Introduction
As the world keeps to its natural rhythm of development, we humans are granted with various easy way outs for tasks that once seemed more time and effort consuming. One of such great inventions was home blinds- As the name suggests, these are used for keeping light out besides providing privacy. There are different kinds of home blinds, varying in their system and fabric ranging from wood to plastic to metal. Their system works on the principal of rotation, where they rotate from an open position to a closed position, allowing slats to overlap. Some window blinds use a single piece of material instead of slats. They can provide various degrees of light, heat and privacy, depending on the design.
Step 1
The early history of the blinds is hypothetical. Desert dwellers have been recorded to use wet cloth for covering their windows. The early Egyptians strung together reeds from the mighty Nile for their version and the ancient Chinese cultures used bamboo. Venetian blind is the first form of home blinds on earth. They were actually invented in Persia. Traveling Venetian traders brought the home blinds to Venice and Paris. Venetian slaves, once freed, brought the home blinds to France. The first pioneer of the venetian blind in the US was John Webster of London who advertised his wares in 1767. By the 1950s, the Venetian blinds had incorporated two inch wide metal slats and were hung with fabric strips. These fabric strips control the blinds by raising, lowering or tilting the metal slats. However, the older models of the Venetian blinds were rather noisy and their appearance offered very less room for aesthetics. John Hampson, of New Orleans, designed a method to adjust the angle of the slats in 1841. But by the 1980s, the metal slats had been replaced by one inch vinyl slats. Due to the flexibility of manufacturing vinyl slats, these vinyl “mini blinds” became the standard in the choice of window blinds. Vertical blinds were invented in Kansas City, Missouri, by Edward Bopp and Fredrick Bopp who held the original patent. The company name at the time was Sun Vertical. In the 1960s, the patent and company was sold. The Venetian blinds became so popular that they were included in historical paintings as in the 1787 painting by J. L. Gerome Ferris, titled "The Visit of Paul Jones to the Constitutional Convention” and the illustration of Independence Hall in Philadelphia at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In 1761 St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia was fitted with venetian blinds. The first large modern building in the US to adopt venetian blinds was Rockefeller Center’s RCA Building (better known as the Radio City building) in New York City at the turn of the 20th century.
Step 2
Blinds are quite popular today, especially when it comes to home decor. They have varying thermal effects: they can block unwanted heat of the summer sun and they can keep in heat in the cold weather, making them a great energy saver. Home blinds come in bold, bright colors, contemporary patterns and textures. Blinds can be pleasing to the eye, with regular horizontal lines to make each window uniform. Blinds prove to be very helpful as a window curtain since they make possible, faster and more accessible cleaning of the house. Some modern versions of paint prevent dust particles from accumulating on the blinds. Window blinds are used to create a variety of moods and environments. Blinds can be automated through motorization. Controls for motorized blinds can be from a wall switch or keypad, remote control, or a personal computer, eliminating the need for cords and allowing control of otherwise inaccessible windows. A few versions of blinds are Vertical blinds; very good at controlling the amount of natural or exterior light entering a room, due to the ability of the slats to close tightly. Unlike horizontal blinds, vertical blinds are less likely to be damaged in strong winds and to hold dirt, but are more likely to break down.
Step 3
Generally they require less muscle strength, and are faster to operate. Slat blinds; consist of many horizontal slats, usually of metal or vinyl, connected with string in a way that they can be rotated to allow light to pass between the slats, rotated up to about 170 degrees to hide the light, or pulled up so that the entire window is clear. Jalousie window or Louver window is a window which consists of parallel glass, acrylic, or wooden louvers set in a frame. The louvers are locked together onto a track, so that they may be tilted open and shut in unison, to control airflow through the window. They are usually controlled by a crank mechanism. Louver from the French l'ouvert; ("the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise. The angle of the slats may be adjustable, usually in blinds and windows, or fixed.
Tips
Thus blinds are a great way to decorate and preserve one’s home. Such popular blinds made of, wood, faux wood, organza, vinyl and bamboo make a striking yet contemporary looking home. So next time when you go for shopping for your house, choose home blinds over the more commonly used curtains.
