When people hear the word “Blind” in home furnishing conversations, most envision the typical Venetian, Mini or Vertical style of blind that are installed in windows to keep exterior heat and harmful UV rays out and to provide a measure of privacy for the inhabitants inside. And the popularity of these types of blinds is rightfully earned: These three styles are unquestionably the most ubiquitous types of blinds found in the windows of American homes.
But, as you’re about to find out, Blinds come in many other styles, shapes, sizes and materials, and can actually be amazingly versatile interior design elements that work in places other than windows. They can be used as room partitions, space definers, and even as focal pieces of art.
Room Separators
Ceiling Hung Blinds
It doesn’t take much imagination to envision placing a rail on a ceiling across an expanse of room you’d like to separate, and then hanging blinds from it so that they can be pulled out and pushed back as needed. This is functional and more versatile than building a wall or half wall, and more cost effective than installing large pocket or French doors. Hanging blinds from a ceiling rail provides a useful way of taking a large space and creating a multipurpose area that easily transitions from day to night, from family space to entertaining space, from public space to private space, indeed from any type of use to another, whenever the need arises.
Traditional vertical blinds can be used to create multi-functional living spaces.
Using hanging blinds to separate living areas doesn’t mean you have to use vertical slat type blinds, either. They can be paneled and sliding, stationary and folding, or panels of hanging beads or other interesting material that make a bold design statement.
Stained rattan panel blinds create a modern, organic feel and separate a lounge area from the main living room in a city flat.
Crisp, canvas panels with nautical inspired grommets separate a bedroom and den area on the finished attic floor of an ocean side retreat, providing privacy when people visit, but allowing 360 degree views when the bedroom is not in use.
Non-Ceiling Hung Blinds
There are other ways to partition rooms with blinds besides hanging them from the ceiling. You can hang blinds from mobile pieces of furniture, like wardrobe racks, and move them to different positions as needed, or hang them from windowpanes you install (either permanently or on mobile frames) between living areas so you get the illusion of an open space that can be “blinded” and made private. Windowpanes give the added benefit of sound dampening, too.
A fabric panel blind hung from a rolling wardrobe provides a mobile and visually interesting partition in a workspace that separates the children’s area from the adult’s area.
A hanging wood frame with wooden mini-blinds acts as a lightweight wall separating the dinette area from the main living area in an antique church-turned-residence. The blinds can be pulled to provide full opacity between the living areas.
Space Definers
Blinds can also be used to define and emphasize specific spaces within larger open areas. For example, you can completely envelope a dining or bedroom area in a soft expanse of gauze like, semi-sheer fabric, creating an intimacy and elegance that is missing when the space is left undefined. You can define a wardrobe area with sumptuous velvet panels to create instant luxury, or a dinette area with sunny green linen panels to create a fresh, inviting garden feel, or a library with dark wood shutters to create a classic, academic ambiance. Defining spaces with artfully placed blinds of appropriate style and material is especially striking in loft and open-concept type layouts, where one area often bleeds into another without much differentiation.
White acrylic blind panels separate a reading area from the dining area in a restored brick warehouse loft condo, and echo the pattern of the antique window panes in the background.
Weighted fabric mini-panels create an inviting and somewhat ethereal visual experience in the middle of an otherwise sparse work space.
Pieces of Art
Because blinds have large continuous areas when extended or closed, they can be used as canvases for striking pieces of art that can create instant style and mood in a room. When placed in a window or in front of other light sources, the canvas can even appear “backlit” during the day and provide an enhanced experience.
A printed roller shade goes from “blah” to “amazing” with stylistic garden art and provides a visual focal piece for the entire room.
Finding a Good Blind Supplier
While many companies provide blinds, not all companies understand how to use them to create the types of smart, design-inspired solutions that add utility, convenience and ambiance to an interior space. When you look for a blind provider, you’ll want to ensure they have interior design know-how and can show you examples of how they’ve used blinds to artfully transform an interior.
If you happen to live in the Tampa/St. Pete area of Florida, call Rick Mitman at Room by Room Design Service. They offer interior design expertise that includes creative use of blinds (and drapes) and can additionally source furniture, fixtures and other interior pieces to create a truly inspiring indoor space. They even offer complimentary in-house consultations.
If you live outside of Tampa/St. Pete, search the web for “Blind Installation and Design Services” to find businesses that can help with your needs.