Though wood blinds and shutters are the most popular window coverings sold in America, these two products are among the most expensive. Faux wood Blinds offer nature's rich, subtle colors and unique textures at a fraction of the cost of real wood shutters. Moreover, wood does not last long in high moisture areas. Manufacturers have introduced quality alternatives to wood blinds in the form of faux wood blinds.
Faux wood blinds are made of vinyl, vinyl compounds, and a combination of wood and vinyl. The wood look-alikes are either a wood-polymer mix or 100-percent polymer. Since these use vinyl for at least a portion of their slats they have two inherent advantages to wood blinds: they cost less, and they resist moisture.
All of the faux wood blinds require more ladders than wood blinds. The sturdier the blind, the farther apart the ladders can be placed and therefore will require fewer ladders.
Many interior designers favor faux wood blinds because they are easy to clean, an advantage in a kitchen, and they don’t warp, fade or crack, a great advantage in a room with high humidity such as a bathroom.
Faux wood blinds control light and privacy as effectively as wood blinds, yet they're made of polymer which makes them sturdy, resistant to moisture, easy to clean and impervious to warping, cracking or peeling. They're also energy efficient, to keep your home warmer in winter, cooler in summer.
Mini Blinds
Mini-blinds have replaced the old-fashioned Venetian blinds as more convenient and attractive window treatments. Blinds are window coverings that can have either vertical or horizontal slats, have an accordion or honeycomb construction, or are woven from natural or synthetic reeds. The only disadvantage they have is that they cannot be cleaned easily.
The mechanisms for opening and closing blinds range from simple cords and easy-to-operate continuous chains to remote-controlled electronic devices. Blinds block out sunlight, prevent curious passersby from peeping into your house, and also add to the décor of your house. They come in various styles. You can buy ready-made blinds or make them yourself at home.
Blinds are available in a wide range of sizes and colors, plus unlimited custom sizes and styles. These allow you to control the direction and amount of natural light while providing some small degree of insulation. Some blind styles will adjust to allow a breeze to flow from the window into the room by tilting or raising the slats. Most blinds are available in a variety of slat widths. Popular slat width sizes include 1/2-inch micro, 1-inch mini, 2-inch and 2-1/2 inch.
In one style, slats are sandwiched between two sheer fabric layers that diffuse light when the slats are open; in yet another style, slats are laminated vertically to a single fabric layer for a curtain effect. The mechanisms for opening and closing blinds range from simple cords and easy-to-operate continuous chains to remote-controlled electronic devices.
Blinds come in wood, faux wood, vinyl and aluminum. Wood blinds offer nature's rich, subtle colors and unique textures. Classic mini blinds are elegantly simple and can enhance a contemporary look or add a classic flair to your home décor. Wood blinds are expensive.
A lesser expensive alternative to wood blinds is faux wood, or synthetic wood made from PVC or composite material. Aluminum mini-blinds provide a low cost and durable solution to your window dressing problems. Aluminum blinds are easy to clean and maintain. The least expensive variety is vinyl mini-blinds that come in standard sizes only.