Window blinds are enjoying a surge in popularity thanks to people’s desire to live in modern, almost industrial, surroundings. They are a suitable solution for window dressings in conservatories and minimalist schemes in any home.
Photo Credit: Randy Robertson
But what choices do we have when thinking about window blinds? This article is for the complete novice who may have moved into their first home and do not have a clue how to dress the windows. Even someone who is inexperienced in DIY will mount their own blinds in no time at all thanks to the information contained here. So read on and have your eyes opened to the intriguing world of window blinds and the lifestyle they boast.
Blinds Available Today
You will be spoilt for choice when shopping for blinds online because there is such a vast range. Here are some common styles from which to choose.
- Venetian
- Vertical
- Wooden
- Pleated
- Roller
Let’s take a closer look at a few of them.
Venetian Blinds
These have been used in commercial premises for decades. They are a versatile choice for almost any setting. Venetian blinds come in all colours of the rainbow and even metallic effects for an ultra-modern touch in contemporary rooms. They have the ability to be raised, closed, and the louvres are adjustable to suit any light conditions.
Venetian blinds come as assembled units. They come with brackets that you must fix to the wall to hold them in place. They cannot be cut to size, but luckily they are available in most standard window sizes.
Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds have the ability to be drawn, angled, and draped, making them a popular choice for conservatories and patio door coverings. It is easy to accurately control the amount of light let into the room using this incredible product.
The track for the blinds is a complete unit. Fix brackets to the wall to support it, and hang the individual slats to complete the job. The slats are usually suitable for dry cleaning, so freshening them up when they start to look a bit dirty is easy.
Roller Blinds
Roller blinds are one of the few options that anyone can cut to size to fit their windows. They look attractive inside the window recess and are unintrusive when rolled up. The only tools needed for reducing the length of these blinds are a junior hacksaw, straightedge, pencil, and a good pair of scissors. To cut them to size, follow this procedure.
- Unroll them completely.
- Cut the cardboard roller with the junior hacksaw.
- Remove the rod from the bottom of the blind. They are usually plastic or wooden strips. Cut this to the same length as the cardboard roller.
- Lie the blind on the floor and mark where the material is to be cut using a straightedge and a pencil.
- Cut the material.
- Insert the rod back into the bottom of the blind.
Now the blind is cut to size, push the mounting plates into the ends of the roller tube, fix the two end brackets to the wall, and mount them.
Roller blinds can be scrubbed clean in the bath, but check the label on yours first to make sure.
Anyone is capable of fitting blinds, as long as they can drill a hole and insert a screw. The blinds have an instant visual impact on the room and are a satisfying project to undertake on a rainy day. I hope you have found these ramblings interesting.
