Kitchen blinds and curtains

Although curtains may look pretty in a kitchen, there are other considerations to take into account. If the curtains will be near a window where wind may cause them to billow, or if they are near heat sources there may be practical and safety considerations. There are also issues of how easy they are to clean, and if you have to take them down, the length of times your window will be without any covering. For many reasons, including durability and practicality, blinds tend to win out in kitchens, and both can need replacing and cleaning quite regularly.

Blinds or curtains in the kitchen?

Choosing window coverings for your kitchen requires a consideration of the practical aspects of window coverings as well as aesthetic ones. You will need to decide what look and style will best fit with your decor and the practical requirements of your kitchen.

The main thing to remember is that a kitchen is not just about making aesthetic decisions - there are also very real issues of safety to consider. Curtains that are near the stove may billow in the wind and catch fire.

If it's time to replace your kitchen curtains, also consider the cleaning advantages of blinds. Airborne grease, smoke and food splatters from cooking can make curtains brown and greasy very quickly, creating both an unpleasant appearance and a health hazard.

A guide to kitchen curtains and blinds

Consider these tips to help you choose new window coverings for your kitchen:

• Carefully match the curtains or blinds to your kitchen decor, but don't choose style over practicality
• Blinds can be easier to clean and maintain than curtains in the kitchen
• If choosing blinds for your kitchen make sure they are easy to open and close with wet hands
• The best blinds for kitchens are wooden slatted ones, sturdy ones with wide, easy to clean slats, or roller blinds that can be easily cleaned and that draw away from the sink or work areas
• Make sure that the window dressings you choose allow enough light into the kitchen, so that you can easily see to work

Choosing kitchen curtains and blinds

The nature of kitchens means that choosing new curtains or blinds is an important job in terms of aesthetics, convenience and safety. Consider the look and cleanliness of this area, where all your food is prepared. The kitchen concentrates most of the dangers you can expect to find in a home; heat, flame, water and sharp instruments, so choose coverings that will stay out of the way and stay as clean as possible, as well as being visually complementary to your kitchen's look.