The property market is thriving in the north, and like many towns and cities in the West Yorkshire region, Wakefield has a number of new-build developments where under-used land on the outskirts of the city has been transformed to help satisfy strong demand for housing. This opens up great opportunities for young couples, first-time buyers and families, and in terms of interior design, presents a blank canvass on which homeowners can stamp their personality and let their creativity run wild.
With a new-build property, however, there are a number of considerations you need to make, particularly when designing and installing items like blinds. These are a fixture which impact on a number of design elements of a new-build home, so in this guide we have highlighted the potential issues you need to be aware of, and advised on some design ideas for blinds you may wish to consider.
Important considerations when choosing blinds for a new-build property
You have just moved into your new-build home in Wakefield and are keen to feel settled and comfortable straight away. Blinds are one of the first things you need to consider, because they provide important and immediate light, privacy and security control. But there are a few things you need to look at and take note of before you jump in and get new blinds installed:
- Trickle vents – These are incorporated into modern window systems and are a way to create internal airflow and encourage air circulation in order to prevent damp and mould build-up. So you need to check where they are on a window frame so that blinds won’t block or muffle them and render them ineffective.
- Window handles – Check the operation of windows and how far handles will stick out when fully open. Also check if the windows have restrictors fitted. This all dictates where you can install blinds and what type of blind is most suitable.
- Window opening – How does the window open? Is it a tilt and turn window? Does the window open inwards or outwards? This has a big influence on what kind of blind you can install.
- Alarms – There may be alarm contacts, sensors or security cameras installed around windows, so check you are not interfering with important security infrastructure.
- Fitting brackets – There are often warranty agreements with new-build homes which restrict what can be drilled into. This could include new uPVC window frames, so check you are not invalidating a warranty by installing blinds in a particular way.
- Proximity – Houses in a new-build development are often built very close together, mostly so that a developer can maximise their income from the number of plots they can build and sell on a piece of land. This does, however, impact on privacy and security and can influence the type of blind you might go for.
Popular types of blind for new-build homes in Wakefield
While style, colour and customisation are very much up to the individual, some popular choices for blinds in different rooms of a new-build property include:
- Bedrooms – Blackout blinds and roller blinds are most effective in blocking out daylight, particularly if you have young children.
- Living rooms – You may spend more time during the day in these areas, and these may also be rooms that are overlooked by neighbours, so consider vertical blinds and venetian blinds, which can be adjusted as light changes. Day and Night blinds are also popular in these types of room, while motorised blinds can also be integrated with smart systems in a new-build home.
- Kitchens and bathrooms – Venetian blinds are popular in these rooms, and you may wish to consider a material that is moisture-resistant to deal with condensation, such as faux wood or aluminium.
- Conservatories – Kitchens and conservatories often have bi-fold doors and in these areas perfect-fit blinds are ideal, as they provide light control for individual windows and require no drilling into pristine frames.
If you are moving into a new-build property and are looking for blinds in Wakefield, or surrounding areas such as Ossett, Normanton or Featherstone, contact Solaire Blinds & Shutters to book a free consultation and we can help you design and install the ideal blinds for your new home.
