Blinded by the diversity, not by the light

The dizzying array of blinds means that there is probably a style which fits your needs, reports Kya deLongchamps.

WHY blinds? Blinds have a relatively flat plane compared to the undulating surface of standard curtains, and can be wonderfully subtle as a window treatment, appearing to belong more completely to the window. Without intrusive poles and a studding of hold-backs, they are as pertly tailored as a Saville Row suit.

A roller blind pulled down into position can deliver all the punch of artwork, staging polite motifs or bold digital graphics stretched over a neatly stretched window canvas. Pulled up, a horizontal blind reveals at least three sides of the window, admitting maximum light and the architectural strength of the window shape itself uninterrupted by metres of folded fabric at its edges.

If it will roll, fold, or pleat, just any fabric can be taken to a blind, making the range of pattern and texture just about infinite. New hybrid products including Thomas Sanderson’s Silhouette blinds combine the aesthetic talents and actions of venetians and sheers.

The penultimate appeal of blinds has to be light control and privacy. A half closed curtain during daylight hours looks a mess and hides the view vertically in a dubious peek-a-boo of the curtain lining to the outside world. A half closed roman blind, roller or angled Venetian takes out the glare of the sky in a stylish horizontal drop.

The marriage of both curtain and blind delivers the best of all worlds, light control with the traditional proscenium swagger of curtains for after hours. (On a purely lazy point — venetians left in place, discreetly shade the inevitable and accumulating dirt on the window pane).

Pull down roller blinds can mask shelving or even a whole stack of washer/dryer in a kitchen. IKEA celebrate this wildly in their latest catalogue for 2012. www.ikea.ie.

THE DEAL

The most economical way to buy entry level blinds is either through standard sizing or choosing “cut to size” types. Quality wise a made-to-measure head-rail is hard to beat, so explore the many deals on bespoke and fitted blinds before getting tangled in the slats yourself. If you’re happy to do a little cutting and drilling, plain blackout roller blinds with thermal linings start at just €9.99 from Argos in 13 colours with a winding action.

The blind market has pulled itself together in the face of the property recession and there are online deals slashing as much as 50% from the price of quality blinds and fittings. Suppliers include Hillarys www.hillarys.ie, Thomas Sanderson www.thomas-sanderson.ie, and Acme www.acmeblinds.com. Explore what the more independent blind retailer and draper shop has on offer.

TAILORED TYPES

* Roller blinds: A no-fuss choice for bathrooms and kitchens, where their lack of creasing makes them simple to operate and clean. Bamboo rollers are cheap and simple to cut to size if you can’t stretch to wood venetians.

* Venetians: Nothing conjures light as deftly as a venetian blind, making them worth the extra expense. Wood choices have a soft edge, but metallic types remain popular with a shiny surface to bounce and diffuse light admitted through their slats. The material band linking the slats vertically (termed tapes) adds another touch of detail to personalise your blinds.

* lRoman Blinds: Ideal for treading a middle line between the yielding charm of fabric curtains and the practical advantages of a pull up horizontal blind. Panels of material lift in sequence on wood dowelling. Your favourite fabric can be used in concert with other soft furnishings. Blackout blinds will have a side winder rather than a cleat and cord to keep them taut.

* Vertical blinds: Once confined to commercial spaces, panel blinds have become increasingly popular for domestic use and come in a wide range of panel choices that can be mixed up in the same unit. The louvers pivot into position on a top rail and can be pulled back like curtains. With their ceiling-ward thrust and movement in the slightest breeze, an eye-sore if not well chosen.

* Pleated: Ideal for conservatories pleats in sun reflective fabrics, pleats have small crisp folds and can be used for both windows and doors. Light enough to be ceiling hung, they can be used for shielding storage areas in sheers or woven textures. Velux can take these to roof lights with remote operation. www.velux.ie.

* Panels: Wider panels top hung from the ceiling have a structural presence and can be used to divide rooms, hide larger storage areas and shield windows. They slide to the side, Japanese style and are generally 300mm, 450mm or 600mm in width.

* Plantation shutters: An investment with visual weight, shutters really make a statement in full height designs or bottom tiers only. Tier on tier designs (try Acme and The Blind Maker www.theblindmaker.ie) offer the versatility of closing and opening two levels of shutter.

CORD SAFETY

The cord hanging from a standard blind has proved a strangulation hazard for young children. Look for blinds with cordless technology such as Thomas Sanderson’s LiteRise Blinds. Where a cord is present, looped or not, it should be put out of the reach of young children and never dangled anywhere near cots, highchairs or play areas. The cords should end at least 1.6 metres (5 feet 3 inches) from the floor with any cord cut or secured with a tie-down tension device.

REVEALING IDEAS

* Use blinds to make your bay window more theatrical. Individual venetians or roman blinds can frame a variety of views out of a bay window. Blinds don’t have to be opaque, and a sheer blind offers a diffused light and privacy without blocking out the world. Try a top sheer, bottom opaque arrangement.

* If you want structural weight with the advantages of blinds, consider wood shutters with movable slats to control privacy and light.

* Consider how the blind will look inside or outside the window recess. If there are obstructions such as handles or sash windings inside the recess and you want a sleek finish, take it outside.

* Large vertical “panel” blinds can split a whole room or shield a task area in a multi-function space. Keep in mind that these are blinds, not walls, and will take some getting used to. No one wants a Loony Tune silhouette of themselves bursting through a panel blind.

* Because roller blinds can be fitted to the millimetre they are ideal for blacking out rooms such as children’s sleeping areas. Choose a dedicated black-out lining with high opacity and fit it inside the recess.