We often get asked the question 'do curtains and blinds work together? ' The answer is, for the most part, 'yes' – when paired, the two can bring out a flexible décor and ensure adequate blocking of light and privacy control.

But, even with all the slats closed up tight on each other, light glows at the seams are inevitable. This is not a great situation in rooms that need total darkness such as bedrooms, nurseries and media rooms. Hanging curtains over the blinds cancels all light leaks – from around the blinds and between the slats.

It's generally best to avoid choosing both blinds and curtains with different prints. That's because the patterns can overwhelm the space. Instead, try to match a curtain print with a similar print in the room. Use a solid coloured blind that uses a colour that appears in the printed curtain.

Curtains can produce a certain visual finish to a room (and of course, they cover the presence of the blinds entirely if the curtains are room-facing with the blinds inside the window recess), but this is simply down to your personal tastes, and not a need per se.