Roman blinds on the balcony: features, types and selection rules

For many, the loggia has long ceased to be a repository of any seasonal items or a place where you can dry clothes. Often they try to transform this space into a kind of small living space. From a simple balcony, this place turns for someone into an office, and for someone into a small workshop. And in some apartments, if the wall separating the balcony and the living space allows, it (the wall) is completely removed, uniting the space.

Therefore, the question often arises of how and with what to curtain the large windows of the loggia, especially for those apartments that are on the level up to the tenth floor. Mostly, such curtains should not interfere either when the doors are opened or when they are closed, in addition, they must also look harmoniously with the entire interior. These include Roman blinds, which will be discussed in this article.

Roman blinds have their own characteristics: they are easy to operate, save space on the balcony, do not interfere with walking, are made of a variety of materials, and come in all kinds of designs.

This design is a small cloth of approximately 60 x 40 cm, which is divided into equal sections.

The focus is always on the drapery, the frequency of the pleats, and the amplifiers that sit directly within each section.

Roman blinds will fit perfectly into any interior, especially if you choose the right material... Of course, it is believed that for the direction of Provence, such designs are not the best option, especially if you decide to make them yourself. But for a grunge or high-tech style, such curtains will be perfect.

The advantage of such curtains is to save space, there is no feeling of bulkiness of the cornices and supporting structures, there is lightness in space.

It is worth noting a number of advantages that are inherent in such curtains.

1. Saving space and space. Both folded and unfolded, the blinds do not interfere, "do not steal" space, since they adhere well to the surface of the glass or frame.
2. Easy to install. With the help of adhesive tape, which is sewn into the curtain, it can be placed on a special cornice, if such is provided for by the kit, or, if the tape with glue, it is possible to attach it to any surface, and then remove it without unnecessary hassle.
3. There is no restriction in the choice of materials, colors, designs, shapes and textures.
4. Leaving is pretty simple. If the material of manufacture is metal, then wet cleaning is necessary once or twice a week. And if they are made of fabric, then the wash should be carried out in the mode that corresponds to the type of fabric.
5. Fits perfectly into non-standard premises, that is, in a loggia with a varied form of windows.
6. Possibility self-regulate closing and opening height of the sash.
7. When used correctly, the fabric on these systems will not tear, does not wrinkle and protects well from sunlight.

Such designs have no disadvantages as such, but some users in their reviews indicate the high cost and complexity of washing.

If you are installing them yourself, then you should follow the instructions and select the correct elements for installation.

It happens that the colors you have chosen may not be in harmony with the surrounding interior, so it is worthwhile to correctly consider the choice of such curtains, and also pay attention to the material from which they are made.

The choice of material largely depends on what exactly you want to achieve. If you need to feel lightness in space, then fabric Roman shades are just right for this. But which materials should you give preference to?

In this case, designers recommend paying attention to dense types of fabric, because windows are the main component of balcony rooms, and because of this, especially if they face the east side, they "absorb" a lot of sunlight. That's why first of all, when choosing, you should pay attention to the density of matter.

The texture can be any fabric, including airy. But the very basis, from which the canvas will subsequently be sewn, it is still worth choosing between linen, cotton, cambric. These materials are hypoallergenic and allow air to pass through them without capturing a large amount of environmental particles. And this means that such a fabric will not accumulate dust in itself.

Synthetic materials are also popular for their durability and ease of cleaning, but nevertheless they are quite dense, which is why the dust settles on them more.

Bamboo and wood, which are increasingly used in Roman blinds lately, are influences from the East. The wood creates a cozy and warm atmosphere, and light penetrates the spaces between these sections, creating a magical atmosphere in the room.

The color scheme for Roman blinds should be chosen based on the overall interior. This should be especially taken into account if the balcony is combined with a living room or kitchen.

Canvases of light shades are often less dense in texture, therefore they let light through a little more, but at the same time they make a small room cozy and slightly expand it.

Dark tones, on the contrary, make the space heavier, but if you like a subdued atmosphere, then they will do just fine, since due to the increased density they practically do not let light through. However, with such flowers, you should be careful not to make a cramped pantry out of a small or narrow balcony.

Many of us are accustomed to attaching fabric curtains to plastic, wood or iron curtain rods using clothespins or special hooks. But Roman blinds have an individual fastening system, it is equipped with its own cornice and a special lifting mechanism.

At the moment, there are three common installation options for such structures.

The most common one that is perfect for a balcony is a blinds system, that is, the canvases are attached separately to each sash. It turns out that each window will be independent of each other, therefore you can adjust the height freely without fear, for example, of open windows... Plus, this option is more reliable and will last you longer.

The second option is when the Roman blind goes in one large canvas, that is, it is not divided into sections and completely overlaps the window frames.

The third option is similar to the second, only in this case, even if the sections exist separately from each other, they still have one common mechanism and one common cornice.

You won't have to spend a lot of effort on installation, especially if the Roman blinds already have adhesive tape, which you just need to glue to the frame.

There are also options with a cornice. It is fixed above the window using self-tapping screws that come with the kit; there is Velcro on the cornice itself, as well as on the curtain. These sticky edges connect them together.

You can find quite a few tips for choosing Roman blinds for balcony windows. But the most important are the following:

• if the curtains are selected for windows that are located in the north, then preference should be given to options from loose fabrics, since not so much light gets into the room from the north, so it will be unnecessary to completely isolate it;
• but for the eastern and western parts, denser canvases are suitable, since the sun on these sides is much longer.

There are many ideas for placing such curtains. Below are photos that clearly show how Roman blinds look in the interior.

So, Roman blinds with a bamboo base will bring oriental motives and a touch of lightness to the interior. And fabrics will give a feeling of comfort and tranquility.

For information on how to install Roman shades on a window, see the video below.