Shades Blinds and Shutters – A Brief Rundown
I would like to give you a brief rundown on some of the more popular styles of shades blinds and shutters that we have discussed so far. Each window treatment has a different use, and gives a different atmosphere in your home. In order to make an informed decision, it is important that you have a little knowledge about the following types of blinds and shades…
Wood Blinds – The most popular style of material for blinds by far, wood adds natural warmth to your home that can’t be achieved by any other type of material. The downside to wood is that it needs regular maintenance to stay in tip top condition.
Faux Wood Blinds – For those that cannot afford wood, but love that natural grainy look, faux wood is probably the next best thing. The two main materials used in the production of faux wood are wood composites and PVC. Faux wood is only a fraction of the price of the real thing.
Shutters – There are two main categories in the world of shutters, based on the width of the slats. The smaller window shutters generally have a slat size of 1 or 1 1/2 inches. Larger slat sizes are often referred to as plantation shutters, and are generally used on the exterior of your home, or on larger windows.
Mini Blinds – One of the most inexpensive styles of blinds that you can get, mini blinds are characterised by their small horizontal slats. There is some confusion between mini blinds and venetian blinds, but the two phrases mean basically the same thing.
Sliding window Blinds – The most popular choice for vertical blinds are for large sliding doors. They are perfect for this use, as the blinds tuck right away into the unused corer of the room when they are not needed, while giving overall coverage to your door when it gets sunny outside.
Panel Track Blinds – This is a newer style of blind that is increasing in popularity. It consists of larger horizontal lengths of material that fold into each other when not in use. They work similar to the principle of the vertical blind, but also make great room dividers.
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Cellular Shades – The biggest benefit of cellular shades is their amazing insulation properties. These are a lightweight shade that packs a real punch. Some people refer to them as honeycomb shades, because of the shape of the individual cells. You can get these shades in single, double or triple cell versions; the greater the number of cells, the better its insulating properties.
Woven Wood Shades – The name of these shade blinds is a little misleading, as although there are some that are made of actual wood, the more popular styles use bamboo, jutes and reeds to create the shade. Woven wood shades are a perfect solution in any place that you are trying to create a natural organic feel.
Roman Shades – Roman shades are usually made using fabric, although there are styles created in vinyl and even bamboo. The roman shade is a classic window covering that rolls up to the top of your window in pleats when not in use. Roman blinds are great for smaller windows in the bedroom, giving you complete privacy.
Roller Shades – Out of all the shades available, the roller shade is the most simple in design. Roller shades consist of nothing more than a tube of aluminum, with a length of fabric wrapped around it. When not in use, the fabric is wrapped around the tube at the top of the window via a pulley system.
Sheer Shades – For those times when you want a little bit of privacy but don’t want to block out the world (or the sun) entirely, sheer shades are the way to go. They make an elegant solution for places like the kitchen, and are usually made from very thin and light weight fabrics,
Solar Screens – Similar to roller blinds, but instead of using material solar shades use are usually plastics and synthetics. They work on the principles used in sunglasses, diffusing the light while still allowing you to see out your window. They are particularly popular on large glass doors or windows that look out onto a view.
As you can seem there are a huge variety of window shades and blinds out there, and we have only touched the surface, For more information on any of these individual styles, feel free to browse through the rest of this site.
