The age-old battle still rages on about whether it is better to keep your blinds up or down when wanting more privacy in your Florida home. Those who have lived with blinds before probably go back and forth turning your blinds up one day and down the next. Let's explore what way is really best.
Royal Shades & Blinds serve many purposes at home or in the office including:
Controlling light levels
Insulating windows
Providing privacy
Reducing energy bills
Making your home more aesthetically pleasing
Surprisingly, there's actually no right or wrong way to turn your windows. But for many, one way may be much more suitable than the other, depending solely on your needs.
To really help you make a better decision, Royal Shades & Blinds has condensed an easy-to-read guide that answers even the most confusing questions on which way should blinds face when wanting more privacy.
Window Dilemma: Turn Blinds Up vs. Blinds Down?
At Royal Shades & Blinds, we understand fully that your privacy, lighting and airflow take precedent but are unpredictable and can change throughout the day. For example, on those hot Floridian days, you might want to catch an afternoon nap under the fan and might prefer a little bit of light filtering in, so turning your blinds down slightly to allow a small part of sunlight in might create the perfect nap conditions.
Or on the other hand - possibly later, when you are settling in to your evening, you might want darkness to snuggle up to and watch a movie, if this is the case you'd completely shut the slats down.
What's ideal about blinds is that depending your needs, you can simply just turn the direction of your blinds at any time to suit your mood. All of Royal Shades & Blinds' styles like wood plantation shutters, faux wood blinds just to name a few, can be very easily turned up and down for complete privacy.
See below for recently installed plantation shutters and faux wood blinds from Royal Shades & Blinds.
Which Way Should Blinds Face?
With the vertical blinds, it's a lot more simple. But when it comes to horizontal blinds, the masses have questions. Does the up or down direction provide better light control? Or the main question is, which way to tuen blinds for privacy?
Up (Rounded Side Facing Out)
When the blinds are turned up, the rounded side is faced outward. It means they're raised. This will offer more privacy and light control since the convex side faces the window. However, if you're over-zealous on aesthetics, then this will be the less desirable look. The blinds up vs. blinds down battle rages on below.
Down (Rounded Side Facing Down)
When your blinds are facing down, the rounded side faces towards your room, providing a softer and more aesthetically pleasing look. This, in general, is the more popular way of having your blinds. In terms of light and privacy this choice lets more light in and gives you less privacy. It is believed that blinds turned down also hone in more heat and light towards the center of your room.
Examples Of When To Turn Your Blinds Up Or Down
Enhanced Room Darkening + Added Privacy - when blinds are chosen to be turned up, meaning the round side faces out, there's better light control as there is a lot smaller gap between the slats. Fancy a sneaky nap in the day, then turn them up for that added light management.
Diffused Natural Light - to let a little bit of light in, it's always best to turn the blinds down, meaning rounded side facing in. As mentioned above, if you want to create some warmth in the middle of the room then keep them down. This positioning of blind offers an element of privacy, but not the level of turning the blinds up.
UV Protection - sunlight in Florida is our friend and also our worst enemy at the same time. UV rays have the potential to damage your furnishings causing warping and fading, especially if you leave the area exposed for a longer period of time. Turn blinds up to mitigate dangerous UV rays.
Cool Down In The Hot Floridian Summer - when the blinds are closed with the rounded side facing out, the heat is directed straight up, which is the best way to keep the room cool. Not only does this keep you cool but when the temperature drops, you have reserved heat to keep you warm in your home saving on energy.
Keeps Your Home Warmer In The Winter - when the temperatures drop in the winter, your main focus will be to keep your home warm. It's best practice to close the blinds with the slats turned down, rounded side facing the room. This will help direct the heat to the center of the room and will keep a warmer temperature in your home for later.
The Blinds Can Be Either Up Or Down: You Choose
Hopefully Royal Shades & Blinds has guided you through the blinds up or down for privacy fiasco. Turning your blinds rounded side in will offer increased privacy and light control while turning them rounded side facing down will increase your heat in the room and allow some natural light to soak through.
If you want to get a quote on any windown treatment in the Melbourne area or the surrounding Space Coast, then call us on (321) 467-1072 for a completely free quote. We offer a huge range of window solutions to keep your home private and light controlled.
You can find here a gallery of out most recent installs - https://www.royalshadesandblinds.com/previous-work.