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What blinds are best for windows: all about types and materials

milaeryomina

Blinds are a practical and beautiful solution for protecting a room from the sun and drafts. We will tell you all about their varieties and how not to be mistaken in choosing the best system.

Not so long ago,  Ms. Luzi was  considered an indispensable attribute of offices and other public places, but that's all. Boring colors and minimal design variations made them unattractive for home decor. However, everything has changed. The new modifications are practical, functional and beautiful, therefore they are quite worthy to take a place in any home. Let's analyze what kind of blinds are on the windows.

Why are they so popular?
The microclimate in the room largely depends on the weather outside. The bright sun can literally heat a room in minutes, raising the temperature to uncomfortable values. This is especially noticeable in summer, when there is nowhere to hide from the heat. Once the only escape from the bright rays were  pieces Ora . But today there are lamella systems that are more functional. Their strengths include:

The ability to adjust the intensity of the luminous flux.
Lightweight and compact.
Easy to operate and maintain. 
A good selection of different variations.
Regardless of the type of system, they protect the room not only from the sun, but also from drafts, as well as from overly curious eyes. 

Blinds make it possible to effectively regulate the intensity of light entering the room

Varieties of construction
Under the name of the blinds, there is a group of mechanisms that are different according to the principle of operation. Consider the pros and cons of each.

Horizontal
The lamellas that cover the glass are located horizontally and are attached to the upper bar. This makes the system universal. It is variable in size and can be used for inclined roof windows. Of the advantages, we note:

Several ways of fastening.
They take up little space.
Various materials can be used for their manufacture.
The ability to change the angle of rotation of the lamellae and raise them to the desired height. This allows you to effectively control the intensity of the light flux.
The disadvantages include less strength than the vertical counterparts. Therefore, the dimensions of horizontal products are limited. If they are too long, there is a high probability of deformation and problems with the movement of the planks.

Horizontal blinds have long been the only type of system

Cassette products are considered a variety of horizontal products. They were designed for installation on plastic windows. Inside the compact cassette, which is fixed directly to the sash, there are peculiar lamellas made of plastic or fabric. When open, they completely cover the opening. Several positions are possible when the glass is only slightly open.

Some similarities between cassettes and roller blinds sometimes cause confusion. They are also mistakenly referred to as horizontal structures. But this is not the case. The principle of operation is completely different. If we compare which is better, blinds or roller blinds, it is clearly seen that the first option is much more effective in regulating the intensity of natural light. The rotation of the slats allows you to quickly find the optimal position, while the curtains can only be fully or partially opened.

Vertical
A system of vertically positioned lamellas, the upper part of which is attached to the cornice. The lower part is assembled on a guide. The width and length of the structure can be very different. Its advantages include:

Durability and strength.
Simplicity in care and operation.
Effective regulation of the light level by changing the angle of rotation of the bars.
The ability to fix in openings of different, even the most complex shapes.
A variety of designs.
There are few minuses, but they are still there. The main one is that only fabric can be used to make the vertical system. True, of various types.

Installation methods
Depending on the type of system, it can be fixed in different ways. Horizontal varieties can be installed:

in the opening;
on the sash;
on the wall.
In the first two cases, the slats should be slightly wider than the sash or frame. When attached to the wall, their width will be 12-15 cm larger than the opening. The optimal length is slightly less than the height of the opening, so that the product does not "lie" on the window sill. 

Vertical varieties are attached:

in the opening;
on the wall;
to the ceiling.
The first two options are almost similar in size to their horizontal counterparts. The system, fixed to the wall, should be at least 12-15 cm wider than the opening, as much as possible. Length varies. In some cases, lamellas are chosen that reach almost to the floor.

What is better to choose blinds based on the characteristics of the material
Various materials can be used to make the planks. Most often one, but a combination of two or even several is also possible. These kind of multi-textured products are very effective. For the production of planks, choose:

Plastic
An excellent choice for rooms with difficult operating conditions: high humidity, temperature fluctuations, etc. Well suited for loggias, bathrooms and kitchens. Plastic products are lightweight, moisture resistant and durable. It is very easy to look after them. The design of the slats can be very different. Plastic is easily painted, lends itself to applying various textures. Poor quality plastics can turn yellow, break or deform. 

Metal
Usually it is aluminum or its alloys. Lightweight, inexpensive, moisture and high temperature resistant planks were once indispensable in offices and manufacturing. Now such blinds are better to choose for the kitchen or for the glazed balcony. You can pick up original models with perforation or a special velvety finish. Aluminum plates can deform and rattle unpleasantly, but this is perhaps all their disadvantages.

Aluminum blinds belong to the budget category. Despite this, they are durable, strong and quite attractive.

Wood
An elite option for living rooms and bedrooms in a classic style. Beautiful, respectable and durable. The lamellas are environmentally friendly, hold their shape well, and are easy to care for. The disadvantages of wood plates depend on the raw material. Inexpensive wood can break and burn out. In any case, the tree is "threatened" by fluctuations in moisture. In a word, without special processing and regular maintenance, the lamellas can dry out or deteriorate from moisture.

Versatile, practical and beautiful. A big plus of the material is that you can use various canvases:

Polyester. UV resistant, dense, does not shrink. It's easy to look after him.   
Fiberglass fabric. Differs in increased strength, does not deform and does not shrink, does not burn.
Cotton. Eco-friendly, has an attractive appearance. It is worth choosing only the densest varieties so that the lamellas do not deform. Flax is close to it in properties, another natural material. Both can shrink when washed.
Jacquard. A fabric of synthetic or blended yarns with a special tight weave. According to reviews, they protect from sunlight better than others, give maximum darkening.
Fabric lamellas are impregnated with special solutions, which greatly simplify the care of the product.

There is no need to be afraid of "rag" designs. All of them are necessarily treated with impregnations that repel dust, moisture, pollution. Therefore, caring for them is extremely simple. It is dry cleaned for cotton or linen and wet cleaned for everyone else. Polyester or fiberglass can be easily washed even in the machine.

How to choose blinds for plastic windows
PVC frames are strong and durable, so there are no restrictions on the choice. Moreover, some types of systems, such as cassette systems, are designed specifically for them. You can make a choice in five steps:

Determine the type of construction. Vertical ones take up more space, other varieties are more compact.
Choosing a material. It can be anything for horizontal models. 
We determine the installation method, it depends on the type of mechanism.
Choosing a control method. The simplest is mechanical, using a chain, rope or cane. There are models that are controlled remotely. They are more convenient.
We select the color of the product. A win-win can be considered the choice of a shade of lamellas to match the walls or furniture. Contrasting colors are an unusual solution, possible only for interiors in neutral tones.
Thus, it is quite easy to choose blinds for plastic windows. 

What to consider when buying 
In order for the product not to disappoint, and to be useful, you need to check it before buying. We definitely try to close / open the plates. The mechanism should work smoothly, without biting and jerking. We carefully inspect the closed structure. The planks should fit tightly to each other, without gaps and large gaps. 

We check how easily the lamellas turn around their axis, how they are fixed in various positions. We pay attention to the quality of processing of the material, whatever it may be. Metal and plastic should be evenly painted, without scratches and chips, etc. In any case, nothing should spoil the attractive appearance of the product. 

If the window decorated with blinds looks unusual, you can complement its decor with fabric curtains

We were told how to choose blinds that not only  uk rasyat interior , but also will become a functional element. Their design is very diverse. It doesn't matter if the simplest and unassuming option is chosen or the original design one, all models are practical and easy to use.