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The Types Of Blinds Available And Their History

Window blinds can be made from aluminium, plastic fabric and wood; they come in a large variety of types such as Venetian, shades and tracks and are perfect for use in the home and in offices. They act to limit and obscure the view through a window and hence effectively 'blind' people's views.

Slat blinds are often used in industrial and commercial workspaces as well as homes but equally popular are solid blinds or rollers; these are perfect for rooms where total darkness is needed. Slat blinds come in the vertical and horizontal variety and typically use drawstrings to control the height of the blind as well as the angle of the slats. In contrast solid blinds do not control the level of light and act much like curtains.

Blinds have been used in civilisations throughout history. The ancient Egyptians used blinds to keep the fierce desert sun out whilst the ancient Chinese also used blinds. Understandably these window coverings varied in the materials they were constructed from, the Egyptians used reeds for their window dressings and the Chinese bamboo. In fact bamboo is still popular throughout Asia as a way to cover windows.

Venetian blinds are made up horizontal slats that are connected by strips of fabric or cords. They are raises and lowered using these cords and as the slats are parallel it is possible to adjust the angle of the slats in order to control the light being allowed into the interior.

The original venetian blinds were most probably brought to Venice by traders during the middle ages and were made from fabric folds. Modern varieties however are usually made from wood, or aluminium, although a cheaper option is plastic and vinyl. These blinds are probably the most popular being used today and are found in homes and offices across the land.

Blinds can normally be fitted into the window recess meaning that the light let in at the edges is restricted and the space in the room is maximised. The closer a blind is fitted to a window the better the thermal attributes; if keeping heat in is essential, fabric blinds are probably the most sensible option. In summer blinds are a great way to keep an interior cool whilst also granting privacy.

Fabric blinds come in the roller and Venetian varieties as well as roman shades. Rollers work by wrapping the fabric around a single pole, the blind is then rolled up to allow more light in. Wood is an extremely popular material used in the construction of blinds and used by interior designers the world over; while oak and heavier woods can be used, lighter woods such as basswood are most common as they are easy to raise and lower and can be stained to create specific design effects.

It should be remembered however that wooden blinds are unsuitable for highly humid rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen; in these conditions they tend to warp and discolour.

Today blinds have come a long way from their inception as a way to keep the desert heat out. It is now possible to have motors installed meaning they can be raised and lowered with the touch of a button. Additionally patterns and images can now be printed on blinds for ultimate personalisation. It is hoped this article has given an insight into the types of blinds on the market today, where they have come from and why this window covering is perfect for use in homes and offices.

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