Are curtains or roller blinds better for a window?
Updated
Neither is better for every window. Curtains add softness, can cover a whole wall and give more layers. Roller blinds are compact, sit neatly inside a recess and suit smaller windows and, with the right fabric, kitchens and bathrooms. Many homes use both, a blind for light control and a curtain for the look.
Curtains and roller blinds both control light and privacy. They differ in space, style and how much they change a room, so the best choice depends on the window and what you want from it.
Curtains
Curtains are fabric hung from a track or rod. They add colour, texture and softness, and can run from the ceiling to the floor to make a room look taller. They can be lined for more light control. They need room at the sides for the stack, and room in front of the window. They suit living rooms, bedrooms, large windows and sliding doors.
Roller blinds
A roller blind is a single sheet of fabric that rolls onto a tube at the top. It needs little space, sits inside a window recess or on the wall around it, and gives a clean, flat look. Blinds suit smaller windows and study areas, and kitchens and bathrooms with a fabric chosen for the room. Ask your retailer which fabric suits a wet room. Fabric choices range from full blockout to open sunscreen mesh.
| Curtains | Roller blinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Space needed | Wall at the sides and depth in front | Little, can sit in the recess |
| Look | Soft, layered | Flat, tidy |
| Light control | Depends on lining and fit | Depends on the fabric |
| Privacy | Sheer by day, blockout all day | Blockout all day, light filtering by day and mostly at night, sunscreen by day only |
| Operation | Hand, wand, cord or motor | Chain or motor |
Using both
Many windows have both. A roller blind handles light and privacy and stays out of the way. A curtain in front adds style, covers the gaps at the sides and can be closed for extra darkness. A sheer curtain over a blockout roller blind does a similar job to a double curtain track in less depth.
How to choose
- Think about the room: a bedroom may need full darkness, a kitchen may need something easy to wipe.
- Measure the space beside and in front of the window.
- Check cords and chains if young children live in the home.
- Look at fabric samples in your own light.
A roller blind inside the recess sits close to the glass, so a handle that sticks out can catch it. Ask your retailer about front roll or an outside fit. Curtains can hang clear of handles. A curtain needs wall space at the sides when it is open, while a blind needs none. On a wide window two narrower blinds side by side can look better than one very wide blind.
Your retailer can show curtains and blinds against your window, then measure, quote and order. Speedy Blinds makes curtains, tracks and roller blinds for retailers.
Other ways people ask this
Are curtains or blinds better for privacy?
Both can be fully private. A blockout curtain or blind works at any hour. Sheers and sunscreen fabrics do not at night.
Are curtains or blinds better for a bedroom?
Either can work. Blockout fabric and a good fit matter more than the type.
Can I have curtains and blinds together?
Yes. It is a common choice for light control and style.
Are roller blinds easier to clean than curtains?
Often, but it depends on the fabric. Check the care instructions for the one you choose.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.