Roller blinds (fabric roller blinds) are a design that includes a solid fabric sheet and a shaft that wraps the fabric around itself, protecting the room from daylight. The industry produces two types of roller blinds:
- Open system.
- Closed system.
Roller blinds fit perfectly into any interior style, and they harmonize perfectly with modern plastic windows.
The first one is cheaper and easier. Its design consists of a fabric sheet and a winding shaft. The shaft diameter depends on the dimensions of the product and ranges from 19 to 45 mm. Closed models are a cassette that contains a shaft with a fabric cloth and guides attached to the sides of the sash or the window itself. The cassette design provides maximum protection from daylight, making it ideal for children's rooms or areas for viewing films or slides.
The mechanism of fabric roller shutters makes it possible to fix the position of the fabric at any height, thereby regulating the flow of daylight.
Determining the size of fabric roller shutters
You can install Mini roller curtains or regular fabric roller blinds on your windows. Mini roller blinds are mainly used as a decorative element for plastic windows. From a practical point of view, this option can shade a room from bright light or serve as an element that will protect a glazed room from prying eyes (balcony, terrace, etc.).
This option is great for plastic windows; it requires installation without drilling, so it is used most often.
When installing roller window curtains, the sizing process depends on the type of home. In typical apartment buildings, window and door openings are standardized by the current GOST and SNiP. Therefore, you just need to go to the store and choose the pattern and fabric density that suits your interior, depending on your personal preferences and the purpose of the room.
Separately, it is worth noting the existence of lovolight type curtains, which are huge in size and controlled by a motorization unit using a remote control.
Those living in a private house whose windows differ from current standards will have to visit either a workshop for the production of roller curtains, or a company specializing in the installation of windows and doors made of polyvinyl chloride and equipping its products with the appropriate accessories.
If the windows face south, it is better to choose cool shades that will compensate for the excess sunlight and make the room visually cooler.
The choice of width depends on how often you open a particular window, and where you will mount the curtain, on the outside or on the window sashes. The length of the curtain in this case should be at least 1 cm longer. The maximum length of the canvas compared to the size of the window depends on the height at which the shaft will be mounted and the distance between the lower edge of the window and the window sill. It is considered optimal to lower the fabric below the bottom edge of the glass by 2–4 cm.
If you rarely or do not open the window at all, and your curtain will be attached to the wall, then measure the window opening and add 8 - 12 cm.
When attaching the roll directly to the sash, the width of the curtain depends on the width of the window or door profile. With straight glazing beads, the dimensions of the fabric sheet will be equal to the dimensions of the double-glazed window, with beveled beads - the length and width of the glazing beads.
Rooms with northern windows, on the contrary, need warm, bright shades.
Determining the size of cassette systems depends on whether they will be mounted on an opening or a “rigid” window sash. For windows with straight glazing beads, the dimensions of the fabric are equal to the dimensions of the window glass, and for beveled windows, the width is determined by the outer edges of the side glazing beads, because the guides will be attached to the front surface of the bead.
Color and pattern can also correct some of the shortcomings of the space.
Choosing the optimal sizes of roller blinds\
In order not to make a mistake with the size, you should carefully measure the window for which you are choosing a roller blind. For this purpose, use a regular measuring tape. Measurements should be taken in several places: this will help take into account all the unevenness of the slopes.
A roller blind must cover the entire window opening, so it is very important to measure the width of the window and its sashes. The width of the roller blind should be 50 millimeters less than the width of the cross-section of the opening. The height of the roller shutter must correspond to the height of the window.
If you want to be completely confident that your measurements are correct, it is better to entrust this matter to a specialist. A master measurer will quickly and easily determine the required dimensions of a roller blind. This will help avoid problems during installation.
Determining the opacity of curtains
The protection from sunlight that fabric roller blinds should provide depends on both personal preference and the purpose of the room, as well as the side on which the windows face relative to the sun. It is ensured by such a characteristic of the canvas as light resistance. Different values of this parameter can provide a level of room illumination from almost complete darkness to slight dimming. The opacity of regular fabric is 0, 10, 25, 50 and 100%. It should be noted that the quality and density of the fabric roll must be selected for each room separately.
When choosing roller blinds, look at the material, design, and adjustment mechanisms.
A fabric with complete opacity (100%) is called Black Out. Roller blinds with such fabric are usually used in rooms that require maximum darkness, rooms in which children sleep during the day, home theaters and others, as well as rooms whose interior furnishings and situation need to be hidden from prying eyes: country cottages, private houses, apartments on the ground floor.
When choosing the color of roller blinds, you should also pay attention to its combination with other elements of the room.
Fabric roller blinds with low opacity (up to 25%) are optimal for installation in dimly lit rooms.
It is worth taking into account not only the color, but also the pattern, so as not to overload the space with different ornaments.
Fabric sheets with rates of 50 and 75% are primarily intended to create a unique interior. Thanks to the variety of materials that have this indicator (linen, cotton, polyester, suede and others), they perfectly perform a protective function and allow you to choose the required model depending on the style in which the interior is decorated.
The fabrics used to make roller blinds have a special dust-repellent impregnation.
When choosing opacity indicators, you should also remember that fabric roller blinds not only create a comfortable environment and protect from immodest glances, but also prevent furniture and interior items from fading from sunlight.
They perform the function of protecting furniture and wallpaper from fading under the influence of sunlight. In winter, they additionally protect the room from cold air.
In addition, by reducing the level of illumination, you thereby reduce the degree of heating of the room, which allows you to save on air conditioning. Optimal protection is provided by a combination of traditional curtains and fabric roller shutters.
Easy to use. They are easy to remove to wash, adjust and reinstall.
How to care
The way to care for roller blinds depends on the situation and the fabric from which they are made. Typically, the product's operating instructions indicate products that can be used to clean the canvas. If a stain appears, remove it with an eraser. During routine cleaning, non-aggressive detergents are recommended that do not contain acidic or alkaline components that can change the color of the fabric.
It is easier to care for cassette types, since they are in the box most of the day, and no dust gets on them - just wipe the guide strips and the case itself with a damp cloth, and vacuum the canvas.
Classic cut curtains are always relevant. But they do not always suit the interior of the room or are not to everyone’s taste. In such a situation, the only correct solution is roller blinds. This type of curtain is a piece of fabric that is attached to the top of the window on a shaft. Basically, it spins from top to bottom. The main lifting mechanisms in such products are mechanical and automatic. An automatic lift is more convenient than a mechanical one, but, unfortunately, it is much more expensive.
Before you buy roller blinds, you need to correctly measure the dimensions of the window.
Roller blinds come in two main types:
- closed;
- open.
The mechanism of open roller blinds is much simpler, since it does not have a shaft on top that protects the fabric. They cost an order of magnitude cheaper, but they also get dirty more often. Closed curtains have a protective roller and most often they are equipped with an automatic lifting mechanism. The cost of roller blinds depends on the quality of their components. In addition, this type of product may differ in color and type. It is very difficult to make roller blinds yourself and therefore it is better to order them, taking into account the size of your window.
They can be multi-colored or plain. The materials from which they are made are very different. In a separate group there are curtains called “Day-Night”. They consist of two strips of fabric. When closed they look like a single unit.
Choosing a pattern for roller blinds
The offers from sellers and manufacturers of fabric roller shutters are so varied that sometimes the problem of choice can cause a lot of hesitation. On the other hand, the variety of textures and patterns allows manufacturers to please the most capricious and demanding client.
You should carefully select fabrics with ornaments. They should emphasize the purpose and dignity of the room.
The different purposes and decoration of rooms in the house require an individual approach to the choice of pattern and color of the canvas. For kitchens, due to their small area, a light-colored curtain is better suited, and its impregnation will protect the fabric from moisture and aggressive kitchen environments.
Roller shutter fabrics are treated with special impregnations that will protect them from the kitchen environment and moisture.
In the nursery or living room it is better to hang curtains with thicker fabric.
In a child's room, it is better to install roller blinds in light, bright colors: dark shades can negatively affect the child's psyche.
The bedroom will look better with fabric roller shutters in natural colors (brown, green) or pastel colors (pale pink, beige).
Flashy colors are inappropriate in a room designed for relaxation.
The choice of color is usually determined by the personal preferences of each family member. But when choosing a color, you should take into account the following factors.
- Room decoration style.
- Color and sizes of plastic windows.
- Illumination of the room.
- Room dimensions.
- Features of wall decoration (color and texture).
- Furniture color scheme.
- Small accessories used in the interior.
To highlight the windows, the colors of the curtains should dominate the color scheme in the room.
It is not always optimal to purchase roller curtains with a pattern. By buying such fabric roller blinds without a designer and a subtle sense of taste, you can “ruin” the previously created interior. The existing general rule: the darker the room, the lighter the curtains is the first recommendation when choosing.
In a room with a TV or computer, it is also better to use structures made of fairly dense material in dark shades.
Correctly selected color shades of fabric roller shutters will allow you to correct the shortcomings of the room itself and mistakes made during its design.
For the kitchen, the material is light and not very dense, so that there is enough light.
Cheap or expensive?
The abundance of manufacturers allows you to choose roller blinds not only depending on the required characteristics and design, but also from the point of view of reducing the cost of decorating the interior of rooms. The manufacturer produces products in three price ranges: “economy”, “standard” and “premium”.
Translucent fabrics scatter bright rays, making natural light in the room comfortable.
By purchasing “economy” fabric roller blinds, you get a great opportunity to save money. In appearance, these curtains may not differ from more expensive models. But we must remember that in their production raw materials of poorer quality and less advanced equipment were used. As a result, you may encounter the appearance of curls at the edges of the fabric, the appearance of a “belly”, failure of parts of the mechanism for raising, lowering and fixing the fabric. It is also possible for the fabric to fade relatively quickly and unevenly.
You should carefully select fabrics with ornaments. They should emphasize the purpose and dignity of the room.
The “standard” series of roller blinds will be the best choice for homeowners who pay attention to the cost and quality of roller curtains. Manufacturers who have passed certification of their products in Europe and our country supply goods that are worth their money. They are protected from fading, absorption of unpleasant odors, dirt and other “enemies” of any curtains.
An interesting effect can be achieved if the curtains are made of the same fabric as the textiles in the room, for example, a tablecloth or bedspread.
The “premium” series is an exclusive product and is characterized by natural fabrics and reliability of mechanisms, as well as additional functions. Such “abilities” include fabrics with special properties, non-flammable and washable, with remote control, and so on.
The advantages of roller blinds also include original appearance, compactness, simplicity and ease of use, and versatility.
We hope this article answered your question: “How to choose the right roller blinds?”
