Overview
Window blinds and curtains are the two types of products available for filtering light that comes into our rooms. Here we discuss Different types of window blinds in detail, the different types, materials used for making them, and compare them with curtains. The last section has some common questions that people have on the topic. You can choose blinds for your house by the end of this read.
List of 12 Types of window blinds for your Home
There are various types of window blinds depending on the size of the window, the color of your room, the material, what you want it to shield, and more. The price depends on the amount of customization that you want.
Do you want a filter from the sun, cold, noisy neighbors, or only light? Consider all these factors before you begin the shopping. Make sure to purchase blinds that fit perfectly in the provided space. We have discussed various best window blinds types in the below section to help you find the right one from these.
1) Vertical Window Blinds
Vertical Blinds As the name suggests, these blinds have vertical slits on their surface. You can open and close the slits to control the amount of light that enters the room. There are two cords on the side via which you open the slits. These cords also slide the vanes across the headrail and keep the chains at the bottom together.
These are tillable floor-to-ceiling slats that are of fabric or vinyl. Measure the length of the slits you need only after tracking the ceiling, or else the blinds will get dragged on the floor. These are the most affordable among all the different types of window blinds.
2) Roller Window Blinds
Roller blinds are composed of fabric with the choice of one or two rollers. For simplicity, these type of window blinds are referred to as roller blinds and double roller blinds. In a double roller blind, a voile layer reduce glare when the sun is too bright, and another layer is a blackout layer for night-time.
A variation is the day and night blind, also known as zebra or duo blinds. Day and night blinds are of a complex weave of voile and blackout strips. When you unroll the blackout strips, these block the sun’s rays, thus, giving you control over the amount of light that can enter the room.
Roller blinds are versatile as they come in different fabrics, filters, patterns, and colors. PVC is the most versatile fabric, flame retardant, easy to clean, waterproof, and sturdy. It offers enhanced light control and a bold look to the room. These work the best as a soft light source, and you must avoid these in nurseries and bedrooms.
3) Pleated Window Blinds
Another great choice of fabric blinds is the pleated ones. It has a fabric that can fold open and close. The material has a simple design and is also available in cellular and honeycomb patterns. These type of window blinds are directly attachable to the window frame without the need to drill and look stunning on the windows and doors when applied perfectly.
Cords may be hazardous to young children, especially in areas they can reach by hand out of curiosity. You can install pleated blinds on full-size windows or doors if you have kids at your place.
4) Wooden Window Blinds
Wooden blinds are the next in the types of modern window blinds. These type of window blinds are expensive compared to plastic blinds but less costly than metal ones. There are many types of wood in the market used for making blinds, and you can choose one.
Opening and closing these slits is super easy. Another hassle-free task here is cleaning the slits. You can clean wood easily with either water or a mixture of 75 percent water and25 percent vinegar.
5) Aluminum Window Blinds
These blinds are composed of aluminum metal and are one of the best window treatments at home and the workplace. These type of window blinds are super durable and value for money. They can restrict light from coming into the rooms to a great extent.
You can open up the blinds whenever you wish to get some natural light, or breathe fresh air. The various ways through which you can position aluminum Venetian blinds include half-open, half-closed, and robust tilt. The best features are excellent shading, security, and user privacy.
6) Zebra Window Blinds
Zebra blinds are a variation of roller blinds. These are also known by the name the day and night blinds. Roller blinds are composed of a voile, whereas a complex layer of voile is used here. Along with this, blackout strips restrict light and give users privacy. The working is similar to the roller blinds, and they help to regulate light easily.
7) Mini Window Blinds
Mini blinds are for windows of small sizes. These are generally present in areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms, where the window size is lesser than the general size of the window in rooms. If too much light enters via small windows in your house, you can use mini blinds to restrict it.
8) Solar Window Blinds
These type of window blinds combine solar panels and blinds. When you purchase these for your house, you have to download a mobile application for controls and reports. It also supports Alexa and Google Assistant with the smart auto shading mode. It is an eco-product that helps in saving resources.
9) Honeycomb Window Blinds
These blinds come in the shape of a honeycomb, a pattern of hexagons drawn with edges touching side-to-side. It is simply a shape variation of the blinds. This shape will allow light at an angle, and the rest of the work will be similar.
10) Roman Window Blinds
The fabric is sewn inside to make even folds. These folds unfold to cover the window and restrict light. No roller is present to wrap the fabric. Hence, it expands the range of fabrics and textures. You can choose a thermal or blackout lining.
11) Panel Window Blinds
Panel blinds hang vertically and are fabric. Apart from window treatments, these can work as room dividers. It is perfect for filtering light as they do not tilt.
12) Curtain blinds
These blinds give the appearance of curtains when hung on windows or doors. If curtains fall out of your budget but you want to complete the look of your house, go with these. They come in as many options as curtains in the market.
What are blinds for windows, and how are they different from curtains?
Blinds for windows are horizontal or vertical slats of metal, plastic, or fabric used to insulate and filter. You can fit these in windows, rooms, and doors. The ready-to-use blinds work well for standard doors and windows and are reasonably priced.
However, you can order custom blinds according to the size of your space. These will be expensive in comparison, but the choice is yours.
Both curtains and blinds let you control light, temperature, and privacy in your home. These also complement your room decor as you can get a color matching the color of walls or other furniture. There is curtain as well as window blind advantages. Which should you prefer? Below we have mentioned a comparison between the two. Read on to decide the winner.
1) Cost
Blinds are less expensive than curtains. The reason is lower manufacturing and installation time. An expert can make slits for the windows in merely 10 to 20 minutes. The cost of blind lies between $43 to $94 per window.
The price depends on the kind of material you choose for the blind. Like, plastic blinds are less expensive than wooden and metal ones. On average, a house has eight windows in the living area plus two to four bedrooms that require blinds. The total cost for this will be approximately $345 to $750.
Curtains need more time, effort, and materials for manufacturing. The price is between $50 to $250 per window and $400 to $2000 for eight windows. It will take a minimum of an hour or more to set up a curtain by an expert.
Apart from the curtains, you require additional set-ups such as level brackets above the window, rod, rod side panels, and hangers. Linen or silk curtains are costlier than cotton.
2) Ease of cleanliness
Blinds are like thin rods, so dusting them with a microfiber cloth is easier. You can easily clean the inner as well as the outer surfaces. Close the stats to dust off one side from top to bottom in one direction. Thus, rotate the slats 180 degrees and repeat the cleaning process in the opposite direction.
You can wet a microfiber cloth and dip it in a solution of 25 percent white vinegar and 75 percent water. Wipe with the cloth to remove dirt and stain marks.
Cleaning curtains is a bit harder. Vacuum the cloth from top to bottom with a dust brush attachment. People often clean the curtains by washing them in a solution of 35 percent white vinegar and 75 percent water. Else, you can purchase a stain-treatment solution from a nearby store.
You can machine-wash only one or two curtains at a time after carefully reading the instructions on the label. Air-dry them to prevent shrinkage and then iron them as per the instructions. It is a hectic process, and you can do it only twice or thrice a year.
3) Light control options
You will be surprised to know the various types of modern window blinds available in the market. The slats on the blind are known as Venetian blinds and operate in two ways to control light. A lift cord hangs from the top and can be used to adjust the slats.
You also move the slats using the tilt wand, changing the angle of the entrance of light. Although blinds offer more ways to let you control light, they cannot completely stop it from entering the rooms. Closed curtains block virtually all the light.
Types of material used in window blinds?
The various materials used for making window blinds are:
- Aluminum
- Leather
- Fabric
- Bamboo
- Wood
- Faux wood
- Vinyl
Conclusion
Blinds cover windows and doors to filter light coming into a room and maintain the user’s privacy from the surroundings.
These are a substitute for curtains that also add-on to the home decor. You can choose what type of window blinds to purchase based on the size of the window, the color of the walls, and the material you want.
Ensure to buy blinds that fit perfectly on the windows of your house to enjoy window blinds advantages.
So, after going through the above discussion, you may now have enough idea about different types of window blinds. All you need to do is to choose the right one based on your needs.
