No one will be surprised that absolutely any owner of an apartment tries to equip it as comfortably as possible for further living. The interior design of the kitchen largely depends on how the windows are curtained. Classic curtains have already become a relic of the past and look very old-fashioned. They were replaced by modern blinds. They have a more attractive appearance, take up less space, and are also more practical to operate and maintain. But what kind of blinds on the windows to the kitchen (photos of these light-shielding devices look very attractive) is it better to choose? Let's try to understand this issue in more detail.
Ordinary curtains or blinds: what to choose
Many people prefer ordinary curtains, because they consider the blinds for plastic windows to the kitchen to be very ascetic and unattractive. There is some truth in this, however, the kitchen is the place where food is prepared, and, therefore, getting grease on the curtains is simply inevitable. Blinds are a good alternative to fabric curtains. They are much easier to care for, because plastic,metal and other materials that are used to produce these structures do not absorb dirt. Simply wipe them down with a damp cloth and they'll be as good as new. In addition, blinds are smaller than long curtains, so they are better suited for small rooms where every meter of free space is critical. And that's not even to mention the fact that ordinary curtains that are close to kitchen stoves often cause fires.
But the relevance of buying blinds does not end there. These devices have many advantages compared to curtains, among which the main ones are:
- if you choose the right blinds, you can visually increase the size of the room;
- easy care;
- plastic and metal don't absorb odors, fabric doesn't;
- blinds provide reliable protection not only from the sun, but also from prying eyes;
- the ability to adjust the level of illumination in the room.
In addition to all of the above, blinds look good with traditional curtains, so if you do not want to completely abandon the latter, you can simply combine them.
Types of blinds
Nowadays, the blinds in the kitchen are divided into several types. To understand which one to choose, you need to have an idea of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of device.
The most common are horizontal blinds. This kinddevices has a large number of advantages, the main ones being compact dimensions, ease of operation and maintenance, the ability to adjust the level of illumination in the room, as well as a wide variety of materials and colors. If you need blinds for a small kitchen, then horizontal blinds will be the perfect option. Among the main disadvantages, it is worth highlighting the need to wash them often, since a large amount of dust constantly accumulates on the slats.
The next variety is vertical blinds for the kitchen. Compared to horizontal ones, they are more versatile, as they are suitable for both large and small rooms, they are highly resistant to moisture, they visually increase the height of the ceilings in the room, they are perfectly combined with any curtains and curtains, which provides great opportunities for interior design, and Also, dust and dirt do not settle on the lamellas so much, so it is much easier to care for them. However, unfortunately, it was not without drawbacks. The main disadvantage of vertical devices is that they limit access to the window sill, which will be impossible to use for household needs.
The last view is roller blinds for the kitchen, photos of the rooms with which attract many apartment owners. They are a solid canvas that completely covers the window opening. Roll devices make the interior more stylish and elegant, especially if the design is made in a minimalist or oriental style. However, when buying them, you should think carefully, because rolledblinds have quite a few flaws. Firstly, they are very good at collecting dirt, grease and unpleasant odors, and are very difficult to clean, and secondly, they are made of plastic, so their design is very fragile.
A few words about the material
Modern kitchen blinds are made from a variety of materials with certain features that you should definitely consider when buying these devices.
The most common among them are:
- plastic;
- wooden;
- fabric;
- metal.
To choose the best option, let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each material.
Plastic blinds
This material has been widely used in production because of its low cost and versatility. Plastic blinds for the kitchen have a low cost, so they are the most common.
The main advantages of such designs are:
- high density, thanks to which the blinds well protect the room from sunlight;
- good strength;
- small sizes;
- easy care;
- moisture resistance;
- does not absorb unpleasant odors;
- keep their shape perfectly;
- do not fade for a long period of time;
- easy to install.
Among the disadvantages, it is worth highlighting that cheap models are made oflow-quality materials, so they lose their attractive appearance very quickly and become unusable.
Wooden blinds
The next most popular are wooden blinds for the kitchen. The photo of these designs surprises with its originality and attractiveness. Devices made from this material have gained great popularity due to their naturalness. In addition, the wood from which the blinds are made is impregnated with special antiseptic solutions that significantly increase its performance.
The main advantages of wooden structures are:
- expensive appearance;
- fit perfectly into any interior;
- Easy to care for because they do not absorb grease and dirt.
Among the main disadvantages, it is worth highlighting poor resistance to temperature extremes, so they cannot be installed on windows located near the stove, as well as high cost.
Fabric blinds
Every year, fabric curtains-blinds for the kitchen are becoming more and more popular.
Many people choose them because they have a number of advantages, among which are the following:
- fabric perfectly darkens the room and hides it from prying eyes;
- curtains are impregnated with special solutions that repel moisture and dust;
- large selection of colors;
- does not absorb fat;
- easy care;
- protect the room well from drafts;
- make the room really cozy.
Despite the large number of pluses, there were some minuses. Fabric blinds in terms of durability are significantly inferior to other types of structures. In addition, they fade very quickly, and after a few washes they will lose their original appearance.
Metal blinds
The last in the ranking of popularity are metal blinds for the kitchen.
The main advantages in favor of buying such devices are:
- high strength and durability;
- easy care;
- keep indoors warm in winter and cool in summer;
- environmentally friendly and safe;
- are non-flammable so can be placed near the stove;
- large selection of colors;
- moisture resistance;
- do not fade in the sun and retain their original appearance for a long time.
The only drawback, as with wooden structures, is the high cost.
Multifactor blinds
The best option as blinds for a modern kitchen are multi-impressive devices. They appeared on the market relatively recently, so they have not yet gained wide popularity, however, many consumers speak very positively about them. This type of blind is made from a variety of materials such as fabric and plastic or wood and aluminium.
Multitextureblinds have various decorative elements that make them look like ordinary curtains, so they fit perfectly into any interior. However, their cost is one of the most expensive today, so you will have to pay a fairly large amount for them. In addition, it is very difficult to keep clean and maintain an attractive appearance of multi-impressive blinds, since different materials require an individual approach to care.
Mount Features
Blinds on the window in the kitchen can be mounted both in the window opening itself and overlapped. Therefore, when choosing a specific model, you should take into account the features of the window, because otherwise you simply cannot fix them. If the device is fixed in the opening, this will visually enlarge the room, which is especially important, since most apartments in our country have very small kitchens. However, in this case, you will have to forget about using the windowsill. Therefore, it is better to choose the second option, which is based on fixing the blinds by analogy with the curtain rod.
What to look for when choosing blinds
If you decide to buy blinds for the kitchen, then when choosing, the main attention should be paid to the material from which they are made. The service life and practicality of using these devices depends on this. Plastic is considered the best option, since it has a low cost, and it is also very easy to clean. To wipe plastic lamellas from fat, a regular sponge and soap solution are enough. In addition, plastic does not absorbunpleasant odors, which is also important if you do not want to breathe stench in your kitchen.
If you are not limited in your financial capabilities, then you can consider metal blinds. They have all the same advantages as plastic, but are stronger and more durable, so they will last much longer. Also, they do not fade over time in the sun and do not change their original color, as happens with some other materials.
But wooden and fabric blinds for the kitchen will not be the best choice. Undoubtedly, they look more attractive and give the interior a certain aesthetics and elegance, however, these materials have low performance characteristics. They do not tolerate moisture well, absorb absolutely all odors, and also lose their attractiveness over time.
The second selection criterion is the reliability of the opening/closing mechanism. Modern blinds for the kitchen (photos of rooms with them were presented in the article) are equipped with reliable mechanics, so it functions properly throughout the entire life of the light-shielding devices. But in models of the budget price range, the mechanism breaks down very quickly, as a result of which you have to buy new blinds.
If you prefer vertical designs, then you do not need to buy devices with too long slats, because due to their own heavy weight they will sag a lot. The best option would be blinds with a height of one and a half to two meters.
To make the design of the kitchen harmonious andstylish, do not buy blinds that are too colorful, decorated with various ornaments and patterns. Otherwise, you will have to separately select napkins, towels and other household items for them in order to achieve uniform harmony in the interior. It is better to opt for devices made in the style of minimalism. They are versatile and will pair perfectly with all items.
In conclusion
We looked at the main types of blinds, and also talked about the advantages and disadvantages of each material from which they are made. Finally, I would like to note that which particular light-protecting structures to choose for your kitchen largely depends on the individual preferences of each person. Blinds should not only be practical in operation and maintenance, as well as provide a comfortable level of illumination in the room, but you personally should like it to be comfortable in the room, because the vast majority of women spend most of their free time in the kitchen. If you yourself find it difficult to make a choice, then consult with professional interior designers, and they will easily select the best option for you, the most suitable for your apartment.
