window blinds are versatile home design elements. They come in a variety of materials, fabrics and style to suit your tastes. We’ll look at several materials.
1) Metal. These are the original blinds. For many years, aluminum was the predominant metal used in blinds. It’s durable, affordable, cleanable and flexible. The slats come in a variety of lengths and widths to fit any space or taste.
2) Wood. This is a popular choice for window coverings for the warm touch it gives to a room. It’s not a great choice when the room is prone to humidity, such as in a bathroom or a kitchen. They’re not good choices in humid geographic areas either. Wood can warp, crack or swell, rendering them useless when they won’t open or close correctly, or the louvers won’t move. Wood is used in Venetian blinds and woven blinds.
3) Cane. You’ll see this in woven blinds. The slats are very thin, and they’re only adjustable as an entire unit, not by a single slat. Light filters into the room through the thin slats, that are usually tied together with rope. They add a very natural look to a room.
4) Vinyl. This is the most popular material for blinds. It can take on the look of wood, but it’s also very low-maintenance. It won’t crack or warp like wood, and it doesn’t attract dust like wood blinds do. Miniblinds are most often vinyl. They’re among the most popular type of blind, due to their thin slat and their versatility.
5) Fabric. Sometimes you’ll see fabric backed with a stiff material to create slats. These are exceptionally nice when they complement the décor in a room. Fabric can be used to bring a room together.
Blinds can be used by themselves, or layered with other window treatments. The severe lines of blinds can be contrasted with the softness of curtains or a valance, providing a polished, finished look.
Blinds can work in any room with windows. They can be horizontal or vertical, small or large. They can be subtly colored, and offset with a bold curtain or punchy valance.
Blinds are not only functional, as they keep light out and can act to obscure drafts from cracks around WINDOWS, but they’re decorative as well.
Blinds can make a great addition to any room. They’ve advanced so much in recent years, that you can get the look of yesterday with the technological advances of today.
Linden J. Walhard
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/window-blinds-and-curtains-98904.html
Can you hang curtains and blinds on the same window or does it look dumb?
I want to hang long curtains that cover the whole window but also blinds to make it more private. Is this a good idea or will it look dumb?
Also where is a good place to go to buy curtains at reasonable prices?
it should look good try it and see,
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That is what I do. You can get some pretty nice ones just at plain old Wal-Mart.
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It is a good idea and who cares how it looks to somone else as long as you like it.
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Sure you can. Particularly if they are a neutral color. The people at Blinds R Us are usually a big help. Bed, Bath and Beyond tends to have a pretty good selection of curtains at an ok price. Shopping, of course, depends on location.
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it doesnt look bad, just be careful of the combination (fabrics..etc)
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That doesn’t look dumb. I have white blinds over my windows, and curtains over most of them. That way you can maintain privacy, and it also helps with the sunlight in the AM.
I don’t know if you have an "annas linens," but thats a pretty good place to try to find curtains at a good price. I also have found some nice ones at Target. Bed, bath and Beyond or Linen’s n things as well.
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I have it like that at my house.
I brought mine at Wal-mart.
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well i have curtains and blinds, and i cant reli advise anywhere to buy them cuz i dno if ur frm the U.K like me or America. But i hear WalMart over there is pretty gud, seeing as i blew $160 last time i went to one!
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it looks fine..we have both at my house and for where? i have no clue
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of course you can hang curtains and blinds on the same window. curtains add warmth and charm to your surroundings and i think the blinds for privacy, are a very good idea. perhaps a roller blind is better, because it is less noticeable when the curtains are open and also don’t get as dirty as what venetian blinds do.
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experience
it will look fine.
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I have both. I love the privacy. I do not see anything wrong with it. It is a personal preference. It should look fine as long as you color coordinate. You can purchase curtains for a reasonable price at WalMart, Target or JcPennys. You can also try BryLane http://www.brylanehome.com/Department.aspx?DeptId=7529
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I put blinds up to the windows and then use the old fashioned rods on the outside on the window molding to hang curtains or sheers or whatever, they look just fine.
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I have woven tapestry draperies and swags complete with bullion fring and tasseled tiebacks over minibinds in my livingroom. It’s a privacy issue as well as an aid to heating and cooling. I help alot of people decorate their spaces and it’s realy not that uncommon. The drapes in my livingroom came from Family Dollar and are woven tapestry design trimmed in bullion fringe. The price of fringe alone at WalMart or Hancocks would cover what I paid for five pairs of drapes. My bedroom has formal drapes and complete bed ensemble in damask (bath accessories and shower curtains to match) purchased from another low end store called Fred’s. It’s just a matter of watching and being careful to get quality for your money. Just because something is expensive doesn’t necessariy make it better quality although the selection seems to be larger. If you like mail order, try a company called Domestications. Also, if you watch at department stores, as each season ends, they will put most linens, etc. on clearance to make way for new colors.
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you can use both and you can make it decorative by matching colors and different types of curtains
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It is kind of old fashioned but who cares As long as you like it that is all that matters.Vinyl blinds are very affordable and allow you to hang lighter curtains over them.Wal mart and Lowes have inexpensive ones.
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