Windows are a major part of every home and how we furnish them carries great weight in the overall aesthetics of the house. There are many types of blinds and shades that you can purchase from the market. It can be a bit daunting to know which type to select and which type is the right fit for your home.

Window blinds can add style to your home and give you the privacy that you need from outside. First, you have to identify the difference between blinds and shades. Blinds are generally made from solid materials such as metal, wood or composite material. Shades are the opposite of this as they give a softer feel to the room. This is because shades are made of fabric. Depending on the function of the room, you can decide how much light and privacy it needs. Blinds have great functionality as they can tilt to let the sunlight into the room or to cut off light entirely.

You have to consider your budget when it comes to selecting blinds. There can be areas in the house where you can use something a bit more expensive or luxurious. For example, you can spend a bit more on the living room windows as they are more visible and has a bigger impact on the overall look of the house. Also, the bigger the window, the more material you need for a covering which will in turn increase cost. Customisations can also add up.Safety is another aspect you have to look at if you have children. You can go for blinds and shades that are cordless to ensure no accidents happen.

You can look at the pros and cons of different outdoor blind types to settle on what is right for you. If you want an option where you want to adjust the sunlight coming in, blinds are a good choice. There are wooden blinds that can give a more natural look to the room and metal blinds that are great for office spaces. The direction of the slat can also have an effect on the space. You can use wide horizontal blinds for windows in a small apartment so that it makes the room feel more spacious. Vertical blinds are great for framing a vista from a larger window. Shades can offer you a wide variety of styles and they give you a lot of choices when it comes to fabric texture, weight, patterns and colour. You can instantly give a room a pop of colour and liveliness just by the addition of a shade. You can find different types of shades such as woven wood types, Roman shades, solar, blackout shades etc.

Maintaining blinds can be a little difficult depending on the material. There are certain blackout shades that require professional cleaning. Blinds and shades can collect a lot of dust and you need to dust or vacuum them regularly. When it comes to blinds, the slats tend to collect dust which will require diligent maintenance. Vinyl shades will need to be hand washed to keep them clean and fabric shades require vacuuming now and then with a bit of spot cleaning as well.