installing blinds without drilling. In this case, you will not have to make through holes in the window frame.
But this method is only possible for installation on opening doors. It consists in the use of plastic fasteners. They are hung on brackets that are placed on top of the frame.
To prevent their accidental displacement, they are fixed on the reverse side with double-sided tape. Such L-shaped plastic brackets are not included with the purchase, but they can be easily found in a store that sells blinds and window accessories. This method is convenient in that it is possible to easily dismantle the blinds if repairs or thorough cleaning are required.
Design, drawings and form
They provide the opportunity to create expressive and individual interior design.
Drawings of flowers on blinds will give the room lightness and comfort, and add liveliness and brightness to it. Often used on windows in kitchen interiors.
Various geometric shapes make the interior unique and unforgettable, and also bring a unique atmosphere to it. Look great on the windows in the interior of a children's room.
Blinds with photo printing look very original and non-standard, and allow you to get away from everyday life and dullness. This window design will highlight the creativity of the apartment owner.
The photo shows the kitchen interior and white blinds with photo printing on the window opening.
The shape of the arch is created by planks of different lengths. Arch-shaped blinds highlight the aesthetics of the room's interior.
Cityscapes - night cities, capitals of various states or their attractions will be an excellent option for decorating almost any room. This pattern on the curtains increases the size of the room and allows you to enjoy your favorite city panoramas without leaving home.
Images of natural landscapes will make any room truly unique.
Alternating colors on the slats gives them a more voluminous look and adds brightness. Such decor can diversify the appearance of the room.
In the photo, the windows in the dining room interior are decorated with figured two-color blinds.
When choosing transparent blinds, you have an excellent opportunity to give the room a fashionable and stylish look.
Photo of blinds
Presence of ornament
Drawings and ornaments on window panels bring individuality and expressiveness to the interior.
The denser the material, the clearer and brighter the pattern will appear. On translucent roller blinds it may look blurry, but when light from outside hits the window, the image is illuminated and takes on unusual colors.
The presence of ornament is welcomed in the window decoration of entertainment establishments, cafes, salons and residential premises.
The use of photo printing has become a fashionable trend in the world of curtains. It is applied to vertical and horizontal canvases. This window decor draws attention to itself and adds the necessary mood to the atmosphere. A clear and rich image is obtained only when the slats are closed; in other cases, it loses its integrity, but still looks non-standard.
It is possible to use a photo from your personal archive for the picture on the blinds.
