Roller blind models differ not only in the colors of the canvas but also in the density of the fabric, design, control methods, and scope of application. And all these nuances must be taken into account in order to choose the right curtains and not be disappointed in them. Here’s how to do it.
Roller blinds have long ceased to be an attribute of office life – today they are successfully used to decorate windows in apartments and houses. But despite their popularity, many still doubt whether roller blinds in the interior can replace conventional curtains. What materials are they made of and how do they work? Can they be complemented with thick drapes or light curtains? In which rooms should they be hung? We answer these and other questions in our article.
Features of roller blinds on windows
Roller blinds bear little resemblance to ordinary curtains. They are made of an even rectangular piece of fabric wound on a roller, which is attached to the wall under the ceiling or directly to the window sashes.
When unfolded, they completely cover the window, and when they are rolled up, a compact roll of small diameter is obtained, which is practically invisible in the interior. The size of the lumen is adjusted by raising the “roll” to the desired height.
In open-type systems, the curtain is simply wound on the cornice and it is always visible, in closed-type models, a box is provided that hides the coiled fabric. The control mechanism of such curtains can be manual (using a special chain) or automatic (from a stationary or remote control).
According to the degree of darkening, along with the usual roller blinds, blackout models and light filters are distinguished.
- Blackouts block incoming light by 100%, and at the same time improve noise insulation and help keep the room warm in winter.
- Light filters are products made of translucent fabric that do not darken the room, but only make the light coming through the windows soft and diffused. In the daytime, they protect you from too bright a sun, and at night, they protect your privacy from curious passers-by: with the lights turned on outside the house, it is impossible to see what is happening indoors.
Pros and Cons
Roller blinds are comfortable and practical and look good in laconic interiors. Due to their design, they differ significantly from ordinary curtains and drapes, some of these differences can be attributed to the advantages of such window design, while other features may in some cases turn out to be disadvantages.
Pros
- They take up minimal space. In small studio apartments and in rooms where every centimeter of space counts, it makes no sense to hang layered curtains, which only make the design heavier. It is better to replace them with compact roller blinds, which are as close to the window as possible, and when rolled up they become almost invisible.
- Open the window completely without preventing sunlight from entering the house.
- They are easy to care for: thanks to special impregnations, they repel dirt, and to maintain cleanliness, it is enough to wipe them with a damp cloth once every six months.
- They are safe for allergy sufferers, as they do not accumulate dust.
- Mechanically controlled options cost less compared to full-fledged drapes made of expensive textiles.
- Can be controlled remotely.
- Pet owners also praise the “rolls”: even the most mischievous pets are not interested in the hanging flat canvas and do not try to climb it to the eaves.
Cons
- Free-hanging models make it difficult to open the windows: in order to open the sashes, the fabric must be fully lifted.
- Such products can look boring and banal, so in the living room or bedroom they are often combined with traditional drapes.
- The choice of fabrics for such window decoration is less than for ordinary curtains.
- When installing UNI cassette curtains, it is sometimes necessary to drill holes in the frame or sashes, which can compromise the tightness of the window structure.
Views
Despite the general principle of operation, roller blinds can differ quite a lot in the nuances of design.
Free-hanging
Such curtains are mounted on the wall, while the fabric hangs down naturally (a weighting bar is attached to its lower part). Usually, a separate leaf is made for each window. But, since the maximum possible width of the product is 3.5 meters, such models are often used for non-standard design, when one roller blind covers the entire wall with several window openings at once.
“Day-Night”
These curtains (also called “zebra” for their characteristic striped appearance) are unfolded most of the time. They consist of slats with different degrees of transparency, which can be moved relative to each other to leave a pleasantly diffused light or create complete darkness. Such models provide privacy in dense development, where houses are located close to each other and neighbors are forced to look through each other’s windows.
Uni
UNI is a cassette curtain system that is installed directly on the doors. The canvas moves along the side rails, and the roller on which it is wound is hidden in a special box. These models take up a minimum of space, do not interfere with opening windows, and do not flutter in a draught. Moreover, it is the best solution for sloping skylights, as the fabric adheres snugly to the glass and does not sag like all other types of curtains.
Tip: when installing such roller blinds on plastic windows, the interior often becomes too formal and uncomfortable, since such light filters are more common to see in administrative buildings. You can soften the “office” effect by choosing a cheerful color of the fabric or complementing this window design with classic curtains.
Mini
It combines the features of free-hanging models and the UNI system. The canvas is wound on a roller without a box, but it is attached not to the wall, but to the sash. There are also no side rails that hold the fabric at an angle when opening the window in vertical ventilation mode.
Material Selection
For the production of roller blinds, natural, synthetic, and blended fabrics are used.
- Polyester is appropriate in the kitchen, as it is resistant to dirt, easy to wash, and does not absorb moisture (which means that regular contact with water on the material will not lead to mold).
- Cotton and linen are preferred for bedrooms and children’s rooms, as they are breathable and do not cause allergies. However, like any textiles of natural origin, they quickly wrinkle, damp, and fade in the sun. And if they get dirty, it will be difficult to wash them without removing the entire structure from the window.
- Mixed fabrics have absorbed the advantages of natural and artificial ones. The combination of cotton or linen fibers with synthetic ones made it possible to obtain materials that are simultaneously breathable, hypoallergenic, non-staining and able to hold their shape well. Their advantages also include resistance to fading and ease of care.
- Wooden models are made of narrow bamboo slats or stems. Such roller blinds look aesthetically pleasing, are not afraid of moisture, and serve for decades. They are so breathable that on a hot day, they can be kept closed with the window open, and the room will not be stuffy. Bamboo curtains have an interesting feature: they roll up not under the ceiling, but at the bottom of the canvas.
Which rooms are suitable for
Kitchen
Most often, such curtains are hung in the kitchen. This is due to both their uncluttered design, which blends well with traditional kitchen furnishings, and their ease of maintenance, as well as safety considerations: such curtains will not sway in the wind, risking reaching the stove burner and catching fire.
For this room, synthetic or mixed fabrics are chosen, and impregnated with special compositions, thanks to which any dirt is easily washed off the canvas, including difficult ones – drops of bright juices, fat, sauces, etc. If the kitchen is decorated in basic colors, you can accentuate the roller blind and choose a bright color with an original print or a large pattern.
Living room
Roller blinds in the interior of the living room are used less often, as the interior of this part of the house usually requires a more luxurious window decoration.
However, in a minimalist style, loft, high-tech, Scandinavian, or eco, “rolls” look absolutely harmonious, and in classicism, modern, or neoclassical, they can be complemented with traditional drapes for a more solid look.
As a rule, dense blackout models are not used in the living room but are limited to translucent curtains-filters, which protect from too bright sun and provide privacy.
Tip: A large white roller blind made of dense matte material can be used as a screen for a home theater projector.
Bedroom
From the point of view of convenience for the bedroom, the UNI system is preferable: with it, the window glass is completely covered with a leaf, which ensures absolute darkness. However, classic free-hanging roller blinds with a length of window sill or floor length look more aesthetically pleasing and cozy.
If roller blinds in the interior of the bedroom will not be complemented by curtains, then it is better to choose the most opaque fabric for them (blackout is best). It ensures that your sleep is sound and refreshing, because neither the rays of the sun, the glare of car headlights, nor the light from the lights will penetrate into the room.
Kids Room
Roller blinds are a good solution for a children’s room. You will not be able to accidentally get tangled in them and it is impossible to cling to them, which is extremely important for active toddlers and preschoolers. And teenagers will appreciate the convenience of control: just one movement and the room is filled with light or, conversely, completely darkened.
Any design of roller blinds is suitable for this room – free-hanging, cassette, with and without guides, “day-night”. However the fabric should be either natural or mixed, provided that the amount of synthetic additives in it is minimal.
Children do not always handle roller blinds carefully, and one of the problems can be too sharp lowering of the canvas when the lower plumb line falls on the windowsill, leaving dents and scratches on it. To prevent this from happening, a soft elastic seal is inserted into the weighting bar to cushion the impact.
Office
The home office is another place where translucent “rolls” will come in handy.
With them, the room will be bright enough, but at the same time, they will make what is happening outside the window completely invisible, which means it will be easier to concentrate on work. The most neutral models that will not distract with either color or pattern are suitable here.
What to combine with
With drapes
You can choose roller blinds to match the drapes or contrast (including colored), but you definitely should not make them with patterns and catchy drawings.
A combination of roller blinds-filters with thick curtains is considered a good tone: in this case, the former serves decorative purposes, and the latter serves utilitarian purposes, protecting the room from excess sunlight. This is a versatile option suitable for any décor: a beautiful combination can be selected for a room in any style.
With tulle
Roller blinds with tulle also go well in the interior. The material for them in such a duet can be both dense fabric and translucent, bamboo models also look appropriate.
If traditional white tulle seems too banal, it can be replaced with beige or milky, or you can reduce the degree of translucency by choosing a slightly denser material.
Tip: you can add opaque drapes to the tandem of tulle and thin “rolls” – such a multi-layered combination, despite its complexity, looks very harmonious.
