The great thing about vinyl blinds, and the one thing that most people say first up when you ask what they think of vinyl blinds is that they’re certainly a good deal cheaper than many other types of blinds, including the now very popular wood or faux wood blinds.  Their ability to shade the room from excess sunlight and provide adequate privacy for your home is the same as with the more expensive types of blinds also.  They are every bit as functional as wood blinds and are great for example if you are considering bathroom blinds ideas or looking for french blinds. Just be sure to match your bathroom blinds and  shower curtains if installing in the bathroom.

Slatted vinyl  blinds are a very welcome replacement to the much older styled metal venetian blinds, for example, which were brittle, difficult to clean and downright dangerous at times with their sharp metal edges.  They are also great for hanging in rooms that aren’t suitable for wooden blinds, due to their being very humid making them perfect to hang in kitchens and to use as bathroom window blinds.

Vinyl blinds is really quite a large category, and within that category you can find almost any type of blind made from vinyl.  Commonly you can find slatted vinyl blinds — venetian blinds or mini blinds–in most blinds stores and they are easily brought online as well.  Many traditional venetian blinds are made from aluminium, however the vinyl venetian blinds which look very similar to the aluminium kind are a good deal more lightweight.  This has its advantage when you are having to lift them all the way up or down, though it does make them blow around more than the already lightweight aluminium blinds, and they can really billow out into the room if there’s an open window with a breeze blowing through.

Vertical vinyl blinds are also available online, in a variety of shades and colors.  PVC vertical blinds are great for hanging in sliding patio doors or large ceiling to floor windows. As with other blinds, vertical vinyl blinds are lightweight and very easy to care for. They are a bit more flexible than either wood or aluminium blinds, and suit better in areas where there is a lot of moisture and humidity in the air.

The great thing about vinyl blinds, aside from their cost, is that they are really durable and will last a good while if treated properly and cared for.  They don’t rust, nor do they warp or become misshapen.  If you are looking for a cost effective window treatment, that looks great and comes in a wide array of colors I would suggest you take a look at the different types of vinyl blinds currently available.

There is a particular charm about wooden blinds that have many people going back to purchase new wood blinds time after time.  While they have definitely gone through stages of being ‘in style’ and ‘out of style’ the truth is that this classic look blind is never really out of style. You could hang a wooden blind in any room, and given the right kind of furnishings and providing the wood look matches the overall room décor, they would look perfect!  They match well with other wooden furniture, such as wood barstools or wooden tables, and can actually set off the wood furniture you already have in your room.

There are many different styles and types of wooden blinds. You can choose between wooden venetian blinds, wooden plantation shutters, wooden mini blinds, wooden vertical blinds, wooden roller blinds, and while not exactly in the same hard-wood class as some of the others mentioned, I have even seen bamboo Roman blinds.

The great thing about wooden blinds is that you can actually mix the styles of wooden blinds you install in your home, providing that you either match the stain and color of the blinds, or at least color coordinate it.  For example you could hang tall vertical wooden blinds on your sliding glass doors that lead out onto the patio, and then hang same-color venetian blinds on the other windows in that particular room.

Treating Your Wooden Blinds

Usually wooden blinds are made out of hard wood, with popular woods being Basswood or less frequently Aldar, Cedar or Poplar wood is also used.  These hard woods are often kiln dried for added stability before being cut and treated with a stain.

While you can opt for painting your wooden blinds, I feel that it is a shame in most cases to cover up the beautiful natural look of wood.  More often, the wood is either left untreated or is stained and then finished.  Stains can be as light as a lovely honey color or can be so dark that they are a rich chocolate brown color.  Normally when buying wooden blinds or plantation wood shutters, especially if you are having them custom made, you can choose the exact stain that you want.

It’s a good idea when ordering wooden blinds to make a note of the stain that is used, including the brand. That way, you can choose the same stain if you order more blinds later and all of your wooden blinds will match perfectly. It is also good to have a little stain on hand, just in case there’s any chipping or damage done to the blind.  If you have the right stain you can quickly cover it up without any problem.

Ordering Wooden Blinds

Wooden blinds can be either ordered directly or they can be custom made to suit your particular window size and style–this is a good idea if you are buying wood plantation shutters for example.. Do be careful though when ordering custom made blinds, as most online retailers make it plain that they will not refund your money should you inadvertently give the wrong measurements or not be happy with the finished product’s color or stain. In other words, when you log in your information for your custom order on line they will make the blinds according to your instructions and will not be responsible if the blind doesn’t fit exactly.   So, do be sure to measure the window exactly, and according to the precise instructions given on the site you are ordering from.

Cleaning Wooden Blinds

Wooden blinds don’t require a lot of special care in order to keep them in good condition, though you do need to be sure to clean them on a regular basis. The simplest way to clean them is to use the brush extension on your vacuum cleaner and vacuum each slat gently from side to side, top and bottom. The brush helps dislodge any caked on dust without damaging the wood.  A good timetable for vacuuming your wooden blinds is once a month, with dusting being done weekly inbetween vacuuming.

If your wooden blinds are particularly dirty you can rub with a cloth that has been immersed in oil soap. Oil soap is also a good choice to use when cleaning your wooden blinds if it appears that the wood may be getting a little dry.

Whatever you do, don’t use water to clean your wooden blinds, as if the moisture gets into the wood your blinds will warp. It is not a good idea to use the popular wax based furniture polish for cleaning either, as all the wax does is seal in the dirt–not what you want!

If you care for your wooden blinds properly, and keep them away from damp or humid environments and harsh sunlight, your wooden blinds should last you a long time.