Modern blinds have long won the hearts of designers and apartment owners, ceasing to be an exclusively attribute of gray office premises. Today, manufacturers offer products of new modifications, made of various materials, sustained in a wide stylistic and color range. It is not difficult to choose something special for almost any interior, it remains only to figure out what types of structures exist, and what their features are.

Types of blinds by type of construction
Each type of blinds has its own functional load, specificity and personality. Therefore, in order to understand which structure is best suited for window decoration and sun protection, it is necessary to decide in which part of the house they will be located, as well as what basic tasks they will perform.

Vertical blinds
Vertical designs resemble standard curtains. They are made of fabric and plastic, and therefore have a wide range of various colors and textures. The movement of the components contributes to a change in light and shade in the room, which in turn affects the overall impression of the interior.

The strips that make up the vertical blinds - lamellas, can have different lengths and widths, depending on the need. If you have large window openings, opt for wide stripe varieties, and if the windows are small, opt for narrow slats. This type of curtain is preferable for small rooms with low ceilings, because vertical lines visually stretch the room and make it more spacious.

Among the advantages of vertical blinds, the following positions can also be distinguished:

- Strict geometric design fits perfectly into modern interiors and can be easily combined with light tulle and blackout curtains;
- The vertical mechanism can be assembled from different sides, divided or assembled in the center;
- The location of the lamellas from top to bottom minimizes the accumulation of dust on them.

But there are some nuances - with large air flows, the lamellas begin to swing and create an unpleasant noise. Therefore, it is better not to use vertical blinds on the balcony. Also, non-standard window shapes complicate the installation process, and plastic variations are not suitable for decorating large planes.

Horizontal blinds
Horizontal execution is considered classic. Initially, they were widely used in the design of office space. Today they are distinguished by the richness of materials used, colors, as well as a number of other practical and aesthetic advantages, and therefore are used everywhere:

- Universal curtains are suitable for both overall and small openings, including attic;

- Horizontal blinds are very compact and take up space exclusively on the opening itself;

- Settled dust is easy enough to remove from the surface;

- The undoubted advantage is the ease of installation and a variety of types of fasteners;

- The degree of illumination is regulated as widely as possible - the lamellas can be turned at any angle, and, moreover, completely free the window for full-fledged light flow.

All these advantages allowed horizontal blinds to spread quickly enough in apartments and houses. For many interiors, comfortable and practical fixtures of minimalistic forms have become indispensable attributes. Manufacturers offer modifications with automatic control, the ability to close simultaneously with the inclusion of artificial light and work according to the program specified by the owner.

Roller blinds and roman blinds
If standard horizontal and vertical blinds can be made of various materials, then these analogs are only bamboo or textile. The continuous curtain is adjustable only in length, but at the same time it folds up simply and quickly into a small roll at the top.

This option is very convenient if you need a free window sill to accommodate decorative elements. Blinds can have an original texture and print, therefore they are quite capable of becoming an independent decorative element.

Externally, Roman blinds resemble roller blinds, and are also made of fabric. The only difference is that they do not roll up into a roll from above, but are draped with beautiful folds.

The only thing worth paying special attention to is that such panels require a clean attitude, since greasy stains can destroy them forever.

Cassette blinds
The cassette mechanism is a special variation of horizontal structures that is attached to the glazing bead. Often they are used to cover metal-plastic windows, less often for wooden ones. The cassette mechanisms are provided with lateral fixation, thin and neat so that the blinds do not move from side to side from the wind or from the closing-opening of the window.

Cassette blinds are installed close to the glass, so they effectively protect from light, and are also very compact. Since the installation is carried out separately for each sash, it is convenient to open one of them, while leaving the other closed.

Blinds-pleated
From a distance, such curtains resemble ordinary horizontal models, but when you come closer, you can see that they are structurally a single pleated fabric.

The main advantages of this type of blinds include the following features:

- Possibility of washing;

- Beautiful appearance of unfolded blinds with an almost imperceptible arrangement when folded;

- They perfectly cope with the functions of standard curtains, even in the case of the most unusual forms of windows: trapezoidal, triangular, rounded;

- Convenient for secure fixation on dormers and skylights;

- Some options consist of a combination of materials of different colors and density, so you can adjust the degree of sunlight exposure;

- Wide range of mounts and adjusters variations;

- The ease of installation of blinds allows you to fix them yourself and replace them in case of updates in the design of the room.

Varieties of blinds based on production materials
The quality, practical and aesthetic indicators of blinds directly depend on the raw materials from which they are made. Therefore, before buying a product you like, it makes sense to study in more detail their main properties, advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic blinds
Plastic lamellas are quite tough and easily tolerate any temperature. This curtain is well suited for rooms with high humidity, such as a bathroom or kitchen. Surfaces in the last room are often exposed to dirt and grease, so easy-to-clean plastic will become an indispensable attribute for kitchen windows. In addition, high-quality plastics do not fade in the sun and do not change their color characteristics, but they are capable of deforming when in contact with a battery.

Polymer raw materials are used to create vertical and horizontal blinds. At the same time, for the design of large windows, a reinforced frame base will be required. The material is able to overlap with many textures and interior details, and therefore will organically fit into most stylistic decisions. The dense, opaque version will allow you to darken the space as much as possible, while the transparent counterparts will help create an original atmosphere.

In general, this is a very successful and practical option: it is inexpensive, easy to maintain, durable, and also less, for example, aluminum, is subject to changes in its own shape.

Aluminum blinds
One of the most inexpensive and easiest ways to close a room from sunlight and prying eyes. The modern construction market offers a wide range of products: matte, glossy with plastic spraying, perforated, original textured. Aluminum blinds will help you create a stylish interior at no extra cost.

As in the case of plastic, such lamellas are easy to wipe and wash, they protect well from the sun and do not overheat if they are covered with special enamel.

On the other hand, soft metal will not withstand constant pressure and touch. It is easily deformed, therefore, it is often not recommended to open windows with aluminum blinds placed on them. In addition, it can make noise from strong gusts of wind.

Fabric blinds
Textile blinds can have almost any design: horizontal, vertical, roller blinds, Roman blinds. When choosing fabric products, pay attention to the quality characteristics of the material - the denser it is, the longer it will be able to maintain its beautiful appearance and not sag. It is also important to inquire about the ability to let in daylight, since some variations do not allow a lot of light to pass through thanks to a special coating on the inside. This is especially true for the bedroom and living room.

Typically, fabric blinds are made from synthetic raw materials, including polyester, a durable material that does not fade in the sun.

These blinds are cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, brush, damp sponge or washed by hand using a gentle powder. However, low-quality textiles can change their shape and color over time, so choose them especially carefully.

Wooden blinds
Wooden models are an expensive, but at the same time very aesthetic and natural look of blinds. In its manufacture, cedar, beech, cork, linden, pine are used. Bamboo products look interesting. Natural colors blend harmoniously into almost any interior.

Besides attractive visual features, wood is a quality and practical material. These blinds cope with their main task no worse than their synthetic counterparts, perfectly preventing the passage of sunlight and the influence of temperatures. Special means help protect the tree from a damp environment, sunburn and extend its operating period for many years.

The only caveat is that wooden blinds are not always suitable for large windows, because they are quite heavy and require a strong frame. It is necessary to clean them only dry.