Not your average guide.
As coverings that filter out light, heat and even sound coming in from your windows, there’s no doubt that curtains and blinds are important soft furnishings in your home.
When doing your research, it’s likely that you’ll come across generic lists of pros and cons for curtains and blinds respectively. But as it turns out, there are lesser-known considerations when it comes to choosing the right window covering for your space – ones that can greatly affect your lived experience at home, as well as its aesthetic.
So, rather than letting you go in blind (pun intended), we spoke to Jason – the founder of END Curtain, with a background in interior design – and here are some of his expert tips.
Venetian blinds (left) and Day and night curtains with thermal shaping (right)
1. If you keep your windows open and/or have a ceiling fan, go for curtains
Let’s start with an obvious fact: curtains are soft. But here’s a fact you probably wouldn’t have known/considered if you’ve never had blinds: because they’re made of harder materials than curtains, blinds generate much more noise when they flap against windows, even with the slightest wind.
Ripple fold linen-like night curtains (left) and Double pleated day and night curtains (right)
So, if the space in question tends to have more wind, curtains are your best bet. After all, you wouldn’t want to be distracted from your work or woken from your sleep constantly, would you?
That said, if you’ve got a rather windy room but very much like the aesthetics of blinds, opt for those made of weightier materials (like wooden slats), as these tend to flap less.
2. In some cases, depth and height allowances at your window area will limit your choices
This one’s a little more technical.
Depth allowance: whether your window beam is thick enough to install your desired window covering(s). As a constraint that’s more prevalent among newer/smaller BTO flats, installing window grilles for instance could leave you with just enough space for single- instead of double-layer curtains that you’d hoped for.
Top down bottom up blinds (left) and Venetian blinds (right)
Height allowance: the distance between the ceiling and the top of your window covering. Aircon ducting and electrical trunking in older resale HDB flats, for example, are commonly found above windows, which means there will be a gap between your ceiling and the top of your curtains or blinds. In such cases, blinds are usually recommended instead of curtains.
That’s because curtains are meant to visually elongate a space, but only if they extend all the way from floor to ceiling. Notwithstanding, if visual elongation isn’t your main reason for choosing curtains, then by all means, go for it!
3. For half-height windows, blinds won’t go wrong
Bamboo blinds in custom colors (left) and Japandi blinds (right; photo credits: @ourslowhouse)
Similarly, if you have half-height windows, a bay window, and/or carpentry under your windows, it’s recommended that you choose blinds over curtains.
That’s because any wall/structure below your window visually ‘cuts’ the vertical space into sections. So, as long as your curtain is open (even in the slightest!) and your half-height window is visible, the elongation effect that curtains usually have would be negated.
Because of their precise fit, blinds on the other hand often look sleeker against smaller windows, and serve as well-appointed accents in such cases.
4. Aesthetically speaking, ANY type of curtains/blinds can in fact go with any interior style
It may surprise the Singaporean in you, but here’s a plot twist: there’s no ‘textbook answer’ nor the ‘best’ type of curtain/blind for any given interior style.
Ripple fold linen-cotton blend day curtains
In terms of how well they tie in with the rest of your interior, Jason opines that colour and texture matter more than the type/mechanism of curtains/blinds you go for.
General rules of thumb based on your desired look and feel:
- Airier feel: go with light colours, day curtains/blinds
- Cosier feel: go with darker colours, fabric finishing (curtains or roman blinds)
- Hotel/luxe look: curtains look more elegant than blinds due to the former’s flowy nature; simple fabrics will make the other features in the room (a marble feature wall, perhaps?) stand out
5. It’s always best to get an expert’s opinion
Granted, not all choices are that straightforward. For example, you may wish to have a hotel/luxe look (for which curtains are usually recommended) but have half-height windows (for which blinds are the go-to).
In fact, with all the different things to consider, it often takes a professional eye to ascertain what’s best for your space, on both a practical and aesthetic level.
Top down bottom up blinds (in dim out honeycomb fabric)
With expertise in interior design coupled by in-depth knowledge of the different types of curtains and blinds on the market, END Curtain is undoubtedly a choice supplier to turn to in getting in-depth, personalised recommendations to suit your lifestyle needs, window designs and the overall look/feel of your space.
But don’t just take it from us; take it from the people who’ve engaged their services before:
Source: END Curtain’s Google Reviews
Enjoy 10% off curtains and blinds from END Curtain (limited time offer!)
Bonus: from now till 31 December 2023, enjoy 10% off any interior curtains and blinds (installation included) at END Curtain with code < SPRUCEMYSPACE >. Book an appointment with END Curtain via WhatsApp at 8611 1600 or visit their website for more information.
