Blinds; In Homes Throughout History
Window blinds are used by many interior designers as an elegant and chic way to cover windows; fundamentally they have strips of fabric, plastic, metal or wood that can be lowered or tilted in order to control the light level in a room. Blinds come in many different varieties such as Venetian, roman shades and vertical track.
The name is derived from the fact that blinds effectively 'blind' the view of both interior and exterior. This form of window covering is available in slat and solid form meaning that versatility is a major benefit for designers. Slat blinds come in both vertical and horizontal alignment, the former being particularly suited to large windows whilst the latter can be used almost anywhere. Solid blinds can be effectively used to completely blackout rooms, hence there uses in children's bedrooms.
Blinds have a rich history that is traceable to the earliest civilisations. The first settlers used pieces of cloth to shield their homes from the sun whilst in Egypt, reed blinds were a common sight in the homes of rich and poor. The ancient Chinese also used blinds, manufactured from bamboo; a window covering still used today throughout much of Asia and worldwide. Fundamentally the materials used in the manufacture of blinds were those most readily available to inhabitants.
Venetian blinds are made from horizontal slats and are suspended from the top of the window frame. Popular throughout Europe from the Middle Ages onwards today they are the most widespread form of blind. There history can be traced to Venice, when Venetian traders brought the window covering from the Middle East, most likely Persia. With overlapping slats they are able to block the light coming into a room although the modern variety were almost solely developed in London from the later eighteenth century onwards.
The installation of blinds normally means placing the blind within the window recess in order to maximise the space in a room and create the highest amount of light control. For those who want to truly maximise space, it is now possible to have blinds within the window itself, meaning no cleaning or tangles. This form of window covering has some thermal properties and whilst it will not keep heat in like a heavy curtain, a well placed blind can help keep a home warm in winter and cool in summer. Naturally different materials will have different thermal properties.
Wood is commonly used in blind manufacture and favoured by many interior designers for its warmth and elegance. Light woods such as bass wood are used and then stained to match the existing decor. It must be noted however that wooden blinds do have limitations; over time it is likely that they will fade due to the sunlight and in humid rooms, such as the kitchen or bathroom they can warp and bend. Modern blinds are available with motors for ultimate ease of use; the control of these motors can even be managed from the comfort of an armchair with modern computer technology.
Ultimately blinds are a great choice for the home if looking for a modern, clean and contemporary style. They have evolved throughout history to meet the needs of whichever civilisation is using them, from the reed varieties of the Egyptians to the wood and fabric varieties of the Venetians they have created privacy for homeowners and elegant styling for designers for centuries.
Interior design expert Thomas Pretty studies the uses of blinds throughout history, their use in design today and how they should be chosen if they are to compliment the decor.