Why Blinds May Not Work For You…
Blinds are a popular window upgrade, but they may not be an upgrade for you. For some, blinds might not be the right home addition. There are some potential deal-breakers you should consider! Here are a few reasons why you may not want to get blinds.
Lack of Privacy
While blinds provide plenty of privacy when they’re closed, they don’t provide any privacy when they’re open. If you’re trying to create a more private space, a sheer or lightweight curtain may be a better option for some than blinds. This is one reason why a blind/curtain combo is popular for so many, giving you the privacy of blinds at night while giving you privacy of curtains during the day.
Poor light Control
Blinds can definitely help control light to a degree, but are not always able to block 100% of light from entering or to even filter the intensity very well. Blinds are typically ridgid and “framed,” which keeps them from being a fluid light control option on their own. If you’re looking for blinds alone to solve your light problem, you may be disappointed by the results. However, the addition of curtains or layers of curtains can help you more smoothly filter light as well as fill in the gaps around blinds.
Difficult to Clean
Blinds aren’t exactly the easiest to clean. Your baseboards may be neglected more than you want them to be, but a few quick wipes cleans them up easily enough. Cleaning your blinds can be an intensive process requiring care over their more delicate parts. If meticulous cleaning over the life of your blinds isn’t appealing to you, you might want to pass on getting typical blinds in your home. However, there are styles of blinds you can choose from that may make cleaning easier for you and require less maintenance such as a solid folding blind vs a stereotypical slat option.
Conflict of Style
Blinds can conflict with your home décor. You may love the look of your windows as they are and not want to take away from the elegance of the trim or distract from the styled look of your home. For this reason, many opt to stick with curtains alone that they can customize a bit easier. Blinds have come a long way in recent years and have been brought further than simply being a utilitarian household fixture. You can now find blinds in much more varied styles and have a much better chance of finding blinds that fit in your space than ever before!
Safety Concern
The adjustment cords on traditional blinds can be a hazard for small children and even pets. While the danger may not be severe, it is still a potential concern to be considered. If this is the deciding factor for you, there are styles of blinds that do not have the traditional adjustment cords. Cord-less blinds are almost more widely used nowadays than corded blinds, and there’s usually not any difference in price. If you would like blinds without the concern, there are plenty of alternative options available to you!
Cost
Many are surprised at the cost of blinds. Even the cheapest blinds you can find can still hit the pocketbook for some. Our recommendation however is not to skimp on cheap blinds. Cheap blinds won’t last you long, and you’ll end up paying more a few years later as you’re having to replace them again or remove them completely.
What are some ways to save? Buying in bulk can reduce your overall investment as you can sometimes receive bulk discount deals. Alternatively, buying one or two sets of blinds at a time as you come into extra money can allow you to spread out the investment over a period of time instead of a single purchase.
Additionally, installation labor is another often overlooked expense. Our installation prices at Inside Out Solutions averages out to $80-$140 per blind, depending on length and location. While we come in with all the tools, equipment, and correct mounting anchors, that can still be more than you might be able to spend. The most inexpensive option would be to DIY. Following our installation tips and following our mounting guides can help you do this project all on your own!
Allergies
While not a common problem, blinds can lead to allergy problems if reactants build up on your blinds. While this is probably not a consideration for you, if you have any common or severe allergies, it is a factor. A cloth material or more porous surface may not be your best choice, but a harder blind material that is easily cleanable and doesn’t hide allergens as well should treat you just fine!
Functionality
Finally, they simply may not work correctly in your windows. Some older windows may have hardware sticking out in odd spots, your windows may be placed oddly, and blinds may not be able to function smoothly as intended. If this is a concern to you, we’d be happy to help! Whether you plan on using our installation services or plan on DIYing it, send us a message and we can help you determine if there’s any prohibiting factors preventing you from installing blinds in your home.
At the end of the day, we think blinds are a great addition to any home, but these are potentially serious considerations to be made. Give them some good thought. Many of these deal-breakers have workarounds, but your home and your life are yours. No one knows what’s a deal-breaker better than you. We just want you to fully understand as many ins and outs, good and bad, as possible before you move forward.
Any questions or concerns regarding any of these potential problems we could help answer? Send us a message! We’d love to be of service to you and help you better understand your options!
