Window Coverings and Shades and Blinds – Oh My!

Window blinds and shades have made great strides in the last couple decades. Whilst they are basically coverings for windows which are ordinarily fastened to the interior side of windows, they have come to be a great deal more. They help with the visual design of a room, deliver light control, insulation or energy efficiency, level of privacy, and views on demand.

You will discover an ever growing quantity of window coverings on the market today.

Venetian window blinds feature horizontal slats, one above the other. They are suspended by means of strips of fabric referred to as tapes, or by cords, by which all slats in unison may be rotated through nearly 180 degrees. Through varying the rotation, the slats can be adjusted to many angles to regulate light.

There are also lift cords passing through slots inside each slat. Any time these cords are pulled, the bottom part of the blind moves upwards resulting in the lowest slats to push the underside of the next highest slat as the blind is raised.

Venetian window shades are often times made of metal or plastic; wooden slats are sometimes used however these are usually categorised as wood blinds or bamboo blinds. The design of the slats can be curved, flat, or even elliptical.

Mini blinds are Venetian blinds using very narrow slats, about 1″ wide (usually 25 millimeters wide). Micro blinds have 1/2″ wide slats (usually 12 mm wide).

Faux or vinyl mini blinds are actually made out of PVC (poly vinyl chloride plastic). The slat’s surface area may be smooth or else embossed with a wood grain. Once embossed with a wood grain, they are known as faux wood blinds. Today there’s a wide color selection as well as different textures to select from.

PVC or faux blinds are very durable, UV resistant, waterproof, and easy to clean. They are an excellent option for damp areas such as kitchen areas and bathrooms. The main drawback with faux blinds is the weight of the slats. PVC slats are heavier than both wood and composite slats and may also make raising the blinds a difficult task. In addition, they tend to bow whenever utilized on a large window.

Composite blinds are made of a combination of wood products together with polymers. They are durable as well as economical, but generally have a “plastic” look and feel to them.

Similar to PVC, the color selection nowadays is amazingly good, with many different wood tone and stain colors available. They have characteristics very much like PVC as well as faux, and tend to be some of the very best available.

Wood window blinds are actually Venetian blinds, but are made 100% from wood. They will function in the same way that Venetian window shades work.

If you are planning to match a cabinet or trim stain, wood window blinds are your best option. Wood blinds will be among the best, although they are also …