A History of Window Blinds
Window coverings have been around almost as long as windows. Desert dwellers in
the first mud-brick shelters soaked cloths in water and hung them over the
windows for cooling. In the Middle Ages, the fine cloth draperies that were hung
around poster beds to provide shelter from drafts evolved into drapes hung in
front of multi-paned windows.
Venetian blinds may have really been invented in Persia, but the Venetians, who
were great travelers and traders, brought them home to Venice and then to Paris,
and so got credit for their invention. By the late 18th century, Venetian blinds
were shown in paintings depicting the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. Soon, they were popping up in such prestigious buildings as the
RCA Building in New York City.
Window blinds can create a variety of environments in different rooms of your
home. If you want an exciting look in a bathroom, you can use bright colored
blinds that provide interest as well as privacy. In a den, you can use 2" wooden
window blinds to create a soft, cozy look that welcomes an evening with a good
book.
Window blinds can also be starkly elegant black on white or white on black in a
formal living room or reception area. They're great in bedrooms where privacy is
an issue and in sun rooms where you want to control the amount of light and heat
coming in. In short, window blinds affect the look of any room, creating or
enhancing the environment you choose.
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