A very big advantage of curtains over blinds is maintenance: the latter is considerably harder to maintain. It can get difficult to clean blinds because you have to wipe down each slat to remove dust and debris – a tedious process. In contrast, maintaining curtains is relatively easy because you could just send it out for dry cleaning or throw it in the washing machine for a quick wash.
One other edge that curtains have over blinds is the price: curtains are so much cheaper as compared to blinds. Custom blinds have to be made by professionals, and that could easily set you back a pretty penny. Meanwhile, curtains are comparatively cheap and simple to install – so simple, in fact, that you could do it yourself. The current trend is moving toward lighter fabrics for curtains, so you don’t have to worry about custom drapery with thick and heavy fabrics.
For the ultimate in economy, you could even create your own curtains to save more on costs. All you need is a little patience and creativity because curtains involve only straight stitches on a sewing machine. Even without a sewing machine, you can still create great curtains; a beautiful no-sew curtain is possible with the use of basting tape ironed on the fabric to create the seams. You can turn your home curtains into a simple DIY project to do in your spare time.
Blinds are at a disadvantage in terms of color because they’re mostly limited to neutral and pastel colors. Curtains, on the other hand, give you innumerable colors and designs to choose from. You can easily personalize your curtains by mixing up colors and fabric textures for a unique piece. Patterns and prints are also options, especially if you choose to make your own curtains. Your choices are only as narrow as the selection in the fabric store.
Don’t forget that the fabrics and designs you choose can make or break the look of your space. Try to pick colors that match important furniture and other pieces like area rugs, but that doesn’t mean having everything in monochrome. For variety, you could get differently colored design pieces and then tie those in with similarly colored curtains to achieve a little balance in the space.
There are reasons aplenty why you’d want to use curtains instead of blinds for your windows. Aside from being easy to create and customize even for a novice, curtains can give cohesion to the visual elements of any space. Whether it’s a personalized no-sew curtain or a store-bought ready-made one at the end of the day, you’ll still get all of a curtain’s advantages. Besides, your savings from buying curtains instead of blinds will reassure you that you made the right choice.
There are many other benefits to purchasing custom window treatments you may not have been aware of. If done correctly, your new window treatments can help improve energy efficiency within your home which can save you money in long run as well. The quality of your window treatments should be such that the lining will protect your investment and other furnishings over time.