Choosing window coverings does not seem like a big deal – it’s just a matter of personal preference and style, right? Though that may be true, window coverings have the power to elevate your space, increase your property value, and affect your quality of life in a myriad of ways. So, how about we walk through the various types of window coverings available and whether or not they are the right choice for your home.

Curtains

Curtains are a timeless and stunning choice for most homes, and there is a great variety of available styles and colours to choose from. How do you even get started on making a selection?

The first thing to consider is the function you want your curtain to serve. Is privacy of great importance to you? Perhaps you might be looking for something that can balance some privacy with light control. Is the room that you are looking to get curtains for exposed to a lot of direct sunlight throughout the day? Deciding what you would like your curtains to achieve can give you insight into what colours and materials to choose from.

If you would like to maximise the entrance of light into your space, and privacy or coverage is not necessarily top priority, consider sheer curtains. They create a swirling effect that can make your space feel light, whimsical, and create a more relaxed and casual environment. You could also consider layering a sheer curtain with another, heavier fabric for greater variety in your space.

If luxury is your ideal appeal, then consider a material such as silk. With the assortment of different colours available, a silk finish can easily be brought into whatever styling your room already has and elevate it. Beware, however, of the fragility of silk as it is prone to rotting if it is not properly lined and is exposed to a lot of direct sunlight. A great alternative to silk, however, could be faux silk, which offers the same luxurious appeal, at a fraction of the cost, and with greater durability.

Curtains can also act as great insulators, and materials such as velvet or suede are highly effective at keeping the warmth inside the room. The heaviness of the materials also makes them ideal blackout curtains, which are best for bedrooms in order to minimise sunlight disrupting your sleep in the early morning.

When it comes to colour and shaping, neutral colours are best, not only because of their seamless blend with most furnishings in any particular room, but also because of the longevity of the dyes. Bright colours often fade out when exposed to a lot of direct sunlight, and so it is important to consider this when determining the colours of your curtains.

Natural fabrics such as linen, silk, and cotton velvet fold best when hung up. However, a very heavy material will not produce crisp folds if that is desirable to you.

When measuring your windows for the curtains, a good rule of thumb is to add 6 inches above the height of your measurement (or more if possible, as long curtains elongate the room, making it feel larger than it actually is), and add 4 inches to either side of the width of your measurement to ensure its fullness. 

Blinds

Blinds are a versatile option that comes in a variety of materials and colours to match the style of your home. Their easy installation makes them a more affordable purchase, and they do not have the same amount of permanence as installing curtain rods or shutters (which will be discussed later on).

When it comes to slate blinds, choosing the optimal orientation for your blinds (vertical or horizontal) ultimately comes down to the dimensions of your windows. Horizontal blinds are best for windows that are long and narrow (i.e., they are much longer than they are wide) as fewer individual slates will be required, leading to a sleeker appearance, and reduced labour to open and close them. The opposite would be true for windows that are longer than they are wide – vertical slates would be the best.

It is also important to consider the room in which you are looking to install blinds, and its purpose, as this can give you greater guidance on which materials to use. For rooms with high humidity, such as the kitchen or bathroom, wood blinds would not be suitable as they would absorb the moisture in the air, experience accelerated damage, and develop mould. You may want to consider PVC, or vinyl, instead, as these materials are highly durable and moisture resistant. Aluminium is also a viable option, although it is quite a delicate material that bends and dents easily, and is more of a hassle to keep clean.

Roller blinds are also a useful and versatile option that can provide you lots of options for privacy and light control, depending on what you prefer. They also come in a variety of materials, from plastic to fabric, and can be a great addition to your home décor, by allowing you to match them to the existing colour scheme. Material plays a hugely important role in light control. Plastic roller blinds minimise light penetration, making them useful as blackouts, and even the option of zebra roller blinds can facilitate the balance of light and privacy at the same time. Additionally, roller blinds are delightfully easy to maintain, requiring general dusting or vacuuming, depending on the material. 

Shutters

Shutters and blinds. They look the same, don’t they? What is the difference between these two? Ultimately, the difference between shutters and blinds comes down to how they are installed. Blinds are typically installed above the window from a headrail and hang down from there.

The installation is quite simple and very quick, allowing multiple window blinds to be installed within a short space of time. Shutters, on the other hand, are typically attached to the insides of a window frame, with hinges, and serve as a permanent and more robust window covering, with installation taking longer.

The greatest appeal of shutters, however, is that they are a real investment in your property, as they tend to increase the value of your home. Unlike being a mere decorative addition, such as blinds or curtains, shutters are a sort of structural enhancement. For this reason, they are more expensive to install than blinds, but again, offer a greater return on your investment.

Shutters are similarly available in a number of various materials such as wood and PVC, and in a variety of colours and styles. The same rule of thumb for determining the orientation of shutters applies as for blinds.

Shutters also provide an extra layer of security for your home by acting as an additional barrier that may prevent burglars from entering your home. So, if safety is a concern of yours, adding shutters to your home can kill multiple birds with one stone.

Some people may even decide to use a combination of the above suggestions. Beautiful curtains may be considered valuable for their aesthetic appeal, but may not suffice for keeping light out, and so blackout blinds may be added. Again, as was mentioned before, the most helpful consideration for yourself when determining which window coverings you should commit to starts with determining what your needs and wants are, and coming up with a great vision for how you can achieve that from the advice above.

Conclusion

At JG Contracting, we care about every detail of your project – from major structural changes like framing or demolition, to the small details and finishing touches – like picking out a light blue linen curtain for your breakfast nook. We want to support you at every stage! If you have any questions or would like to work together with us, always feel free to reach out!

📞 Call us at: 437-259-9632

✉️ Email us at: jgcontractingyyz@gmail.com

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