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Your windows play a huge role in any room. Not only do they control the temperature and lighting of a space, but they can also offer some much-needed privacy. But, to do so, you need something to cover them. 

Whilst other methods exist, the most common way to do so tends to be either curtains or blinds. Each comes with its appeals and negatives, so to help you decide which option suits your home, we’ve put together five questions you may have – and outlined which fares better.

What’s better if I’m on a budget?

On the whole, the cost of curtains and blinds can quickly rise depending on the style and materials you choose. 

Typically, curtains are the pricier of the two options, with fabric prices ranging from £10-£100+ per metre. If you’re looking for a made to measure option, these can be even more expensive, and you shouldn’t be surprised to get a bill in the thousands – depending on how many rooms you measure up. Equally, you’ll need to purchase a pole to hang your curtains off. Those with a flair for the creative may try and craft your own curtains – if you have enough fabrics spare. Whilst this looks unique and can be great for the environment, don’t underestimate how much material you’ll need to cover a window or two! Why not take a look for some recycled – or repurposed – curtains?

On the other hand, blinds require less material and only need a couple of brackets to be fitted. Plastic blinds can come in at a much cheaper cost than curtains, whilst wooden or higher quality vinyl offerings may do more damage to your wallet. Unlike their curtain counterparts, getting blinds made to measure – especially when you’re looking to do several rooms in the house at once – can be the more affordable option.

If you’re looking for an offering that’s better for your wallet, check out retailers such as Argos or Dunelm. With blinds and curtains on offer, they’re likely to have something that falls within your budget.

What’s better if I’m installing them myself?

Installation is a vital point for either option, but these days they’re both straightforward. For the most part, window dressings are designed and sold with the intention that their buyer can hang them on their own without any specialist tools or skills.

Blinds of any type are quick and easy to install, although a curtain isn’t much more complicated either. Most blinds need fittings at the top of the window, and they’re good to go in minutes. 

Some curtains may require a batten, but mostly they need a pole, hooks/rings properly spaced and maybe some minor adjustments based on how you want them to look. 

Overall, blinds may be the easier option – especially if curtains are to go in a space such as a bay window.

What’s better for cleaning?

This question is especially prevalent for those with little ones running around. At some point, it’s not far fetched to imagine some grubby little hands getting ahold of your curtains or blinds and meaning you need to clean. But, even if you’re child-free, you’ll still need to clean and dust – so which is easier?

Cleaning curtains can be a laborious task. Removing dust can need a specific attachment for your vacuum cleaner, whilst dirt, stains and marks may require specialised solutions. Using the washing machine isn’t out of the question for curtains, but in some cases, it’s easier to take them along to a dry cleaner.

Conversely, most blinds are much easier to clean. Typically made to have a hard, slick surface, dusting can be carried out with any microfiber cloth and a spare 5 minutes. If you have any dirt or stubborn stains, a dampened cloth will do the job.

What’s better for blocking out more light?

Picture it: it’s a lazy Saturday afternoon, and you fancy a day watching whatever series is dominating social media this month. But, as the sunlight engulfs your screen, it can turn a bingewatch of Stranger Things into more of a strain-er things. 

Keeping that in mind, one of the primary functions of dressing your window is to block out light – so which option is best suited?

Both curtains and blinds can come in blackout fabrics. However, if installed poorly, light can escape around the sides. Blackout blinds can do a standup job of keeping light out, but curtains do much more. In fact, you can close them at any time of day and have no idea about what’s going on outside until you open them again. 

Regular blinds can also be prone to letting light through the slats, meaning that if you want the most light blocked out, you’re better going for curtains. If you really want to keep light out, an option gaining in popularity is a blinds-curtains combination, where blackout blinds go on the window and blackout curtains cover those too – although this can prove costly!

What’s better if it’s for a kitchen/bathroom?

Curtains, in their very nature, aren’t made to be waterproof. Sure, shower curtains may be a notable exception, but on the whole, curtains tend to fare better away from wet surfaces.

Keeping that in mind, if you’re looking to renovate a kitchen or bathroom – or any other space that has a window and deals with liquids and humidity – you’d be wise to opt for blinds. With the exceptions of Roman blinds and real wooden blinds (which may struggle with moisture), they’re much better in these rooms.

If you hang curtains in humid or wet rooms, don’t be surprised to see tidemarks on the fabric, mould and mildew growth, a loss of form, or even unpleasant smells. Although this may also occur for curtains hung over windows that get heavy condensation – even if the room isn’t particularly humid.

Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference, and both come with their own perks and negatives – it’s entirely subjective. With a wide range of fabrics, materials and styles availabe, they can help turn a house into a home – it depends on what you’re looking for.

Which camp are you in, blinds or curtains? Let us know in the comments below!

Over a million people live in the city, which has helped establish Birmingham as the second city of England. With so much on offer, you may be hard-pressed to be short of things to do – which is part of the reason why more people are relocating here.

So, if you’re one of those considering migrating to the Midlands, here are five things the AnyVan team think you should know.

Five-star food

Most cities can claim to have a great food scene, but not many can rival that of Birmingham. In fact, it’s the only city in the UK outside London to be home to five Michelin starred restaurants.

If that wasn’t enough for you, why not sample their thriving Indian scene? The Balti Triangle was the original home of the curry dish that shares its name with the area. Don’t just take our word for it, though! Tom Cruise was spotted taking in some local delights.

It’s a melting pot of culture

As the food scene alludes to, Birmingham is an incredibly diverse city that people from all corners of the Earth are proud to call home. The influence that these people have has stretched beyond food, though.

With such a diverse population, the culture of Birmingham has only benefitted. The arts scene is something to brag about, with many notable performers and artists coming from the Midlands, including The Streets, Duran Duran, and J. R. R. Tolkien. It’s also home to Britain’s longest-established producing theatre, one of the UK’s five major ballet companies and many museums and galleries.

It’s very well connected

Acting as the mid-point of the country, Birmingham is a major transport hub for the UK. With trams, buses, trains, planes and motorways, including the ever-confusing Spaghetti Junction, mainstays of the city, it’s an incredibly well-connected city.

Plus, with Birmingham New Street being the busiest train station outside of London, regular trains leave for London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Cardiff – amongst other destinations. Meaning that if you fancy a break, you can hop on a train and be virtually anywhere in the UK in a few hours.

City living at a lower cost of living

Birmingham, on the whole, is a somewhat affordable city to live in compared to London. According to Numbeo.com, consumer prices in Birmingham are 21.56% lower than in London.

In terms of rent, the average one-bedroom apartment will set you back £674 a month, whilst the price of an average home is £233,352.

Retail therapy

When it comes to shopping, Birmingham is something of a paradise. With much redevelopment in the city centre across recent years, there are several places you can indulge in retail therapy.

The Bullring is the main shopping centre in the city, whilst other locations of interest include Mailbox Birmingham, the Jewellery Quarter and the iconic Selfridges Building.

So now that you know a little bit more about the Midlands, are you tempted to relocate? Book your move to Birmingham with AnyVan.