If you’re in the planning stages of designing your dream home or looking to give your current home a bit of a makeover, make sure you don’t neglect one crucial element: the window covering.
A window covering doesn’t just serve a practical purpose, but an aesthetic one too. Your home’s entire look and feel can be helped or hurt by your choice of window covering.
From outdoor privacy blinds to blackout curtains—the modern day decorator has an assortment of window covering options to pick from. Picking a window covering might not be the most exciting of tasks, but it’s actually one of the most important.
That’s why today we’ll be discussing the different types of window coverings to help you pick the right one for your home.
The Different Types of Window Coverings
You might be surprised to hear that there are many different types of window coverings. Gone are the days of being limited to a choice between blinds or curtains. Let’s take a look at the different types of window coverings and how to pick the right type for you & your home.
Blinds
Blinds are the modern-day window covering of choice, thanks to how easy they are to install, operate, clean and maintain. A blind is made up of different slats of material that are hung vertically or horizontally. Blinds are popular because they can be adjusted to let in or block out light.
The main types of blinds include:
- Venetian blinds
- Vertical blinds
- Roman blinds
- Roller blinds
- Outdoor café blinds
- Outdoor privacy blinds
- Retractable outdoor blinds
Curtains
Curtains are large panels of fabric that hang from a rod or pole mounted above a window frame. Different curtains need to be hung in different ways and are almost always operated by hand. The main aspect to keep in mind when considering curtains as a window covering is their opacity.
The three different opacity types of curtain are:
- Sheer: Sheer curtains allow the most light to enter your home but provide the least privacy. Sheer curtains are hung in rooms such as the kitchen or dining room where privacy isn’t necessary. Sheer curtains are often made with fabrics which include light cotton blends, lace or polyester voiles.
- Semi-opaque: Semi-opaque curtains are the in-between of sheer and blackout curtains. They provide a level of privacy while still allowing some light to filter through. Semi-opaque curtains are most often made with fabrics such as linen, rayon and cotton.
- Blackout: Blackout curtains are made with heavy materials that prevent light from entering a room. Because of their blackout properties, this type of curtain is perfect for bedrooms because of the privacy aspect but is also great for usage in lounges and dens to watch TV without natural light reducing the viewing experience.
Shades
Even though the two often get confused for one another, shades are entirely different to blinds. A shade is a panel of fabric that is designed to sit perfectly within the frame of a window. More often than not a shade is operated by a cord or other lifting mechanism.
The most popular types of shades include:
- Roller shades: Roller shades are the most common type of shade thanks to their simple design. Roller shades are pulled up and down by a pulley system. Roller shades can be made from plastic, fabric, bamboo and even burlap.
- Tie-up shades: Tie-up shades aren’t operated by any kind of lifting mechanism but instead by manually tying up the shades. Tie-up shades can be made from any type of material but will always feature a ribbon or string of some kind.
- Roman shades: Roman shades are extremely popular around the world. It’s a smooth piece of fabric that folds up into neat, even pleats when pulled up. Roman shades are usually made with heavy fabrics.
- Balloon shades: A balloon shade wouldn’t be out of place in your nan’s home. Balloon shades typically consist of lacey, silky or sheer fabrics that create a billowy, balloon-shape when hanging.
Shutters
What makes shutters stand out is that they offer everything other window coverings do, except they can be installed on your home’s exterior as well as its interior. A shutter is a hinged panel that is used for privacy and security purposes as well as to keep the light out.
The main types of shutters include:
- Café style shutters: Café style shutters only cover the bottom part of a window, leaving the top uncovered. These are used on the interior of your home.
- Louvered shutters: Louvered shutters have overlapping, angled slats that allow both air and light to enter the home when closed. They are used on the exterior of your home.
- Shaker style shutters: Shaker style shutters are highly functional and consist of flat, solid panel of wood that block out light. They are used on the interior of your home.
- Raised panel shutters: Raised panel shutters mimic the look of a raised panel door. They are used on the exterior of your home.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, the lowdown on the different kinds of window coverings and everything you need to know about them. Will you be opting for modern outdoor privacy blinds or more traditional curtains? Let us know in the comments section below.