Window blinds offer a great alternative to curtains at a reasonable price, here’s our guide to the different types of blinds that are available and how much they cost.
Window blinds and shades have been in use for the last two thousand years, and they look just as stylish now as they did then. If you’ve just moved into a new home, or are in the process of carrying it out, then window blinds and shades can provide the perfect finishing touch. In our guide, we’ll discuss some of the most popular blinds and shades and examine the fitting cost in more detail.
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What are window blinds and shades?
Window blinds and shades are a stylish alternative to curtains when controlling the amount of heat and light entering a room. When you control the amount of sunlight entering your room, you control the ambient temperature as well.
Many homes can become uncomfortably hot in summer, particularly those with large windows. By adjusting your blinds or sunshades, you can make the air cooler without using fans or air conditioning. Another important fact regarding blinds is that they’re assuring great privacy on your property.
The benefits of window blinds
When looking for window coverings, there are two main options: blinds and shades or curtains. Which is best for you? At the end of the day, the choice is yours, but many people find that window blinds are much more suitable, and here’s why.
- Window blinds provide privacy and control over the amount of light entering a room.
- They are available in various types and styles, allowing for customization to match the decor and aesthetic of a room.
- Window blinds can be made from materials such as wood, vinyl, or fabric, providing options for different levels of durability and cost.
- They are easy to clean and maintain, particularly compared to curtains or drapes. –
- Window blinds can help reduce energy costs by providing insulation to a room, particularly if they are made from materials like cellular shades.
- They can also offer UV protection, helping to prevent fading of furniture or flooring.
- Some types of window blinds, such as Venetian blinds, offer adjustable slats, giving users complete control over the amount and direction of light entering a room.
- Finally, window blinds can be an affordable option for window coverings, particularly compared to more elaborate curtain designs or custom drapery.
Being originated in Roman ancient times, these blinds are adding a fresh contemporary look to your property. Curtains can look heavy and too traditional for many people’s tastes. When you buy blinds, you can stamp your own personality on the property. That’s because window blinds come in a wide range of styles, colours and fabrics.
Popular types of blinds and shades
Window blinds, shades, and shutters come in many varieties, so be sure to find a style that matches your personal taste and falls within your budget. The most popular varieties are Roman blinds, Venetian blinds, panel blinds, vertical blinds, and blackout blinds. We’ll look at each of these in turn in a moment.
Once you’ve chosen which style of window blind you prefer, you need to decide on the colour and material. It is always popular, and you can have a natural wood effect or wood painted in bold colours. Steel or aluminium blinds are a modern alternative. Having great appliances in your kitchen, these white blinds are easy to clean.
White blinds are trendy because they perfectly fit with minimalist rooms and reflect light and heat. However, you don’t have to settle for just one colour, as window blinds are available in exciting patterns, from florals to seascapes. Let’s look at some of the most popular window blind varieties.
Solar Shades Prices
Solar shades are an alternative to blinds and are particularly useful in conservatories as an alternative to solar blocking or reactive window treatments. They, too, come in many varieties, from traditional roller shades and pleated shades to woven wood shades.
Roman blinds prices
They were good enough for the palaces of the Caesars, and they’ll make a great addition to your home as well. Roman blinds really do date back to the Roman days, but their style and ease of use mean that they’ve remained in use ever since.
When fully extended, they provide one solid sheet but give a pleasing rushed effect when adjusted upwards. There are lots of different Roman blind types and patterns made from interesting, high-quality fabrics. These can be ideal for a romantic bedroom setting.
Made-to-measure Roman blinds are available in a wide range of UK fabrics with discounts of up to 75% and a 3-year guarantee. They come in classic designs suitable for the living room and bedroom, with blackout lining recommended for bedrooms and special designs for kitchens and bathrooms.
Where to buy roman blinds
Thermal lining is also available to prevent heat loss, saving up to 10% on energy bills. Cheapest Blinds UK Ltd offers plain, striped, and patterned Roman blinds in classic and contemporary colours starting at £40, with a three-year guarantee.
Roman Blinds Direct is another option, offering a wide range of high-quality, made-to-measure Roman blinds, including their own designer range, Touched by Design, with prices starting from £7.95 for UK delivery. They also provide up to 8 free fabric samples and a choice of optional extras such as lining types and controls.
Venetian blinds prices
Is there anything more stylish than Venetian blinds? Easy to adjust horizontally and vertically, with great control, Venetian wooden blinds can transform any room into a unique place, no matter it is a dining room or just a lounge.
In terms of functionality, 25mm Aluminium Venetian blinds are a popular choice, offering privacy and some light control but not complete blackout. These blinds are a cheaper option, but still of good quality with steel and aluminium components. It is important to note that prices may vary based on product size and colour.
Where to buy Venetian blinds
There are different types of Venetian blinds available for purchase in the UK, with prices varying depending on the material and customisable options. The cheapest options include faux wooden venetians and standard aluminium blinds, with prices starting at £8 and £10, respectively. Solid wooden venetians are also available in premium colours and tones with customisable options.
Vertical blinds prices
Vertical blinds hang down in vertical strips, each interlinked and attached to a rail. They are ideal for use as an easily adjustable cover over a doorway or in a kitchen environment. The prices for vertical blinds will vary according to the size.
Vertical blinds are a popular choice for larger windows. Vertical blind prices depend on various factors such as the size, the material, and features like blackout, waterproofing, and flame retardant.
Several basic vertical blinds can start at £9.00, while higher-end options can start at £42.95. Standard window sizes can cost around £45 for a bedroom window, £70 for a 2-panel sliding door, and £90 for an average-sized French Door.\
Where to buy vertical blinds
Cheapest Blinds UK Ltd offers a range of standard vertical blinds made from high-quality fabrics, starting from only £10. These blinds come with a three-year guarantee and are suitable for long-term heavy usage.
The range includes dim-out fabric for kitchens and bathrooms. Additionally, some retailers may offer sales and discounts on vertical blinds, making them more affordable.
Panel blinds and blackout blinds
You can opt for different available panel blinds, which can be used as blackout blinds or handy room dividers. Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Or have children who find it difficult to stay in bed? Many people are sensitive to the amount of sunlight entering a bedroom.
Even at night, light from the stars and moon can prevent people from getting the sleep they need. Their dark colours can make a big difference to sleep patterns and leave the room’s occupant feeling refreshed and alert in the morning. Blackout blinds are also available in patterns whilst still blocking out unwanted light.
Blinds to suit each room.
Bedroom: Roller blinds have come a long way in recent years; now, they are available in lots of zany fabrics and prints, which would look great in your bedroom for a low-cost option. Roller blinds can make a great design feature in any bedroom, as a bold statement or simply a nice accompaniment to the rest of the room.
Bathroom: Upside-down roller blinds are perfect for bathrooms, as they keep it nice and private but still allow a certain amount of natural light in. This is great for those who aren’t a fan of bathing/showering in the dark!
Kitchen/diners: When you’re cooking, you are bound to make a mess occasionally; it is part and parcel of being in the kitchen! However, tidying up afterwards is made a lot easier with easy-to-clean surfaces, and no exception should be made for your blind choice. Venetian blinds are ideal for this; they come in a wide range of colours and materials, so there is sure to be something perfect for your kitchen.
Eco-warriors: Honeycomb blinds are perfect for those who keep the environment at the forefront of their mind. The fabric is made from hexagonal cells, which trap air. Designed with energy efficiency in mind, they will conserve your energy by trapping air and creating a barrier against draughts coming in through your window. Clever stuff, eh?
Big windows: If you want to add a bit more drama to your windows, why not go for some made-to-measure roman blinds? They will further exaggerate your floor-to-ceiling windows, adding an element of theatrical brilliance. This will also give you complete privacy if required, as they will be made to fit your window down to a tee.
Luxury: Shutter blinds are by far the most luxurious type of blind; there is no denying they add style and class wherever they are placed. You can have the full-length, double-hung (allowing you to have some slats opened and some slats closed), and half-style. As they are our luxury option, they obviously cost the big bucks, but if you want to add a touch of class, there is no better choice!
Modern pads: If you live in a gorgeous modern place with floor-to-ceiling windows, why not go for contemporary vertical blinds? Anywhere else, and it would simply look like an office block, but not here. Vertical blinds will, again, accentuate the length of the windows, making them all the more useful.
Fitting window blinds and shades
You’ve found your perfect window blinds, now all that remains is to put them in place. You may be tempted to install them yourself, but this can be a costly and time-consuming mistake. Perfectly placing a window blind can be harder than it looks. It is easy to cut them to size or adjusting.
However, If you get this wrong, you can easily ruin the blinds that you’ve just purchased. It can also take longer than you think, especially if you don’t have blind fitting experience. Do you really want to use up your valuable free time fitting blinds or shades?
By hiring a specialist blind fitter to install your blinds and shades, you can be assured of a perfect fit every time. They’ll carry out any adjustments necessary and mean that you can open and close your blinds with ease. Have you ever struggled to operate a set of blinds?
That’s because they haven’t been fitted correctly. By hiring a window fitter to do it for you, you can sit back, relax, and leave it in their expert hands. If you have several blinds to fit, they can do it all in one session. Half a day at standard builder’s rates will cost you around £75 – £85.
Installing new blinds provides functional support to an existing window. They provide homeowners with privacy and protection from harmful sun ultraviolet rays. Last but not least, they spruce the window with colourful scenery. While there are different types of blinds on the market, please consider the following factors:
Windows blinds buying advice.
Install shades that go along with the theme of your room. For instance, vertical blinds come from strong pieces of garment that cling to a track and are linked to the chain at the bottom. They are 90mm or 127mm wide, and they can be pushed aside like curtains. Vertical blinds suit recently built homes along with tall and thin windows. At the same time, a wood blind comes in the following types: red oak, western cedar, or bras wood. They are 1”, 2” and 2 ½” in size.
Lastly, it is suitable for rooms with warm and friendly décor with wood floors, such as a study room; however, make sure it matches the furniture in the room. Inquire about window coverings that conserve energy.
Several blinds do a better job at keeping out too much cold or heat, thus resulting in less cooling or heating expenses. For example, cellular blinds with folds made in the cloth by folding the material entwined would be ideal for preventing energy from entering a room. Last but not least, they are cleaned easily.
Ensure you have the accurate size before ordering the blinds, as it’s difficult to return or cut them in size. For outside mounted blinds that cover the edges of the window, add 10-12 cm on any of the four sides of the vertical blind or add 2-3 cm on the sides of the horizontal blinds. Regarding blinds that only cover the window frame, make sure the measurements are precise. It is advisable not to use wooden window blinds in the bathroom due to high moisture conditions.
References
- https://www.signatureshuttersofhouston.com/history-of-window-blinds-houston/
- https://www.amshades.com/features/4/degrees-of-light-control
- https://urbanwindowtreatments.com/blinds/
- https://www.hunterdouglas.com/energy-efficiency
- https://architecturecompetitions.com/how-roman-architecture-influenced-modern-architecture