The right window coverings are a must for any home's interior, and it can be difficult to discern what the best fit may be for you. This is especially true when it comes to choosing between blinds and shades, as many people don't understand the big differences between the two options. Blinds are made of strips of hard material stacked on top of one another, and they let in light, or shut out light, depending on the adjustable angle of the strips. Roller shades, on the other hand, are made of a piece or pieces of fabric that you can either roll down to cover a window or roll up to uncover a window.
The most common arguments for blinds are that the amount of light let into a room is more flexible than roller shades. Shades, however, have an advantage in versatility that blinds lack, which is that the materials used to make shades have more diverse properties than those which are used to make blinds.
For example, the difference in the performance of a wooden blind or one made from hard plastic is not very extreme, but shades can be made with fabrics that vary on the scale of sheer to opaque, which results in different levels of light blockage. This means that shades can be more personalized for different buyers' needs, as they can accommodate different preferences; like natural light with a sheer fabric, or light blockage with an opaque fabric.
Blinds also have many nooks and crannies, which make them more high maintenance when it comes to cleaning than shades. All shades are essentially a long piece of fabric, which means there are no unreachable areas for dust to collect, like blinds. Roller shades in particular are also easy to learn to use and operate; you simply pull down to roll the shade up or bring it back down. This makes it a lot less complicated than many other popular options for window coverings.
Roller shades can be a great option for both the budget buyer and those with money to spare, with retailers offering options that range dramatically from ten or twenty dollars to one hundred dollars, or even more. Whether you are looking to splurge or save, there is enough diversity in price to accommodate everyone. Ultimately, the biggest strength in roller shades is their low maintenance paired with versatility, which makes them an attractive choice for a wide range of buyers.
For more information on roller shades, reach out to a local window company.
