4 Basic Blinds & Their Benefits

Egyptian pharaohs had them made of reeds, and roller-style ones made of continuous fabric pieces became popular during the nineteenth century. Like many energy-saving devices, it can be said of window coverings that they’ve enjoyed great progress over the years, and particularly within the last century. The vast selection of modern blinds makes them suitable for almost any window, taste, or need. 

If you’re looking for window coverings, you’ll want to explore the four basic types and the benefits of each.

1.Slat
The definition of slat-style blinds includes the following features: pieces connected with a that enables the slats to be opened and closed via a rotating drum.

a.Persian or Venetian
These use horizontal slats made of metal or vinyl and come in a variety of colors. Like other horizontal styles, they utilize a ladder-style suspension system in which woven cords or narrow fabric strips allow for the opening and closing as well as the pulling up and stacking of the blinds, when desired. One type of Venetian blinds would be the inexpensive and popular mini blinds, with slats that measure 1” deep.

b.Wood or Bamboo
Both environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing to the modern homeowner, these horizontal blinds tend to offer greater light blockage due to their typically wider slats. Like other horizontal options, newer models may allow for less light to pass through them when closed, due to a combination of lift cords and rotational cords, eliminating the need for separate slots required for each cord.

c.Vertical 
Invented in the 1960s, these typically use wider slats than their horizontal counterparts. They also include a pull cord or rod that allows the slats to be stacked to one side of the window or separate in the center, allowing half to be pulled to either side, framing the window evenly. Made of plastic, metal, or stiffened fabric, the slats overlap, offering greater protection against unwanted heat and light.

2.Honeycomb or Cellular
An increasing number of décor-savvy homeowners are embracing the honeycomb style. They come in a variety of fabrics, and some even provide the notable safety feature of not having a cord. Other options include light-filtering or light-blocking, as well as top-down or motorized variations.

They can be installed inside or outside your windows’ frames and need no special equipment for installation. Recommended maintenance includes weekly dusting and monthly vacuuming.
This option provides the ultimate in energy efficiency and insulation. How? The honeycomb-like cells of these horizontal blinds trap air, giving your home an extra barrier against the outside temperatures. 

Whatever your window-covering priorities, you’ll be sure to find the ideal solution with one of the three main styles of slat blinds or the increasingly popular cellular possibilities available today.