The right window blind can do wonders for your home. Not only are they designed to bring colour, style and elegance into a space. Modern blinds also work functionally to support the needs of everyone in the house. No matter the size of your window, the scope of your interior design or the specific requirements of a space, the right window blind will benefit you in a multitude of ways.
In today’s guide, we’re going to take a deeper look at window blind fabrics. You may think that the colour, pattern and style of a blind is your main focus. But, once you discover how functional window blind materials can be, we promise you’ll be focusing more on this vital component.
Solar Reflective
Do you have a room in the house that everyone avoids on the hottest days? Or, perhaps you invested money in creating a home office only to never use it because of the excessive temperature. Solar Reflective window blinds are your solution. Made with a pearlescent backing, they are available in roller blind and vertical blind designs. When rolled down, the fabric not only offers privacy but also causes sun rays to be reflected back out of the window. This reduces the amount of light, but also heat, that can enter a room.
On the hottest days, keeping solar reflective blinds closed minimises the build-up of heat in a room. The infrared light rays that would generally pass into the space are blocked, preventing overheating and making the room considerably more usable.
Pros
- Help to minimise heat build-up in Summer
- Can minimise the impact of UV rays on soft furnishings
- Reduce the impact of glare
- Help to cut energy bills by lightning the dependence on cooling and heating equipment (fans etc)
Cons
- Don’t offer complete darkness so not necessarily the right choice for bedrooms
- Need to be rolled down during the hottest times of the day to be effective
Textured & Woven
As the name suggested, textured and woven window blind fabric is unlike the plainer options. It is either woven from quality cotton or finished to look like linen. Some designs use embroidery to create an aesthetically pleasing finish. This type of fabric is popular for those looking to create a rustic look. Think cottages, barn homes and quintessentially British interior design. The textured finish gives a much more organic edge and can be paired with other soft furnishings around the home for added style.
Pros
- Easy to create a vintage-inspired room
- Allows you to play with texture in your home
- Available in a wide variety of colours and styles to suit any space
Cons
- As with any soft furnishing, textured surfaces can be more challenging to clean.
- Again, this style won’t eliminate all light in a room
Blackout
If you’re looking to get a good night’s sleep, or simply ensure privacy in a specific room, the only real option is blackout blinds. Within the construction of the fabric, you’ll find a number of different layers. The middle layer is an opaque, light-clocking material that prevents any light from passing through. With modern technology, you can now have blackout blinds made in a multitude of colours – no longer do you have to settle for darker tones to achieve the darkness you need.
As we’ve mentioned above, blackout blinds are perfect for bedrooms. They allow you to artificially create an environment that encourages the production of serotonin and tells your body it’s time to wind down. For children and adults alike, creating this environment has been shown to aid in quicker and deeper sleep. It’s important to note, however, that if a window blind is not fitted within channels around the window frame, there will still be a slither of light that gets through the edges.
Pros
- Allow you to darken a room whenever you need to – even during the day.
- Perfect for nurseries and helping to teach smaller babies how to sleep longer
- Some degree of temperature control during hot weather
- Some degree of noise control
- Heightened privacy
Cons
- Blocking all of the light out makes a room unusable for many tasks
- Can make younger children dependant on complete darkness for sleep
- Won’t entirely blackout a room unless fitted within channels
Thermal
In a similar manner to solar reflective blinds, thermal fabric allows you to control the usability of a room. However, in this instance, the focus is on managing excessive heat or minimising heat loss. The specialist fabric reduces the percentage of heat typically lost from your windows – which can normally be as much as 10%. When rolled down, they offer an effective barrier which will maintain a consistent temperature during colder days. The blinds trap a pocket of air between them and the window, preventing the air from touching the cold glass and dropping in temperature.
Equally, if you use thermal window blinds during warmer days and keep them down at the height of the day, you can eliminate that heat-box feeling. Both of these actions lighten your dependence on central heating or fans to regulate temperature. Therefore, they are an effective way of managing energy bills too.
Pros
- Highly effective in managing temperature control, no matter the room
- Energy-efficient option
- Being lined with thicker material, they will provide a degree of shade in the room.
- Luxurious feel and look
Cons
- Won’t entirely block out all light
- Must be used appropriately to get the benefits
Flame Retardant
In environments such as kitchens and workshops, the threat of fire is significant. And the window blind industry has addressed this with specialist flame retardant fabric. Here, a flammable coating made from a mineral-based barrier is used to cover the surface of the material. This prohibits fire from burning its way through to the fibres, thereby minimising the risk of fire taking hold. Preventing damage and more significant emergencies, this window blind fabric is used both domestically and commercially.
Pros
- Safe and suitable option for homes and workplaces
- Highly effective at minimising the spread of fire throughout a house
- Available in a wide variety of styles, patterns and colours to choose from
Cons
- Does not eliminate the risk of blinds catching fire – simply prevents this from spreading
Water Resistant
Moisture of any type can degrade and damage fabric over time. And, in rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens where this cannot be avoided, it’s important you take the steps to minimise damage. Water-resistant fabric has been used to produce window blinds that work effectively in this environment. On top of the base fabric, it is coated with a waterproofing material. This can be anything from rubber and wax through to polyurethane.
Water will slide off the surface, rather than penetrating through and damaging the fibres within. These window blinds significantly reduce the change of mould build-up – something that can present a health hazard to members of your family.
Pros
- Effective at minimising mould and moisture-related damage
- Easy to clean
- Perfect for bathrooms, kitchens and commercial settings
- Available in a wide variety of styles
- Maintain their colour for longer
Cons
- Can have a shiny finish that is unappealing to some
Sheer, Voile and Screen
Perfect for working against the impact of glare, sheer, voile and screen fabrics are another option for window blinds. They all work in a similar way. The translucent fabric allows a reduced percentage of light to enter the room. Those with a tighter weave block out more light. Remember, that you need some light in order to read the content on your TV or computer screen. However, too much can be distracting and these blinds help you to effectively manage this.
Sheer, voile and screen blinds are used a lot in offices, cinema rooms and playrooms to create a comfortable setting.
Pros
- Help you to manage excessive light, no matter the time of year
- Have varying weave tightnesses, allowing you to choose how much light they let in
- Available in a variety of styles, colours and patterns
Cons
- Don’t offer complete privacy. If you have the light on at nighttime, passers-by will be able to see in.
- Block the view when rolled down
- Can look old-fashioned – some complain that some styles remind them of net curtains
- Won’t insulate against cold temperatures
Anti-Fungal
Proper management and maintenance is the way to keep window blinds looking their best. And technology has even advanced to make this considerably easier. Anti-fungal fabric has been coated with a protective film that prevents mould or mildew from building it. They are ideal for moisture-rich environments, including those prone to excessive condensation. No longer will you have to rely on harsh and potentially damaging chemicals to bring your blinds back to their full glory.
Pros
- Easy-to-clean
- Longlasting
- Reduce the risk of mould or mildew build-up
Cons
- Can have a shiny finish that some find unappealing
As you can see, the variety of window blind fabrics available on the market is vast. And, it continues to grow in line with demand. When choosing the perfect window dressing for your home, understanding the options means you’ll get the very most out of your decision.
If you would like any more advice on the fabrics we’ve mentioned above or would like to discuss your own project, get in contact with the team here today.