Curtains or Venetian Blinds?

Question

I have a small kitchen about 8 ft wide and 13 feet long. There is one glass door which goes out to the balcony. I am thinking about putting a colored Venetian blind up instead of a curtain. Friends are telling me that it will look awful not having a curtain. What should I do? I have a cream colored kitchen and wanted to do a colored blind that will add some color: Thanks for any input!!!

Answer 1

Try both. Just a suggestion.

Answer 2

Venetian blinds are so geometrical, and seem to only belong in office buildings or hospitals. There are exceptions, but they are not very homey. Curtains will soften the glass door opening's edges and even add some height to the room if set high up above the door. It will make the room and glass doors look more grandeur. And you can get them in any color and fabric. If you are not worried about privacy or sunlight entering through the glass, go with a swag, otherwise go with some light-weight drapery.
Try it out, and if you don't like them, take them back until something works.

Answer 3

I think you should do what you want to do. If you want Venetian blinds, then you should have them. If it looks good to you, then you'll be happy. If for some reason it seems to need a little more, then you can always add a border of accenting trim. If you still want more, then go ahead and add decorative curtains that look well either with, or without the blinds.

In this manner, you can also change the appearance of the whole room, just by altering the window dressing slightly.

Answer 4

If it's for privacy, how about roller blinds? If it is to make kitchen look nice, I would just leave the glass door as it is. Since your kitchen is small, it's better to allow more light to come into the kitchen. I would, instead, put hanging plants and lots of potted plants in my balcony so that when I am in the kitchen and I look out to the balcony, I see my little garden. Also for safety reasons, if you are using gas instead of electric hob, curtains may not be a good idea especially on a windy day.

Answer 5

Sounds like I have the same set up as you. I have a small kitchen with the same size window that sits a little to the right of a sliding glass door. I have white walls with white venetian blinds on the kitchen window and white vertical blinds on the sliding glass door. I think having the two will tie them both together. Good luck!

Answer 6

If you have a small kitchen, putting blinds over a glass door is not a good idea. I would pick a curtain with a light fabric (maybe lace) and maybe dye it a color of your choosing. You get the color punch that you want, but you're not blocking a major part of your natural light source. Plus if you put something blocky over the door then your kitchen will feel blocky.

Answer 7

Blinds are a pain in the butt to keep clean. Also, I'm assuming you mean vertical blinds since this is a sliding glass door, yes? Curtains are far more attractive, versatile and easier to keep clean, in my opinion. Once you get a nice curtain rod up, it's easy to change the look just by changing the curtains -- how about some tab-tops? I love my curtains - can take them down and throw them in the wash and gives a lot more privacy.

Answer 8

I have a similar kitchen with cream walls, I decorated it with a wine theme (Im sure you have seen it, its very big now) and then used cream blinds and merlot colored curtain overlay. It does look aweful from inside to have just blinds, so I though curtain would soften the look- so I guess I suggest both!

Answer 9

You could do a little of both. How about vertical blinds with a pretty valance on top. Vertical blinds are not to hard to clean, just wipe them down. Personally I would go with a neutral blind and add color with a valance. Once you get into colored blinds you are stuck with them if you want to change your color scheme. But, if money is no object then get colored ones.

Answer 10

venetian blinds are really out of style. you can add plenty of color with curtains.

Answer 11

Try a roman shade. You can find them in many fabric patterns/colors, they provide privacy when wanted and are not as fussy as curtains.