topic Re: Drapes or blinds? in Home

Drapes or blinds?

Texasmouse — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 23:57:21 GMT

Our house is 19 years old and still has the standard vertical blinds that were installed when it was built. We bought it three years ago. Yesterday, DH and I went drapery shopping and picked out some lovely curtains for our living room and dining room, as well as curtains for our sliding patio door and plantation blinds for the window above my kitchen sink. All of the curtains have the grommets at the top and we chose lovely bronze decorative rods that compliment our decor. We ordered everything except the kitchen blinds through jcp's website. I can't wait to receive them as I think they're really going to give this place a homey touch! I know people seem to be divided into two camps: drapes or blinds. Which do you prefer?

Re: Drapes or blinds?

CelticCrafter — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:06:19 GMT

I'm a curtain with a valance person.

I tried to like just blinds with a valance and couldn't do it!

Re: Drapes or blinds?

fthunt — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:13:10 GMT

I have both in living room and kitchen. Mini-blinds and drapes or (kitchen) curtain. In living room I can/do tilt the blinds for winter months when it gets dark early. Privacy thing for me.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

GCR18 — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:13:58 GMT

I like drapes and blinds. To me, it depends on the room and level of privacy desired. Bedrooms have blinds, all have sheers and some also have drapes. Sliding door in kitchen and living room just have drapes. Kitchen windows have nothing.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

ECBG — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:16:36 GMT

I do tie tab drapes. We collect primitive antiques and blinds wouldn't work.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

sunshine45 — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:26:08 GMT

mostly horizontal blinds.......the honeycomb type with the room darkening feature.....all of them have a matching valance...... some bedrooms, bathrooms, back doors, kitchen, and sunroom.

one bedroom has fabric roman blinds.

one bedroom has sheer curtains on a sliding door and the honeycomb type with the room darkening feature on the regular window.

the den has sheer curtains on the windows with functiona heavierl curtains to cover them at night.

dining room has vertical blinds with the room darkening feature on a sliding glass door.

living room has sheer curtains on a bow window with decorative non-functional "curtains" on each side of the wall and a large valance.

windows in the basement have no window coverings at all.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

MadameQueen — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:37:23 GMT

@Texasmouse. Isn't it fun to get all new stuff☺ Hope you love everything. I have cherry wood mini blinds in the kitchen to match the cabinets. I have lace curtains and drape side panels in the living room. I have roman shades and drape side panels in the other rooms. I always get my window treatments at JCP. I like having drapes on the sides so I don't have to order custom made shades.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

Desertdi — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:48:23 GMT

I face West in Phoenix, so I went to plantation shutters

Re: Drapes or blinds?

KentuckyWoman — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:51:48 GMT

Blinds with valance and swags in formal living room and family room. Blinds in all bedrooms with either curtains or linen sheers for more privacy.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

RedTop — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:57:14 GMT

Insulated or blackout drapes in every room; no blinds ever in this house.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

LonestarBabs — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:58:48 GMT

Neither, really. Plantation shutters on all windows, and some windows also have stationary drapery panels hanging on each side for color, softness, and style. I have one fabric roman shade. We have wide faux wood blinds on the sunroom windows but I am researching alternatives so I can get rid of them . I hate those dust-catching blinds!

Re: Drapes or blinds?

151949 — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 01:04:16 GMT

When we lived up north we had mini blinds and then lace curtains and I loved them. Light & sun but privacy. Anyway, here in Fl. we have to control the sun light so we decided on plantation shutters.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

Texasmouse — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 01:22:04 GMT

@LonestarBabs

I love the look of plantation shutters but the size and number of windows we have made them cost prohibitive. I dislike the fact that blinds do get dusty but don't shutters also?

Re: Drapes or blinds?

BabyYoda — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 01:27:02 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
Insulated or blackout drapes in every room; no blinds ever in this house.

Yes we have the same. I hate blinds.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

FastDogWalker2 — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 01:30:09 GMT

We have plantation shutters in our home - we like them a lot. Your choice sounds lovely.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

Meowingkitty — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 01:59:02 GMT

We also face west in Phoenix and we to have shutters. Drapes are to dusty and require to much upkeep. Lived here 30 years and never had nor will have drapes.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

stevieb — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 02:08:42 GMT

I like them both and even both used together, depending on need and the look one is shooting for. But no vertical blinds ever. I can't stand them. I also love plantation shutters and Roman shades. I'm good with valences over a blind or shade of some kind but also like curtains and draperies.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

Texasmouse — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 02:15:41 GMT

@stevieb

Like you, I like many different types and styles of window treatments with the exception of vertical blinds! There's always that ONE rebel slat that wants to do its own thing and turn in a different direction (or not at all). I'll still have these in a couple of rooms, until funds permit their replacement, but at least the rooms we use the most will be rid of them!

Re: Drapes or blinds?

stevieb — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 02:20:20 GMT

@Texasmouse wrote:
@stevieb
Like you, I like many different types and styles of window treatments with the exception of vertical blinds! There's always that ONE rebel slat that wants to do its own thing and turn in a different direction (or not at all). I'll still have these in a couple of rooms, until funds permit their replacement, but at least the rooms we use the most will be rid of them!

@Texasmouse They surely were 'the' window covering there for a few years, but I never liked them and I don't think I've ever met a set that worked perfectly... Funds are always an issue. When I first moved into my current home several years back, I had to replace all the venetian blinds, as they were just old and discolored, even though they worked pretty well. So I too went to JCP, got all new blinds and am gradually adding to them, room by room. I would have preferred plantation shutters in most rooms, but the cost was just too much!! Good luck with your decorating. It can be such fun to outfit a place that's new to us.

Re: Drapes or blinds?

Texasmouse — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 02:27:07 GMT

Thanks, @stevieb. It was fun for me, although it took a Herculean effort on DH's part, even though he insists on being part of the process. LOL It seems he is quite pleased with our joint selections so I'm hoping he'll be a little more amenable when it's time to do the rest of the house!