Curtains vs Blinds

basdenjn6

We need new window coverings for our nursery so... Experienced moms- what's your opinion. Dark cloth curtains or wooden blinds? In terms or ease of cleaning and avoiding dust, blocking light well, etc. *I know we have to be careful of cords with blinds, which we can deal with so please leave that issue aside. Thanks in advance!

morganabyrd

I have blinds on all my windows, then add curtains for decor. It probably depends on which way the room is facing. Full sun, partial, etc. In terms of blocking light, you don't want baby to only be used to sleeping in super dark rooms, so I wouldn't go black out.

MirandaC1984

We got cellular shades for our nursery to avoid the cords altogether and block light. Added sheer curtains just for the look. This is our first so I can't tell you from experience how it will work out but I think it's going to be our best option.

aah1013

We have both!

LiveNLove44

We have wooden blinds in DD's room, and we have NEVER had an issue with cords. Perhaps the window is just too high at this point, but I've felt very comfortable with them. They also shut out light really well for afternoon nap time even though the sun is on that side of the house!

twogirlsandagreen

Both. Doing matchstick blinds with blackout lining on the back and panels for decoration. Love layered window treatments

amberrmariee20

I use a combination of both. But in my sons room strictly just curtains !

dparker721

I also use both blinds and curtains. The nursery is on the front of the house with one window facing the front porch, so I just feel better about having both for privacy and light.

kfry22

We have blinds on all our windows with either curtains or a valence. Same for babies room. I think blinds alone look to plain but want them to block the light.

FrozenMommy

Both! The light will leak through the blinds. 

MamaOwl15

Both. In our last place, there were wooden blinds on the windows, which looked nice, but they let in a lot of light during the day to the point that DS couldn't nap in his nursery.

In our current apartment, there are plastic mini blinds on the window, (which I'm not a fan of, but can't change) and we added light-blocking curtains over that. The kids' room will be nice and dark any time it needs to be for naps.

rue:D

Faux wood blinds (they're on all our windows) and we will be adding in blackout curtains to keep as much extra light out as possible at least for sleep.

AmyB421

We have plantation shutters on all of our windows and then used the pull down light blocking roman shades from Pottery Barn kids. This has worked great with our first as there are no cords but they block out all the light and the nursery is on the sunny side of the house. We ordered them again for my sons big boy room. They are a little pricey but definitely worth it.

christina4436

I bought white curtains while not sheer may still get some light. Going to wait to see how it goes before buying white wooden blinds. We had wood before but painted the trims white in baby room so now won't match!

basdenjn6

Thanks all!

mrsdhouse89

We are replacing both in ours, and instead of horizontal blinds we are doing vertical so there are no cords.

rhiannonbaca

I'm an interior designer so I feel obligated to answer this question I love drapery or roman shades (depending on the window) . They just look so much better! If you want, you could do a sheer drapery plus a blackout drapery so you're getting both light filtration plus privacy. Or, you could do a woven shade (more attractive than blinds) and drapery. If you want to just stick with blinds, I would stay away from verticals they are a little outdated and typically used in commercial spaces. Everyone has different taste, though--so good luck!!

McRad

We have wood blinds with black out curtains. The blinds alone don't cut out enough light-- plus they help keep the room cool during summer months.

Cupcakesandquilts

We have both on the windows. You have options that way about how much light you're letting in. I'd say blackout curtains are a must though.

Kbhunter

You need room darkening something! Shades or curtains.

mrsdhouse89

Vertical blinds might be out of style but are worth it for not having cords to deal with. My kids safety is worth it over style, especially when I use curtains over it and you never see the blinds. Another major plus is where I live they are half the cost of horizontal blinds.

loveleighmami

Both. Curtains I purchased are mainly for looks, our wooden blinds seem to block out most light.

rhiannonbaca

mrsdhouse89 said:

Vertical blinds might be out of style but are worth it for not having cords to deal with. My kids safety is worth it over style, especially when I use curtains over it and you never see the blinds. Another major plus is where I live they are half the cost of horizontal blinds.

Of course kids safety comes first! There are many ways to hang the cord so it isn't long and isn't a safety issue. Vertical blinds are definitely more price effective than horizontals.

dchiapella

I'm using both. The way I see it, how often are babies in the nursery other than for naps and night time? Usually they're attached to you or with someone, at least. So we'll do blinds for privacy but also blackout curtains to start [attempting] to set a sleep schedule... "attempt" being the key word here peeps... 

xlipservicex

We have a little thing beside all the windows in our condo to wrap the blinds cord around if they are up to keep the cord out of the way. We went with blinds because I find they work better for blocking heat in the summer and light without needing blackout curtains. For the first little while babies will likely sleep all over the time and place with little concern for light.

I want to encourage bean to be able to sleep when there is some light or noise otherwise you can get yourself into trouble later on with very light sleepers.

vamomtobe

They aren't curtains or blinds so I didn't vote, but we got honeycomb-style shades for our son's room when he was about 2 and just had them installed in the new nursery, too.  We used next day blinds.  They have mylar lined shades that keep the light out and are also good for keeping the room cool in summer/warm in winter, and they also have optional child-safe cords that don't dangle.  

I agree with @xlipservicex though that it's good to let baby get used to sleeping with light and noise so that they don't become dependent on total darkness and silence for sleep. 

MamaOwl15

As long as the crib isn't near a window (which it shouldn't be anyway for safety), and the cords aren't long enough for baby to reach from the ground, I wouldn't worry.

You can adjust the cord so it's at a height where an adult can reach it, but still out of reach for a baby who's learning to pull up.

morningstarz11

I would prefer roller or vertical blinds instead of curtains. It's easy to adjust them to almost every form of window, their design is cool (just look at these beauties https://www.decoshaker.com/vertical-blinds) and it's really easy to take care of them.