Kitchen Blinds FAQs
Get fast, expert answers to frequently asked questions about kitchen blinds from the team at English Blinds, and discover the benefits of custom-made kitchen blinds before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most suitable type of blind is any kind of waterproof blind as they can withstand direct splashes, steam and humidity. The best options are PVC and vinyl roller blinds, faux wood blinds, PVC vertical blinds and aluminium venetian blinds. Waterproof roller blinds have the edge as they’re by far the easiest to wipe clean being just one solid piece of fabric. It’s also preferable to hang the blind inside the window recess rather than outside to keep it further away from the sink.
Absolutely! Blinds are a fantastic way to bring style, functionality and practicality to your kitchen. When compared to curtains, they’re much more robust and easier to clean in water and grease-prone areas, and they offer far superior light control and privacy. They also come in a wider variety of types and designs.
You’ll want to consider the style and colour of your kitchen along with practical factors such as the amount of natural light and the size of the room, and of course personal taste. Lighter colours such as white, cream and pale grey will reflect more light, making smaller kitchens feel brighter and airy. Darker colours like charcoal, navy, or forest green will add drama and work particularly well in larger kitchens. If you’re looking to bring visual interest and colour or to make a statement at your kitchen window, patterned and printed designs are a great way to Inject personality and style.
Curtains are generally not recommended for kitchens due to several factors. The humidity and potential for splashes in a kitchen can quickly damage curtains, leading to mildew. Additionally, curtains can absorb cooking smells and pose a fire hazard. Blinds, particularly waterproof options like vinyl or PVC roller blinds, are a more suitable choice for kitchen windows as they are easier to clean and can easily withstand the kitchen environment.
Kitchen blinds typically need to be waterproof or at least water-resistant due to potential contact with water, steam, and food particles. Non-waterproof blinds in kitchens can suffer from moisture damage, staining, and odour absorption. However, in well-ventilated kitchens with windows that are far from cooking areas, non-waterproof blinds may be suitable. Ultimately, the decision depends on your kitchen's specific conditions and how you use it.
The easiest way to keep your kitchen blinds clean is to dust them regularly with a duster, microfiber cloth or vacuum brush attachment. You can also gently wipe them down with a damp cloth. For spills and splashes, it’s best to use a gentle cleaning solution in warm water straight away to prevent staining. Avoid using harsh chemicals. Always choose the most suitable cleaning methods for your specific type of blind material whether polyester, PVC, aluminium, or wood. Good ventilation in your kitchen will also help with moisture and prevent dust and grime buildup making cleaning easier.
Yes, roller blinds are suitable for kitchens and are the most popular choice, due to their affordability and wide range of colours and patterns. For kitchens that are humid, steamy, or prone to cooking and water splashes, PVC or vinyl roller blinds are recommended due to their water resistance and easy cleaning. Polyester roller blinds are suitable in well-ventilated kitchens that are not too humid and where the window isn’t close to the sink, oven or hob.
You can put wooden blinds in kitchens that are well-ventilated and not prone to humidity. However, they’re not suitable for small, steamy kitchens, or have windows close to sinks or cooking areas. If you’re unsure, faux wood venetian blinds are a great option as they’re waterproof and extremely hardwearing.
Aluminium Venetian blinds offer excellent light and privacy control and a sleek modern look. They come in hundreds of colours and finishes and their slats are water-resistant and easily wiped clean. Their slats can however be fiddly to clean if grease and grime build up on them.
Yes, vertical blinds are suitable for kitchens, particularly if they have PVC or vinyl louvres. They’re easy to wipe clean and resistant to water and humidity, making them ideal for busy modern kitchens. Non-waterproof options such as polyester are ok in larger, well-ventilated kitchens that are not too humid, although they may absorb cooking smells over time. Vertical blinds are also a great choice for kitchens with large windows or patio doors, as they offer versatile light and privacy control.
Which blinds are best for the kitchen?
Whether you’re looking for contemporary blinds to suit a modern home or are seeking a more traditional look for your kitchen window, it is vital to ensure that your kitchen blinds can take the heat!
The moist, humid, kitchen environment means that certain types of blinds are a better pick than others, and fabrics or materials that are likely to stain, absorb moisture, or warp over time in a humid environment are best avoided.
- Waterproof PVC or vinyl roller blinds and vertical blinds are a popular choice for kitchens, and these are available in a number of both water-resistant and fully washable fabrics.
- Faux-wood blinds are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing and are robust enough to deal with kitchen challenges like moisture and steam from cooking, and projectile baked beans or other meals that smaller children think look better on the wall than on their plates. These can also just be wiped clean as needed.
- Real wooden blinds are a lovely natural-looking choice for kitchens and a great way to coordinate with other woods in the room. They’re best suited to kitchens that are well ventilated, and not overly humid, nor with a heat source like an Aga, oven, or hob too near the blinds. Challenges like these may in some instances cause real wood blinds to warp over time, so bear this in mind.
- Aluminium Venetian blinds are a good pick too as these are wipeable, to make keeping them looking good easy. Wipe-clean blinds have some advantages for kitchens too, as over time, blinds in kitchens tend to get grimy due to the presence of oils and fats from cooking building up as a residue on surfaces.
- Roman blinds are another popular way to dress a kitchen window, and while they’re arguably one of the most prestigious-looking and visually impressive blinds, they are made of premium soft fabrics that are generally not designed to weather heat and high levels of humidity, and that require specialist cleaning.
What are the benefits of kitchen blinds?
Kitchen blinds are available in an enormous range of different styles, colours, patterns, and fabric choices with something to suit every style ethos and preference. From “country cottage” to shabby chic blinds to cutting-edge modernist kitchen styles, the options are virtually limitless.
- Kitchen blinds can be bespoke made for any size of window, and we specialise in making blinds for larger windows, including patio doors and French windows. This may be more cost-effective than you expect too, so compare pricing for our made-to-measure kitchen blinds to off-the-shelf alternatives before writing off bespoke made blinds as a bit too spendy!
- Blinds for kitchens are also available in a wide range of different materials, many of which can be wiped clean and even in some cases put in the washing machine, and which are not prone to staining and losing shape and structure like curtains.
- If your blinds are going to be located near a heat source or as many kitchen windows are, over a sink, you also need to ensure they won’t warp from the heat and will withstand frequent contact with water, two things that curtains are again not designed to do!
- Many kitchen blinds such as Venetians, faux-wood, wood, and vertical blinds have slats or louvres that can be tilted with a fine degree of precision. This allows you to filter rather than fully block light, and so enables you to maintain the natural light in your kitchen while avoiding glare if this is a particular problem.
- Blackout and thermal linings for kitchen blinds can also help to reduce heat loss from your windows and so, lower your energy bills.
- If you’re planning a kitchen decorating project and are looking for design ideas, generally it is roller blinds, faux wood blinds, vertical blinds, and aluminium Venetian blinds that are the most popular choices for kitchens.
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