Blog
Smart film or blinds and curtains: which suits you?
Published on · Privé Glas
Good venetian blinds, nice vertical blinds or stylish curtains: all are fine ways to get privacy. Smart film is a different approach, in a comparable price range to good blinds. So the choice is mainly about taste and what you want in your home. In this article we set out the differences.
Two ways to get privacy
Blinds and curtains hang in front of the window. You lower, tilt or draw them when you want privacy. Smart film sits on the glass itself: one tap and the glass turns frosted, with a milky-glass effect; another tap and it is clear again.
Want to know how it works? Read what PDLC film is or how smart film works.
Look: fabric or clean glass
Curtains bring fabric, colour and warmth into a room. Blinds give a familiar, structured look. That may be exactly the atmosphere you are after.
Smart film does the opposite: no fabric, no rails, no cassette above the window. The glass itself changes appearance. People who love a minimalist interior, large glazed areas or glass interior doors and walls often find it the most attractive solution.
Daylight and view
With blinds you control the light by changing the angle of the slats. Curtains let light through or block it, depending on the fabric.
In the frosted state, smart film lets daylight in while blurring the view from outside. In the clear state it has 92% transparency, for an unobstructed view. The film blocks up to 99% of UV radiation. If you want a bedroom truly dark, a blackout curtain remains the logical choice; you can also combine the two.
Cleaning
Curtains go in the wash now and then, and blinds are dusted slat by slat. That comes with them and is no problem for many people.
Smart film has no fabric and no slats: you clean the glass according to the manual. More practical questions are answered in the frequently asked questions.
Control: by hand or in one tap
Blinds and curtains are usually operated by hand, or with a motor if you have one fitted.
Smart film switches instantly, via the app or the remote control. The Wi-Fi transformer also works with Google Home and Alexa, so you can switch the glass with your voice or include it in your smart home.
Price: comparable to good blinds
Smart film costs €179 per m² excl. VAT, plus a one-time €149.99 excl. VAT for the transformer with Wi-Fi app. That is a comparable price range to good blinds. So price is rarely the deciding factor; it is about what you find attractive and practical. You get a 4-year warranty.
To calculate the price for your windows, read what smart film costs per m².
What suits you?
Smart film suits you if you:
- love a minimalist look without fabric, rails or slats;
- want privacy while keeping the daylight;
- want to switch instantly between clear and frosted, via app, remote control or voice;
- have glass doors, interior walls or large windows where curtains fit less well.
Still in doubt?
If you love the warmth of fabric, a curtain remains a lovely choice, possibly combined with smart film. To compare other options, see frosted window film and window film, or see smart film in practice in our projects.