Blinds For The Kitchen

When selecting blinds for your kitchen, you should consider that they will be in a room that you will occupy for a large part of the day. Studies have shown that for the 16 hours that a homemaker is awake, nearly 5 hours a day are in the kitchen. That is nearly 33% of the day. In fact, often the room itself is occupied third most in the house, after the bedrooms and the TV rooms. With that in mind, maybe the cheap ugly choice of blinds is not the best choice for you. I mean, geez- if you will stare at ugly, won't that spoil your appetite.

In addition to creating a room with a specific ambiance, the practical aspects of the kitchen will almost always take priority with emphasis on the type of living and family needs. Brightness during daylight hours is important as the kitchen is a full-time working area. Ease of maintenance in its design is also a critical aspect. All these considerations are important as is the availability of the best blinds to accommodate them. Choosing the right blinds will make this room into an indicator of the pulse of your home.

Windows can enhance kitchen lighting. However, if you have a window which has a highly intense solar effect, then blinds for those windows can help. The blinds for that type of window can filter the sun, and let the rays still enter, without blocking it out completely. Thus, mini blinds can be a great choice. Consider perforated metal mini blinds, which allow the sun to enter in a filtered fashion through the blinds slats. Other materials that can be good for this type of space are fabric screen blinds. These can be light filtering, and there are many washable blinds fabrics from decent suppliers.

Because certain areas of the kitchen are subject to intensive use, wood blinds are not recommended because of the possible warping effect whenever exposed to water and high humidity. Whenever fabric blinds are used, low priced non-washable fabrics should not be used. Only washable fabrics that repel debris and dirt are recommended in kitchen blinds. Keeping in mind that no fabrics can be washed thoroughly, fabric blinds should not be machine washed or scrubbed aggressively.

The majority of fabrics used in kitchen blinds can be manually and gently washed in cool water and mild soap. Rinsing well is important and hang to dry. In the case of vertical blinds, rehang the louvers onto the track and place a towel under the fabric louvers while dripping dry. There are some interesting, attractive fabrics which are made specifically for blinds, which use a special treatment to make them washable. Look for these, but always assume that you cannot wash these in a machine, that will cost you your entire investment.

What of PVC blinds? Well, I am glad you asked. PVC is okay to use, in that it is not susceptible to water, and can help to moderate the light, however, remember that PVC is only safe is it is not heated up. If your kitchen is not well ventilated, or the blind is close to the windows, it is not recommended to use PVC blinds. This is not a chemistry lesson, but you should understand that the 'C' in PVC stands for chloride. If your blinds are exposed to too much heat, then the slats can cause a release of unhealthy and dangerous chemicals. Also, PVC blinds can absorb colors from smoke, and can be the hardest types of blinds to clean.

PVC blinds do come in several styles, including flat, curved and expanded foam. The expanded foam is widely promoted as a safe blind for the kitchens. Consider their locations before you make that investment. PVC can be dangerous if heated beyond normal conditions.

The modern kitchen is always equipped with state of the art appliances, beautiful counter tops and unique flooring which demand window blinds that not only are practical but that are also an asset to the decor. Always make sure the blinds fabrics selected are washable and safe. Proper installation is critical to achieving the desired appearance and trouble-free operation for many years. Select the right blinds, maintain them well, and you will see a lovely look to your food preparation areas.