Kitchen Curtains or Kitchen Blinds?
When should you use kitchen curtains to “finish off” your kitchen windows and when should you use blinds? It is very much a personal choice but here are some factors which might sway your decision one way or the other.
Curtains are easy to purchase ready made in various sizes which will easily fit most kitchen windows and can be easily hung from a simple curtain rod fixed above your windows. If you have windows which are not a standard size and shape you can easily find curtain fabric suitable for kitchens and most stores selling curtain fabric offer a making up service. (You may find special deals too where they will make the curtains for free when you purchase the fabric).
Kitchen curtains or blinds for this kitchen?
There seems to be no end of fabric designs available and if you don’t like traditional kitchen fabrics there’s no need to restrict yourself to them as there are a wide range of other designs which would look great in your kitchen – including plain, stripe, plaid, paisley and gingham fabrics.
If you choose washable kitchen curtains or fabrics (and you should) you will be able to launder your curtains frequently to get them looking like new again. The air in a kitchen is full of steam and grease and everything there needs frequent cleaning as I’m sure you are aware.
If you choose blinds instead of kitchen window curtains you will also have lots of choice although not quite so much if you are looking for ready made shades. However you can get in touch with a specialist blind company if you would like more choice or if your windows are a non standard size and order from them. Fitting of blinds is reasonably straight forward. You usually just have to fix brackets to hold the blind at the top of the window recess and you are done, maybe after trimming your blind slightly to fit the gap if required. If you order from a blind company they will usually fit the blinds for you.
Where blinds are less useful is in how easy they are to clean. You will be able to wipe clean hard blinds such as metallic Venetian or wooden blinds but fabric blinds can be very difficult to clean (if you can clean them at all). You may be able to have the blind specialist cleaned at a dry cleaners but washing some blinds yourself will usually take the stiffness out of the fabric.
In the end however the choice between curtains and blinds often comes down to the one thing we haven’t mentioned – the style of your kitchen. Blinds are most suited to high tech and minimalist kitchens whereas curtains look just right in a more traditional or country kitchen where blinds would look a bit stark.
Four Ideas for Kitchen Window Treatments
Window treatments for your kitchen should allow light into the area and improve the appearance of the space as well as being practical in a room where so much cooking takes place.
Choosing a window treatment for your kitchen can be a fun task and not too tough if you measure any curtain you are thinking of buying against those criteria. Always ask yourself whether the window treatment will block too much light and whether it enhances or detracts from the style of your kitchen, as well as looking how practical it will be to keep clean and fresh.
Here are four kinds of kitchen window treatments that are especially popular. Think about which of these would work best in your kitchen and if you’re not sure leave a comment below and we’ll try to help.
Kitchen tiers or Café Curtains
Tiered curtains are a simple style of curtain that lets a lot of light in while maintaining moderate privacy. Café curtains usually cover the bottom half of the window while leaving the top open to allow in light. Tiered curtains usually have another layer – a valance at the top of the window and sometimes side swags. These curtains are frequently seen in cafés, hence the name. Café or tier curtains often have patterns like plaid or checkers, or images of food items. They generally work well in a casual informal kitchen unless they are in a very tailored formal style in a solid color with something like tab tops rather than gathers.
Venetian blinds can be very effective in a kitchen
Simple Venetian Blinds
Venetian blinds are made from slats of wood, plastic, or metal that can be adjusted to open and close using a rod on one side of the blinds. They can also be drawn up or down using a cord on the other side. People don’t often think of using blinds alone but if you choose a classy set, you won’t need anything else to dress your window. Light colored blinds or wooden blinds look great in kitchens and metallic venetian blinds are also excellent in modern kitchens if they match the appliances or handles on the cabinets. These blinds can generally be wiped clean with a damp cloth but it can be a pain making sure that you clean every slat.
Roman shades
Roman shades will give your kitchen a fine, clean look. They can be completely raised, completely lowered, of half-raised. Because they are made from fabric which is raised or lowered in soft folds they soften the hard lines of a kitchen without give a country or homey look that gathered curtains might point towards. Ready made roman shades come in many styles and colors so it’s easy to match them to the rest of your kitchen but if your windows are not standard sizes they can be custom made for a reasonable price. The only tricky part is cleaning. In general these blinds will need to be dry cleaned.
Kitchen Valance
Finally, you can use a valance on the top half of the window either on its own, or combine it with other window treatments. Valances soften the top of the window and hide an ugly curtain rod very effectively. Used alone they draw attention to a great window or a great view without leaving the window too bare. Combining a valance with blinds or shades is also a great look especially where you feel the blind is too simple for the room. Valances are easy to find or simple to make. If you can’t sew, you can do something as simple as drape a scarf around the curtain rod for an extremely easy window treatment.
Have fun with your kitchen window treatments. You can create some great, unique designs for your windows that will greatly enhance your kitchen when you let your imagination loose.
Yellow Kitchen Curtains
Being both the color of sunshine and golden apples, yellow is a very useful color in any shade when you are decorating, especially when you want to perk up your kitchen. Whether you choose a light lemon or a more robust gold, the base color of yellow will act as a way to brighten your space. Instead of overwhelming your room with a whole coat of yellow paint though, a more subtle way to bring this cheery look to your kitchen is to simply get yellow kitchen curtains.
If you choose cafe curtains for your kitchen, like those below, the light coming through the top of the windows acts as an additional boost of brightness during the day and the natural glow of the color yellow itself keeps the idea of sun streaming into your kitchen at night and even on cloudy or gloomy days.
Beautiful Yellow Curtains
(CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS AND MORE YELLOW KITCHEN CURTAINS)
Shade of Yellow
One of the major concerns that most people have with yellow curtains is creating too much brightness. That would actually only be the case if everything was yellow in your kitchen including the walls and doors of the cabinets. However, it is important to pick out the right shade of yellow for your new curtains, so that the rest of your kitchen does not clash, assuming you are not going for the same yellow all over which would make everyone feel like they were inside an egg yolk – not a good look!
Whether you choose a soft pale yellow shade like lemon meringue or more robust and deeper yellows with sunflower kitchen curtains, it only matters that you make sure whatever yellow you choose tones with the walls and cabinets. Use paint chips of various yellows and hold them against furniture and walls to make sure everything works before investing in curtains for your kitchen in the best yellow. Of course, if you have yet to paint the rest of the room, you can let your curtains take the lead in color choice but for most kitchens they are the last thing to be thought about and bought.
If you are concerned about the intense brightness sometimes associated with yellow look for the more toned down shades of yellow like maize or mustard, which still go with your kitchen, as you get the punch and cheeriness of yellow without the after bite of too much light.
Patterns
The next decision you need to make for your curtains is of course the pattern you want. Keeping to a solid color is always classy and elegant. To avoid being mundane with completely solid plain fabric, you will certainly want to look into embroidery or delicately cut out designs. However, do not be afraid to experiment with stripes or even floral designs. Yellow gingham kitchen curtains are a wise choice too and the gingham fabric can work well as a border on white curtains too. If you favor daisies you are certainly in luck as this flower looks great on multiple shades of yellow. If daisy kitchen curtains are not to your taste however, then perhaps the lovely chickens in the design above will tempt you.
More Yellow Curtains for the Kitchen
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