Do Blinds Insulate Better Than Curtains?

Posted on 12th September 2023 by Gemini Blinds

With cold temperatures once again on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your home for the winter. Unfortunately, we’re set for another year of high energy prices, with bills set to be up to 50% higher than the same period two years ago. Therefore, many homeowners are likely looking for small changes they can make to reduce this figure as much as possible.

Your windows are a weak spot in the thermal envelope of your home; in fact, it’s estimated that 18% of heat loss occurs via the windows. Whilst a window replacement can be an expensive and lengthy process, updating your window treatments is an effective alternative, as it has the added benefit of freshening up your interior, too! If you’re considering this enhancement, you may be wondering — which insulates better, blinds or curtains? Luckily, the team at Gemini Blinds is here to help answer your questions.

Do blinds help with insulation?

When closed, blinds prevent heat from escaping by providing an extra layer of insulation. They act as a barrier between your interior and the outside to reduce potential draughts. Blinds also help to keep your home cool during the summer, preventing direct sunlight from entering your room. 

There are several styles of blinds that are renowned for their insulating properties, including:

• Duette blinds: Also referred to as honeycomb blinds, Duette blinds boast a unique honeycomb structure that traps air into insulating pockets. This provides additional insulation during the winter and also prevents excessive heat gain in the summer months, enhancing energy efficiency all year round and potentially reducing your energy bills.
• Roman blinds: Roman blinds have the elegant softness of curtains combined with the practicality of blinds. They come in a range of fabric styles, and some are interlined with an extra layer to help keep your home warm and snug.

• Blackout blinds: Blackout blinds have multiple layers of dense, opaque material and tightly fit to your window frame. As well as giving you complete control over how much light sneaks in, this helps to maintain the perfect interior temperature by reducing heat transfer.

Additional benefits of blinds

As well as improved insulation, blinds offer an array of benefits to any home, including:

• Styles galore: From chic Venetian blinds to practical roller blinds, there’s a wide variety of blind styles to match all tastes. Unlike curtains, which pretty much just have one way to hang and open, blinds are incredibly versatile and can seamlessly fit into any home design.
• Privacy: With adjustable panels or slats, your blinds can be easily tweaked to keep any nosy neighbours or passersby from peeking into your personal space.
• Light control: Unlike curtains which only have two states, open or closed, blinds offer precise control over the levels of natural light, allowing the flexibility to adjust the brightness to your liking. 
• Low maintenance: Most styles of blinds require minimal maintenance, typically only needing an occasional wipe or dust to keep them in good condition.

Do curtains help with insulation?

With numerous fabrics, patterns and colours available, curtains are one of the most customisable window treatments. They are also available in different linings, with interlined options being the most energy energy-efficient style. This is because they incorporate an additional layer of fabric between the front and back lining of your curtains, which helps to minimise heat loss. Interlined curtains also have other benefits; they offer structure and volume to create a fuller shape and a more elegant appearance.

Curtains vs. blinds: which is better?

Ultimately, when choosing between blinds and curtains, the most important factor should be your personal preferences. If you’re basing your decision on which option insulates better, then this really depends on which style of curtains or blinds you select. For example, curtains made using thicker materials or interlined curtains will offer greater insulation than some basic styles of blinds, whereas certain types of blinds — such as Duette blinds — are specifically designed with energy efficiency in mind and can rival the insulating capabilities of these curtains. 

Therefore, you may need to take into account other factors to make your choice. Which will improve the aesthetic of your interior? Do you require precise control over the level of light filtration? If you’re unsure whether to choose blinds or curtains, consult a trusted interior design specialist, like Gemini Blinds, for advice.

Here at Gemini Blinds, we’ve been supplying and installing blinds and curtains at homes and businesses across Chester, Manchester, Liverpool and beyond for over 40 years. If you’re looking to improve insulation in your property, we have plenty of options available that can help — simply get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss our products in more detail.