Blinds vs. Curtains: Which Are Right for Your Home?

Window treatments let you control light, privacy, and indoor temperature while complementing your décor. You’ve got a variety of options to choose from, and blinds and curtains are among the most popular. Blinds feature movable slats, and curtains or drapes are made of fabric panels; each comes with particular benefits and drawbacks. 

“Window treatments do so much more than just look great—they shape the way a space feels and functions,” says Erica Flynn, creative director of Graber. “The right choice depends on your lifestyle, budget, and design style.” Ahead, we’ve put the two head-to-head—blinds vs. curtains—and outlined six key differences to help you decide which window treatment will be a winner in your home.

Pros and Cons of Curtains and Blinds

Differences Between Blinds and Curtains

Price

Price can depend on material and design you choose. But you also need to consider whether you can install the window covering yourself, and if not, the installation costs for window curtains (also called “drapes” when made of thicker material and in a formal setting) or blinds.

Blinds

Blinds require less material and time to manufacture than curtains do, and take less time to install. In 10 to 20 minutes, a pro can put brackets in a window frame, mount the blind, and attach the mechanisms that move the slats, at an installation cost of between $15 and $50 per window. Buying vinyl or plastic blinds will lower your material costs, whereas wood, fabric, and PVC blinds will increase the price. 

For eight windows, roughly the number found in two large living areas plus two to four bedrooms, the cost of blinds (materials and installation) could run between $280 and $800, according to the latest numbers by Angi.

Curtains

Curtains are usually pricier. “Drapes tend to be more expensive due to fabric costs and intricate design elements,” says Aino Heinäsuo, head of design at Redecor, a design game. According to Angi, the price ranges from $20 to $300 per set of premade window covering panels and installation costs of $35 to $100 per hour. Assuming an hour to install each, the total cost adds up to about $440 to $3,200 for materials and installation of curtains on eight windows—because they take more material and time to make, and more time to install. 

A pro will take ½ to 1 hour to install level brackets above the window, slide the panels onto the rod, hang and secure the rod onto the bracket, and then style the curtains in an attractive arrangement. To reduce costs, choose cotton curtains over linen or silk. Or if you like the look of fabric, try shades, which can be hung from a rod and raised by a cord. 

Light Control

Both light and privacy enter into the equation when you’re selecting window blinds or curtains. This might be a decision that changes based on room type. For example, blinds are easy to control for preventing glares on screens. Blackout curtains might matter most for home theater rooms or urban bedrooms.

Blinds

Of the numerous ways to dress a window without curtains, blinds are probably the most popular, and light control is a big reason for that popularity. “Their adjustable slats offer superior light control, making them a practical choice for many spaces,” says Heinäsuo. Open blinds can supply a room with plenty of natural light when you want it; close blinds for privacy, or to cut glare.

The slats on blinds, situated either vertically or horizontally (known as Venetian blinds), can be operated in two ways for light control. Pulling the lift cord that hangs from the top lets you lift and lower Venetian blinds, and move vertical blinds from one side to the other. You can also twist the tilt wand (a long, stick-like apparatus) to rotate the slats, changing the angle at which light enters. The easy natural light afforded by blinds is the reason Martha Stewart prefers them over curtains. She also uses shades, valances, and shutters.

Curtains

While blinds offer more ways to control light, their slatted design means that some light will enter even when the blinds are fully closed. So if you’re deciding between curtains or blinds for a bedroom, keep in mind that curtains come in several light-blocking options, such as room-darkening or blackout. One of the biggest advantages of curtains over blinds is that when you close blackout curtains, they block virtually all light.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Window coverings gather dust, especially when hanging in frequently opened doors or windows. Both window blinds and curtains will need some attention to cleaning, but differ in steps and maybe cost.

Blinds

Blinds have a hard, slick surface, so dusting them with a microfiber cloth is quick and easy. Flynn recommends faux wood blinds for style and easy maintenance. “They’re durable, resist moisture, and clean up in seconds with a quick dusting or wipe-down,” she says.

To remove dust from both sides of blinds, close the slats and wipe with a duster from the top down or from one side to another, then rotate the slats 180 degrees and repeat in the opposite direction. To get rid of stubborn dirt and stains, moisten a soft cloth with plain water or a mixture of 25 percent white vinegar and 75 percent water, wipe down the front and back of the slats, and then use a fresh cloth to dry.

Curtains

Cleaning curtains is a bit more involved. To remove dust, vacuum top to bottom with a dust brush attachment. Banishing dirt and stains requires spritzing the soiled or stained areas with a mixture of 25 percent white vinegar and 75 percent water, a store-bought stain pre-treatment solution like Shout Advanced Stain Remover Gel, or (for mold) a solution of one part bleach to four parts water. 

Let the solution dwell for a few minutes, then machine-wash one or two curtain panels at a time, according to the care label, and air-dry to prevent shrinkage. Iron as directed if necessary. When purchasing heavier drapes, check with the supplier or on the product label to ensure they are washable. Otherwise, they might require more expensive dry cleaning. 

Durability

Changing window coverings often might be a way to change the look and feel of a room, but if you spend the money on classic curtains or blinds for your home, you want them to hold up. Whether you opt for curtains or blinds, do some research on the base material and its durability.

Blinds

It’s not unusual for well-maintained blinds to keep their looks for 15 years or more. Different types of blinds’ synthetic materials, whether plastic, vinyl, aluminum, or polymer-coated wood, make them resistant to discoloration and staining. They’re also more rigid and rugged than curtains, and are thus less prone to everyday wear and tear. The most durable blind options are metal, PVC, and faux or natural wood.

Curtains

Even the best curtains, whether made from cotton, linen, velvet, or silk, are more prone to tearing, staining, and molding, so they often need replacement within a decade. Linens and polyesters are quite durable, but how long they last might depend on how carefully you maintain them. Choosing drapes or blinds and their base materials could come down to how often you want to change the look of your room.

Insulation and Soundproofing

Some windows need more from a window covering, like a west-facing sliding door in summer or the bedroom window that faces a busy street. If your room needs better insulation or soundproofing, weigh a window covering’s ability to block sound, cold, or heat.

Blinds

In cold weather, blinds are less insulating than curtains because the slats allow heat to escape. In warm weather, however, the best blinds beat curtains in energy efficiency. Because blinds leak more heat from a room, they also decrease indoor heat gain more efficiently in the summer, by up to 45 percent for reflective blinds, which can lower your AC bills. 

Curtains

Curtains, which leak less heat, reduce indoor heat gain by 33 percent in the summer. But curtains lack the slats through which heat escapes blinds, so they can reduce heat loss from a warm room by up to 10 percent in winter. When you buy curtains, remember that the thicker panels are, the more insulating they are. Thermal curtains, which have acrylic foam between the layers of fabric, and honeycomb shades, with their honeycomb-shaped grid of air pockets, are the most insulating.

“In addition to their aesthetic appeal, drapes offer soundproofing and insulation, creating a more luxurious and cozy atmosphere,” says Heinäsuo. While blinds aid in sound absorption to keep out neighborhood noises, curtains, especially those made of heavyweight, tightly woven fabrics like velvet or velour, perform better than blinds in all types of windows because they’re thicker and lack slats through which sound enters. 

Design and Decor

Though blinds offer plenty of advantages over curtains, they lack the diversity of drapery materials and designs to suit all types of decor, while curtains offer more design possibilities. In addition, when considering curtains vs. blinds vs. shades, remember that both curtains and fabric shades are DIY-friendly for folks skilled with a sewing machine.

Blinds

Blinds tend to come in a narrower range of materials and styles and only in solid colors; this minimalism makes them better suited for the modern look of the Scandinavian, industrial, and coastal interior styles. However, blinds made of wood also pair well with transitional design styles, and custom blinds make a statement in oddly-shaped windows. Since these styles are common in the United States, blinds are a popular choice among Americans, who also tend to prefer the lower price and easy maintenance of blinds.

Curtains

You’ll find curtains in a wider variety of materials, textures, styles, colors, patterns, and levels of transparency, from geometric-inspired cotton curtains to sheer silk curtains. They work well in rooms with classic interior design styles, be it French country, mid-century modern, or Hollywood glam. 
“Drapery can help your windows appear larger when mounted ‘high and wide,’ and they’re also an easy way to update the look and feel of your space,” says Flynn. You can hang curtains in plenty of interior spaces besides windows to create a softer look in a room.

When to Use Window Blinds or Curtains

Whether it’s better to buy blinds or curtains depends on the room in which you’ll hang them. Here are some tips to help you make a decision:

• Blinds work best in areas where you need to control specific light, such as a home office. 
• Avoid blinds with cords in areas where children are present, such as nurseries or living rooms. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, corded window coverings are one of the top hazards in American homes, as infants and children accidentally become entangled in dangling cords. 
• Blinds are better in rooms that tend toward clutter since they offer a clean-lined aesthetic.
• Blinds are better options for high-moisture rooms, like kitchens or bathrooms, where mold is an issue.
• Curtains create a finished look, which is why it’s a good idea to include them in more formal rooms.
• Curtains are essential in bedrooms where privacy is a priority.
• Layering curtains over blinds offers the ultimate in privacy and light control.

Pairing Curtains and Blinds

“Layering window treatments is a great way to add both style and function to your space,” says Flynn. If you want to increase light control or privacy in a bedroom, layer curtains and blinds: Install the blinds first, then hang curtains on a rod above the window frame. The two-treatment look can add a dramatic, sumptuous flair to home theaters and libraries, too.

 

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