Roller blinds, also called light filters, fabric horizontal blinds or roller blinds for plastic windows are light-protective sheets wound on a shaft fixed above the window opening or on the window sash. They are as functional as possible, but quite laconic. Therefore, to make windows more decorative, they are often combined with other types of curtains. In order for such a design to look harmonious, before you start decorating the windows, it is advisable to understand some of its nuances.
First example: uniform style
The individuality of the interior is created primarily by well-chosen textile design. One of the main rules of textile decoration is the unity of the image - you can use one pattern or a combination of several colors and patterns, the main thing is that they are all in the same style.
Window decor traditionally refers to textile design, and therefore it needs to be decorated in accordance with the fabric interior of the room. In this case, the blinds will also be part of this textile ensemble, and must be consistent in the color and texture of its other elements.
Curtains and blinds in a single gray color scheme
Do not overdo it in selecting curtains and blinds of similar colors; remember that the differences between the parts of the window decoration give greater depth and expressiveness to the whole. Use combinations of single-color curtains and blinds with a pattern, or vice versa - single-color blinds and curtains with a print
What are the disadvantages of using blinds
Despite the variety of advantages, the choice of blinds is not always suitable for consumers for the following reasons:
- difficulty in selecting products for interiors in a classic style;
- short service life due to poor-quality material of the rotating mechanism;
- lamellas made of plastic can melt in the bright sun.
If the kitchen stove and window are close, it is recommended to raise the blinds up. This way, you will be able to prevent soot from accumulating on them. The main disadvantage is the price of the product. Naturally, high-quality blinds vary greatly in price. Due to this they have greater strength.
Second example: more room to adjust sunlight
Roller blinds provide good darkening performance, but sometimes the main requirement for a room is the uniformity of light dispersion. And vertical blinds cope best with this task. Most often, such a function of blinds is needed in living rooms. This room usually has the largest windows in the house, and this fact needs to be played up. Everyone who visits your home will appear in the living room, and to create a feeling of comfort in the house, the owners need to try. Combine vertical fabric blinds with curtains of muted shades; this will add softness and tranquility to the interior, relax your attention and promote comfortable communication with guests.
Vertical fabric blinds and curtains for the living room in a soft cream color
Another type of blinds that provides uniform adjustment of the light flux are Zebra roller blinds.
Light penetration level
Any blinds transmit light well. For kitchens located on the north side, it is recommended to buy translucent fabric blinds. An alternative option would be blinds made from processed plastic. Otherwise, they will not be able to reliably protect against bright lighting.
In kitchens where the windows are located to the south or east, it is advisable to purchase metal or wooden blinds. With their help, it is possible to tightly close the entire window, which will allow you to feel comfortable in the working atmosphere.
Fourth example: modern equality
Modern interior styles challenge the traditions of the classics. This also applies to the usual window design, when thicker curtains frame the middle of the window, curtained with light tulle. You can experiment here and use thick roller blinds to “balance” the curtains.
Blinds and curtains of the same density are a good option for a modern interior
Combinations of light curtains and thick blinds can also look good in a modern interior, but with such design solutions it is very difficult to make a mistake and ruin the entire look of the room
Why roller blinds
Roller curtains are coated with a special solution that prevents them from fading, protects them from moisture and dust, which increases the service life of the curtains. In addition, they also have positive properties:
- Compactness. The curtains conveniently roll up, taking up minimal space and completely opening the window sill, where you can place, for example, flowerpots.
- Practicality. Rolls are easy to clean. The mechanism itself is quite simple and rarely breaks down.
- Permeability. Depending on the fabric, curtains can protect from 15-100% of sunlight.
- Diversity. The modern curtain market offers a variety of types of curtains that can highlight any interior and satisfy the desires of every person. They are made from several types of materials: linen, polyester, silk, cotton and others. They come in plain colors, with various patterns and photo prints. In addition, there are roller blinds designed specifically for rooms with high humidity, and heat-insulating ones with an anti-reflective surface.
You may also be interested in: Classic curtains for any design
Rolled curtains are in many ways reminiscent of Roman curtains: they take up minimal space and volume, and fold comfortably and tightly. They differ only in the lifting mechanism. If Roman curtains are rolled up in stages, then the curtain from the roll rises on a shaft, which is fixed at the top of the window frame.
To get a beautiful combination of roller blinds and tulle, curtains should be made from natural fabrics of moderate density. Synthetic textiles with frequent darkening and a ribbed structure are only suitable for matte curtains in soft shades. Non-standard combinations in bedrooms and living rooms should be avoided.
The only exception is the kitchen, where free style combinations are allowed. The best solution is matte organza options, which can create a beautiful “frame” around the edges of the curtains, smoothing out all the corners.
Save
Save
Sixth example: noble tree
Wooden blinds look better than any other next to curtains, and this is no wonder - after all, in interiors from time immemorial, textiles have been combined with wood - sofas, upholstered armchairs, tapestries with wooden baguettes, tables with tablecloths, beds with bedspreads... Horizontal wooden blinds and luxurious curtains in a classic interior will correspond to all the best design traditions. In a modern interior, such blinds can be combined with lighter plain curtains, muslin, or in eco-style - with canvases made from natural materials (linen, cotton).
Wood and satin curtains with drapery are aristocratic luxury that perfectly controls the lighting of the room
Choosing material for blinds
The material from which the blinds are made plays an aesthetic and practical role. They should not “cumber down” the kitchen space and should match the color of the interior.
Metal
Metal models in the kitchen are the best option if this area is equipped with a “smart home” function or is designed in a modern style with cyberpunk elements. This material is ideal for kitchens located on the dark side, since the metal will not heat up too much and cause discomfort when changing the position of the curtain.
Plastic
Plastic is suitable for sunny kitchens because it is impervious to heat, resistant to rays and relatively cheap. Standard models in white or gray are suitable for a laconic design. If you need something creative, then choose a model with a combination of two or more colors.
Tree
It is better to hang wooden bamboo curtains not on the entire window in the kitchen, but on half or two thirds, otherwise they will look bulky. It is better to choose one with a specific pattern or abstract ornament.
For panoramic windows or unusually shaped openings, use additional decorations. Burning miniature paintings or laying wooden slats in the form of a fan will fit into the design of Provence or oriental themes.
Fabric blinds curtains
For fabric curtains, choose Roman or roller models with a pale pattern or plain ones. Curtains made of cotton, satin or linen will fit perfectly into the kitchen atmosphere. To create a gentle and romantic atmosphere of comfort, it is better to decorate the window opening with satin with a pattern along the width of the curtain.
It is important that the pattern does not look too colorful or flashy, and also fits into the surrounding environment. If you are creating a simple interior, then plain curtains or curtains with a gradient will do. For a minimalist design, use nude, matte models.
Seventh example: together, but apart
You can combine curtains and blinds by decorating different windows from the same group with them separately. For example, to create a cozy look and reliable sun protection in the dining room, cover the side windows with long curtains and decorate the central window with roller blinds. Thus, you will visually highlight the center of the room, and the sunlight transmitted by the blinds when open will help you with this.
Separate use of curtains and blinds in one room
A similar technique can be used in the bedroom if the windows are located above the bed or opposite it, as well as in any other room. The main condition is that the windows should be in the center, otherwise adjustments will have to be made to the symmetrical structure consisting of curtains and blinds so that the overall design does not look ill-conceived.
Separate use of curtains and blinds on one group of windows looks especially good in a bay window
Wooden blinds
Wooden blinds for plastic windows are perfect for the kitchen. As you know, wood is one of the environmentally friendly and durable species, such as linden, cork and bamboo.
The disadvantages of this type include high cost, as well as the danger of rapid fire without special impregnation. In addition, bamboo blinds are very fragile. If pressed hard, they can be seriously damaged.
Eighth example: confrontation
Sometimes it happens that there is no dominant color in the interior of a room, because the designer’s imagination suggested an interesting color option - the use of two equally contrasting colors to create an interesting and unusual image. Such duality can be emphasized not only by color, but also by the shape of furniture and decorative elements. And using a contrast between blinds and curtains in this interior would, of course, be a logical solution. One color against another, curtains against blinds - what could be more attractive than such a “competition”?
Whatever blinds you choose, you always have the opportunity to create a combination of multi-colored slats in one product, which will look original and unusual.
The combination of curtains and blinds helps to play up the idea of a two-color interior
Distribute the two main colors of the interior in the window design so as to shift the accents in the direction you need - leave a calmer, neutral color for the blinds, and give a bright, saturated color to the curtains. In this situation, the curtains will dominate this pair, which will give the room coziness
Determining the quality of blinds
To choose durable blinds for the kitchen, you should pay attention to their quality when purchasing.
To begin with, you can test the strength of the curtains by opening and closing them. If there are no squeaks or other unpleasant sounds, as well as slight movement, we can assume that the product is of excellent quality.
The testing doesn't end there. Lightly move the handle along the closed slats, moving from bottom to top. Good quality slats will not roll over or stop when moving. Otherwise, closed blinds may let in the sun's rays and not function properly.
Fabric horizontal blinds for the kitchen are also easy to check for quality. Similarly, we try to quickly open and then close the blinds several times. In addition, you can twist the slats first in one direction, then the other.
If the mechanism is jammed and the lamellas are not closed correctly, the product should be discarded. A good quality mechanism has a smooth and quiet movement. Moreover, the slats close correctly and at the same time.
Good quality blinds do not always have a high cost. In addition, the manufacturer of the product may be domestic and not foreign.
Ninth example: merge with the wall
Any designer will tell you that you cannot match curtains to the color of the wallpaper in the room, as this will deprive the interior of its relief and make it flat and boring. This does not apply to blinds used in conjunction with curtains - after all, the intermediate link between the wall and the window is the curtains, breaking up their monochromatic appearance. When closed, the blinds become like an extension of the wall and create a feeling of protection from the outside world, from the street with its bustle, prying eyes and bad weather. This design option looks calm and discreet, and can be used in the living room, bedroom or nursery.
For this technique, it is best to choose blinds that fit tightly to the window - cassette, interframe or pleated blinds.
Pleated blinds and curtains of the same color in the interior of the room
Pop art and art deco
An excellent solution would be straight models made of fabric, or horizontal plastic blinds for the kitchen with highlighted images or photos. This style involves the use of pure, rich colors and their usual combinations, for example, white and black.
As it turns out, a kitchen window can be decorated not only with curtains, but also with blinds. You can choose the shape and color of the product, taking into account individual design features, as well as your own preferences.
Tenth example: contrast detail
Blinds can be not only a functional part, but also the highlight of a room. And the curtains framing the window will fulfill the task of creating coziness. Thus, we get a comfortable room with bright, attractive windows, the main “character” of which is the blinds. To do this, it is absolutely not necessary to look for a product with bright red or light green slats. They may well be of a restrained color - for example, dark brown or pale green. The essence of the design technique is to create a textile window design that practically does not stand out from the general appearance of the room, but does not completely merge with it (so as not to lose texture); at the same time, the color of the window blinds should be contrasting with the textiles. The less colorful the interior of your room, the more noticeable the difference between the color of blinds and curtains will be.
If you hang white curtains in a bright room with a light coral or beige tint, even light walnut-colored wooden blinds will look great here
Clear lines of blinds against a light romantic background of the room
Vertical blinds for the kitchen
It is better to select vertical models from dense material so that you can adjust the light level as convenient for you. Consider models with a bright print on a light background - an excellent model for a modern kitchen.
Rules for combining curtains and blinds
- The following combinations are suitable for the bedroom: horizontal wooden blinds and multi-layer curtains, roller blinds and light airy curtains;
- Wooden, roller and multi-textured blinds are best combined with fabric curtains;
- Aluminum and plastic blinds do not combine so well with curtains, but if you wish and have a little imagination, you can always choose good combinations for the kitchen, bathroom, corridor and other small rooms;
- If the windows face south and there is always enough light in the room, choose blinds and curtains that, individually or together, provide maximum darkness;
- If it is expected that curtains will dominate the importance of blinds for the interior, choose blinds in calm, restrained shades;
- Cover large window openings with vertical and roller blinds, and for small windows choose mini roller blinds, as well as horizontal cassette UNI, inter-frame blinds - they will look good with short or arched curtains;
Blinds in the kitchen interior photo examples
A type of blinds for the kitchen are classic white ones, which are suitable for both modern and retro design. Often this window decoration is used for country, Provence, minimalism or Scandinavian styles.
Curtains of calm shades are used to emphasize the overall mood of the room, and multi-colored curtains or models with effects are used to accentuate the window opening.
