Comparing Curtains and Blinds

It is easy to ignore the fact that the window is one of the most dangerous utilities in any house. Aside from the fact that most windows are made from fragile glass or are usually open and leave the home vulnerable to sunlight, heat, dust, noise and other impurities, they are also one of the more difficult parts of the house to clean.

There are of course accessories to help against these problems. Curtains and blinds along with their variants drapes and shades, are among the many options not only to make windows ‘safer’ but also provide it with more pleasing aesthetic functionality.

Curtains as Art Canvass

Easily, the curtain is the most common and arguably the most preferred window dressing. And it is easy to see why. First, regular curtains are usually made from light fabric or cloth and can easily be cut into preferred shapes and sizes or tailor-made to fit any window at a cheap cost. In Singapore, even ready-made curtains are sufficient enough for typical window sizes. Due to their weight, curtains are also easy to set up and just as easy to remove. As fabric, they can easily be cleaned using traditional washing methods. Since they are not made from any special material, they also require special washing procedures or chemicals.

But perhaps the biggest advantage of curtains is the variety of design available in the market. Since they are made from fabric or cloth they also come in hundreds of designs from the simplest to the loudest, from pastel to psychedelic colors and can provide the most traditional, minimalist to the experimental and neo-avant garde.  There are also designs that appeal across different age brackets, styles and themes.  In a way, the curtain are art canvasses with limitless paintings to suit anybody’s preference.

Even for those looking for a touch of an added touch of elegance, there are finely made drapes made from heavy, thick stiff but classy fabrics like velvet, damask, silk which by themselves provide added flair to any home.

The Minimalist Blinds

In Singapore, window blinds have a handful of disadvantages which is why it is more common in offices rather than average homes. Made of wood, bamboo, aluminum, or vinyl slats that open or close through a pulley mechanism, they are often heavy and permanently installed. Since they are permanent fixtures, they are relatively hard to remove and clean. In some cases, they are made from plastic materials than grow crisp over time especially when exposed to sunlight for long periods. This makes the material very fragile and sensitive to cleaning as they wear on. The latch and pulley mechanisms of many cheaper variant or brands are also very susceptible to mechanical failure which often render the blinds dysfunctional or completely useless. The options of course is to opt for more reliable brands or manufacturers but they are considerably expensive as even the cheapest blind is twice the price of regular curtains or drapes.

But most of all, blinds come in very limited designs. If at all they come in different colors but are usually planes colors limited to black, white, grey light blue or light green. There are very few patterned designs. This might be advantageous for those looking for more minimalist themes or simple home designs but definitely appeals to a very limited age group or market segment.