The history of this window accessory is very interesting. Jalousie from French - jealousy. Initially, this was the name for planks, the material for which was wood. These wooden accessories were installed on windows in eastern countries, and hid them from the intrusive glances of their women who were at home without a burqa.
Blinds for plastic windows are a great way to decorate the interior and create a comfortable level of illumination in the room.
Thanks to the variety of designs, textures, materials and colors, blinds can be successfully integrated into almost any interior and installed on all window designs. Photos of examples of successful design solutions eloquently demonstrate the popularity of these accessories.
What options are there?
Modern industry has come a long way in creating a variety of types of blinds for plastic windows. The horizontal accessories that are familiar to the eye and the vertical accessories that have become a classic office are generously diluted with additional types of designs and offer a wide selection of materials. It can be wood, aluminum, plastic, and various textiles. Photos in manufacturers' catalogs are very diverse.
Horizontal blinds in the office
In addition, the widespread glazing of residential and public buildings with plastic windows has prompted designers to develop special types of blind designs. Their peculiarity is a special type of fastening, which allows not to hide the laconism of this type of window, frees up the window sill, visually expands the space of the room and, without opening the curtains, ventilates the room. These accessories can be used either independently or with additional curtains (classic tulle or curtains).
Regarding the design features of blinds, there are:
- Horizontal,
- Rolled,
- Vertical.
Based on the material used for their production, blinds for plastic windows are divided into:
- Fabric,
- Wooden,
- Aluminum,
- Plastic.
Each type has its own advantages and has found its own niche of application. Thus, horizontal canvases are more practical to maintain and resistant to stains, are less likely to fade and demonstrate durability.
Vertical structures have become classics of the genre and are now used not only in offices, but also to protect homes from intense lighting. They perfectly resist mechanical damage and are distinguished by a variety of colors and textures.
Vertical blinds in the kitchen
Fabric roller blinds and pleated curtains are perfect for decorating living rooms, children's rooms and bedrooms. Their excellent decorative characteristics make them very popular among designers. They are less practical, but they are able to create a unique mood in the room and comfort.
Let us tell you in more detail about each type of blinds for plastic windows.
Roller blinds for the room
Comparing curtains and blinds, we can say that roller shutters are the most stylish and elegant option for window protection. A variety of colors and textures will allow the design to fit into any interior. You can install roller blinds in the kitchen, children's room, bedroom, living room.
Main differences between the models:
- colors;
- degree of density and darkening;
- drawing;
- texture;
- installation method.
These curtains can be installed on the window frame or above the opening. Cloths that are installed separately on each of the glasses will be much more convenient. They do not cover the window sill and save precious centimeters of space.
If you still want to cover the entire window opening, choose roller shutters that are larger than the size of the window.
Advantages and Weaknesses
Roller curtains have several “advantages” that made such products popular:
- wide selection of colors and textures;
- the degree of darkening may vary depending on the material;
- The product is easy to care for;
- ease of installation.
You can see how such curtains are installed in the video.
It is better to choose fabrics with impregnation. This increases durability and reduces the ability to absorb dirt and accumulate dust. The best care option is to dry clean the surface with a brush or vacuum cleaner.
Features of use:
- Do not wipe with a wet cloth, wash by hand or in a machine;
- products cost more than curtain blinds;
- may get wet if condensation forms on the windows (we are talking about models in which the canvas is in close contact with the glass);
- in some cases, the window opening angle is reduced;
- Sometimes they open and close noisily.
If all this does not upset you at all, you can order and install roller shutters in your house. At the same time, carefully consider the choice of material from which the curtain fabric will be made.
Horizontal designs
This is kind of a classic of the genre. If you look at most photos of windows with blinds, these will be horizontal accessories. Such designs consist of horizontally directed lamellas connected into a single sheet and perfectly protect the room from overheating by regulating the intensity of the light flux.
Based on the type of construction, there are internal and inter-frame blinds. The first are mounted indoors on a window profile, and the second - inside the window frames. The latter type is installed on wooden window structures, and wood is used less and less in glazing. The control method is extremely simple and turns the slats to create the desired luminous flux.
Interframe blinds
Stylish wooden structures that have a presentable appearance are becoming fashionable. It is wood that can create an atmosphere of comfort, but mostly horizontal blinds are made of practical and reliable aluminum. The material is easy to clean, so these blinds are indispensable in kitchens.
Horizontal blinds
They are considered a classic look because they were the first to be created to protect window openings from sunlight. They are assembled from horizontally located lamellas. This design provides excellent protection from sunlight, so they will perfectly darken any room.
They are distinguished from other types by the possibility of installation in different ways: on individual sashes, windows, between frames. Horizontal blinds are very simple to use and easy to care for.
In addition, they are quite compact. Since they can be placed between the frames, in this case the window sill is freed up. This design reduces the entry of extraneous noise from the street and regulates the thermal insulation in the room . The structure can be installed on an inclined surface.
Since blinds protect the room well from sunlight and heat, you can save a lot on electricity, because the air conditioner in such cases will operate at lower temperatures. This design is made of aluminum, wood, fabric and even bamboo, and it fits perfectly into any interior, emphasizing the style of a particular room.
Vertical blinds
These accessories appeared relatively recently, and the prototype was the familiar curtains (their similarity can be assessed from the photo). The design looks great on large surfaces of windows, sliding doors, arches and bay windows. The lamella fabric in this case consists of vertical parts.
The control of the slats allows you to fix them in any position relative to their axis.
Light control is excellent. The control mechanisms are a cord and a control lever.
These blinds are impregnated with antiseptics and dust-repellent compounds. Fits perfectly in the washing machine when rolled up. Neither wood nor aluminum is used in their production - they are mainly made of plastic and textiles.
Roll shading methods
Such blinds are also called roller blinds. This is a canvas made of perforated dense fabric, which is wound on a special roller when closing (photos can be found on the Internet). This material creates diffused light in the room and does not obscure the view outside the window. Roller blinds are often equipped with guides that press them tightly against the window frame. If you need to create complete darkness in the room, you need to choose a material of maximum density.
Roll curtains
This type of blinds for plastic windows can also be made in the form of metal roller shutters, installed on the outside of the window and perfectly protecting not only from light, but also from burglary. In this case, it is not advisable to use wood as a manufacturing material, because wooden structures are less resistant to the influence of precipitation.
Types of designs
There are several types of such curtains. They are divided according to the method of fastening and the materials used to make the planks, or lamellas. Most often, shutters are made of wood, plastic, aluminum, and fabric. Metal curtains are often used as an option for the exterior design of a building.
Blinds made of aluminum are a simplified option and have an affordable price. They come in the following varieties: colored, smooth, with perforations applied to them, and velvet. This material is not suitable for places intended for frequent walking and periodic use: on doors, office windows. Aluminum is very soft, as a result of which it quickly loses its original configuration. But an important advantage of such devices is ease of maintenance. They can be easily wiped with a damp cloth.
Scheme for sliding the slats of vertical blinds.
- Devices made of plastic or aluminum belong to the low price category. Both horizontal and vertical bases are made from such materials. Aluminum does not undergo changes due to exposure to sunlight and moisture, it does not become electrified. Speaking about plastic structures, it is appropriate to choose a higher quality material, because as a result of exposure to the sun, a cheap base can turn yellow. Any design can easily be applied to such shutters, which when closed represents the whole composition.
- Wooden blinds are expensive. To give the base lightness and flexibility, special species are used. The most acceptable options would be cork, Canadian linden, pine and others. Such substrates do not tolerate high humidity, so it is not recommended to wash them with a damp cloth. Maintenance requires dry cleaning only.
- Blinds with a fabric base almost always have a vertical position. Horizontal position devices are single copies and are expensive. The rarity of vertical options is due to the ability to change the length of the slats based on the shape of the window opening.
You may be interested in: How to decorate a kitchen window
Sometimes manufacturers make blinds from special fabrics, impregnated with a special composition, unable to ignite or change when exposed to moisture. Fabric curtains are often made from polyester, which can withstand increased loads and exposure to sunlight.
For bedrooms and showrooms, devices are often used that have a special coating on the back of the material that tightly covers the window. Due to constant use and contamination of the base, machine washable.
Pleated blinds
This is a type of curtain for the manufacture of which a pleated solid fabric is used. This type of blinds on metal-plastic windows is adjusted by folding them using special laces and a weighting weight.
The advantage of this accessory is the ability to cover openings of any size and installation directly on the window. It is these protective elements that have the greatest texture and are capable of creating amazing interiors (photos of examples are often posted in visualizations for projects). Curtains are characterized by a wide palette of colors, ease of care, the ability to print photos, and a decent level of light protection.
Pleated blinds
Cassette blinds
This type of blinds is similar in design to roller blinds. A design feature is the presence of a cassette - a special box with guides in which the canvas moves. This type of shading is also mounted on a profile and gives freedom of use of window sashes. The curtain fabric is quite dense and impregnated with dirt and water-repellent compounds. These blinds are very easy to care for, requiring only occasional wiping of the canvas with a damp sponge.
Whatever your blinds are: wooden, plastic or textile, vertical, roller or cassette, wood, fabric, and any design will reliably protect you from excess heat and create the mood in the room!
