The balcony is the most illuminated part of the apartment or house. This is not only a big advantage of the room, but also causes some inconvenience. For example, on a hot day, the balcony heats up the room adjacent to it, house plants burn under the influence of direct sunlight, and the bright light from lanterns disturbs you at night. That is why you can see a variety of curtains on almost all modern balconies. Let's figure out which curtains are best suited for placement on balcony windows.
What material is best for balcony blinds?
There have been quite a few attempts at improvement in relation to blinds. First of all, this concerns materials. Initially, slats were made only of wood, but today other components are in use and have their own advantages.
Rice. 2. example of blinds on a balcony
Note! Any options are suitable for use both on the glazed balcony itself and for draping the door to this area.
Fabric blinds for balconies
Fabric blinds perfectly fulfill their main task - protection from the sun. Although this largely depends on the quality of the fabric used in production. As a rule, dense material is additionally treated with various compounds to give the canvas more rigidity, as well as to protect them from excessive contamination. Despite the dense structure, the canvas does not become an obstacle to the penetration of fresh air, which can be called an undeniable advantage for balcony curtains.
Fig.3. fabric blinds for balconies
Fabric drapery will look very cozy, especially since the canvas is not limited in color, there is a choice with various prints and patterns on both sides. Fabric is not used when creating horizontal lamellas, since the material is not able to hold the desired shape. The canvas is used for vertical or roller curtains.
Although the fabric is coated with a compound that repels dust, such curtains must be washed periodically. In the case of vertical models, this causes certain problems, so the owners of the part have to resort to the help of dry cleaners.
Plastic blinds for balconies
Rice. 4. plastic blinds
Plastic slats look minimalistic. There is not as much variety as with fabric, but they perform their light filtering function well. Plastic is used for vertical and horizontal slats. The advantage of such curtains is more reliable protection from the sun, because plastic itself has absolutely no transmission capacity.
Another advantage is ease of operation. You can clean the slats yourself using a regular soap solution. At this point you won’t even have to remove them from the cornice. The disadvantages include the fact that plastic is not the most reliable material, so plastic strips often break if used carelessly.
Another disadvantage is the fact that when closed, the plastic slats almost do not allow air to pass through. This means that there will be no pleasant freshness on the loggia in the summer heat. But plastic is quite resistant to temperature changes that are typical for an overhanging structure.
Aluminum blinds for balconies
Rice. 5. aluminum blinds look like plastic ones
Metal slats will help you hide from the bright sun. They are not afraid of the influence of weather conditions, which is important for a balcony. The air throughput is even lower than that of plastic. In addition, metal conducts heat well, which means it will heat up from sunlight.
However, metal slats will make the room a quieter and more peaceful place. Such curtains not only remove sunlight, but also partially block street noise. The passage room will be the quietest place in the house.
Wooden blinds for balconies
Rice. 6. wooden slats
Wood is the very first material that was used to create blinds. However, this is not the most suitable material for use on a loggia. Wood is sensitive to atmospheric conditions, so increased humidity or, conversely, a lack of it, will cause deformation of the wood.
The downside is that the structure is significantly heavier, because it will be much heavier than metal. Installation of this type of curtains is possible only on a balcony with small windows.
Otherwise, the tree seduces with its environmental friendliness and complete safety. After all, wood does not emit toxins under the influence of time and temperature. You can use wooden slats for any type of blinds.
Glazing type. How to choose suitable blinds
Plastic structures allow the installation of blinds that are designed specifically for such windows. It is also possible to use options that are mounted directly to the ceiling.
If a metal corner or an aluminum profile was used in the process of glazing the balcony, it is worth selecting blinds with mandatory fastening to the ceiling. Metal will not allow them to be attached to the frame.
If the structures are made of wood, the choice options become much wider. You can buy products with a ceiling type of fastening or those that are attached separately to the doors.
It is worth considering the removal of the balcony. You should not forget about this when choosing suitable blinds. This is especially significant if you like a ceiling-type mount. If you choose the right blinds, they will not only provide protection from bright light and prying eyes, but will also become a stylish decoration for the balcony.
There are no special rules when choosing suitable blinds for a balcony. You can choose almost any. Don't forget about some restrictions. For example, for sliding windows, options that are mounted on sashes are not suitable. You should prefer those products that are not only beautiful, but also suitable for the type of fastening.
Vertical blinds for balconies
Rice. 7. example of vertical blinds up to the window sill
Vertical blinds are fairly wide slats that can be rolled in different directions or assembled using a mechanism to the right or left edge of the structure. For greater stability, the lower part of the canopy is weighted with plastic or wooden inserts. The running mechanism is located in the cornice, but the slats are also connected on the sides at the bottom. Double-sided fastening provides greater composure, but prevents rotation around its axis. If the rack breaks, you can find a replacement, except for versions with an unusual coloring.
Advantages and disadvantages of vertical blinds for balconies
Rice. 8. vertical blinds with travel in different directions
Vertical blinds can be of different lengths. Like regular curtains, they can hang to the floor or hide only the window opening. A special feature of this design is its installation. The running mechanism is a rail along which the lamellas will move. It goes in a continuous line, rather than hanging over each block separately.
You won’t get confused with this design, since there is only one control lever. However, the side windows will require additional curtains or a set of blinds. Also, the only mechanism for the entire loggia means less variation in light correction.
Horizontal blinds for balconies
Rice. 9. horizontal plastic blinds
The control mechanism of the slats is located in the cornice, but it is not a rail, but a constriction for a rope, which serves as a controller. Cords fasten the slats in 2 or 3 places, so they can be raised and lowered to the desired height, as well as rotated around their axis. Curtains of this type cover only the window opening. If there is a window sill on the window, it will be free.
Advantages and disadvantages of horizontal blinds for balconies
Rice. 10. colored horizontal blinds
The design is attached to the frame itself, which is very convenient. Such curtains will not tangle or rattle during ventilation. Each window unit will require a new cassette with horizontal slats. And in the case of a wide solid window, several cassettes can be installed on one opening. The disadvantage of this installation is the large number of control mechanisms, although this also helps to adjust each window differently.
Horizontal slats are easy to care for and visually increase the space. However, they cannot be installed on aluminum frames, as they will not support the weight of the structure. In addition, horizontal slats break quite often.
Color solution
Color plays an important role when creating any interior. So, in a balcony space it requires special attention, as it affects not only aesthetics, but also the feeling of temperature. When choosing a color palette, you need to take into account the purpose of the balcony, as well as the color scheme of the room adjacent to the balcony, since they should create a harmonious tandem. Let's consider what certain colors bring with them and how they behave in the interior:
- beige is the color of coziness, freshness and comfort. Makes the space visually larger and lighter;
- green is the color of cheerfulness, energy and positivity. Causes a feeling of freshness and cleanliness;
- white - will add light and volume. Looks very light, airy, elegant and stylish in any interior;
- floral motifs will add tenderness and romanticism to the interior. Will create a warm spring-summer mood. When choosing floral designs, you must adhere to the following rules: large flowers for a large space, small ones will look harmonious in a small area;
- stripes - have the property of making the room visually higher or wider, depending on the direction;
- patterns and ornaments - make the room more interesting;
- photo printing - creates a unique style of your own.
Roller blinds for balconies
Rice. 11. example of wooden roller blinds
Roller blinds are assembled into a block, which is located on the eaves. They, as in the case of the horizontal model, are attached directly to the frame, which ensures a tight fit. The curtains are rolled up, hence the name. This twisting is provided by 2 ropes on the sides and a weighting knitting needle at the bottom of the curtains.
Advantages and disadvantages of roller blinds for balconies
Rice. 12. fabric roller blinds
Roller blinds can only be adjusted by raising or lowering the curtain. However, the material that is used for them usually has a small throughput, so even when completely closed, not all models provide complete darkness in the room. As with the horizontal option, a new roll will be required for each window unit. Everything is regulated independently of each other.
Such curtains are usually easy to care for and have the greatest variety in style and design. So they will look very original on the balcony.
Design features and its advantages
Being a practical analogue of curtains, blinds consist of many plates that are interconnected. These slats can be mounted horizontally or vertically, and rotation is provided by a special mechanism.
Practical blinds have many advantages in arranging balconies:
- Easy to maintain, no crumpling effect, dust-repellent treatment with special compounds.
- The ability to choose the best window shading option through a simple adjustment mechanism.
- The plates turned to the closed position do not block the movement of air masses, which allows you to ventilate the room in the hot season without the risk of bright sunlight getting inside. This can be seen in the photo of the blinds for the balcony.
- Easy to install.
- Possibility of choosing any model to suit the interior of the room.
What to look for when choosing blinds for a balcony
Rice. 13. roller blinds
The choice of blinds for a loggia largely depends on the individual preferences of the client. External design plays a very important role, because the model should not only create twilight in the room, but also fit into the overall interior of the apartment. Especially if the owners have set up a separate workplace on the balcony. There are several nuances that you should pay attention to before choosing a specific appearance of the product.
Balcony blind length
Rice. 14. multi-level vertical blinds for the balcony door
In most cases, blinds only cover the window opening. The only exception is the vertical model, which is floor-length and is suitable both for the balcony itself and for the doorway. Long blinds are suitable for draping an unsightly radiator under the window sill or other renovation flaws. However, they will get tangled when aired, and opening windows or doors will be a little inconvenient.
Hiding only the window opening exposes the window sill and the wall below it to public view. This is practical, but sometimes it looks too “empty”. In this case, the blinds themselves should be about 5 cm narrower than the window frame.
Swivel mechanism for balcony blinds
Rice. 15. scheme of blinds
You can adjust the lighting using a special rope or chain that hangs from the control device. Control usually does not cause difficulties, but it is worth paying attention to the quality of execution. To choose good blinds, you don’t need to understand the mechanism, just look at the color of the plastic from which it is made.
It is believed that the block should be snow-white. A yellowish or grayish tint indicates poor quality plastic. As a result, this leads to rapid breakdown of the product.
Summary
As you can see, many types of blinds that are used in residential premises can be used to equip balconies and loggias. If you are interested in the question of how to install them (for example, on plastic windows), I recommend watching the video in this article. What do you think are the best balcony blinds? Please answer me in the comments to this material. Perhaps I missed something important that all aspiring masters need to know about.
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September 7, 2016
Accessories, Design, Premises
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