For a sunny and cheerful feel, you can pull blinds completely open or tilt them enough to let the sunshine in. When working with shades, choose a light-filtering fabric that encourages a brighter setting. Even when you choose sheer shades, opening them up completely will always let the most amount of light in.
For a warm and cozy environment, keep your blinds closed or tilted only slightly to filter out the light. For shades, choose a room-darkening fabric that seriously limits brightness in your room.
When you have a base understanding of different blind and shade types, you are better equipped to make a purchase you'll love. Are you leaning more toward blinds or shades?