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Your house is your home. It should reflect the family that lives there. Therefore, decorating it ought to honour and please each individual that dwells within its walls.  There are colours to be painted on the walls, carpets to soften the walkways and floors and window treatments to enliven every room.

These days, though, choosing window treatment no longer involves merely picking out drapes that fit. There are more choices on the market now more than ever. Not only are there curtains, but there are shades, blinds and even shutters – each with a separate function and design. The options are endless, depending on which window you want to dress and for what reason. The question arises, though: Which one do you choose? Blinds, shutters or shades?

But first, what’s the difference?

Although we may use the terms indiscriminately, there are three major differences regarding a shutter, a shade, or a blind.

• Shutters are generally solid rectangular window coverings with slats that can be opened to allow light to enter. Sometimes they’re for the outside of a house, but they’re designed for the inside, too.
• Shades are an alternative form of window covering, which also allow for light to come into a room. They tend to be made from vinyl, wood, plastic, or metal. Old-fashioned shades were also constructed of cloth as well.
• Blinds also come with slats, but they’re designed to be raised or lowered on a window. The slats can then be adjusted according to the spaces between them to allow an allotted amount of light to come in. Blinds are simple in form but are the most differential with light.

When decorating your home, it’s vital to recognise which of these window treatments work best for your comfort and lifestyle. Do you prefer a room with ample lighting for reading and studying, or do you like the ambiance of a darker area for resting and relaxing? Are your rooms constantly cold with no sunshine to warm them, or are they blasting with heat because there are so many rays beaming in?

What’s the individual potential?

Each window treatment, whether it’s a shade, a shutter or a blind, has a particular purpose that can resolve your home issues. But they can also help or hinder your budget if you aren’t familiar with how each one works.

Thus, here are their individual potential uses to help you with your choice.

• Shades

Window shades are economical. If you have a limited budget, these basic treatments are great for accentuating your bedroom, living room, or kitchen because they come in various colours and fabrics. If you can afford to spend a little more, there are other styles of shades that come with designer labels with assorted structures and styles.

A shade can allow light into the room according to where it’s located on the window. Most hang from the top, thereby letting the sunlight in through the bottom of the windowpane. This allows for as much light as possible to come into the room. In recent years, manufacturers have developed bottom-up shades, too. This works in reverse of the typical old-fashioned shade, allowing most of the light to come in from the top.

A very popular kind of shade is called the Roman shade, which is specifically used to block out extra light. They’re different from the typical shade because when they’re open, they are smooth and stack evenly. Other shades can be bumpy or slightly ribbed.

Shades can also provide you with an inexpensive, extra level of privacy for your home. The window is blocked from anyone seeing inside when the shade encompasses the whole window. For more ideas, some people have even adapted favourite blankets into shades to personalise their rooms.

• Shutters

Shutters are sometimes mixed up with blinds. They are, however, very different. Shutters are basically stationary and come with a rod to make their slats move. Adjusting the rod helps the slats to move up or down. Although not as flexible as blinds, they do provide more privacy. Shutters are usually made of a sturdier material, such as wood, which helps provide more insulation from the heat or cold. This is especially nice when the weather is unpredictable.

Shutters can vary in price according to the style and material. It is best to shop around for the best deal through online sources and advertisements. Shutters are also offered in kit form by some manufacturers. They are easy to assemble and come in a variety of colours. Be careful of the quality of the kit, though. You don’t want to be stuck with misshapen shutters just because they were inexpensive.

• Blinds

Blinds are a very popular window treatment. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. They can be made from vinyl, aluminium, bamboo or wood – sometimes even fabric. What distinguishes blinds from shades are their slats. They can be vertical or horizontal, depending on the exact window treatment needed.

Blinds are different from shutters because they’re much more flexible with their louvres. The strings attached are easier to manoeuvre and can be pulled to stack off toward the side. The more popular kind of blinds is called the Venetian blind. These window treatments come with horizontal slats that connect with things called tapes. When a Venetian blind is lifted, the bottom slat slides into the slat above it, making it seamless and clean-looking.

As an extra precaution, when hanging your blinds, make sure you have the accurate dimensions to fit your window. This way, you can ensure that your windows are properly decorated and styled accordingly. As well as being easy to install, blinds can be very easy to clean.

One of the greatest aspects of using blinds in your home is the affordability. Blinds can be found in almost any department store or online shop. Sites such as Make My Blinds and others like it even design them for you. Depending on the size and style you need, blinds can fit into any budget.

Conclusion

There’s no right or wrong solution when it comes to choosing any of these window coverings.  The final choice is ultimately dependent upon your budget, taste as well as the size of your windows and the style of your room. Check out all your options before making your decision. Weigh the pros and cons of each item and decide what works best for you: blinds, shutters or shades.

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