The Interesting Reality of Venetian Blinds That Will Blow Your Minds
Choice and versatility are the primary expectations in the 21st century in Australia. For instance, years ago, when I first started drinking coffee, it came either plain black or with sugar and cream. Today, I could easily assemble a small dictionary with the list of choices that can be found at my local coffee shop. The same goes for a variety of products and blinds most certainly are on this list. Having such a wide variety of choices is a blessing on its own, however, before you make your pick, make sure you know all the features of the different kinds. On today’s menu – my absolute favourite – Venetian blinds.
These have many amazing qualities that set them apart from all other window treatments and have made them a permanent staple in interior design. Venetian blinds come in many colours and materials which makes them a wonderful addition to literally any room decor. The wooden blinds add just the perfect rustic appeal, while the aluminium ones are great for conveying modernity in offices and business spaces. But besides stylishly adorning a place, the Venetian’s mechanism helps block out the sun’s piercing rays and protects your privacy. For the sake of getting more familiar with these stylish pieces, here are some interesting myths and information bits on our favourite window blinds.
Not really from Venice?
The history of these ingenious window coverings is very controversial. What we refer today as Venetians, might have actually originated some millennia ago in Persia. And they would have remained there if it was not for Venetian merchants travelling to Persia between the twelfth and sixteenth century. They discovered their potential for blocking out the sun and preserving privacy and brought them back to Venice. However, the Persians might have been inspired by other folks, such as the Egyptians, who long before the time of Christ hung reeds from river banks over their windows and doors. And it gets even more complicated. Some historians argue that long before anyone else, the ancient Chinese, Japanese, Indians and other Asians, created blinds like window hangings by stringing bamboo rods together. This practice can still be seen in some rural Asian areas. The Persians probably came across this design and improved it a bit only to be stolen by the Italians. But even if the early Venetians were unscrupulous thieves, we are grateful to them for bringing this wonderful design to Europe, which has later spread throughout the entire world.
An underrated energy saver
With AC’s and room heaters becoming more and more popular, energy bills have started reaching sky high levels, especially in areas with extreme weather. While we praise these blinds for their amazing ability to block sunlight and protect our privacy, we forget about their amazing insulating properties in preventing both heat gain and heat loss. Whether they are wooden, aluminium or plastic – Venetian blinds are designed to make you in charge when regulating the level of sunlight and heat that can penetrate into your home. You can survive the blistering summer temperatures without having to spend a fortune on your AC bill just by leaving down the blinds in the hottest part of the day. Later in the year, when the sub zero cold comes, having Venetian blinds on the windows can provide extra insulation so that the heat remains inside the house. And voila, you’ve saved some extra dollars on energy costs+9 which can certainly make a lot of difference in the long run.
Incredibly low maintenance
Venetian blinds not only succeed in reducing your household’s energy expenses, but they also save your energy when it comes to cleaning them. Unlike curtains, they don’t need to be regularly taken down to be washed. Plus, most of them are made out of materials which do not need chemical cleaning solutions. All they require is regularly dusting or wiping them with a dry or damp cloth and they will look as good as new. Moreover, Venetian blinds will also protect your windows from accumulating dirt. Putting them down when you don’t need sunlight will prevent dust from accumulating on your windows and will spare you from frequently cleaning them. If you have kids running around the house who love to touch the window glass and draw on it with their dirty fingers, you can just put the blinds down and give them a piece of paper to continue expressing their creativity.
