Have you ever wondered where the blinds you have hanging in your home originated from? Who originally thought of the idea, who decided blinds could help control the privacy of your home or who designed blinds that block out light? Today, blinds are very fashionable, but did you know that they have been around for more than 300 years? Carry on reading to find out some interesting facts on the history and Evolution of blinds that you probably didn’t know.
Early blinds
When looking back, it is thought that the earliest form of blinds would have been a single bit of cloth hung over doorways and window openings, and these were used by African and Asian tribes. The fabrics would have protected them from the heat of the sun, prevented sand from blowing into their homes and kept their homes private from other people in the tribes. Evidently, even in the earliest times of blinds, they were made to serve the same purpose as modern-day blinds.
It was then thought that the ancient Egyptians evolving from the desert tribes used blinds that were very alike to . They could be rolled up to let light in but could also be rolled down to block out the breeze and this also would give them privacy and block out some of the heat from the sun.
At a similar time as the ancient Egyptians, the ancient Chinese started to use bamboo, these were similar to roller blinds. The blinds were also used to control the amount of light that was let into the home and could block the light out. Bamboo blinds are still in use today!
The ancient Romans, like all of the previous people, decided they wanted to block out light and have some privacy. The Romans went one step further… they first had the same idea just like the African and Asian desert tribes that they hung the fabric over windows and doors.
However, the Romans had better ideas, they attached a cord to the thick curtain-like material so that they could pull the cord for the blinds to go up and down, hence the name roman blinds; as this was how the Romans invented the mechanism of the blinds! These are still widely used and very popular today.
Scotch Holland Roller Blinds’ originated in the early 1700s. They were made from Holland linen, which came from the Netherlands. The fabric was first produced in Glasgow, Scotland, by James Louis Robertson and John King, hence the name ‘Scotch Holland.’
Before being used to make roller shades, the durable Holland linen fabric was bleached, dyed and starched. It was then dried and pounded by solid wood bars. The whole production process lasted around ten days.
The first roller shade made from Scotch Holland linen did not have a spring mechanism. Instead, when the blind was closed, the fabric lay in folds on the window ledge. To open the blind, you had to pull on a cord which was attached to a top rod. To secure the open blind, you wound the cord around a cleat.
Modern blinds
Today, there are lots of different types of modern blinds available, such as Vertical blinds, Venetian blinds, Roller blinds, all fulfilling different purposes around your home. They aren’t just used for practical aspects anymore as they used to, they are mainly used for styling aspects now.
Modern blinds are available in a wide range of colours, patterns, and textures to suit individual interior designs requirement. They can make a big difference to a window and transform the overall look and feel of your home as well as offering privacy and blocking unwanted light out of the home.
Here at Apollo Blinds, we pride ourselves on offering quality products, we work with a range of suppliers to ensure we are offering our customers the best selection possible.For more information about our range of Curtains and Blinds products, call Apollo on 132 899 today
