Should I Install Screens, Curtains, or Blinds?
The increased adoption of glass in architectural design, predominantly for large sliding and bifold doors, is expected to continue to grow. This is great news for door companies and architects designing extensions, renovations, and new homes, but what about the day-to-day living experience for residents? With more homes having large areas exposed to passers-by, there is an increasing demand for a solution that provides privacy. So, which are better – screens, curtains, or blinds? Consider the factors below when making this important decision…
Solar management
More glass of course means more light, and more light means more exposure to the sun and a greater need for solar control. Natural light is a popular design element, but unmanaged, can create an uncomfortable living environment, especially during hot summer months when stunning glass living spaces become greenhouses, or in low winter sunlight when eye-level glare becomes an issue.
Privacy and insect control
Although curtains are not the best solution for dressing large, glazed openings, homeowners still need a solution to preventing passers-by from observing every aspect of their daily routines. With large doors and windows, our home interiors are more exposed than ever before.
People are not the only thing a home can need privacy from. If a property is waterside, near a farm or anywhere else that attracts bugs, there will always be an issue of insect ingress. Traditional blinds obscure the view and detract from minimalist architectural lines without stopping insects, and net curtains are no longer favoured – especially not in the widths needed to seamlessly screen large openings.
Are blinds or curtains better for bifold doors?
Large openings with sliding and bifold doors are a fantastic way to make use of natural light, but clean architectural lines can be compromised by curtain fabric ‘bunching’ across the track and to the sides when open. Four metres of high-quality curtain fabric, for example, is very heavy and can require significant space to sit when open, reducing available light. Curtains offer an on/off solution to heat, glare and privacy, but are limited in their flexibility beyond that. Sunlight can also ‘bleach’ the lining fabric, creating an uneven look from the outside.
During the summer, it’s important to open the doors and ventilate your home. However, curtains fail to prevent bugs from entering the house, and curtain folds also provide attractive hiding places for insects. So, are blinds better than curtains? Not necessarily, but neither are a solution to all of the challenges mentioned above. Let’s take a look into how blinds compare to screens…
Solar Screens vs Integrated Blinds: Are screens better than blinds?
Blinds are often considered for extensions with bifold doors, but they have shortcomings that are worth noting. For example, integrated blinds obscure the view, which separates the outdoor and indoor spaces, often resulting in gloomy interiors. Blinds also have no protection against insects, so you are stuck with the unsatisfactory options of leaving the doors open and letting bugs in or closing them and having a stuffy home in the hotter weather. Finally, a typical installation results in multiple double-glazed door units, each of which has a visible stack of Venetian blind slats and door frames that obscure the view.
Where both blinds and curtains fall short is taking up the view, fluttering around in the wind and making noise, and of course, not preventing bugs making themselves at home. However, there is a solution… Solar Screens resolve each of these issues, and here’s why:
Screens are the solution
First of all, what are solar screens? Solar screens and insect screens are designed to leave your view intact and move independently from your doors. They blur the barrier between indoor and outdoor spaces, whilst deflecting solar energy and blocking the insects from getting inside. Phantom Screens come in a variety of different mesh types, blocking 55%-100% of UV rays, so you can choose which is best for you in terms of privacy, solar reflection, and visibility.
Style
Screens are growing in popularity for their performance flexibility and for their low impact on interior design. Retractable, recessed screens don’t interfere with architectural design because they disappear almost completely from view when not in use.
This means homeowners can maximise every inch of available light with no distraction from clean architectural lines. Furthermore, the screen frames can be made to match any RAL colour, helping them to blend seamlessly with existing door colour palettes.
Purpose
Global warming is making our homes increasingly feel like greenhouses during the summer months, particularly as properties in the UK are designed to keep the heat inside for wintertime. Screens are the solution that deflect solar energy, reduce glare, and provide natural ventilation which helps to manage the hotter climate whilst saving money on air conditioning costs. On top of that, solar screens protect your furniture from the damage of sun bleaching.
Whether your property requires insect screens or solar screens, our entire range will keep flies and other insects out of your home for good. Enjoy those long summer evenings with the doors open without the worry of insect ingress. Also, with fewer properties in being built in remote locations, some homes in busy areas will struggle with privacy, but our solar and fly screens provide privacy without taking away the beautiful view the homeowner has paid for.
Contact Us
If you’re interested to know more about our range of screens, pergolas, and more, get in touch with our team to discuss further or book a free no-obligation home survey.
Still reading? Dive into our other blogs for some more interior design and home renovation ideas…
