If you are struggling to decide between curtains, blinds and plantation shutters for your windows, you certainly aren’t alone. The options available in materials, colours and so much more for each window covering can make your head spin, so a direct comparison of some of the key points is a good place to start.
When it comes to finding the best window covering there are many different factors to consider. There are huge variations on price, style, what you are hoping to achieve, and, of course, personal preference. Here are some of the best reasons to go for each of the top choices for your windows to help you find the perfect fit for you.
What is the best window covering?
The main options for window coverings can be broken down into three groups: blinds, curtains and plantation shutters. Curtains have long been considered a classic choice, blocking out light fantastically well and offering a comfortable warmth to a room that is harder to achieve with blinds or plantation shutters.
Plantation shutters, despite the more modern connotations of the American South, have actually been around for millennia. The Ancient Greeks thought they were the best window covering and many people would still agree today. Blinds also have a rich history and plenty of reasons to claim the title of the best window covering, so a more in-depth look is needed to really help you decide which should get the top spot for yourself.
What are the pros of plantation shutters?
Plantation shutters are a fantastic option for your home, adding a timeless elegance to its appearance and actually adding value to your property at the same time. Many people prefer these shutters for myriad reasons and that popularity seems likely to only increase over time. Here are some of the key pros to opting for plantation shutters today:
- They allow you to choose the level of light you require – curtains give you an all-or-nothing approach to the light in your home, while plantation shutters can be adjusted to let in full light, a little light, or no light at all.
- They provide privacy and security – in a similar way, you can angle your plantation shutters so that some light can enter without making it easy for people outside to look in. In order to secure privacy with curtains, you would have to draw them fully and block out the light.
- They can save you money – plantation shutters help to keep out the heat of the day, reducing your dependency on air cooling systems. You can also have them slightly open letting light in and reducing the need for artificial light.
What are the cons of plantation shutters?
While the pros are numerous, there are still some downsides to plantation shutters. For one, they can be a little pricey, particularly when compared with the cheap blinds options out there. However, if you choose the right company and take into account the added value to your home, plantation shutters can be well worth the investment.
Another con is that they are arguably more suited to warmer climates than cold. If you are living somewhere that is perpetually cold and rainy, you will get less of the benefits of plantation shutters than somewhere that gets more sunshine.
What are the pros of blinds?
Blinds have their own set of upsides and downsides which can vary depending on the kind of blinds that you get. Slatted blinds can offer you some of the same benefits as plantation shutters in terms of control over the amount of light that you allow through, while fabric or sheet blinds will not offer you that same positive. Here are some of the common pros of installing blinds:
- They tend to be the most affordable – you can find blinds for very little money indeed, though there are of course different levels of quality and price all the way through to the expensive end of the market.
- They are cheap and easy to install – you can put up blinds yourself with relative ease or have them installed more cheaply than plantation shutters and a lot of curtains.
- There are seemingly endless varieties, colours and styles to suit any room – whatever your taste in shades, you will likely be able to find the ideal blinds to suit your preferences perfectly.
- They are often easy to clean – depending on the material, they are much easier to clean and maintain than curtains often requiring a simple damp cloth to look great again.
What are the cons of blinds?
Many of the cons that go along with blinds depend on the kind of blinds that you go for. While you can find blinds for very little money, these cheaper options can be more likely to buckle and warp making them harder to roll up and down.
We can all picture immediately a broken or imperfect blind, one side rising too much and the other too little, or a tangled cord that won’t allow you to properly open or close it with ease. This can also lead your blinds to look tacky and less elegant than curtains or plantation shutters, though higher quality blinds can look sleek and add class to a space as well.
Opting for a high-quality firm like Cooinda Curtains and Blinds will guarantee that you get the pros of blinds without the irritation and downsides that can accompany inferior products.
What are the pros of curtains?
Curtains have a great many benefits to their use, from aesthetics to function and impact. Here are some of the key reasons to install curtains in your home:
- The right pair of curtains can block out all light perfectly – getting the right amount of sleep is so important, and having a heavy pair of curtains can block out all the light and allow you to sleep in.
- They can help muffle sounds – similarly, a thick pair of curtains can help keep out the outside world’s noises as well as sights.
- They add warmth to a room – blinds and shutters can sometimes make a space look a little cold, while curtains can make a room feel more welcoming and cosy.
What are the cons of curtains?
When it comes to the downsides of curtains, one of the key points is that they are all or nothing for allowing in light and maintaining privacy. If you have your curtains open to let light in you may be sacrificing your privacy, and vice versa.
They can also be tricky to clean and maintain, and can leave your house feeling a little dark and heavy rather than light and modern like some of the other options available.
Our conclusion on what is the best window covering?
All in all, the perfect window covering for you may not be the technically ‘best’ one out there, and you may decide to opt for different coverings in different areas of the house. For a good night’s sleep and on your bedroom windows, curtains are still considered an excellent choice to make – while for downstairs rooms and particularly in warmer climates, plantation shutters are arguably the best way to go (and if we had to choose, plantation shutters would be our go-to window covering solution).
If you are looking to make a change in your home, take a look at the different options available and see if you can find the perfect window covering for you today.
