When it comes to dressing your windows, should you opt for curtains, blinds, or shutters? The latter has become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years whereas blinds feel as if they have been around forever.
Curtains, of course, can be used as well as blinds or just on their own. In this article, we’ve taken a look at all three to help you make up your mind.
Why window shutters?
They may be more expensive than the other two options, but window shutters are great for shutting out the sun when it gets too warm. Just look at the houses on the continent – they don’t use anything else.
And if you don’t think that’s a problem in the UK, then read this report by the Climate Change Committee which recommends using external shutters to avoid overheating at home.
The case for curtains
There are so many fantastic designs and colours of curtains around. From off-the-shelf to designer, you can really add character to a room with curtains.
They can be a great accent accessory and they are also incredibly cosy in the winter months. Unlike blinds and shutters, curtains can also lend a certain ‘softness’ to a room.
In addition, Carl Brennand @MoneyMagpie, says “Thick curtains are one of the main ways to protect your house from losing heat through the windows. Curtains with a thermal lining are a relatively cheap option.”
The case for blinds
Possibly the cheapest solution, depending on the configuration you choose. Like curtains, you have more options to choose from when it comes to deciding on the finish.
Why you should buy blinds
Less expensive than the other two choices, blinds are the most common window covering in UK homes.
Long gone is the popularity of Venetian blinds, these days the most common type of blind is thick vertical fabric blinds although there is a whole host of different blind options to choose from. Again, blinds can be purchased in different shades to match your room’s décor.
Now we’ll look a bit closer at how all three react to particular issues:
Light
Shutters are best at blocking out the light completely, meaning you can get better sleep during the long light summer nights. If you want to appreciate the fun blast of the sun during the day then it’s possible to open shutters completely.
You can’t do this with blinds but you can with curtains. A recent trend has been to install half-window shutters so you still get the light but there’s also privacy.
Insulation
Thick, lined curtains are great for keeping in the heat in the room – although there are gaps at the sides that some heat can escape from. Blinds too are good, but there’s still the problem of gaps.
Shutters can be fitted to fit a frame that is installed on the inside of the window. This means there are no gaps for the heat to escape from.
And if you are still not convinced, check out this report from Historic England which found that shutters reduce heat loss more than blinds and curtains.
For more advice on window ‘dressing’ see our website www.www.unicornwindows.co.uk today