How to Choose the Right Colour of Your Window Blinds

Window blinds are one of those little, big touches that can change the entire feel of an interior. People who overlook the importance of window blinds and dismiss them as a mere triviality with no aesthetic function pay for their negligence with extra time, money, and effort.

And while choosing window blinds can be tricky and perhaps even overwhelming, you don’t have to be an accomplished interior designer to be able to express your fashion tastes and vision adequately. 

MakeMyBlinds has compiled a few key tips and rules of thumb to help you narrow your choices down and even come up with some creative, but tasteful ideas of your own.

Here a few key tips and rules of thumb to help you narrow your choices down and even come up with some creative, but tasteful ideas of your own.

Light Control

From a more practical standpoint, you need to decide the amount of light you need in your interior.

Generally speaking, the darker the blinds, the darker the space, but light control doesn’t only come from the color. Blackout blinds, for example, are created to provide complete isolation from light even though their color may not suggest that.

Pairings of Colors

Blinds should almost always be matched to the most prominent elements and/or prevailing colors of the interior. This might sound like common sense, but some people like to go wild and neglect even the most basic of rules. While thinking outside the box can be artsy, complete reckless abandonment is bound to result in a circus of colors that just doesn’t work for anything else besides an actual circus.

Experts say you shouldn’t have more than 3 colors in a room in terms of decoration. Even if you forego this advice, you should at least choose colors from the same category or have them gradually change in order to make the design less gaudy and more seamless.

Drawing Attention or Staying Inconspicuous?

Choosing a color for your window blinds also depends on the actual aesthetic functions the blinds will perform. Window blinds are meant to either emphasize an element in the space – usually the focal point of the interior design, and in doing so stand out to a certain degree as well, or remain as inconspicuous as possible.

For instance, if you want to bring out your coach, you should match the color of the blinds to it. And if that couch is meant to be the focal point, it helps if it has a bright, bold color in itself, like red, for example, as such colors naturally attract more attention.

Furthermore, bold colors are used for blinds when you want to highlight the window behind them. Sometimes, the focal point in the design can even be the actual blinds.

However, you should still bear in mind that even blinds that are meant to make a statement should still go with the rest of the decoration, at least to a certain extent. This is why it’s a good idea to get free samples of colors and juxtapose them against the rest of interior. Basically, choose blinds that stand out, but still look like they belong in the same space and weren’t stolen from somewhere.

Otherwise, neutral colors like white or beige, for example, work best for keeping a low profile.

Of course, you don’t have to choose colors that lie only at the ends of this spectrum. A charcoal gray, for instance, can also make an impression and underline a window without being bold per se.

Sense of Space

The choice of color for your window blinds also depends on the amount of space you’re dealing with, and how you want to deal with it.

Lighter colors tend to create a more spacious feel, and if the actual room is already large and light in itself, light blinds can really serve as an extension of the architecture. This is particularly suitable for office environments.

If you feel comfortable in more compact spaces, then blinds of warmer colors are the wise choice as they envelop spaces with a sense of coziness and seemingly bring elements closer to each other. In that sense, such blinds are quite versatile as they can make small spaces feel snug rather than cramped, and large spaces feel homely rather than cold and lonely.

Very dark blinds, however, are quite tricky, especially for small spaces, as they can really accentuate their actual dimensions and even seemingly shrink them, creating a claustrophobic vibe.

Outer Surroundings

Creating a harmonious interior design isn’t just about matching your window blinds with the rest of your interior. You also need to think outside the box, almost literally, meaning the environment outside the building.

You might have noticed that cabins in the woods are usually decorated with earthy, warm colors, whereas beach houses tend to be bathed in lighter, fresher tones in the sandy and blue ranges. For apartments in vibrant city centers, a bolder, more contemporary look is highly appropriate.

In short, window blinds, the interior design as a whole, and the outer surroundings should all come together in sweet harmony.

Mood and Style

Sometimes, the mood you’re instinctively going for guides you better than strict rules. Do you want something particularly cozy, bold and modern, soothing and calm in a summary sort of way, something racier, or just a plain and simple, good vibe?

There’s a set of colors for each mood.

Color Categories

Earthy and Natural

This is one of the most popular categories, with wood being particularly celebrated.

Wood comes in various shades, basically as many as there are wood colors, the most famous one being stained and faux wood. The latter is particularly practical as damp and mold hold no power over it.

Wood blinds emanate palpable warmth and coziness, which is why they are such an omnipresent choice.

Furthermore, wood blinds are very practical as you can easily match them with other furniture and a laminate flooring. Other colors that go well with wood is green and the fiery spectrum.

Modern/Artsy

Modern can mean a myriad of different styles at any given time. That being said, white and black are always trendy. White blinds are particularly suitable for simplistic, clean spaces, whereas dark ones can add some edge and mystery but should be approached with caution.

Gray and granite also have a very contemporary feel to them and add a subtle sense of depth and character while still being versatile.

If you want something more extravagant, red is the way to go. However, it’s not the easiest to combine and there’s a risk of making the atmosphere overly racy and even salacious.

Retro

The combination of red, orange, and green can be quite tastefully playful and reminiscent of the past and its hippier vibes.

Traditional/Neutral

Dark and mahogany-stained wood are almost impossible to go wrong with and rightfully dominate this category. Of course, combinations of white, beige, sand always make for a neutral, yet elegant choice.

As you can see, there are lots of things to consider when choosing a color for window blinds. However, with these rules and tips in mind, the task is as much of an art one as it is a problem-solving one.