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Blinds Or Curtains: Four Factors To Consider When Redesigning Your Home

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You may have an initial preference towards curtains or blinds in terms of look, function or simply what you're used to. But there are some important considerations to make when figuring out what's best for your home. Here, is an outline of the benefits of blinds and the benefits of curtains to help you decide which is best for your needs.

Warmth And Energy Conservation

This is one of the biggest reasons covering your windows is so important. Curtains and blinds trap in warm air that has accumulated in your house in the course of the day and retain that warmth for the evening. Good quality curtains or blinds can reduce heat loss through windows by 60% if your windows are single-glased and 40-50% if they're double-glased. Blinds and curtains can also help keep your house cool during those hot summer months. Just cover up the windows on the side where the sun is coming in and open your windows in the rest of the house. Good temperature regulation in your home means less electric heating and coolin, easing the cost of your power bill, and easing your impact on the environment.

So which is best? For warmth and energy conservation it's hard to pick a winner. Both curtains and blinds can be very good at conserving heat and reducing your energy bill, as long as you follow these instructions when purchasing:

Curtains should

  • Be double layered with a thick, thermally backed lining.
  • Be wider and longer than your window.
  • Fit tightly against the wall or window frame.

Blinds should:

  • Be specifically designed 'honeycomb' or 'cellular' blinds. These have two outer layers with joins in between forming 'cells' that trap air.
  • Tightly fit against the wall or window frame so no air can escape around the sides.

Light and Privacy

Regulating light into your home is important. If we are exposed to natural light, the variations in sunlight during the day match up with our internal body clocks, ensuring the daily release of hormones into our bodies is regulated normally. Scientific studies have shown that having natural light in an office can instantly boost workers' productivity and that surgery patients recovery faster and take fewer painkillers when they're in rooms with natural light. On the flip-side, direct sunlight can be blinding, especially when you're trying to read or work on a computer. Having the ability to regulate light coming into your home is essential.

Privacy is another important factor. The first known curtains were found at excavation sites in Olympus, part of the Roman Empire, being used as room dividers to create privacy. Most people are uncomfortable when others are able to look into their home, so we close our curtains or blinds to block out nosy neighbors. But in terms of light and privacy, what's best? Curtains or blinds?

Curtains work excellently for privacy. If you have thick, double-lined curtains like those mentioned above, they'll completely block any prying eyes. Unfortunately, this also means they'll block all the natural light.

Blinds were designed as a trade-off between privacy and natural light. Curtains are an on-off switch for light and privacy, whereas blinds are like a dimmer button. Half closing your blinds will still allow a decent amount of natural light into your house, while only sacrificing a small amount of privacy. In the light and privacy stakes, blinds win out.

What's right for your home?

These factors are some of the most important to consider when making this decisions, but cost, maintenance and design come into the equation as well. Consider your priorities and make a decision that suits your home and will keep you and your family comfortable.

For more information, contact a company such as Ocean Grove Blinds & Awnings.


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