As more and more people opt to work from home, whether full or part time, the home office is becoming an area of the home that is not only being designed to be more functional, but more fashionable as well. Whether you use your home office as your primary place of business, or as a quiet retreat to escape to in order to get some extra work done or pay a few bills, you want your office space to be comfortable, practical, and attractive. And, the overall feel of your office will be affected by everything from the size of the desk you buy to the type of office blinds that you hang,
When designing a home office space, many people will consider options like the type and shape of the desk and chair that will go in the office, whether there will be bookcases, what type of flooring will be best, and what color scheme will spur creativity, while being soothing and conducive to productivity. What many people fail to consider in their initial home office design, however, is the impact of the type of office window blinds they choose, but selecting appropriate office blinds is an important component of the overall look and functionality of any home office space.
Here are a few points to consider when selecting home office blinds:
Style
Is your office a formal place of business or a casual room where you can escape to spend some time alone? The overall use of the space may help determine the best type of office window blinds to choose. Wood blinds, for example, evoke a more corporate, professional look, while a colorful mini blind might be more casual and inspiring, or an interesting fabric blind might provoke creativity. Vertical blinds offer a more contemporary look, while sheer fabric blinds may be more feminine.
Size
When buying office blinds, it is important to first measure the size of the windows carefully. In doing so, you may find that you can buy a ready-made office blind directly from a home improvement or other retail store, rather than having to order a set of custom office blinds, saving yourself a lot of money in the process. Knowing the right size for the blinds you need in your office will also ensure that they look like they were well thought out, and that they provide adequate privacy and blockage of light.
Maintenance
Having a nice set of blinds for the office isn’t enough to keep your office looking impressive, unless they are clean and well kept. Consider that before making a purchase. Some types of office blinds just need an occasional dusting with a feather duster or an old sock (just put your hand inside and dust the length of the slats). Others made from fabric or other materials may require additional care as well. If you add any drapes or curtains, in addition to the blinds, you may have to consider periodically removing them to throw them in the wash or take them to the dry cleaner to keep them looking fresh and clean. If cleaning isn’t your thing, or you don’t have someone to do it for you, consider a low-maintenance office blind option.
Location
Depending on where windows are situated and where computer screens or other electronic equipment is located, blinds for offices may have to do more than just look good. They may be the key to avoiding sun glare that makes it nearly impossible to see a screen. The blinds may also serve other functional purposes, such as buffering noise from outside, keeping a room cooler in the summer by blocking out the heat of the sun, or keeping it warmer in winter by preventing air loss. By finding the best type of blinds to meet these purposes, you will be adding functionality as well as design to your office space. For example, honeycomb shades or blinds have an added level of insulation and noise protection, which may be more effective in blocking out external noise and air than a lighter, sheerer fabric blind.
Cost
Of course, most purchase decisions have to account for budget in there somewhere, and buying office blinds is no exception. The price of office blinds can run the gamut from just a few dollars for a cheap vinyl mini blind to hundreds of dollars per window for a wood slat blind or a custom fabric blind. The one thing to keep in mind when determining budget is that a home office is not typically a room that gets redecorated very often, and it is also a place where you want to feel good about yourself and what you’re doing, so when it comes to choosing an office blind, you may want to consider treating yourself to something a little better than you would otherwise. After all, the office blinds you choose now will probably stay in place for a long time.
Just as with any type of design decision, selecting home office blinds can make an impact on the overall look and functionality of your office space. And while buying office blinds is not as big as decision as determining what type of furniture to buy, or whether you would work better surrounded by soothing blue tones or vibrant shades of red, it will complete your overall design and make more of an impact than you give it credit for, so choose wisely.
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