Interior design

A Blind Choice: 3 Things to Consider When Choosing Blinds

Blinds are essential to improve the aesthetics of our office, depending on our preferences and design choice. While it may be easy to select one from the office store and pull out the simplest that we can find on the shelf, we still need to consider picking a blind that will bring out the best in our workplace. 

You may come across two variants while shopping for office blinds: vertical blinds and horizontal blinds. Both can offer a unique take on your surroundings, which is why you must know the essential selection pointers to come up with a clear decision as to which one of them is the best for your work.

Understanding their aesthetical advantages will add more to our overall office design. Being familiar with the different aspects of matching them with our decors may be enough to have a place free from any awkward colours and lighting.

Some Things to Consider When Picking between the Two Blinds

Before you can begin to think about the variations of the blinds, you must first consider the things that may affect your final choice. Take note of the following and get a feel of the best blind that will work best for you.

The Size of Your Windows

This is one of the easiest to analyse and check since it can be measured immediately. You may even do this yourself if you happen to have a tape measure lying around. While this factor isn’t as crucial, it is essential to note that the size may come into play, especially if you want to enjoy the convenience of opening and closing your blinds. Each of the two has its mechanisms, and if you are not very perceptive, you may have a hard time reaching for these mechanisms. 

Take note that there is another aspect of space that you may have to consider. Big horizontal blinds may contribute to the illusion of making your office appear more spacious, while vertical blinds may make your ceiling seem higher. Indeed, they are a space-regulating factor for the workplace.

The Opening and Closing Mechanism of the Windows

This is the reason why we mentioned that the size of the window might come into play. The thing that you have to consider is that not everyone in your office is tall enough to reach for the mechanism, meaning that they may need the help of their workmates just to close the blinds during the sunniest days of the year. 

This may seem trivial until you realise that a higher mechanism would make it less user friendly for your employees. Save them the hassle and choose a blind with adjustments that are easily accessible.

The Theme of the Room or Office

One thing that people often miss with blinds is the aesthetic harmony of matching it with the room in question. Regardless of whether it’s a commercial establishment, an office, or a residence, you must pick out the suitable blind that will match the space’s colour and theme, as anything less will cause it to be out of place. 

If the colour of your office is monochromatic, you may have to pick a vertical or horizontal blind that will reflect the same shades of colour. The opposite may work as well, though you must not forget the illusion that both variants make in terms of the floor space, especially if you want to make a first good impression with your clients.

Conclusion

Overall, both blinds are great picks for offices and other indoor structures; you just have to determine which one of them will bring out the best of your space. Pick one according to size, mechanism, and theme, and you’re on your way to having a great and happy workplace!

If you want to keep your office safe, you may be looking for flame retardant blinds—and we’ve got you covered! Direct Fabrics supplies fabrics for hotels, care homes, schools, among other places. Choose from our wide variety of blinds and materials—order today!

Things to Do When Your Office Blinds Go Faulty

From time to time, offices need a makeover. It can be for a change in environment and maybe to impress shareholders. Others feel the need to optimise their offices for better working conditions. But whatever reason is behind this decision, you need to make some changes if the current office look does not appeal highly anymore.

If you are interested in upgrading your office look but you don’t know which design element to prioritise, expert designers recommend that you go for the most obvious and easy to work on: the windows. Unscrew the finials, take down old tapestries, and switch to sharp-looking office blinds. 

Your choice and arrangement of office blinds will significantly affect the atmosphere and aesthetic of your space. In this article, we will help you take this simple look to the next level and repair any faulty or malfunctioning blinds.

Fix a Faulty Vertical Carrier Clip

Carrier clips, which are often made of plastic, are essential to keep vertical blinds smooth and moving. Sometimes, improper and sudden pulls of the wand or cord damage these clips, affecting the whole headrail and the rest of the blinds. 

It’s important to change out carrier clips as they become faulty. However, one cannot simply remove the defective clip and randomly pick a new one as a replacement. Consulting with a local shop is the ideal resort since this ensures that the clip will match the others.

Opening a Vertical Blind Carrier Clip

If you prefer to do the work all by yourself, few considerations must be observed. A wand-control type can be opened by pulling the wand, the same way a cord opens the corded blinds. After doing so, assess the general mechanism of the vane and its function with the clips. Usually, the vane of the blinds is located on one side of a hook’s clip.

To open the clip, gently push the vane up until it reaches the opposite end of the clip. A single pop will confirm that it has been opened. If not, then the clip is still tightly closed, and the vane is still bound on a hook. A simple card quickly resolves circumstances like this. Have one slide up the vane’s side, and that will release the vane from the hook. After that, you will find it easy to align the vane, allowing you to insert the vane right into the centre of the clip.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an effective window cover that is aesthetically pleasing and practical, it is time for you to consider vertical blinds. These adaptable and cost-efficient solutions can let in just enough light for your office. 

However, it must also be noted that these blinds are subject to depreciation and will succumb to natural wear and tear over time. Its advantages weigh just the same as its downside, including ruined vanes, jammed clips, and misalignment. The good thing, though, is they do not require a taxing fix, just some twists and tweaks, and it will be good as new.

Have your office that cosy, well-lit ambience by installing high-quality office blinds. Get your materials from Direct Fabrics, the ideal store for a more pleasing home and office appeal. Shop with us today!

Easy Ways to Fix Roller Blinds That Keep Getting Stuck

Roller blinds are preferred in most offices and commercial spaces. They are available in different patterns, styles, textures, and colours, and they provide many benefits. Office and commercial blinds are easy to operate and are also low maintenance. They are flexible, durable, provide privacy when you need them while also allowing natural daylight to come in. They also come in blackout versions when you want to completely block all the light.

Although it seldom happens, one cause of frustration to some roller blinds owners is when they suddenly get stuck and refuse to go up and down smoothly. When this happens to your roller blinds, try the following fixes first before you bring them to a shop:

Method 1: Search for Obstructions

Sometimes, the rolling blind does not properly roll because something is blocking its way. If this is the case, fixing it is much easier. 

• Roll down the blinds until you reach their maximum capacity.
• Inspect all sides and corners of the roller tube and the fabric. Make sure that there are no debris, foreign object, or insects stuck anywhere. 
• Should you see any of the mentioned objects, gently remove them with a duster or a vacuum cleaner.

Method 2: Fix the Damaged Sides

Another possible cause of the problem is damaged ends on the fabric. Your fabric might have loose threads or hanging threads on some of its sides, and they could obstruct its fluid movement. Look for these imperfections and trim them off using a pair of scissors. Then, try to see if your blinds work smoothly again. 

Method 3: Roll and Reinstall

The next trick you can try is to ease the tension in the roller shade. This method is excellent for cordless roller shades. Here is how to do it:

• Lower the shade up to its maximum capacity and remove it from its brackets. 
• Upon uninstallation, try to roll it up again tightly. 
• Begin reinstalling the roller blind to its brackets and see if there are any changes.
• If there are none, consider redoing the previous steps two to three times more. Repeatedly doing it can place more tension on the cordless lift, helping it function properly.

Method 4: Check the Brackets  

In some cases, the blinds do not function well because of the bracket. They can get loose or become uneven. To avoid this problem, ensure that the bracket is perfectly level. Try reinstalling them again or use a levelling device to get a perfect balance. 

Method 5: Tighten the Springs

If you experience trouble rolling the blind upwards, the problem could be a loose or uncoiled spring. If this is the case, fixing it is simple. All you need is to get a pair of pliers.

• Take the roller off its bracket. 
• Unroll it halfway.
• Using the pliers, turn the pin on the spring side of the shade until you get the appropriate tension. Make sure that the pawl could still get hooked onto the ratchet. 
• Place it back onto the bracket and see how it goes.

Conclusion

Roller blinds are an excellent investment to have in your business space. You can get corded blinds or cordless ones—both are easy to use. Fortunately, they are also easy to fix when they are not rolling as they should. Follow the mentioned DIY steps before you decide to have them professionally repaired. If any of these do not work, you can always ask for professional assistance. 

If you are looking for roller blinds in the UK, we have many options for you. Direct Fabrics is a manufacturer and supplier of fire-resistant roller blinds, and we have a full range you can choose from. We provide free samples and installation services. Call us on 0117 205 0561 for more information.