One of the greatest advantages of using vertical blinds in dining rooms which have French or patio doors is their ability to stack back, either from the centre or left or right side, to allow you easy access to your patio and garden.

Providing you with a full length window and door dressing vertical blinds have a soft look which is more akin to curtains than Venetian blinds. Operating on pull cord systems or motorised, vertical blinds offer an effective and stylish window dressing choice which suits all styles of homes.

Today it’s possible to find vertical blinds in a variety of pastel colours as well as the more common and classical ivory, cream and soft whites. As these blinds are made from fabric rather than plastic or metal they provide a more delicate look to windows and doors. Of course, they have the same ability to control the amount of light entering your dining room as Venetian blinds and can be used to create so wonderful diffused lighting effects when the sunlight passes through them.

The modern fabric vanes are also sponge clean, which makes the past issues of cleaning them a thing of the past. It’s also possible to use vertical blinds across entire widths of rooms – ideal if you have contemporary glass walls – and you’ll be able to open sections as you wish depending on how many openings you have.

Vertical blinds are no longer confined to using in conservatories and sun-rooms. With modern designs, delicate patterns and colours this style of blind is becoming one of the most popular window dressing choices for dining rooms.

Although this style of blinds look chic and stylish when used on their own, they can also be teamed with curtains and drapes to bring a homely and a more formal look to dining rooms; providing you with light control and complete privacy when you need it.

So, if you have a large picture window and patio doors it’s well worth considering vertical blinds, either ready made or made to measure. If you opt for made to measure many companies also provide a fitting service to save you the time and effort, which is very handy, especially if your dining room doors or windows are large.

We begin with the classical curtains and drapes and remind you that bay window curtain poles will make life much easier for you. These curtain poles have been designed to fit into a variety of different sized bay windows and use joining splices to enable you to draw the curtains back to each end of the bay without having to stop at the junctions.

As bay windows come in different sizes and styles the method of hanging your curtains has to be flexible. If you prefer a more formal look, curtains tracks are also available for bay windows and are typically bendable so that you can achieve a professional look if you prefer to use the more traditional pencil pleat curtain headings.

Blinds have also become an excellent way to dress bay windows; with Roman blinds or shades being the most popular styles. The great advantage of using Roman blinds is that you can make them yourself to compliment or identically match your other soft furnishings. Made to measure blinds will give you the freedom and unique qualities of home-made blinds with all the work carried out for you – the hardest part will choosing the fabric!

If you bay window is south facing you may wish to use blinds to help control the amount of heat and sun glare entering your room. Venetian blinds are the ideal solution to this problem and can be used on their own for a sleek and stylish look or used in combination with curtains. Don’t forget that Venetian blinds will also give you privacy, so you’ll have the best advantages on your side.

There is one other way that you could use curtains for privacy and that’s to fix a curtain track or pole on the outside of the window casing (in line with your walls), however, you’ll be cutting off the bay window when the curtains are closed and the beautiful feature in your room will only be usable during the day time; and we think that’s sacrilege! If your home has beautiful bay windows don’t hid them away thinking their too difficult to dress, use them to your advantage and give them the attention they deserve!

With metal being on this interior design trends list aluminium Venetian blinds are the ideal choice, furthermore if you opt for smoky metallic colours a luxury look can easily be achieved. As we’ve mentioned before Venetian blinds have come a long way since their humble beginnings, today there are many variations and colours to suit modern living spaces beautifully.

If you can look past (metaphorically) the older clattering, clanking versions that didn’t pull-up evenly and warped and bent and hone your attentions on the latest designs you’ll see that Venetian blinds have a lot to offer and don’t have to cost a small fortune (which has to be good news!).

Let’s share with you some of the great benefits of using Venetian blinds in your dining room:

1. Sleek styling has to be top of the list.

2. Excellent, easy light control enabling you to help protect your flooring and furnishings fading in harsh sunlight.

3. By altering the angle of the slats wonderful diffused lighting effects can be achieved. By tilting the slats upwards natural light can be bounced off from the ceiling to make room look and feel lighter and airer.

4. Venetian blinds make the ideal window dressing for windows of all sizes. Extra wide windows can benefit from wider slats while small windows can be dressed with narrower slats (this style of blind is often referred to as Mini blinds).

5. Metal blinds in copper, bronze, silver and gold finishes add a touch of opulence to a dining room.

6. For a more traditional dining room Venetian blinds can be paired with curtains or drapes.

7. Unusual slat décor is being seen on the latest designs, including perforated slats which also produce wonderful soft, diffused lighting effects. Some of the designs also have small lights incorporated within the header rail so that the patterns and images can be seen at night.

8. Motorised blinds are also becoming common place, which is perfect for contemporary interiors which have all the latest electronic gadgetry included.

9. Special coatings (usually acrylic) can or are applied to help protect wooden blinds from humid atmospheres and to repel dust.

Venetian blinds have so much to offer, if you’re looking for a window treatment for your dining room it’s well worth spending a little time looking at all the styles and designs available.

The latest roller blinds have sun filtering properties, blackout properties a long with header rails which are slim-line or fitted up behind pelmets or walls to disappear from view completely. Motorised and remote controlled blinds make this type of window dressing easy to operate and enhancing the way the blinds can be used to the best effect.

Today’s on-trend look is to have a number of roller blinds or shades for each pane of glass or panel of sliding doors. As each is independently operated you can have each at a different level, this not only gives a stunning visual look but also enables you to raise or lower each blind as the sun moves across the sky (particularly useful on south facing dining rooms) and because of their slim-line header rails allows you to successfully use roller blinds on patio doors without them getting in the way. In the past this was always a problem which is why many people elected to use vertical blinds rather than roller blinds.

Roller blinds also offer other benefits, including the following:

1. They are available in a wide range of both plain colours and patterns, enabling you to coordinate them with your colour scheme.

2. Blackout roller blinds are the ideal window dressing if you want to block out unwanted light.

3. The latest styles provide a vast number of permutations on the ability to have each blind at a different level.

4. Blinds are ideal for helping to block out sunlight which can help prevent fading of your dining room flooring or carpet.

5. The motorised and remote controlled versions offer an easy to operate window dressing solution for those with a physical disability.

6. Remote controlled or blinds controlled by wands rather than pull cords alleviate the potential choke risk for children and vulnerable people.

7. Made to measure blinds are also widely available along with fitting services to ensure your windows look beautifully dressed.

If you still consider roller blinds to be a little out-dated take a look at the latest styles and designs, you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Today Roman blinds are still made from fabric, however, with new manufacturing technologies it’s also possible to have wood-weave and bamboo Roman blinds or shades. This style of blind works by having small rings placed at even distances on the width and height of the fabric; thread is then passed through each of the rings so that when it is pulled the blind is raised up, a cleat in used to wind the thread around to stop the blind instantly dropping back to its full length.

Variations is Roman blinds are also available, for example an Austrian blind works on the same principle, however, the Austrian blinds have part drop ruching to their length . You may of also heard of Festoon blinds and while these are often wrongly called Austrian blinds there is a difference in as much as a Festoon blind has a full ruching to its drop length. Festoon blinds offer an opulent window dressing which can be seen in stately homes and mansions, particularly those with tall windows.

Roman blinds also have additional benefits to consider which include:

1. They can be made from various weights of curtain fabric, including Damasks and cotton blends, although those which fold and drape easily typically give the best results.

2. The blinds can also be made from soft woods such as bamboo, reeds and wood-weave materials.

3. Roman blind kits enable you to make your own Roman blinds. The kits contains all the parts required except for the fabric.

4. Made to measure blinds are also widely available and are ideal for those who don’t have the few sewing skills required to make their own Roman blinds.

5. The latest interior design trend of having a series of window blinds raised to various levels across the span of a large window offers a chic way of dressing windows.

6. Roman blinds can be used as the sole window dressing as well as being used in conjunction with curtains if required.

As you can see Roman blinds have stood the test of time and make an ideal window dressing for all styles of interiors.

Vertical blind slats or vanes are typically wider than Venetian blinds and are usually made from lightweight fabric rather than metal, although PVC vertical blinds are available these are generally used in workplaces rather than homes.

As with Venetian blinds vertical blinds also give you total control over the amount of light entering your dining room. The work by rotation of the slats or vanes via a rotating shaft which is hidden within the header rail. A system of gears ensures that the rotation is carried out simultaneously by all of the slats or vanes. It’s believed that the origin and invention of vertical blinds was made by Edward and Fredrick Bopp who held the patent up until the 1960’s when both the patent and company was sold.

Vertical blinds also have additional benefits which include:

1. Due to their construction and fabrication they are easier to open than many styles of Venetian blinds, making them a practical window and door dressing for easy opening, rotating and closing.

2. With the vanes angled airflow can be circulated around a room with efficiency.

3. In warmer weather vertical blinds are a good way to help prevent flying insects entering your home, which is especially beneficial for dining rooms.

4. As these lightweight blinds move in the breeze they are also an indicator of someone entering or leaving the room.

5. The vanes can be removed to make the blinds an exact fit.

6. Damaged vanes can easily be replaced.

7. The vertical vanes are less likely to become dusty.

8. Vertical blinds give you complete control over the amount of light entering the room.

9. This style of blinds provides you with privacy while giving you the ability to see through them.

10. Vertical blinds are a favourite window dressing for conservatories as they can significantly help to reduce heat build-up.

11. Available in a range of colours, plain and patterns vertical blinds suit all styles of homes and décor.

12. Vertical blinds can also help prevent floor and furniture from fading, which can cause a problem especially in south facing rooms.

As you can see vertical blinds have a lot to offer and make the ideal dining room window and patio door treatments.

The latest bathroom innovations include walk through showers, so there’s no cold shower curtains sticking to your body! – these showers offer a wide range of shower experiences, including rain shower, massage jets, pulsating and mood changing lighting. Showers are operated digitally to give you the type of shower that suits you, rather than your partner, at the press of a button. The days of trying to get the correct temperature without shrieking as sudden blasts of freezing water attack you are gone and more importantly pre-set temperature controls alleviate the risk of being scalded.

Mood changing lights aren’t the only additional features of today’s modern showers, you can listen to music whilst you shower, sitting (or standing) with your partner in the same shower is now the norm.

Baths have also become enjoyable experiences, with television screens, massage jets and underwater mood lighting all helping to make your bath as relaxing as you need. Designer baths are also all the range, with a variety of shapes and styles to suit contemporary bathrooms and modern homes, (baths made in the shape of high-heeled shoes are not an everyday occurrence but they are a reality!).

Double basin and even identical toilets sitting side by side mean that all aspects of hygiene are now a shared experience if you so wish.

Window treatments are also taking on new looks and innovations. Contemporary bathrooms are large spacious rooms and many have walls made from glass to enable you to luxuriate in the views outside (only if you live in a secluded spot!). Remote controlled vertical blinds provide unobstructed views when you wish. Floor to ceiling curtains are also being used to provide privacy on these walls of glass. Silent glide and remote controlled curtain tracks make the whole bathroom experience more enjoyable.

Designers are also looking at using natural materials for baths and basins by using tactile concrete, stone, while recycled glass is being used for tiles. Wood remains on-trend particularly driftwood and wood sourced from sustainable and managed forests.

Bathroom have come a very long way over the decades; as such they are no longer the smallest room in the house, but open spaces to relax and unwind on your own or as a shared experience.

This juxtaposition means that our bathrooms have come a long way since they first entered our homes and these rooms, once being the smallest room in the house, have grown in size and style to meet our ever increasing demands.

Spa experiences are bang on-trend and are forecast to remain on-trend for the foreseeable future. Baths for long hot soaks are having their space vied for by walk through showers with all the latest mod-cons (we’ll be looking in more detail at these in our next post).

To achieve the spa experience you need to give careful consideration to your colour scheme and lay-out of your bathroom. We’ve already discussed this year’s colour trends (This Year’s Interior Design Trends for Bathrooms: Calming Colours) so you’ll have a god idea of how to use these to create a relaxing spa experience bathroom.

You should also think about the time (or times) when you’ve visited a spa and take inspiration from what you saw and the emotions and feelings you felt. You’ll probably agree that white played a key role along with wood to create a natural look and ambience.

Lighting would also be a key player and while relaxing in the bath with scented candles giving you gentle, soft lighting effects in the evenings, first thing in the morning you need to use as much natural light as possible without exposing yourself to your neighbours!

Wooden blinds or white Venetian blinds are the ideal answer, giving you both style and privacy. Wood-weave blinds are also on-trend and are fine if your bathroom window is frosted and you don’t turn the light on – if you do your neighbours will have your silhouette to look at!

Other things you’ll notice with spa experience bathrooms is sharing – double showers, hand basins and baths large enough for two are now common place – maybe the good old English ‘reserve’ is finally disappearing, as couples are become more at ease with their bodies and enjoy sharing spa experiences within the comfort of their own home.

Ultra-slim hand basin which are either flush with vanity units or sit neatly on top are replacing the more traditional hand basin and pedestals. Toilets are also being replaced with slim models which are fitted with no pipe work showing, floating toilets (the type which looks as if they’re suspended in mid air) remain on-trend.

Although many bathrooms are seeing bath tubs being replaced with walk-through showers, new styles of baths are also making a resurgence this year. Free standing baths with sleek curves are complimented with new design forms to make bathrooms look more spacious.

Showers do remain the order of the day and if you’re really pushed for space over-the-bath showers have stepped up a gear with glass or perspex doors replacing shower curtains in many cases.

To keep in-line with the streamlined look window dressing are also practical as well as functional. Venetian blinds are the most popular window dressing choices and can be PVC, wooden or aluminium – whichever material matches or compliments your bathroom fixtures and fittings the best. In order that the sleek lines are maintained Venetian blinds fitted inside the window casing (near the window itself) rather than or the outer edges of the window give the best visualisation.

Slim-line narrow slat blinds are ideal for smaller windows and bathrooms as it keeps the window dressing in proportion with the rest of the room; the larger your bathroom the wide the slats can be without them looking disproportionate.

Blinds aren’t the only window dressing solutions to give a streamlined look. Lightweight voiles with an eyelet heading also provide a slimline look when fitted inside (for short version) or outside (for full length versions) of the window’s casing. Use net rails or tension poles to fit the voiles within the casing; for hanging outside use narrow diameter wooden or metal curtain poles, or streamlined Harrison Drape curtain tracks. The latest silent glide tracks are discreet and yet very stylish.

For walls tiles which are longer than they are wider will also draw the eye up-wards creating a streamlining effect and are another easy way to give bathrooms a new dimension and look.

Streamlined also means no clutter – so use integral storage within vanity units, or slimline free standing storage to keep all areas of the bathroom devoid of everything but the bare essentials.

Modernism is replacing traditionalism, so it’s ‘out’ with chunky vanity units and ‘in’ with sleek and slimline units which maximise space. As we saw in our last post dark colours are also being replaced with pale or mid-tone shades; so if you have a dark mahogany vanity unit which fits your bathroom to a T then a simple paint covering will bring in-line with the latest trends. Hand basins are also going natural, with acrylic being replaced with composite stone effects.

Tiles are also being replaced with natural stone, ceramic and even composite tiles – fancy border tiles are another aspect which are being replaced, especially if they are floral or overly fussing. Simple stripes, bands or mosaics are being used much more, to keep the sleek lines in context with the style of the room.

Showers are the walk through style, using rain effect shower heads to give more of a spas experience, shower drain holes are sunken and far more discreet – again to keep in-line with streamlining visual effects.

Windows are also being incorporated within the streamlining; flush fitting Venetian blinds are hugely popular and while they may have been around for many years wooden blinds are ideal if you want to use natural materials. Be sure to look for wooden blinds which have been given a finish which helps to protect them hot and humid atmospheres.

Roller blinds are equally as effective in bathroom and there are Natural roller blinds available to keep within the boundaries of using natural materials. If you’re looking for something different wood-weave blinds, which are typically of a Roman blind style will not only give you a natural look they are also made from sustainable and renewable sources, which give a softer appearance than wooden Venetian blinds; although you will need to bear in mind that due to their design they may not give you the privacy you need!

Floors are are being quite literally stripped bare – fitted carpets are longer being used, while natural stone flooring complete the natural, streamlined look.