Which blinds are best for the kitchen?

Blinds - These are modern devices that, like curtains, protect the interior space from the penetration of sunlight and the prying eyes of passers-by.

Compared to regular curtains, blinds are much more functional and practical. These designs are increasingly used today to decorate window openings in the kitchen, due to ease of use.

Since there is always high humidity in the kitchen, food smells are in the air, and a special microclimate reigns, products for this room are chosen taking these factors into account. Not every product in this line can be well preserved when splashed with grease, drops of water or soot settles on it. That's why, before buying blinds for the kitchen, you need to study the advantages and disadvantages of different types.

Which is better for the kitchen, curtains or blinds

Some housewives prefer to hang ordinary curtains in the kitchen, as they consider blinds to be ascetic and devoid of individuality.Maybe they are right, and they are not a suitable option for the kitchen? Let's try to sort this issue out.

The first blinds were of the same type and monochromatic, usually gray. They were installed mainly in offices, as they gave the premises rigor and formality. The modern market is replete with products differ from each other:

• color and print;
• texture;
• fastening system;
• material (plastic, aluminum, fabric, wood);
• arrangement of lamellas (vertical, horizontal);
• opening/closing method (manual, mechanical, automatic).

Long curtains in a small kitchen are not only inconvenient, but also unsafe, since the fabric usually rises in a strong wind and can fall on the burning stove burner. For this reason, fires occur quite often. Blinds are completely safe in this regard.

Other benefits:

• well-chosen designs visually increase the size of a small kitchen and reduce the proportions of an overly large room;
• the slats are washed with a soft cloth and soapy water;
• plastic and metal structures do not absorb food odors and dust;
• the slats (if they are not metal) do not heat up even when directly exposed to sunlight;
• blinds are ideal protection from prying eyes, but when half-open they do not interfere with observation from the inside;
• even when partially opened, daylight enters the room.

Important! If the inhabitants of the house cannot refuse traditional curtains, they can be combined with blinds, which looks very impressive and provides additional protection from daylight.

Which blinds are suitable for the kitchen?

To understand which products are suitable for the kitchen, you need to know their types.The most common today are products with horizontal slats.

The main advantage of these structures is the guarantee of absolute darkness when completely closed. As a rule, horizontal blinds are installed in small rooms with small windows. The horizontal arrangement of the slats does not “steal” the already scarce space.

Linen horizontal blinds – an ideal option for creating a cozy home interior. Laconic systems with aluminum slats will fit well into the stylistic trends of high-tech and minimalism.

Vertical closest to traditional curtains of all others. The use of vertical slats is a popular design technique for visually raising the ceiling, which is very important for Russian apartments. On the modern market, vertical blinds are presented in a large assortment: from monochromatic classics to openwork luxurious textures. It is vertical structures that are ideally combined with curtains and airy tulle.

Pleated blinds received such an original name due to the method of opening - the canvas is assembled like the bellows of an accordion. Such systems are distinguished by a huge selection of sizes, shapes and textures, thanks to which they reliably protect windows of non-standard shapes.

Roller blinds should be highlighted as a separate type, which are very different in appearance from their lamella counterparts. The canvas of these systems is solid; when closed, it compactly rolls up into a cassette installed above the window. Roller blinds or roller blinds fit well into Japanese, oriental or minimalist interiors.

Multi-texture systems are a type of vertical blinds. The main difference from traditional products is the combination of several different textured materials in one design, which provides complete freedom for design imagination. With the right choice, multi-texture blinds are quite difficult to distinguish from ordinary curtains at first glance.

Interframe - a type that is optimal for the kitchen. Any products in the kitchen quickly become contaminated with grease and soot; this coating is difficult to clean. But if they are installed inside the window between the frames, they always remain clean. This installation method does not in any way affect the functionality of the structures, and the free window opening can be decorated with light curtains or tulle.

Reference! There are complex designs called “day-night” or “zebra”, in which two types of lamellas are used - dense, not transmitting even the slightest light, and translucent, protecting from direct rays.

Suitable types of blinds for the kitchen

One of the main criteria for choosing a product for the kitchen is the material of the slats. Roman and roller blinds, pleated blinds are made from fabric fabrics. Vertical systems also consist of dense fabric slats. Since fabric is the hardest to clean and absorbs odors, they are not a suitable option for the kitchen.

Plastic structures do not absorb odors, are easy to wet clean, and are resistant to temperature changes, which is typical for a kitchen. Even with strong sun activity and direct exposure to its rays, the slats do not deform, but over time they can turn yellow and become brittle.

Wood is a homely and cozy material. Wooden products available on the market today come in a variety of shapes and colors. However, wood quickly absorbs odor and moisture, and over time, wooden slats usually lose color.

Metal-plastic slats are best suited for the kitchen because they are light, durable and resistant to various negative factors. They are easy to clean and the material does not absorb odors.

Important! Skillful use of knowledge about the properties of a particular material, a variety of installation variations (crescent, wave) allow you to radically change the appearance of not only the window itself, but also the interior as a whole.

Advantages and disadvantages

Blinds, like any other interior item, have their own advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into account when planning a purchase.

Main advantages of the designs:

• convenient lamella control system;
• the ability to regulate the flow of light;
• easy to care for (do not require washing);
• aesthetic appeal;
• preservation of color and texture;
• strength and durability;
• a wide range of products, which allows you to choose the best option for any interior.

And now about the disadvantages:

• The products are resistant to gusts of wind, but are completely helpless against mechanical damage caused by humans. If even one lamella is broken, the entire structure will lose its attractiveness.
• Installation above a window is quite painstaking work. If the apartment owner does not have the appropriate skills and tools, he will have to call a specialist.
• When the windows are open and there is a strong wind, the slats make noise that can interfere with sleep or distract you from work.
• If there are blinds, the window sill becomes non-functional, since it is no longer possible to place flowers and other decorations on it.
• When the blinds are closed, it is impossible to open the window sash.

Important! Primitive, cheap designs should not be used in residential premises; they create a formal office atmosphere.

Tips for choosing

To choose the right blinds for the kitchen, you should listen to the recommendations of professional designers.

1. It is necessary to pay attention to the reliability of the opening/closing mechanism. It must function reliably and be ready for intensive use.
2. The use of textiles with ornaments presupposes the presence in the kitchen interior of napkins, tablecloths, pillows and other decorative elements made in the same style.
3. Products with dark slats are acceptable only in rooms with large window openings facing south.
4. The length of the horizontal slats should not exceed 200 cm, otherwise they will sag under their own weight.
5. Be prepared for the fact that horizontal blinds will have to be washed much more often than vertical ones.
6. When buying wooden ones, choose slats with a laminated coating. They retain color longer and absorb odors less.

Conclusion

Many people prefer custom-made systems to individual sizes, taking into account the design features of the kitchen and interior, over ready-made standard blinds. This approach is most justified where the windows have an unconventional shape (arch, circle, triangle, trapezoid).

However, in such a situation, it is better to entrust the choice to a professional designer. Be sure to take care of the comfortable opening of the window. Otherwise, the choice of protective systems depends on the taste preferences of the owner and his financial capabilities.