The living room is almost always the first room guests see when they visit your house. It is natural to want to get things right in that space, including the covering for your windows.
Curtains and blinds are both great options for the living room. The overall aesthetic and functional effect of curtains or blinds depends on a few factors, such as light control, privacy, space, allergies, versatility, customization, and maintenance.
In this article, I will share my insights and expert advice on choosing between curtains and blinds for your living room.
What Are Curtains?
Curtains are door and window coverings usually made of different kinds of fabrics. They are fitted by drilling holes in the wall at the extreme ends, sometimes in the middle of the window or door, and fastening rods or rails with nails or screws to hang the curtains on.
To open curtains, one can gather the fabric and tie or hold it with anything really: a string, another material, hooks, and so on. Another way is to draw the curtains to one side of the window or door. They come in different quality, colors, patterns, textures, and designs.
What Are Blinds?
Blinds are another type of door and window coverings made of wood, metal, plastic, or vinyl. They consist of slats or vanes that can be tilted or rotated using a drawstring fitted on one side of the blind. Blinds come in various colors, designs, and sizes.
Blinds come with attached rods and screws, so all you have to do is drill holes into the wall and attach the blinds using screws. There are several types of blinds: Venetian blinds, vertical blinds, roller blinds, Roman blinds, and cellular or honeycomb blinds.
Factors To Consider Before Choosing Blinds Or Curtains For Your Living Room
If you have to choose between curtains and blinds, it will ultimately be which one you prefer over the other. Indeed, your preference supersedes everything. However, knowingly and unknowingly, this preference could have been subtly influenced by these other factors I am about to enumerate.
1. Budget
Money is almost always a deciding factor when choosing between curtains and blinds for your living room. How much money have you budgeted for your window coverings? If you do not have a budget, how much will you pay for your window coverings?
When you visit showrooms, though you may have been initially drawn to either blinds or curtains, your decision may change based on the prices of either of them.
2. Theme
The theme in your living room or the entire house can influence your choice between blinds and curtains. For example, blinds would work perfectly in the living room if you are going for a modern, industrial, or transitional theme.
Curtains give a more traditional look, though depending on the colors and patterns chosen, they can work in a modern minimalist living room.
That is not to say you cannot make blinds or curtains work in a living room that does not go with the usual themes of these window coverings. With the right professional advice and other design elements in the living room, blinds or curtains can work regardless of your theme.
3. Size Of Living Room
Another factor to consider before choosing blinds or curtains for your living room is the size of the room. By size, I mean all the dimensions of the living room: height inclusive. I would say curtains look better if you have a tall living room, especially a double-volume one.
It will be hectic using blinds in such a space because, without a ladder, you may be unlikely to reach the upper windows.
On the other hand, if your room height is short, blinds will work fine. In such a space, reaching the windows is not much of a hustle. Also, if you have a small living room, it may be safer to use blinds than curtains.
This is because if you do not get the right texture and pattern of curtains, it may make your living room look even smaller than it already is.
4. Maintenance And Cleaning
Your maintenance and cleaning culture should influence choosing curtains or blinds for your living room. Curtains are comparatively more difficult to clean and maintain as they get stained more easily.
You must remove your curtains more frequently to wash or clean some stains. However, With blinds, you can use a damp cloth to wipe them when you notice stains or dirt.
So if you cannot keep up with cleaning and maintenance, the better choice is blinds for your living room.
5. Lighting
How much natural light do you want your living room to get at any time? If you have an answer to this question, it can influence your choice between blinds and curtains.
While blinds allow you to control the exact amount of natural light entering your living room, curtains can be a little trickier.
Lighting is also linked to privacy and intimacy. So, blinds mainly offer a more private and intimate ambiance than curtains.
Pros And Cons Of Using Curtains In The Living Room
Pros
1. Wide Array Of Choices
Though always fabric, curtains come in different patterns, textures, and colors, spoiling you for choice. So, whatever your style preference or theme, you can find something that fits perfectly into your living room space. Moreover, curtains are made of fabric, so you can have them custom-made with your measurements.
2. Curtains Absorb Sound
If you want a room to sound less echo-ey, place a blanket or carpet on the floor. It is this same phenomenon that makes curtains a great choice. Curtains, especially when thick, can absorb sound and reduce echoes in a room.
3. Curtains Create Balance
Being fabric, curtains flow and create an outstanding balance in your space. Furniture, television sets, and some decorative items can be symmetrical and “serious,” so adding flowing curtains can create the perfect balance between symmetry and textures.
4. Curtains Can Be Customized
Curtains can be custom-made. You can take measurements of the windows or doors you need coverings for and tailor your curtains to those specifications. This is a great advantage of using curtains, especially because room heights are not always the same, and our preferences differ.
Cons
1. Curtains Give Less Lighting Control
With curtains, it may be difficult to get the perfect amount of natural lighting you need in your room. You may find that no matter how you draw or gather the curtains, the lighting in your space may be too little or too much, as you may not get it exactly like you want it.
2. Curtains Are Difficult To Clean
Curtains tend to collect dust and can get stained more easily. This makes maintaining and cleaning curtains more difficult. This implies that curtains are not for you if you cannot keep a regular cleaning culture. To clean, you will need to take them down, wash, dry clean, or vacuum curtains.
3. Difficulty In Making A Choice
It can be challenging to decide which one you want because they are such a wide variety of curtains, especially for patterns, textures, and colors. However, with the right advice, you can make a choice that suits your budget and style.
4. Curtains Can Interfere With Other Elements
If you have couches that are pushed against the wall, for instance, having curtains that go past the head of the couches can create an inconvenience when trying to open or close the curtains. You may need to push these couches and reposition them whenever required.
Pros And Cons Of Using Blinds In The Living Room
Pros
1. Blinds Give Better Lighting Control
Blinds are better when controlling the amount of natural lighting that enters a room. You can tilt or rotate the vanes of the blinds to adjust the illumination till you are okay with it.
2. Blinds Are Low Maintenance
Blinds are comparatively easier to maintain. You may need a damp cloth to remove any stains or dust on your blinds. You may also need a mild detergent solution and a cloth or soft sponge to clean your blinds. You only need to allow them to air-dry afterward.
3. Blinds Come In Different Sizes And Materials
Blinds are labeled with their respective dimensions, making it easier to know if they will fit your windows well. Also, blinds are made from wood, plastic, metal, and vinyl, giving you options that suit your budget and style.
4. Blinds Are Versatile
Blinds can be used in every room in the house. Unlike curtains, blinds can work in any room, from the living room to the kitchen to the bathroom.
Cons
1. Blinds Can Be Noisy
Opening and closing blinds can hardly be a silent activity. When you draw the string to open or close your blinds, expect to hear sounds, and that could be noise, depending on how you look at it.
2. Blinds Cannot Be Customized
Unlike curtains, blinds are mostly not custom-made. You hit the market, find those close to your dimensions, and buy them. While fixing, you cannot shorten them according to the length of your window.
3. Blinds Can Be Difficult To Clean
Though easier to maintain, cleaning blinds can be cumbersome. Unlike curtains that can be thrown into the washer, you will need to take your time to clean each splat of your blinds to prevent them from getting damaged.
4. Blinds Can Give A Rigid Look
Blinds give a more structured look as compared to curtains which flow. Therefore, blinds can appear “serious” when installed in your space. While some people may like this, others may not appreciate it.
Which Is More Beautiful: Curtains Or Blinds?
I cannot categorically state which is more beautiful between curtains and blinds in the general sense. However, regarding the living room space specifically, I would say curtains are more attractive and tie in better with most themes and styles.
This statement is not solely based on the fact that there are a more comprehensive array of colors, textures, patterns, and fabrics to choose from when it comes to curtains. It is also based on the fact that curtains can up the class level in your living room.
Moreover, one can say one window covering is more beautiful based on color, pattern, and texture. So, one set being more beautiful between curtains and blinds is subjective.
There are some people who would also want to experiment by combining curtains and blinds in their living room.
Conclusion
For the living room, I will choose curtains over blinds. I prefer my living room to be more intimate, allowing minimal or controlled natural light. Also, because curtains are easily customizable, they can work in any size of the living room and are the better choice in a double-volume living room. Moreover, whatever your budget is, you can get curtains that will fit perfectly into your theme in your living room.