The areas around your windows can completely transform your living space, allowing you to seamlessly merge the indoors and outdoors, opening up your home to create a modern and fresh living space. Use large windows or folding or sliding doors to create a completely open-plan space for your home — a must-have feature when remodelling your kitchen. However, this brings about the issue of causing your home to overheat in the summer months, while losing heat during the winter. There’s also the matter of privacy, especially if your home is clearly visible to neighbours.
Our collection of shutters and blinds are ideal for situations like this, where you want the freedom to enjoy a large and open living space, but still be able to lock yourself away and enjoy some much-needed privacy. Kitchen window dressings can come in a huge range of colours and textures, letting you choose a style that best works for your home’s aesthetic.
BUYING BLINDS
The variety for blinds is seemingly endless, and you have the option to customise them however you like, depending on your space and the size of your window. There are five main styles you can choose from, all with their own unique benefits.
ROLLER BLINDS:
These can be neatly rolled away without being too obtrusive, giving you all the space of the window during the day, and a blacked out window at night. These can be made to measure without getting too expensive, and can be cut to fit almost any window. If your kitchen is overlooked, and you want to bring in the maximum amount of light, opt for translucent roller blinds.
This style is particularly popular for roof windows, available in any colour, and can even include a pull-up mechanism. Roller blinds can also be lined with blackout and insulating fabrics to help you keep the heat in and the light out. The clean lines and contemporary style pairs with a shaker kitchen style, and can be easily customised to add a splash of colour to your room.
ROMAN BLINDS:
Much like roller blinds, Roman blinds hang flat when lowered, forming attractive pleats when pulled up. This gives a much more decorative effect in comparison to the roller blinds’ clean and contemporary style. However, as they form pleats when rolled up, they will not rise to expose all of your window, which means they’re not best suited for particularly gloomy kitchens where natural light isn’t easily reached.
VENETIAN BLINDS:
Available in either wood or metal slats in varying widths, venetian blinds are perhaps the most iconic blind style. As with other blinds, the slats can be raised and lowered, but tilted the lowered slats allows you to control the levels of light and privacy. This style is often touted as a cheaper alternative to shutters, while still being as effective at controlling the light and temperature of your kitchen. Venetian blinds work well in kitchens which get a lot of sunlight, as you can easily control how much enters the room. However, it’s important to note that these blinds quickly attract dust, so you may need to spend more time cleaning them.
VERTICAL BLINDS:
Typically associated with offices, vertical blinds have come a long way, and wouldn’t look out of place along a large expanse of glass, such as on bi-fold or sliding doors. Available in a huge variety of widths, colours, and materials, you can customise vertical blinds to fit in with the exact style you want in your kitchen. If you have small children running around, or would simply prefer a more sleek finish, look for blinds without weights or chain.
PANEL BLINDS:
With a look similar to a roller blind, panel blinds slide from side to side rather than up and down, much like Japanese room separators. This makes them ideal for open-plan kitchens, where you may want to separate your kitchen and living rooms while cooking. This chic and modern option can be easily customised, allowing you to play with feature walls in the open space, without committing to a full wall that’s always left on display.
CHOOSING SHUTTERS
While shutters are often a more expensive option for window dressings, they shouldn’t be so easily dismissed. Not all of them are made from expensive materials, and we can work with you to find an option that suits your budget and needs. Materials like polymer-coated MDF, hardwearing vinyl, and ABS (a waterproof material specifically designed for kitchens and bathrooms) are all fine choices for shutters.
The shutter style you choose depends on the room and the size of the window dressing you wish to cover. We recommend booking a home consultation if you’re interested in installing shutters, as our expert designers will be able to take a look and your home and explain your options to ensure you get a perfect fit.
FULL HEIGHT SHUTTERS:
These cover your entire window, and offer a clean and simple appearance. Opening as one single unit, the slats (or louvers) can be tilted by a central pole mechanism on each panel, giving you control over the amount of light coming into your home. However, if you’d like a cleaner and more contemporary appearance, you can opt for a ‘rod-free’ variant.
TIER ON TIER SHUTTERS:
Giving you full privacy without sacrificing light, tier on tier shutters have two independently opening levels, with top and bottom panels that open and close independently of one another. This is perfect for kitchens which are overlooked, as it allows you to guard against any prying eyes, without blocking out too much light.
TRACKED SHUTTERS:
These shutters slide along a track, which removes the need for any frames and hinges, making them ideal for large glazing areas. The bi-fold version concertinas back when opened, giving you plenty of access through your home and out into the garden, while bi-pass designs slide behind one another in the same way as sliding doors.
CAFÉ STYLE SHUTTERS:
Café style shutters are fitted only to the bottom half of windows, allowing light to come in at the top, while keeping your privacy from the bottom. These work well with tall windows that may take up the height of your wall, or for front-facing kitchens.
SOLID SHUTTERS
These simple wooden panels cover all of your windows, keeping out light and noise, and trapping the heat indoors. Therefore, they’re not useful for kitchens or rooms where you want to easily control the light and temperature, but can work well for bedrooms.
If you’re still unsure about what kind of shutter or blind style will work best for your window dressing, browse our website and social media channels for inspiration or get in touch with our kitchen designers.
