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How to Find the Best Type of Blinds for Your Office

How to Find the Best Type of Blinds for Your Office

Blinds are an important part of any office, and there are a variety of options to choose from. Some people prefer natural light, while others prefer darker shades to help them focus. Here are the best types of blinds for offices:

• Vertical blinds: These are the most common type of blinds, and they come in a variety of colours and styles. They are easy to install and can be raised and lowered to regulate the amount of light that comes into the room.
• Roller blinds: These blinds are similar to vertical blinds, but they have a roller mechanism that allows them to be rolled up or down. This is a great option for spaces that don’t have a lot of space, because it can be rolled up when it’s not needed and rolled down to block sunlight when it is.
• Roman blinds: These blinds are made out of a fabric with a Roman pattern. They are a popular choice for rooms with a lot of light because they can be opened and closed to let in the light or block it out.
• Shades: If you want to keep the natural light in your office, but you don’t want to deal with the glare that comes with sunlight, you can try using shades. They come in a variety of colours and materials, so you can find one that works best for your space.

The Best For the Office

When choosing blinds, consider the following:

Good lighting

You want to be able to adjust the light in the office so that it is comfortable for everyone and so that people are not straining their eyes. Having functional blinds will allow you to do this.

Comfort

Direct light can be harsh and uncomfortable to sit in front of for long periods. Blinds offer a way to block out direct light and can also help reflect heat during summer days and retain heat during winter days. This can help maintain a comfortable office temperature and could also save money on heating and air conditioning costs.

Venetian blinds are ideal for maximum comfort because they can be fully customised to best suit your needs. Their slatted design allows light filtration and can be slanted to ensure the sun’s rays are directed away from your eyes.

Flawless and uniform

The colours and material of your blinds can be influenced by the current look of your office. If your office is very monotone, you might want to add a pop of colour. 

It is a well-known fact that colour has a significant impact on behaviour. Colour can help improve memory and productivity, so you might want to choose colours like green or blue. These colours are known to be the best "energetic colours" that help with concentration and balance in the workplace.

Conclusion: Best Types of Blinds

There are a few different types of blinds that are best for offices. The best type of blinds for an office will depend on the specific needs of the office. Some factors to consider include the climate, the amount of natural light in the office, and the type of work that is done in the office.

Whether you need flame-retardant Blinds or other types. Direct Fabrics have them for you. We are a fabric and soft furnishings supplier for hotels, care homes, schools, and more. Get in touch with us.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Blinds

Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Blinds

Blinds are more commonly used in the living room. But we should consider using blinds in the kitchen, too. They are a great addition to aesthetics and have useful functions as well!

If you are planning to shop for your kitchen, read on to discover what types of blinds to consider and how you can pick the best ones.

Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about kitchen blinds. 

Which One Fits Your Kitchen Well: Curtains or Blinds?

Many people, especially mothers, struggle to choose between curtains or blinds for their kitchen. Considering how often the family uses the kitchen, you can encounter many issues. 

Cooking oils, if overlooked, will stain the curtains. The stains linger; if they are not removed immediately, they can set deep into the fabric and cause permanent discolouration. 

Curtains can be a fire hazard when you hang them near the gas stove and they start flying with the breeze.

Do You Need Blinds Even If Privacy Is Not an Issue?

Adding blinds to your windows is perfect if you are concerned about privacy and reducing the glare of lights. 

But should you still consider having blinds even if your neighbours can no longer see your kitchen? Not necessarily. But there are still a couple of good reasons you would like to consider having blinds.

• Blinds are there to help block or filter unnecessary lights. This is perfect if you watch a television in your kitchen while cooking.
• Blinds can protect you from sunlight glares if you spend more time eating in the kitchen, sitting with a cup of coffee, or reading your favourite book.
• Keeping some lights off while using blinds allows food to stay cool or slow food spoilage if it's too warm. 
• Blinds also insulate your kitchen.

Does Every Kitchen Need Waterproof Blinds?

Yes. Waterproof blinds are essential in kitchens. 

Because it’s always hectic in kitchens, blinds can easily get splashed with sauces from whatever you’re cooking or by water while washing dishes. They are also exposed to steam. Therefore, waterproof blinds are the best option. They can also be easily cleaned by wiping or spraying a mild detergent solution.

What Types of Blinds Are Best Suited for Kitchens?

We already know the reasons why blinds are essential in the kitchen. It's time to choose what kind of blinds are best for your house.

Many homeowners choose to have waterproof variants of blinds that come with roller and vertical blinds. If your budget is tight, consider buying some faux-wood vertical lines. 

Of course, some blinds are not recommended, particularly in kitchens. Roman and Day and Night blinds do not have waterproof features. 

Conclusion

Blinds in kitchens are a great idea. Apart from adding style to your space, they help keep your privacy, are easy to clean and maintain, and can help reduce hazards. 

Direct Fabrics provides a wide selection of fire-resistant blinds and beddings for commercial establishments such as hospitals, schools and hotels. Contact us now to receive a quote. 

Why Fire Retardant Bedding Is Important for Care Homes

Why Fire Retardant Bedding Is Important for Care Homes

A single fire has the power to alter someone's life in an instant drastically. Just picture smoking a cigarette in bed and drifting off to sleep holding the lighted cigarette. This might easily cover the entire sheet you're resting on and, eventually, the entire room if it were to fall over the bedding you're now using. 

It's crucial to understand that having fire-retardant bedding in a room might be the difference between life and death. It’s especially vital in care homes where people may not be physically capable. 

Although having bed linen tested for fire safety compliance is not a standard requirement, it is strongly advised that you utilise fire retardant materials when shopping for bedding for such high-risk locations. 

This article will discuss fire retardant fabrics and why they're vital.

Understanding Fire-Retardant Textiles

The purpose of flame retardant (FR) textiles is to lessen the risks brought on by the occurrence of a fire on or near the fabrics in question. Chemical processes or synthetic fireproof fibres make materials such as polyester fire resistant. 

When an FR fabric is subjected to a small-scale ignition, like a lit cigarette, the flame's damage is contained to a small region and doesn’t spread to create a significant fire threat. 

The cloth effectively puts out the fire without the need for human intervention. All our FR products are made to meet or surpass British Standards' requirements for flame retardant performance. 

Following a strict quality control strategy, all items are rigorously tested before being on the market. Testing is done in recognised UK test facilities. The test uses cigarette, match, and crib ignition sources to verify compliance.

FR fabrics have various applications, such as flame retardant curtains and bedding.

Importance of Fire-Retardant Bedding

Even a little match has the power to do terrible things. A non-FR fabric can catch fire quickly, transforming a little ignition source into a blazing inferno. FR textiles effectively eliminate the source, typically in less than a minute, keeping everyone nearby safe and providing enough time to leave the area if necessary. 

FR textiles are crucial in public spaces like care facilities and nursing homes because patients' decreased mobility makes it more challenging for them to escape a fire threat successfully. 

Thus, using flame-retardant beddings considerably lowers the danger to human life. Becoming familiar with the UK Fire Safety Regulations is also a good idea. It is legally required that you adhere to these rules to protect everyone who enters your facility.

How Fire-Retardant Bedding Works

FR beddings look like average bed sheets, but they can prevent a large fire in the event of accidental ignition, such as by a match. They may also come in thicker materials, such as FR duvets.

The flame may burn a hole into the fabric, but it immediately disperses instead of spreading across the sheet. Compared to the potential damage of a full-on fire, the match may burn out within 32 seconds and be put out.

Conclusion

Fire retardant fabrics are essential because they can help prevent fires from spreading. The way they work is by controlling the fabric from igniting and burning. This is done by using chemicals that are applied to the fabric. These chemicals create a barrier between the material and the fire and also help slow down the fire's spread.

Are you looking for fire-resistant bedding? Direct Fabrics can manufacture, supply, and install soft furnishings such as curtains, blinds, fabrics, and bedding. Get a quick quote today!