History of Blinds

Nowadays it is easy to see that blinds and curtains are the most common type of window treatment. You won’t find anyone in the UK who would not be familiar with blinds because there is so much variety available today be it Roman blinds, Venetian blinds, roller blinds, or vertical blinds. This article will discuss the history of blinds, from the beginning of the ancient era to how it got to its current form.

Learning about Blinds in the Ancient Times

The history of the blinds dates back to the times when nomadic tribes existed in the deserts of Asia and Africa. These tribes, in an attempt to protect themselves from the harsh heat of the desert used to cover the windows at their house with basic sheets. With the passage of time, the blinds were used to fulfill basic human needs, the most important being protection from the sun, shelter, and most Importantly, privacy.

The ancient Egyptians are known to use reed from River Nile as an attempt to save themselves from the scorching sun, while making sure that the fresh breeze made its way into their house. Similarly, in ancient China, people had their own version of blinds that they used to make with bamboo sticks. That is interesting, because you will find that bamboo is used to make blinds even today.

Learning about Blinds in the Middle Ages

It is said that Persians brought the concept of blinds into Europe. Persian traders used to go to Europe on trading ships, and that is how they introduced blinds in Venice, Italy. The Venetians changed the blinds according to their own liking and their style became famous all over the continent. They raised the blinds and lowered the strings that were attached to a series of the slates. This style is famous even today and is referred to as ‘Venetian blinds’.

With time, the blinds made their way in all the major cities in Europe that included Paris. In the 18th century, blinds made their way to England, amidst the Industrial Revolution. This led to the mass production of the blinds and soon it became a part of every house in the UK.

Modern Blinds

A lot of developments took place in the 20th century, as blinds with different styles, cuts, and materials started appearing in the market. The Venetian blinds remained popular but vertical blinds that were drawn horizontally with the help of a long string became extremely popular. Roman blinds also became really famous, as they had one piece of foldable fabric instead of multiple slats.

In the 21st century, roller blinds became extremely popular because most of them were controlled by a remote control. One simple click and the blinds would open. Some of these blinds could be connected wirelessly through laptops, which adds convenience. Today, you will see a wide variety of the blinds available in the market that are available in different materials, colors, cuts, and designs.