Wood Blinds
Wood blinds offer a warm and inviting look to any decor. Richly stained or painted, wood blinds are the modern alternative to shutters. Wood blinds, like most blinds, come in various different slat widths and each one is appropriate under different circumstances. In general, manufacturers create wood blinds in slat widths ranging from 1” to 3”.
Pros: Durable; adds a warm look to the room; easier to clean than aluminum; faux wood blinds hold up to weather and temperature changes better than real wood
Cons: more expensive than aluminum; real wood can be affected by humidity and temperature fluctuation
Cellular or Honeycomb
Cellular Shades are made of a solid fabric that stacks like an accordion. These blinds look somewhat like a beehive as they are made up of cells that trap air and make them very energy-efficient. Honeycomb blinds offer great insulation from the elements. The cells inside the honeycomb like structure offer warmth in winter and cool in summer, helping to regulate the environment inside. This can be great for saving on your heating and cooling bills.
Honeycomb blinds are very durable and easy to install adding to their overall appeal. These blinds are aesthetically pleasing and come in a wide range of fabrics, textures and types. They are functional as well and offer great insulation from the heat and cold of outside.
Honeycomb blinds are great for children’s rooms as they are soft, durable and easy to keep clean. Many other types of blinds come with cords that dangle down within the child’s reach; however some types of honeycomb blinds are actually cordless. This makes them perfect for small children as the cord presents a risk to the child if not secured away out of reach. Children can’t do much damage to honeycomb blinds, especially the cordless types that are made from soft fabrics.
Pros: Energy efficient; good insulator; stylish;
Cons: more expensive
Aluminum
Mini blinds can be an affordable way to add privacy to your home. They are lightweight and easy to install. In fact, aluminum blinds are the perfect choice for your home, sleeper van, trailer or motor home.
Pros Cheap; a healthy lifespan;
Cons Cheap; difficult to clean; limited insulating qualities; make your home look like a mobile home
Bamboo
Bamboo blinds have been around for many centuries. Even one Zen teaching uses a metaphor involving the rolling up and letting down of Bamboo blinds to comment on the issue of loss and gain. Today bamboo blinds give an exotic and yet serene feel to any room.
Pros: Exotic and stylish
Cons: easily damaged
Vertical Blinds
When fully drawn the vanes neatly compress, taking up very little room. They can be designed to draw from the centre outwards, and used in a window like a pair of curtains. However, they are most commonly found used in wide expanses of glass or sliding doors; where any other sort of drape would be cumbersome and difficult.
Drapes
Drapes or curtains are cloth material that typically hangs from some sort of rod. Curtains are hung around showers to keep water off the floor around the shower. Curtains are also hung around windows to keep light from coming in. They can come in many different colors and different types of fabric.
Pros: available in many colors; add elegance to a room; help in insulation
Cons: expensive to have professionally cleaned; cloth deteriorates more quickly than most blind materials; can hold dust and create problems for allergy sufferers
