Window Decorations: Curtains, Blinds and Shutters
Most windows are decorated with either curtains, blinds or shutters, both for decorative and practical reasons. In historic times window gaps were just that – gaps. They were just a space which air (as well as rain, snow, or intruders) could get through. The earliest thing that was placed in the window gaps were stones which would protect buildings to some extent. This idea developed and a variety of different window coverings were eventually used. Even when the now common glass was introduced to windows, decorative coverings have continued to be popular.
Curtains
Curtains are most common in Europe. They are made from a cloth material, and its main purpose is to block light, especially at night when people are trying to sleep. They are most widely used in homes.
They are pulled over windows form the side to close, and held open by tie backs when necessary. Most people leave their curtains open during the day and closed by night. They are also used for decorative purposes, and people usually choose which curtains they will purchase based on how they look. They can come in an extremely large variety of designs, patterns and colours, and are normally chosen to fit well within the decoration of the room in which they will be placed.
Advantages of Curtains
Curtains can keep a home warm, due to the cloth materials used. They are generally more decorative than blinds but not as expensive as shutters. They can come in almost any design so there is a lot of choice in how people would like them to look. They are also relatively easy to design so people can make their own.
Blinds
Blinds are made with plastic or wood, and are held together with string. The slats overlap so light is blocked out. The slats are opened and closed by turning a rod, and when closed there should be no gap between them. That they can be adjusted accordingly means it is easy to control the amount of light let in, as they can be partially closed. To open and close blinds completely, a string is used. They are though, usually less decorative than curtains or shutters.
Advantages of Blinds
The main advantage is the control of light as well as the price. They are relatively cheap, although it does depend on the design. If the aim is to go for the cheapest option possible then it blinds are they way to go with many simple ones available at a low cost.
Shutters
In some ways shutters are similar to blinds, as they have louvres. These are like slats, and are controlled in much the same way. They are though much more solid than blinds. With Shutters, there is a frame around the whole window space, and the louvres are attached at either end to the frame. They can be used on the interior or exterior of a building. When open completely, they are opened from the centre outwards. Shutters are mostly used in Mediterranean countries and in the United States. The Southern states of the U.S. is where plantation shutters come from, so named as they were originally used on buildings in the cotton plantation areas.
Advantages of Shutters
Like curtains, shutters can be extremely decorative, possibly even more so. They can also keep a building warm due to the solid wood used. They are sometimes used in areas prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, as they can prevent windows from breaking. Unlike curtains or blinds they are a real fixture of a home and can increase its value. Shutters are frequently custom made, meaning the customer can have a real choice is how they look.
Andrew Marshall ©
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