How to Choose the Right Blinds for Privacy and Light Levels
Two key basic elements of choosing your new blinds are the light levels and privacy they offer. If you fall in love with a simple style roller blind for your bedroom but it lets the early morning light stream in then you may have made the wrong choice. The same goes for privacy as bedrooms, bathrooms, and indeed any room in the home depending on where you live, should be fitted with blinds which offer the right levels of privacy. So how do you get these basic elements right? Check out the guide below...
Privacy blinds
Certain rooms in the home such as the bathroom and bedrooms require higher levels of privacy than others. However, if you live in a busy street or are overlooked by other houses then you might want to think about the privacy levels right the way across your property. As well as bathrooms and bedrooms, conservatories and reception rooms also require privacy blinds as it's these rooms where you will spend time relaxing and entertaining.
There are a number of options available for privacy blinds with one of the most popular types being roller blinds which offer complete window coverage when fully drawn. If you choose a sheer material however you may find that the blind becomes see-through at night when the lights are on inside the home. To avoid this, opt for blinds made out of a thicker material or which are lined to ensure the inside of your home can remain private. Many types of shades including pleated and roller blinds can be fitted bottom up so that you can pull the blind up to retain your privacy but still benefit from natural light coming in from the top half of the window. Wooden blinds and faux wood shades create high levels of privacy (as do any other style of Venetian blinds) but be aware that if the blinds are not fully closed then people could see in through the gaps at certain angles.
Light level blinds
One of the main benefits of fitting blinds is that you can control the levels of light which come into your home. Light levels are of particular importance in bedrooms where early morning sunlight can put an end to laying in. Blackout window blinds are a great solution for bedrooms which let a lot of natural light in or if you have a job where you need to sleep during day light hours. Blackout window blinds completely block any light from coming in including streetlights, sunshine and vehicle headlights. Venetian blinds are a good option if you don't want to completely block the natural light out of the room as the slats can be angled to let some light through, rather than roller blinds for example where light levels tend to be all or nothing. Solar protection blinds can block out the harmful rays from the sun which can deteriorate fabrics and also raise the temperature in your home so they are a great choice if your home receives a lot of natural light.
If you get the light and privacy levels of your home right with carefully chosen window blinds, you can enjoy your entire home throughout the day and night.
