How to Pick the Best Window Covering for Your Home
The best window covering is the one that matches your interior design, serves the purpose of your room, and meets your budget.
We’ve compared the pros and cons of each window covering below to help you make the best decision when it comes to picking your window furnishings.
Curtains & Drapes
| Function: | Style: | ||
| Affordability: | Maintenance: | ||
| Light Control: | Privacy Control: | ||
| Security: | Insulation: |
Curtains & Drapes are ideal for Homeowners who:
Homeowners looking for a quick, affordable solution to cover their windows should consider curtains . Curtains are quick to install and simple to control.
The limitations of curtains are more apparent as time goes on. For light control, the length can be long enough to block out light seeping in through the bottom of the window – But over time, will collect dust with constant contact with the floor, which is also a concern for anyone allergy prone in the home. On the other hand, if they’re trimmed not to touch the floor – Then light control and insulation are sacrificed. While curtains can come with features such as flowing hefts for style and interlinings for insulation – They are generally not seen as an ‘aspirational’ window furnishing.
Curtains are an affordable window furnishing, but far less stylish and functional than other options
Plantation Shutters
| Function: | Style: | ||
| Affordability: | Maintenance: | ||
| Light Control: | Privacy Control: | ||
| Security: | Insulation: |
Plantation shutters are ideal for:
Homeowners looking for the best balance between function and style – Look no further. Plantations are easy to clean and operate, flexible light and privacy control, and even some insulating properties for climate control.
Real estate agents notice something when selling a house with plantations – Few stop to comment about blinds and curtains. Plantation shutters on the other hand, always get an inspirational look and a nod of approval from the prospective buyers. Depending on the layout of the room, there’s always a configuration to suit the purpose and style of it (sliding, bi-fold, fixed, hinged). Plantations can be very versatile, from allowing free-hinged air flow to secure fixed louvres offering severe weather protection from cyclone conditions. As the most desirable window furnishing, plantations can cost more than other window coverings.
Plantation shutters always get the inspirational look and a nod of approval from prospective home buyers.
Roller Shutters
| Function: | Style: | ||
| Affordability: | Maintenance: | ||
| Light Control: | Privacy Control: | ||
| Security: | Insulation: |
Roller shutters are ideal for:
Homeowners looking for to invest in the long-term value, security, comfort and privacy of their home should consider roller shutters. Extreme weather areas, such as bushfires and cyclones should also consider for practicality.
External roller shutters are the unsung hero of home improvement when it comes to window coverings. They can be coupled with a stylish interior furnishing for the best of both worlds. During the day, the sun can be let in as they’re fully retractable. Professional installation is required, unlike some DIY options for blinds and curtains. While anything covering your windows will have some insulating properties, the insulation of polyeruthane foam injected slats is second to none. Heating and cooling bills are slashed as they naturally keep the heat in on cool days, and repel the heat on scorching days. In terms of security – Any visual deterrent will be effective at deterring intruders, but aluminium shutters will physically prevent anyone from entering the property. Roller shutters even made the news in the UK when burglars attempted to ram their car through roller shutters and failed. For function, roller shutters can come as manual winded or remote controlled.
Roller shutters are hands down the most functional furnishing. For those who don’t like the look – They can be completely retracted and become practically invisible.
Roller Blinds
| Function: | Style: | ||
| Affordability: | Maintenance: | ||
| Light Control: | Privacy Control: | ||
| Security: | Insulation: |
Roller blinds are ideal for:
Similar to curtains, blinds are ideal for homeowners looking for an effective and affordable solution with simple light and privacy control.
Roller blinds can come in a fashionable light filter and sunscreen blinds for flexible light/UV and privacy control, or darker blockout blinds to completely block sunlight (common in hotel rooms to help guests sleep in high rise buildings). They have the option to be manually chain winded or available in motorisation. For rooms with limited space or dust/allergy concerns, blinds may be the ideal option over curtains for quicker and more affordable solutions. External fixed awnings are an even more effective solution for saving space on the interior windows, but are generally more expensive to install.
Similar to curtains, blinds are ideal for homeowners looking for an effective and affordable solution with simple light and privacy control.
Venetian Blinds
| Function: | Style: | ||
| Affordability: | Maintenance: | ||
| Light Control: | Privacy Control: | ||
| Security: | Insulation: |
Venetian blinds are ideal for:
Homeowners looking for the style and function of plantation shutters but in the market for a shorter-term, cheaper solution.
Homeowners generally choose venetian blinds for similar functional reasons to shutters, but as a shorter-term or cheaper solution. Anyone who has managed venetians is well familiar with the difficulty in cleaning and the effort of ongoing maintenance, with cords getting twisted, tangled and broken.
Anyone with venetians is well familiar with the difficulty in cleaning and the effort of ongoing maintenance, with cords getting twisted, tangled and broken.