If you want to redecorate or just feel like freshening up a room, blinds are a good place to start.
They are often the focal point of the room, and new blinds can instantly improve a room's aesthetics.
They are also energy efficient; in winter they are able to conserve heat and in summer they help to keep a room cool, making them perfect for a large living space like a lounge or conservatory.
Blinds come out on top when it comes to managing the light in a room.
Whereas curtains merely block out all the light when they are closed or let all the light in when they are open, blinds provide the perfect middle ground.
The question whether to go for blinds or curtains is a no brainer.
The former are easy to clean and don't take up unnecessary space in a room, making them ideal for houses with small rooms and windows.
But there are so many options.
How do you go about choosing which blinds will look best? Are you going to go for a Venetian, roman or roller blind? Will you buy made to measure blinds or ready-made blinds? Here is your simple and short guide to help you choose the perfect blinds for your house.
Price In terms of price, ready-made blinds do win this category.
They are obviously going to be cheaper than made to measure blinds.
However, it is more than possible to purchase custom-made blinds for a reasonable price.
Ease of installing Made to measure blinds are extremely easy to install as they have been created to fit exactly into your window space.
They are hassle-free and some companies come into your home for a consultation, a measurement service and then even offer to fit them in your window for you, what could be easier than that? Now, ready-made blinds aren't so simple.
In many cases you will have to cut down your shop bought blinds in order for them to fit snugly into the window frame.
This DIY job could easily ruin your blinds if you cut them too narrow or miscalculate the length they have to be.
Aesthetics When you have made to measure blinds, they are bound to be more aesthetically pleasing than ready-made blinds.
This is because they will inevitably perfectly fit into the window frame.
Furthermore, there is the potential to mix-and-match your design with the type of blind you desire.
For example, if you wanted to brighten up your room you may choose a light coloured made to measure blind in a Venetian style in order to maximise the sunlight into the room.
Despite the fact that there is less possibility of finding your ideal colour blind in your desired style, you still have a good chance of finding a blind suitable for your purpose.
Department stores, DIY stores and a large range of online shops sell all sorts of blinds in different designs for reasonable prices.
Practicality It can be said that made to measure blinds are the more practical choice if you have a large house or uniquely designed windows, like an arched window or patio doors that you want to cover.
Otherwise, it can be near to impossible to find suitable fitting blinds.
Although, ready-made blinds are more convenient in terms of being easier and faster to buy and install.
They do not require you to wait a few weeks, like custom made blinds, as they are already made and ready to take home.
All in all, it really depends on your personal taste and where you are going to put your blinds in deciding whether to go for ready-made or the made to measure option.
They both have their pros and cons so it comes down to whether you want your blind to be a luxury, perfectly fitting blind or cheap and cheerful.