In this world where unconventionality is sometimes hailed, people are becoming more daring with interior decoration and design. The debate was initially between choosing either blinds or curtains for any room in the house. However, more and more people are asking if they can combine blinds and curtains.
Combining blinds and curtains in the living room is okay and a good idea. Desing-wise, this can work out perfectly. It is unconventional, can be aesthetically pleasing and gives you many design options for your living room.
Nonetheless, there are a few things to consider if you decide this is what you want. You do not want to go ahead and end up with tacky results which make you and your guests cringe.
Do Blinds And Curtains Together Look Good?
Blinds and curtains can look good together if put together with an aesthetic eye. You can either have both blinds and curtains on the same window or alternate them among the windows in the same room.
I will soon enlighten you about how you can do this successfully. But in the meantime, know that blinds and curtains can be paired in any house room and still look good.
Why Consider Combining Curtains And Blinds In the Living Room
1. It Is Unconventional
I love challenges and see combining curtains and blinds as one of them. Though it is not so easy to combine curtains and blinds and make them look good, it is a daring thing to do. In most traditionally themed homes, there is not the slightest possibility of pairing curtains and blinds in the living room. However, emerging trends have allowed this. Let’s consider it a contemporary style.
Anyone that enters your living room and notices that you have combined curtains and blinds and made it work will doff their hats to you. The practice is uncommon, making it unconventional and allowing you to enjoy the best that both curtains and blinds offer.
2. Your Budget
Because of the disparities in prices of blinds and curtains, it may not be such a bad idea to consider combining them in your living room. Blinds generally tend to be more expensive than curtains, so if you initially decided to install blinds in your living room but later realize you cannot afford them for the number of windows, consider adding some curtains.
Of course, you cannot just combine any blinds and curtains; with a few tips, you can make the combination work while not breaking the bank.
3. Lighting Control
Blinds and curtains give you different levels of lighting control. Comparatively, blinds give me more power and precision with the amount of natural lighting that reaches my room. Therefore, installing both curtains and blinds in your living room allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds.
It is almost as if you would have been given a remote control for natural light in your living room, and that’s awesome.
Some Considerations And Rules to Follow When Pairing Blinds And Curtains In The Living Room
1. Choose Your Blinds First
If you intend to combine blinds and curtains in your living room, choose the right blinds first. It becomes more challenging to blend in your blinds if you choose your curtains first.
This is because curtains are fabrics and come in different textures, which must be considered when finding the perfect blinds. I’m not saying it is impossible to find the ideal blinds if you buy curtains first. It is just easier.
2. Color And Fabric Of Your Curtains Matter
I just advised that you get the right blinds first if you pair them with curtains. However, if I’m assuming that you already bought the curtains before seeing this article, I would say one of the things to consider when deciding to pair curtains and blinds is the fabric and color of the curtains.
The fabric choice and color of your curtains will largely influence which blinds will pair very well with them. The texture of the curtains depends on the fabric choice, which plays a role when combined with blinds.
3. Mix And Match Textures And Patterns
Don’t be afraid to explore. But before you go wild, hear me out. Pairing blinds and curtains can look great when you mix and match textures and patterns.
If your curtains have horizontal patterns in them, for example, you can pair them with Roman blinds, which have vertical slats, for a contrast in the line pattern. Thick heavy curtains will pair well with roller blinds as well.
The perfect mix of textures and patterns will result in better cohesion of the blinds and curtains.
4. Consider Functionality
The fact that people you know are combining blinds and curtains does not mean you should too. Consider your living room and see if the combination of blinds and curtains will work. Your window size, furniture, and other elements in your living room can help you decide if it makes sense to install both curtains and blinds.
If you copy unthinkingly, you may end up with something that causes inconvenience, making you unable to fully enjoy your living room and the benefits of combining blinds and curtains.
Benefits Of Pairing Blinds And Curtains In the Living Room
1. Versatility
Why must you choose when you can enjoy the best of both worlds? Blinds and curtains both come with different advantages and disadvantages. There is nothing selfish about using the pros of one to eliminate the cons of the other. Pairing blinds and curtains introduce versatility into your living room.
While blinds are more structured, curtains add a fluid flow-ey appeal to your living room space. Combining these two window coverings can create an outstanding balance in your living room, regardless of other design elements.
2. Controlling Lighting
I have already hinted that one of the reasons why you should consider pairing blinds and curtains in your living room is so that you have better control of the lighting in your living room, especially during the day.
I want to add that being able to control lighting also means that you can control the level of privacy and intimacy in your living room.
In a scenario where you have installed both blinds and curtains on the same window, you can, for instance, open the slats of the blinds a bit to allow some light but leave the curtains closed.
When the blinds and curtains are installed on different windows, you can close one set and open the other depending on how much light you want in your living room.
3. Sound and Thermal Insulation
Combining blinds and curtains can help regulate sound and temperature in your living room. If that TV is on, the last thing you want to happen is for its sound to echo in this house. Having curtains can absorb some of that sound and eliminate echoes.
Conversely, these curtains can help regulate the room’s temperature. For instance, closing your curtains can help keep your living room a bit warm during winter. You can draw those curtains for summer and springtime to let in some fresh air and warmth.
Since blinds allow you to let in your preferred degree of light, it translates into temperature regulation in your living room.
4. Increasing The Dimensions Of Your Windows
How the blinds and curtains are installed can make your windows look higher and broader. The trick here is to fix the curtain and blind rods above the upper seal of the window. This creates an illusion of height, making your windows look higher than they are.
Again, let the curtain and blind rods slightly extend beyond the side seals of the windows to create the illusion of added width.
So, if you want to make people think your windows are more expansive and higher than they are, consider pairing blinds and curtains in your living room.
Conclusion
Blinds and curtains can work great when installed together in the living room. Though sometimes risky, if done right, your living room will have a perfect balance of structure and texture. If you do not have the eye for design, get a professional involved so you don’t end up with anything tacky.