If you’re in two minds as to whether to choose curtains or roman blinds, here are a few tips to help you make the right decision.

Roman blinds cost less than curtains
The amount of fabric used to make curtains (the face fabric, the lining and interlining) is far greater than that used for roman blinds. The result is that a lined and interlined roman blind will be considerably cheaper than lined and interlined curtains in the same fabric. So if budget is the driving force in the decision then consider roman blinds as an alternative to curtains.

Aesthetic issues
Consider the room and the look that you are trying to achieve in that room.  It may well be the case that a roman blind is the most appropriate (as well as the cheapest) option. Here are a few reasons why

• Floor to ceiling curtains will often dominate the room and make it look smaller, so if space is limited or the room is small, consider the roman blind option. Putting the roman blind inside (as opposed to outside) a recess will maximise the effect of making the room look bigger.
• Although roman blinds don’t tend to give quite such a warm cosy feeling, they often work well when you are trying to achieve a simpler, open, light and airy look. However roman blinds placed outside the window architrave can have a similar effect to curtains in making the room look cosy, but at a fraction of the cost.

Practical issues

• Roman blinds are a practical choice for kitchen and bathroom windows and also work well in small windows or where there isn’t sufficient draw back space at either side of the window for a curtain.
• If you have a radiator below your window, floor to ceiling curtains are not a good idea from an energy saving perspective (see Tip 4 below on Energy Saving). In these circumstances a roman blind might be the best option – particularly if, like so many people, you don’t like sill length curtains.
• Roman blinds are a great option in a room with a sloping ceiling (typical of loft conversions), where you want a bit more cosiness than your standard velux or equivalent blind can provide – see photo below where we fitted a roman blind with blackout lining into a child’s bedroom, and maximised the blackout effect with a dim out luxaflex roller blind.  Vertical chords either side of the blind keep it close to the ceiling.

A great compromise
If you feel that your room needs curtains, but this clashes with your budget, consider dress curtains with or without interlining to create the curtained look with a roman blind behind them.

Download the full article here 10 Curtain and Blind Money Saving Tips