First of all, you need to choose blockout roller blinds with sheer curtains that work well together and complement each other. In general, within these combinations, the sheer curtains are doing most of the work in terms of aesthetic appeal, while the rollers blinds lead in terms of performance.
Layering sheer curtains over your blockout roller blinds is the ultimate window covering solution.
The best way to hang curtains over horizontal blinds is to use a tension rod. This will allow you to adjust the height of your curtains so that they sit just above the blinds. You can also use command strips or adhesive hooks if you don't want to put any holes in your walls.
The combination creates the possibility of excellent light control, privacy as needed depending on how overlooked the window is, but more than that it makes the window covering feel complete. In this guide, we examine how to hang curtains over blinds or shades to create window treatment ideas with elegance.
An ideal combination if you're opting for prints, is blinds in a single colour, paired with patterned curtains that feature the colour on the blind. If you love the natural texture of timber, install a solid colour curtain to balance the look or create layers of texture by adding patterned drapes to contrast it.
"Blinds offer the most light control with a variety of tilting options. Blinds or shades can be paired with drapery to enhance windows in any part of the home." While each type of window treatment has its own unique set of characteristics, all of them can be used to transform any room.
To do so, let one of your layers be the main focal point and let the other layer fade into the background. You might go with a bolder color or pattern for the outer layer curtains, so then consider a neutral color of blinds, shades, or shutters for the inner layer. Voila!
Why not curtains AND blinds! Not only can you use both in the same room on separate windows, you can also use them together on the same window to great effect. Here's how…
Close curtains and blinds
If you're on a budget consider only thermal lining the rooms with direct sun. White or light coloured curtains and blinds are better at reflecting heat and light away from your home. If you have thick, dark curtains, closing them will only trap heat in the room.
The general rule for curtain height
'If your ceiling allows it, you'll want to go higher than the window frame,' says Kelly Simpson, senior director of design and innovation at experts in blinds, shades, shutters, and drapes Budget Blinds. 'You can go 4 to 6 inches above the window to achieve the right curtain length.
Try using sheer curtains to spruce up patio doors, closet doors or door-less entryways that don't offer enough privacy or insulation. Curtain tiebacks or holdbacks are recommended so you can draw back the panels whenever you need to open the doors or bring in more light.
Usually, the sheer is closest to the window and the heavier fabric is on the inside so they are protected from sunlight. 'There is no reason you can't play with this order and have it the other way around, especially if you have a beautiful linen sheer that you want to see,' says Anne Hindley of Hindley & Co.
Finding panels to put behind sheer curtains
By choosing a liner that's the same shade (or a shade darker) than the sheer panel, you essentially preserve the color of the sheer panel. In other words, you won't see an unsightly liner peeking through the sheer. Instead, it will all look like seamless, rich color.
Light-coloured blinds, particularly white are the best choice for keeping your home cool in summer. Dark coloured blinds, especially black blinds, can have the opposite effect. They'll do their job in terms of privacy and light control, but the dark colour will attract the sun and could potentially add to overheating.
Close your blinds
By blocking the sun's light from your space, you won't only keep cool during the heatwave, you'll also be able to enjoy the style of your space to its greatest extent! Whether you select a Roman blind or a roller blind, a well-made window covering will help block out the heat this summer.
Daytime Privacy and Reflective Window Film.
It's a privacy window film where you see out but not in (only during the daytime). A benefit of a reflective window film is that you can still see out of your windows and enjoy your beautiful views without darkening your rooms.
There's no right or wrong here, and the answer usually comes down to personal choice. If you prefer the appearance of curtains, that's probably the best choice for you; that said, there are some functions and finishes that can only be achieved with blinds for the bedroom, which is worth bearing in mind as well.
How Wide Should Curtains Be? To ensure that panels look ample and drapey when closed, they should have a combined width that is 2 to 2½ times the width of the window. Exceptions: If you're hanging curtains just to frame a window and don't intend to shut them, you can round down to 1½ times the width.
The short answer is: it depends! We recommend sticking to a common element in terms of color, fabric, or style. For example, if you want some blinds and some shutters, you could use the same color wood. For homes with varying styles in each room, you may want to focus on cohesion on a room-by-room basis instead.
However, window valances are not totally out of style. They are a timeless window treatment that can remain fashionable for many years after installation, but homeowners should take care when choosing their valances.
Try lining and trimming blinds in a contrast colour fabric for a chic look. 'You need way less fabric for a blind than you do for curtains,' says interior stylist Charlotte Boyd, 'so you can splash out on a more luxurious fabric to really make a statement. '
Large living and dining rooms and bedrooms can often look better with full length curtains, either lined or sheer. Smaller rooms are often better suited to blinds.
From my experience over the last 30 years in general blinds do work out cheaper than curtains. Blinds do work out cheaper for several reasons, firstly there is a lot more fabric used to make a pair of curtains compared to say a roller blind.
They were mainly used to block out the cold and were constructed of wood or fabric. With new fabrics and patterns, window coverings have become more adaptable and simple to use. Window blinds are a common option for many homeowners today because of the variety of designs and hues available.
Nowadays, sheer curtains are the go-to, on-trend window treatment for interior designers and homeowners alike.