The Window Treatment Question: Blinds Or Shades?

One of the perpetual debates that continues to go on in the window treatment industry divides people into one of two camps; blinds or shades. When you contact a window treatment professional through Handyman Connection of Boise, you can have the highest quality blinds or shades installed on your windows. But which one should you choose? Before you make the call to a professional from Handyman Connection of Boise, you should first spend some time trying to understand what separates blinds from shades and why those differences are important.

What is a Blind?

Blinds were introduced in ancient times as a way to help control the amount of sunlight that entered a room. They were also considered a status symbol by the rich people who invested in elaborate designs made from expensive materials. In the end, an expensive blind and a cheap blind serve the same purpose of keeping out the light.

A blind is a window treatment made up of a series of slats that are controlled by a simple system of strings that are run up one side of the slats and down the other. By pulling on the strings, the user can adjust the blinds to allow more or less light into a room. The slats on blinds can run horizontally or vertically, and some blinds are made from insulated material that helps to regulate the temperature in a room.

What are Shades?

Shades are normally single pieces of fabric or vinyl that are either put on a pulley system that allows them to be raised or lowered, or they are manipulated using strings that are similar to blinds. Some shades are not single pieces of material, but rather a series of small branches fashioned together to form a covering.

Shades come in a variety of types and colors, and serve different purposes. Lighter colored shades can be used to give a room privacy, while still allowing natural light to enter the room. People who want to be able to darken a room completely can buy thicker shades that, when drawn, will block out all natural light passing through a window.

Shades or Blinds?

Both shades and blinds can be purchased in a variety of colors and offer decorative designs to help add to a room’s decor. People who purchase shades are usually more interested in being able to completely block out the natural light from a window, or use the shade as a filter to change the natural light to a particular color. For example, thin shades made of red cloth will bathe a room in red light when they are drawn.

Blinds offer more lighting control, but they are not ideal if you want to completely block out the natural light. The slats in a set of blinds can be turned to deflect light, but they do not offer the kind of complete natural light blockage that you can get from shades.

The choice between shades and blinds comes down to personal preference. If you don’t mind a little light getting into the room, then blinds can be ideal. If you are looking for something more decorative, then you may want to investigate your options in shades. But fabric shades can stain, which is something wooden or vinyl blinds do not do.

Your best approach is to contact an expert through Handyman Connection of Boise and get their input on your decision. Shades and blinds both have their benefits, but it takes the experience of a professional to determine which window treatment to use in specific situations.