Blind Innovation: An Interior Revolution

Although interior designers the world over have been in love with blinds for decades, the trend started earlier than you might think. The Egyptians had blinds made out of reeds which blocked out the light but allowed ventilation in through the gaps. The ancient Chinese also constructed their own blinds however their most ready natural resource was bamboo, a material still being used to this day.

The Persians were masters in blind design and the practice eventually spread across Europe, coining the famous Venetian blinds. These were originally designed using varying materials as individual slats which were all linked together with string. The design developed and finally the practice reached England in the late eighteenth century.

Since then blinds have developed to replace curtains as the favoured window covering of the British people. There are blinds in a multitude of different designs, from close relations to their ancient predecessors, to modern designs based on eco-technology. The functionality and simplicity of blinds have made them an essential interior design solution.

Over the years the functionality of blinds has developed. From static blinds, to string operated blinds, to motor driven blinds to remote controlled blinds, the technology keeps developing and making blinds more practical and accessible. Features such as their ease of cleaning and multifunctional design has rendered them the ideal choice for workplace window covering.

In the home the lines are still drawn between curtains and blinds however there have been a movement in interior design toward more ancient designs in blinds. A reversion to the styles of previous periods such as the Egyptian reed design and the Chinese bamboo design are commonplace. Blinds are easy to maintain and a design can be found to suit any interior design pattern making them particularly versatile.

The range of materials used to construct blinds are vast. From aluminium, bamboo, MDF, laminate and plastic to a massive range of wood, there is something for every requirement and budget. What materials will usually depend on functionality and aesthetic. Workplace window coverings generally put longevity ahead of design, so aluminium and strong plastic polymers are used to ensure they last.

String operated blinds are perhaps the most common type of functionality. This has not changed much since the early Venetian blinds which were also operated by string. However leaps and bounds in technology have seen remote control operated blinds a commonplace addition to the household and now blinds can even be hooked up to a computer terminal and an automated setting can be programmed.

Although blinds had a reputation for being somewhat bland in appearance there have been leaps and bounds in blind aesthetics over the last decade. Blinds are now synonymous with modernity and they can be found in all shapes, sizes, colours and materials. Their self-contained, angular design makes them a tidy edition to any setting and they are low maintenance, where curtains look shabby if not properly maintained.

Taking into account that blinds have been developed over a period of millennia, their design has not changed too dramatically. This is due to the simplicity of their design and function. Their self-contained, multifunctional nature is complimented by their low maintenance and there is a design to suit every colour scheme imaginable.