An electric blind not only gives your room an air of sophistication and elegance, but is also very practical for difficult windows that are high up or hard to reach as they can be operated by a simple click of a switch.  Once you have decided an electric blind is the way forward, you will need to decide whether it is best to have one that is wired into your mains electricity – otherwise known as hardwired, or to have one that is battery operated.

Why Choose a Hard Wired Blind?

There are plenty of advantages of a blind that is connected to your mains electricity; the fact the blinds are connected is the first one.  There will be a constant source of power, which is beneficial if the blind is high up or difficult to reach, as you won’t have to worry about changing the batteries.  They can come with an app that will allow you to have pre-set times for the blinds to open and close.

You do have to consider a mains source of power when installing a hardwired blind.  They can be connected up to a power socket, if there is one nearby, otherwise a switch with a 5-amp fuse is fitted.  These blinds are very energy efficient and will not be a drain on your electricity bill.

The hardwired blind is also very good for larger windows, as the motor that rolls the blinds will need to pull slightly more power– the bigger the blind, the harder the motor has to work.  This leads on to the other advantage, which is the blinds will be raised and lowered simultaneously, good if you have more than one blind.

As the description suggests there will be wires involved.  If you are starting a renovation or building project the wiring for the blind can be factored into the build and will make the installation easier.  You could have the wires chased into the wall to make them disappear, but it is a long and fairly messy job.  Or they could be discreetly tacked down and hidden as best as possible.  How ever the wires are dealt with, it will add to the installation time and costs, making the hardwired blind a bit more expensive.

What about a Battery Operated Blind?

The battery operated blind runs on a D-Cell battery and will last for approximately 5 years with normal usage.  The main and obvious advantage of this blind is there are very little installation hassles.  There are no wires to be hidden or chased into the wall, which arguably makes it safer.  The motor and the battery house is hidden up on the roller.  However, the batteries will need to be changed, and it is something you will need to consider on installation, especially if the blind is high – or dangerous to reach.  Although the easier installation will mean the cost of it will be lower.

Installing a battery operated blind will also mean that you don’t have to consider how you will connect the blind to the mains power.

Whilst the battery operated blind almost does the same thing as the mains powered blind, the D-Cell battery is not quite powerful enough to pull very large blinds.  If you have a very large window and would like the easier installation, you could consider having a number of smaller blinds installed, rather than one large one.

The differences in the batteries can often mean there will be some variation to the speed which the blinds are raised and lowered, and can result in your blinds not raising together.  However, they take little power to operate, making them more energy efficient.

There are no two ways about it electric blinds, whether they are hard wired or battery operated, are reliable, safe and quiet to use.  They both serve the same purpose and tick the same boxes, but the choice between hard wired and battery operation depends wholly on the size of your blinds and where you will be placing them.  You can decide how many are being installed and whether it is important to you if they all raise and lower at the same speed.  Which ever you choose it will be a sophisticated addition to your room.

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Why choose window blinds?

Blinds can be overlooked when considering a room design, but they are a great solution to your window treatment, that not only make a statement if you want it to, but also can contribute to light and heat control.  They can bring together a feel of a room with one swish of fabric, or wood depending on your tastes.

The styles of window blinds that are now available range from a utilitarian vertical blind, or a minimalist wooden blind that is perfect for controlling the light in a work space, or a very modern room design; to fabric Roman blinds that can be layered up with curtains with complimentary and accenting fabrics to give a softer feel to your room.

Which room will the window blinds be going in?

Depending on which room you are considering a new window treatment for will affect how hard the blind has to work.  A roller shade works well in a kitchen or bathroom as they have a special coating that will protect them. A blackout blind in a bedroom will allow you to sleep beyond the dawn chorus in the summer, whilst wooden blinds in a well-ventilated bathroom would look effortlessly chic and give a beach or spa feel to the room.  Conservatories have the most variations to them and pleated blinds were designed with conservatories in mind as they can be made to fit the awkward window shapes that are often found in a conservatory. Blinds don’t necessarily have to be a big expensive statement, you may just want a cheap blind to help keep the droughts at bay in an old window.

What is my Overall Room Design?

Every room design advice page since the beginning of The Make Over Phenomenon always say start with a mood board.  This still holds true and is still where interior designers start. A physical mood board of pictures, paint samples, fabric samples and accessories would be ideal, but you can just think about the what you’re you looking to achieve in your re-design.  Quite often a blind can go a long way to realising the vision. Are you looking for the grand elegance of a drawing room with Roman blinds and floor to ceiling curtains that showcase your chosen fabrics? Maybe a bamboo blind in a sunny extension or conservatory with big leafy potted plants to give the ambience of a tropical holiday.  The venetian blinds or mini blinds as they’re also known by, give a good control to light and privacy and can be fitted where you need that control, on a busy window or in an office.

When you take a step back and look at your window you will see that a blind can achieve privacy, light control and even temperature control while giving the impression of opulence, minimalism or feeling like you are at the beach.  They can take up as much or as little space at the window as you desire. When fitted inside the recess they will bring clean lines and a sense of space. If you wish to cover a door, or a window that you want to open and close without affecting the blind they can be fitted to the window frame.  They are also a good option for the awkward window shape, such as a Roman fabric blind in a square bay window, or a pleated blind in the roof of your conservatory. When choosing a blind from CWB they will be made to measure and will fit any shape or size window perfectly.

Is a Blind a Safe Choice?

With the blind safety legislation that came into effect in 2014 it is something that is already taken care of in our made to measure blinds.  Our window blinds are installed with either a cleat or hook depending on the blind you choose. However, if you are considering a window treatment in a child’s bedroom, there is a range of blinds available that do not have cords but have a spring mechanism so there is no chance of an accident while you are not there.

Hue, Colour, Ambience?

Window blinds are fantastically versatile.  They can give your room a sharp minimalistic feel, or add opulence or cottagey chic.  They have clean lines and show off beautiful fabric. If you choose a  bamboo or wooden blinds, they can give your room a natural feel.  Whatever the job they have to do, be it privacy, light control or both, there will be a stylish solution that will enhance your room design.

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