Blinds For Food Preparation Spaces

When selecting blinds for your kitchen, you should consider that they will be in a room that you will occupy for a large part of the day. Studies have shown that for the 16 hours that a homemaker is awake, nearly 5 hours a day are in the kitchen. That is nearly 33% of the day. In fact, often the room itself is occupied third most in the house, after the bedrooms and the TV rooms. With that in mind, maybe the cheap ugly choice of blinds is not the best choice for you. I mean, geez- if you will stare at ugly, won't that spoil your appetite.

In addition to creating a room with a specific ambiance, the practical aspects of the kitchen will almost always take priority with emphasis on the type of living and family needs. Brightness during daylight hours is important as the kitchen is a full-time working area. Ease of maintenance in its design is also a critical aspect. All these considerations are important as is the availability of the best blinds to accommodate them. Choosing the right blinds will make this room into an indicator of the pulse of your home.

Since illumination in the kitchen is of primary importance, this brightness can be enhanced by the addition of blinds to the windows which will create a certain look and provide certain abilities to control exterior light. Controlling of exterior light and creating privacy is popularly achieved with mini blinds that can be raised as well as just tilted. Screen materials, which only allow the desired amount of light, are also in much demand for blinds. There also are many washable materials being used.

Considering the flying water, one must recognize that blinds should not be susceptible to water. That is why we do not recommend wood blinds for these rooms. Wood blinds can warp with even minimal exposure to water and humidity, and in a kitchen, damage to these wood blinds is almost guaranteed. We also do not recommend nonwashable low end fabrics for kitchens. The only fabrics that should be used in a kitchen should be washable, to remove the dirt and debris that will surely land on them. Please be warned, however, that no blinds fabrics can be washed aggressively. Blinds cannot be placed in the washing machine, and cannot be scrubbed clean.

The majority of fabrics used in kitchen blinds can be manually and gently washed in cool water and mild soap. Rinsing well is important and hang to dry. In the case of vertical blinds, rehang the louvers onto the track and place a towel under the fabric louvers while dripping dry. There are some interesting, attractive fabrics which are made specifically for blinds, which use a special treatment to make them washable. Look for these, but always assume that you cannot wash these in a machine, that will cost you your entire investment.

What of PVC blinds? Well, I am glad you asked. PVC is okay to use, in that it is not susceptible to water, and can help to moderate the light, however, remember that PVC is only safe is it is not heated up. If your kitchen is not well ventilated, or the blind is close to the windows, it is not recommended to use PVC blinds. This is not a chemistry lesson, but you should understand that the 'C' in PVC stands for chloride. If your blinds are exposed to too much heat, then the slats can cause a release of unhealthy and dangerous chemicals. Also, PVC blinds can absorb colors from smoke, and can be the hardest types of blinds to clean.

PVC blinds do come in several styles, including flat, curved and expanded foam. The expanded foam is widely promoted as a safe blind for the kitchens. Consider their locations before you make that investment. PVC can be dangerous if heated beyond normal conditions.

The modern kitchen is always equipped with state of the art appliances, beautiful counter tops and unique flooring which demand window blinds that not only are practical but that are also an asset to the decor. Always make sure the blinds fabrics selected are washable and safe. Proper installation is critical to achieving the desired appearance and trouble-free operation for many years. Select the right blinds, maintain them well, and you will see a lovely look to your food preparation areas.

Judith Persit is a student of interior design. She started in this direction due to a search for design options in window treatments. Ms. Persit writes about roller shades. Roller shades can be interesting, you can learn more about shades at her website with many pictures.