How to pick up the blinds?

Contrary to the well-established ideas, this type of window curtains, such as blinds, is successfully used in the design of not only office and public premises, but also in the arrangement of home interiors. There are a large number of options that will look great in any home space, regardless of its size. Since we are talking about different ways of decorating the interior in each dwelling, the question immediately arises how to choose the right blinds.

In order to choose suitable blinds, you should get acquainted in general with the advantages and disadvantages of certain models,made of different materials.

Plastic blinds are easy to care for, their price is low, they are very hygienic and resistant to moisture, but their main disadvantages are still considered excessive simplicity, the fragility of many structures and not such a high level of aesthetics, if we compare them with fabric ones. The advantage of plastic options is that, for example, they are very well suited for the design of a balcony due to its practicality and ease of cleaning.

Natural wood blinds will look great and will not lose their beauty if they are made of high quality materials. Of the minuses it should be noted that the natural wood is quite heavy, so it is inappropriate to use it for large windows so that the eaves do not sag or break under the weight of the slats. In addition, the tree carries only dry cleaning, wet categorically contraindicated.

Bamboo, by its characteristics and aesthetics, is a little inferior to a tree and even wins compared to it, if we talk about the lightness of such blinds and the ability to easily close and fold them. When closed, they do not take up much space, the structure, unlike wood, does not look so massive, but at the price bamboo is in no way inferior to wood and, unfortunately, is susceptible to deformation.

Blinds made of any metal are very practical, but hardly anyone will use them for interior decoration of a dwelling, because they strongly ring in a draft, and soft aluminum can quickly be deformed under careless handling conditions. Their price is low, so you can consider this option, it is only important to decide where they will be best placed.

Before ordering a particular type of blinds, you should decide in which direction they should open. This technical moment often has to be solved not only taking into account the wishes of the customer, but also due to production needs. It is important to consider that there are four options for movement of the slats:

• movement in the opposite direction from the manager cord or rope;
• on the contrary, in the direction of the control cord;
• in different directions as usual fabric curtains;
• towards the center.

If you use the usual manual control mechanism, you will always have to remember that you need to handle it slowly and very carefully. Any rush can turn into the fact that the cord can either get tangled or break, even if we are talking about a mechanism with a high level of quality.

After installing the blinds, you need to immediately check how the mechanism works. If everything is done qualitatively, it should neither squeak nor stick when moving. The motion of the blinds should be smooth, which ensures a longer service life.

If there are small children or animals in the family that can damage the blinds during the game, it is better to immediately plan the installation of an electronic mechanism with a control panel. Of course, this option is not used when installing simple plastic blinds of the vertical type,but if you think over in advance all possible difficulties, you can independently design a more expensive, but at the same time, the most practical way of construction. In this case, you will most likely have to limit yourself to curtains made from dense solid web, but given the possibility of applying patterns and prints, beauty and aesthetics will not last either.

There are so many types of blinds. First of all, they differ in the way they are opened: horizontally (moving up and down) and vertically (the curtains are moving apart in different directions).

The width of the lamellas of horizontal blinds varies in dimensions of 16, 25, 50 mm in width + a continuous web is made. The smallest width of the slats of vertical blinds is 16 mm, the largest - 125 mm in width. Horizontal blinds, in turn, are divided into the following types:

• Roman;
• classic roller blinds;
• rolled curtains "Day-night";
• slat curtains;
• pleated

Vertical blinds Usually they are either up to the window sill or to the floor. At the top, they are fastened with sliders on the eaves, equipped with a special mechanism of cords, and at the bottom they are fastened to each other with the help of a chain that rotates the slats.Such curtains are moved apart and shifted by means of the control rope.

French shutters represent a classic version of blinds, which will be a harmonious addition to any interior solution. They are preferably placed in large apartments or houses where the window occupies most of the wall. Such blinds can always be seen in the theater or in the concert hall. The real beauty of such curtains will unfold when they are completely omitted.

Honeycomb Blinds appeared on the market recently. They are called so because of the unusual fabric, created in a special way. Pleated fabric folded in several layers in the section looks like a honeycomb. The front side of this fabric is similar to the pleated, and two or three layers of it provide good noise protection and allow less sunlight to pass through.

In ancient times, blinds were made by hand from wood or bamboo, but with the development of modern production, products made from high-tech materials with various spheres of their use came into use. Now everywhere you can see plastic and synthetic slats, pressed and woven in a different way:

• Iron shutters presented visually light alloys of very good quality. Their structure often includes aluminum with perforations, which ensures durability and indefinite useful life. High rigidity allows making such openings of the highest complexity with such blinds. Aluminum blinds are very easy to care for.

• Plastic blinds, despite its apparent simplicity, may well darken the space. The optimum scope of their application - places with a high degree of humidity: bathroom, toilets, swimming pools. They can also be perfectly applied in places where there is a high probability of dust and dirt settling, for example, in warehouses or in other outbuildings.

• Fabrics for blinds look expensive and luxurious and at the same time are inexpensive. They do not fade in the sun, are easy to clean and will look perfect in combination with traditional woven drapes provided that the colors are chosen correctly. Transparent organza, veil and light silk are used for the production of French blinds.

• Wooden models will always be in trend because of the use of natural materials in theirproduction. Such blinds, despite some heavy construction, can look very comfortable, at home. Their price is fully consistent with the quality, and the colors look neutral, fashionable and very natural.

• Woven models of wood fibers often look like bamboo, hence their common name in everyday life - bamboo. The slats of such curtains are very wide and are easy to care for, and their maximum length can be up to two meters.

• Paper slats There are various density and size. Continuous canvases can also be made from paper or durable textile materials.

With the exception of paper and cardboard, any material has a reliable impregnation, having water and dust repellent properties. Thanks to this impregnation, the blinds will not burn out and will not warp in the heat, will not lose their shape and will not deteriorate at high humidity or dampness.

A variety of types, materials and devices of blinds provides also various levels of their light protection depending on individual preferences of the customer. Immediately it is worth noting and describing such a type as blackout roller blinds that can provide complete darkness in the room when necessary.

Blackout blinds are made from a unique, super-dense material of very high quality, which is based on durable, environmentally friendly polyester. The first country that manufactured such a fabric was Finland, and a little later these curtains gained immense popularity in other European countries, especially where there is an excess of white nights in the summer.

Manufacturing technology of such curtains is quite complicated. There are two versions of it, the first of which is simpler and less energy-intensive. A special reflective coating is applied to one layer of dense fabric, and the other side is painted as beautiful and bright as possible. This allows for a variety of colors and patterns of fabrics. The model is pleasant to the touch, but, unfortunately, has less durability when compared with the second, more expensive production method.

The second way to create blackout curtains involves a method of interweaving at least three durable satin threads of different structure between them. The presence of a dark thread inside the weave deserves special attention: it guarantees complete opacity and high quality, which is very important to consider when choosing and ordering.The fabric itself has three layers, each of which is treated with acrylic foam to impart additional strength and dust-repellent properties.

The first version of opaque roller blinds is preferable if there are bright interior items in the room, and the second is better to use for functional purposes: because of the presence of a dark thread, it is impossible to apply bright colors with patterns here, therefore the most reliable models of such curtains are usually , are low-key, muted tones.

Fully opaque blinds are ideal:

• to create complete darkness in a room in the “white nights” or for a good rest during the day;
• in clubs and cinemas;
• in research laboratories;
• where there is expensive antique furniture, for which exposure to direct sunlight is harmful;
• in any room whose owner prefers maximum dimming.

Of course, blackout curtains cannot be called a cheap or “budget” option due to the complexity of their manufacture, so when ordering expensive models, you should pay attention to the presence or absence of a dark thread inside: as a rule, this is the “marker” of authenticity and good quality of the product.For those who prefer to be in a room with enough light, transparent blinds will be the best solution. Made from flexible plastic, they do not obscure the view outside the window and at the same time protect well from exposure to direct sunlight.

Such blinds are especially widely used in the design of garden arbors in country houses. In hot weather, they perfectly protect from the sun, and in rainy they serve as protection from damp. They can perfectly protect the veranda and on the ordinary cottage: they are inexpensive, and installed easily and quickly.

Also, transparent blinds can be made from thin but durable textiles with printing or any pattern. Fabric models look more plastic than plastic, but less functional, unlike them. In addition, they tend to fade in the sun, regardless of the quality of the material, and for more intense darkening of the room may require additional curtains.

Horizontal blinds are controlled in two simple ways:

• open - the lamellas are folded in the form of an accordion, and if it is a solid canvas, then it is neatly rolled up;
• cassette - blinds rise up and find themselves inside a plastic or metal cassette.

The control system itself can be both manual and automatic.

The manual method allows you to just gently pull the desired cord in order to raise or lower the structure. When there are several windows in the room, it is recommended to purchase for an electric blinds with automatic drive. Such control can move one canvas or the whole group of paintings at once and fixes them in any comfortable position.

Manual control, of course, is the simplest, most "budget" and the most popular option. It is made using different chains and ropes. It is very important to have open access to it in order to handle it as carefully as possible. As for the remote control method, it is accompanied by an electric drive, remote controls or buttons. Such a system is best suited for heavy structures installed in large rooms with high ceilings, or if it is difficult to approach the windows.

The most expensive, but very advantageous, is a control system called “Smart Home”, which works flawlessly depending on the settings that are set for it. It is enough to master a simple program and set certain tasks for it so that the system can open or close the blinds at the right time without human intervention.

Horizontal blinds, the slats of which are located in parallel, will look good on the windows in office buildings and government offices. Vertical structures with perpendicularly arranged lamellae are more often used for home.

If the room has high ceilings and large rectangular windows, you can opt for classic roller blinds with a solid canvas. The height of the ceilings with success will allow to place the cassette control system at the top so that when the curtains are folded down they gently “hide” in the box. Elegant French blinds will also look great on large windows. For solidity, you can equip them with a silent electronic control system.

As is known, plastic windows are the most common. Such windows in the office space can be decorated with horizontal blinds made of light aluminum in white or light gray.

If the double-glazed windows are made of light plastic, you can also use plastic blinds of any light shades in the design of the windows of the office space. In the office, a vertical type of curtains with rotating plastic louvres may be appropriate, you only need to ensure maximum access to the windows, which is not always possible, therefore a simple horizontal type of louver attached to the window frames is always preferable. When making windows with vertical lamellas, one should not forget that they are interconnected below with string.

Recently it has become popular to decorate the windows of the house with the help of original plastic blinds of different colors. If a window with a bay window, the bay window itself will most conveniently be closed with a light curtain-pleated curtain with a flexible eaves, ideally repeating the shape of a bending window.Naturally, wooden blinds of a horizontal type are certainly ideal for double-glazed windows made of natural wood materials - it is only important to choose the right color scheme and accurately calculate the weight of the structure.

Small shutters and shutters are often made out of the now popular mini-blinds, which always help out if there are small windows in the room. Mini-blinds are easy in terms of mounting and installation, they have a good degree of opacity, very simple in terms of design and management.

As already mentioned, a very popular variety for small windows or their shutters are blinds-mini of different types, the installation of which is carried out without drilling and screws, on the velcro in the form of the most ordinary self-adhesive tape. In addition to this simple method, mini-blinds are mounted on the frame with special clips.

To install the blinds on the leaning shutters or shutters, you should consider the model of classic roller blinds. One window with the main guide will hold the web throughout the entire perimeter.

On the window frame are attached only blinds, "self-adhesive", covering the glass area to ensure that the window sill remains free. It should be noted that the simple and convenient to use blinds mini fit very well into the interior of a small room or kitchen. Standard blinds are fixed to a fixed window frame or to a wall. A vertical variety is often attached to the upper slope, ceiling or wall. Much depends on the area of ​​the room and on the creative potential of the master. Interior blinds in difficult openings thanks to the excellent design find can now be easily assembled by installing on the eaves, which easily bends in the right direction and does not break on the bends. Fastening of complex structures on the openings is carried out with brackets and self-tapping screws-dowels.

There are several ways to mount and install horizontal blinds. Often they are attached to the casement window. In this case, the width of the lamellae must be 30 mm greater than the width of the glass.The length is usually equal to the length of the window, but it is best to proceed from the calculations, minimizing one and a half to two centimeters: so future blinds will not scratch the space of the sill.

If you wish to decorate the doorway blinds, you must necessarily measure in three or four places, taking into account the curvature of the corners, which is often found in the presence of building defects. The width and length parameters are determined by the same principle as when installed on the sash, but you should see if the cornice does not rest against the door jamb.

If you fasten horizontal curtains to the wall, their width should be 10-15 cm more than the window opening. The length is chosen freely, at the discretion of the customer. You can completely close the window sill with curtains, and you can partially leave it open.

If the vertical model is mounted on the wall, the lamella width should be at least 10 cm more than the window opening, ideally a little more. The length will depend on whether the window sill is strong or not. If it goes beyond the lamella line, they should not fall below it.

Fastening any design can be carried out both with drilling and bypassing this method in case the windows in the room are plastic. Self-tapping screws are not used for plastic double-glazed windows, but there is a convenient type of fastening in the form of special brackets.

If you approach the choice of blinds with full responsibility, you should think about what should be fittings. Some people mistakenly believe that accessories - this is the little things, but this is far from true. It is thanks to the fine details, their quality and thoroughness that will depend on how comfortable and long blinds can be used. Standard equipment accessories to any design looks like this:

• eaves - lamels are attached to it. The material for its manufacture is wood or durable aluminum alloy. When choosing a cornice, you should consider the fact that plastic options are impractical;
• slider (or runners) - they slat vertical-type blinds to the rail itself, usually they are plastic;
• chain. Its purpose is to connect lamellae, a rope can be used instead, but the fishing line is the strongest and most reliable option;
• sinkers are designed to keep roller blinds and vertical blinds in the desired position.

High-tech methods of applying paints and coatings make it possible to produce blinds of the most diverse color range. Bamboo and wood lamellas are coated with non-toxic varnish, less often silvering and gilding are used. Interlaced textures are painted in different colors, or they are applied ornaments using special stencils.

More often gilding and silvering are applied to iron lamellas: they are black, brown or silver-white. A large number of color blinds can be found among the products of paper or woven fabrics. As for the fashionable photo print today, each material will allow you to apply it over the main tone manually.

Modern designers created several basic principles for the selection of color shades:

• the color is matched to the tone of the walls: lighter or slightly darker in several shades, which is an unmistakable solution;
• the color is chosen with the orientation on the overall gamut of the situation: the design is non-standard and attractive;
• shades based on contrasts, but they are only relevant if the whole environment is neutral and in a monochromatic color palette - in this case, the blinds will involuntarily become the center of attention;
• white color as the most common and sought after.

Since all types of blinds are manufactured using high technology during production, this ensures their versatility for any room, be it a living room, a bedroom, or an office. Glass windows and doors of large shopping centers are protected at night with the help of durable aluminum-based blinds that prevent the robbers from entering. In addition, aluminum blinds are often used as the aesthetic design of windows and doorways. They do not burn, fireproof and therefore are particularly popular for the exterior design and protection of windows of large buildings.

For the kitchen the best option can be blinds made of lightweight aluminum or plastic. Do not use fabric materials in the kitchen, even if they have water and grease repellent properties. It is better to limit ourselves to a simpler option, especially since at the present stage both plastic and aluminum can look very decent due to the design developments based on modern technologies.

As already mentioned, such options are not cheap, but you can purchase a simpler model with reflective impregnation. If you treat it with the utmost care, it will last longer and, in addition to its functionality, will provide comfort to any interior thanks to bright patterns and colors.

Sometimes it is worth experimenting and not stopping your choice on blinds of the same color. You can choose very beautiful models with decor or even print.

For those who, following the good old tradition, do not want to part with their usual draperies, the best solution would be to combine an ensemble consisting of thick fabric blinds framed with the usual favorite curtains on the windows of the living room. In this case, it would be preferable to opt for roller blinds of any type, matched to the curtains.

One of the original and entering into fashion know-how are figured plastic blinds. Unlike the usual plastic lamellae, they are able to surprise with their aesthetics and beauty. The slats of such curtains are grouped in the form of zigzags and rolling waves, which provides an interesting play of shadow and light indoors. Such blinds can be hung in the living room or bedroom and they will look better than the more expensive options.

Multiple-shaped blinds are a type of figured ones. Their bizarre pattern is created by overlaying some lamellae on the other, while they are always of a different color and texture. In the creation of such a bizarre ensemble that fits perfectly into any room, imbued with the spirit of creativity, various materials are involved: fabric, plastic, bamboo.More dense materials, hanging over thinner ones, create the effect of expensive curtain fabrics. According to the texture of such blinds are traditionally divided into shiny, matte and glossy.

Any kind of blinds can become an independent part of the interior space, or still decorate the windows along with the usual patterns of fabrics. At the same time, one should not overlook such a detail as the correct selection of the eaves upon purchase: if we are talking about a multi-layered window design, the eaves must be thick enough and firmly attached to withstand a particular ensemble of different types of curtains.

In order for the blinds to fit organically into the design of the window and to be as user-friendly as possible, it is important to measure all the necessary parameters and correctly draw up a drawing in which all exact dimensions will be indicated.

The calculation of the dimensions before the acquisition is of great importance. For example, if you decide to hang the blinds inside the window opening, you should subtract about 1.5-2 cm from the height of this opening so that there is enough space to place the eaves.

If you make measurements yourself, do not confuse with such concepts as height and width. Unfortunately, this is quite a typical mistake among buyers, and in order for it not to occur, it is better to invite a professional measurer home, so that everything can be done without mistakes and not have to spend additional funds to correct them.

In addition, you should decide where exactly it is best to hang the blinds in the case of specific features of the space. If you place them in the window opening, the space will visually increase, but you will not be able to put flowers on the window sill, because the design of the lamellae requires their free turn in different directions. It is better to choose the optionwhen blinds are installed by the overlap method (Fastening is carried out directly to the wall, located above the window as a cornice for ordinary curtains). In this case, the window opening will be closed entirely and the placement of flowers on the window sill will become possible.

And of course when choosing blinds should pay special attention to their quality, which provides their factory. When buying, you need to be sure of the high quality and materials for the lamellas and all the spare parts from which the entire structure is assembled. Of course, not everyone understands the materials and components at a high level, so it is best to place an order with a well-known manufacturing company with good recommendations.

There are foreign companies that have been specializing in the manufacture of spare parts for blinds for many years. Russian manufacturers often prefer cheap plastic over quality materials.The price of such elements is much lower, but often their quality is very mediocre, and therefore it is worthwhile not to save on quality, but to make a purchase from a trusted seller.

The current care for blinds is easy to perform: it is enough to walk around them with a vacuum cleaner, and if there is a need for washing, the best way is to use warm water and soap. It is allowed to use disinfectant solutions that do not contain chlorine, and in case of heavy dirt it is recommended to clean the curtains with fine abrasive pastes and a non-rigid brush. Of course, the easiest way to care for blinds made of plastic and metal: after wet cleaning, they will always look perfect.

Blinds made of wood and bamboo are wiped with a dry cloth and also cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. It is allowed to wipe with a slightly damp cloth, but it is not recommended to clean them with a wet rag. Curtains made of fiberglass can only be subjected to dry cleaning.

As for models from natural fabrics, on the one hand it seems that it is even easier to care for them than for plastic ones: it is enough to wash them with a gentle treatment. This is correct, but not all newly-made owners of fabric blinds understandthat before washing them (in a typewriter or manually), the structure must be disassembled, which requires both time and accuracy.

If there is a desire to carry out such care with their own hands, it is a bit like taking traditional curtains or curtains off the hooks. The lower chain is removed, then all the sinkers are taken out and only in conclusion the lamellae are removed from the runners. After all the slats are removed, you need not be lazy, but carefully roll each into a small roll and put it in gauze. This will not allow it to deform when machine washable.

When washing the fabric lamella manually, you can not rub them strongly, it is better to let them soak after lying for some time in warm water. After washing, they should not be allowed to dry completely, but be sure to hang them wet in their original place: their weight and weight will not allow the blinds to deform when dried.

Each type of blinds has its advantages and disadvantages. When choosing the main thing - to take into account certain nuances that may arise in the process of planning the installation of a particular structure. It is important not to save on the quality of materials, especially when it comes to fittings and sliding mechanism.

If the installation of blinds is planned in any organization, and the necessary care for them will be problematic, it should be borne in mind that you can use the services of special companies for a reasonable fee. At the attitude to everything it is prudently each type of such curtains in any place will serve long and reliably.

In more detail to learn how to choose the right blinds, you can find out in the next video.