I've had pleated blinds, metal horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, and wood blinds. Even though there are pretty pictures of blinds, blinds are not my favorite, especially vertical blinds. Blinds are impersonal, not cozy imho, and pleated blinds are very difficult to clean. They attract dust and pet hair, I think, by static, and vacuuming does not get it all. Horizontal blinds, if cracked open for some light, leave a striped pattern on the window which I don't like, are a pain to dust, and are pretty much "all or nothing", and you can't leave blinds open at night if you value privacy. Vertical blinds remind me of corporate conference rooms. Sorry, I hope I'm not offending anyone. Curtains on the other hand, can be soft and flowy, let light in without compromising privacy. You can wash them or dry clean them. You don't have to open and close every single day to adjust for light/privacy conditions. Curtains are easy to change out, and you don't need a custom size if your windows are not standard sized. I haven't had the pleasure of roman shades yet, that's my next new thing to try. More than you probably wanted,mikneleh... LOL! Have fun with your decision.

Sheer De-liteBlinds are a versatile alternative to traditional Venetian and Roller Blinds. This revolutionary blind is crafted from lightweight sheer fabrics that combine opaque and transparent strips to form a double layered blind. The unique design of Sheer De-lite Blinds allows the layers to move between varying levels of light control and privacy so you can completely close them or open them to allow a view between the strips. Available in a variety of fashion colours, Sheer De-lite Blinds help soften daylight by reducing glare and light entering the room. These Blinds can also be raised or lowered to the desired height in the window just like Roller Blinds.

There is no right answer! It largely depends on the room and what you are looking to accomplish. If your budget is such that you can only have one, I would opt for a blind or shade so you can create some privacy and light control. You can always add drapery later to create a soft touch. If you have some pictures to upload I would be happy to give you some suggestions. Best of luck...

Sheer Blinds are a good option. Put some plants outside if possible that will lend greenery to the inside too. Above is an image from one of my projects.