WINDOW dressing

Versatile and functional, blinds and shutters are the perfect finish to your house, writes Anél Lewis

- Anél Lewis

Blinds and shutters add the final flourish to a home. They're intended to provide an additional layer of privacy and security. They are functional controlling the amount of light in a room. But blinds and shutters are also becoming design elements in their own right, introducing colour and texture.

Paul O'Brien of Blind Designs says: "Both roller blinds and shutters work well across a variety of décor and architectural styles!"

Although the versatile Venetian blind remains a classic choice, roller blinds are increasingly sought after, says Wynand Louw of Blind Guys. "These blinds are simple to use, affordable, and complement the minimalist trend." Louw says home owners are also fitting double roller blinds using screen or sheer fabrics in combination with blockouts to benefit from both. New bracket designs make it possible to fit two types of fabric in the same window opening.

Zebra blinds that combine solid and sheer fabric in a single shade are also a popular choice for better light and visibility control. "As you use the pull cord to pull them up or down, the fabric loops over the tube leading to front stripes passing over the back ones. This in turn results in the lining up of solid over sheer or solid over solid stripes," says Louw.

Blind fabrics and textiles are evolving to offer sustainable and tactile materials and include recycled fabrics, refined textures and more sustainable production processes, says the team from Taylor Blinds & Shutters. "In modern trends, blind fabrics also offer more than their sustainable and aesthetic promises, with fabric options that offer antimicrobial properties, temperature control and UV protection."

O'Brien says there's also considerable interest in day and night blinds, such as a Vision or Allusion blind, which can easily be adjusted between views and privacy.