Drapes vr. Blinds

**Ron-P** · 09-01-2010 11:17 AM

What do you guys have in your homes?

I've lived with window blinds since I can remember, even when I was a kid living at home. So finally, after all these years I'm chucking my blinds in the trash and installing drapes. The only ones I won't change out are in the kitchen, those two windows have Roman Shades and they work really well.

Why? Much more colorful, they give a softer and warmer feel to the room, more relaxing on the eyes, and, they provide better sun protection.

**punk-roc** · 09-01-2010 11:20 AM

definitely drapes!

**Face** · 09-01-2010 11:22 AM

Drapes, blinds are tacky.

**shawn474** · 09-01-2010 11:22 AM

I put the wood (actually faux wood) blinds in our house. I like them a lot. And so does the wife (that's what really counts)!!!!:)

**VSchneider** · 09-01-2010 11:34 AM

Why not both? ;)

**Willow** · 09-01-2010 11:42 AM

can't use your vote button as we have both. We have the faux wood horizontals in all 4 bedrooms and ensuit bath. The main floor has Silk curtains except for the patio door has a roman blind (think that's what it is called).

**Jstas** · 09-01-2010 12:18 PM

I have both. I have wood blinds. Pine and cherry to match the various trim in the rooms. They are bordered by drapes with sheer curtains over them to maintain some privacy while letting light in. At night, I don't have to yank curtains around, I just twist the rod on the blinds and shut them. It's expensive but if done right, very effective and quite attractive.

**Ron-P** · 09-01-2010 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by Willow

can't use your vote button as we have both. We have the faux wood horizontals in all 4 bedrooms and ensuit bath. The main floor has Silk curtains except for the patio door has a roman blind (think that's what it is called).

Sorry, didn't think about that. Vote as to the majority of which type you have. Too late to go back and edit at this point.

**TECHNOKID** · 09-01-2010 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Ron-P

Sorry, didn't think about that. Vote as to the majority of which type you have. Too late to go back and edit at this point.

As of now the majority is blinds for their convenience but slowly moving back to drapes for the better look and style. However, in some area a combination of blind and drapes has the best of both world. Once I am done with the HT, the majority should then be drapes (most drapes in the HT will be for decor and sound management as there are actually only 2 small windows).

**nadams** · 09-01-2010 01:34 PM

Currently blinds, but thinking of moving to some nice, heavy drapes in the living room for sound purposes. Used to have drapes over the blinds in the bedroom because the ex needed the bedroom to be DARK all the time. It was annoying to me to have to turn the light on in the middle of the day to see anything (if I touched the drapes I "messed them up")

**cristo** · 09-01-2010 01:43 PM

Wood blinds in our living room. The cats would like the drapes back, but they are S.O.o.L.

**ryanjoachim** · 09-01-2010 03:36 PM

Blinds all the way.

By the way Ron...it's supposed to be "vs"...not "vr". JEEZ.

**madmax** · 09-01-2010 04:11 PM

I have mostly wood blinds but recently bought drapes to go over them so I'll vote both. If they are already up might as well leave them to cut out that much more heat and cold.

**TECHNOKID** · 09-01-2010 07:14 PM

Just curious (except for the look), what would be the advantage of wood blinds?

**kuntasensei** · 09-01-2010 07:27 PM

Where's the option for blackout shades? :D

**Sherardp** · 09-01-2010 07:39 PM

I do both in my home also.

**Demiurge** · 09-01-2010 07:46 PM

I have both on the same window. Blackout shades and curtains.

**messiah** · 09-01-2010 07:48 PM

I like blinds with blackout curtains. The curtains double as room treatments if you have a "live" room, and make it nicer to watch movies during the day.

**dee1949** · 09-01-2010 07:56 PM

....Blinds...gives you control over sunlight. Vast array of colors and sizes.

**Polkersince85** · 09-01-2010 09:23 PM

I normally use drapes for sound and heat control. I still have all the windows and doors covered with plastic and duct tape from the terrorist scare back in 2003. ;)

**schwarcw** · 09-01-2010 09:28 PM

Buy the cellular blinds, honeycomb cells. They will fabricate to fit, inexpensive very energy effiecient. Many styles of color and ligh control. Look Here

**dkg999** · 09-01-2010 09:28 PM

Blinds are man friendly. You can just rinse them off in the shower when they get dirty.

**Ric5811** · 09-01-2010 09:33 PM

Drapes, way more "pop" in a room...

**VR3** · 09-01-2010 09:51 PM

I have both in all areas of the house... love the look

**Tony M** · 09-01-2010 10:55 PM

Some both, some just blinds. I would like drapes over the lone blinds but just haven't put any up.My wife does zero decorating here so it's all my desires. Maybe one day soon, since you brought the subject up.:)

**Ron-P** · 09-02-2010 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by tony millard

My wife does zero decorating here so it's all my desires.

Same here. I do pretty much 100% of the decorating and I love it too.

I have a 4' tall candle holder in the entry way. Just the other day I removed the candle and put in it's place a firepot. Add some firepot fuel and I've got and indoor flame about 6" tall. Way better then a candle!

**cristo** · 09-02-2010 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by dkg999

Blinds are man friendly. You can just rinse them off in the shower when they get dirty.

Try that with wood blinds and you get some really warped blinds.

**Jstas** · 09-02-2010 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by TECHNOKID

Just curious (except for the look), what would be the advantage of wood blinds?

Why does there have to be an "advantage" to them?

Most people get them because they look nice. They aren't cheap but they are durable and much more attractive than metal. The fake wood ones come close but if you have wood window trim, it's obvious how fake they are.

**dkg999** · 09-02-2010 11:04 AM

I've washed wood blinds in the shower with no problems. I've yet to encounter wood blinds where the slats did not have some type of finish/coating on them. If they had cotton cord and not a nylon cord, you could discolor the cord. Your not trying to soak them, just a light scrubbing with a soft bristled paint brush, some Dawn dishsoap, and then a gentle rinse. Works especially well to clean Levlor blinds.

**TECHNOKID** · 09-02-2010 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Jstas

Why does there have to be an "advantage" to them?

Most people get them because they look nice. They aren't cheap but they are durable and much more attractive than metal. The fake wood ones come close but if you have wood window trim, it's obvious how fake they are.

Thanks Jstas...

Originally Posted by dkg999

I've washed wood blinds in the shower with no problems. I've yet to encounter wood blinds where the slats did not have some type of finish/coating on them. If they had cotton cord and not a nylon cord, you could discolor the cord. Your not trying to soak them, just a light scrubbing with a soft bristled paint brush, some Dawn dishsoap, and then a gentle rinse. Works especially well to clean Levlor blinds.

An advantage with PVC (vertical) blinds is that you can put them in the washer to clean them withouth any issues. I guess you are talking about horizontal blinds? I can no longer stand them, dust settles easily on them and IMHO are a pain to clean.

I guess I could see some wood blinds to replace PVC which is suppose to be toxic when hit by the sun.

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