bros This Post may contain Affiliate Links. Please read our Disclosure for legal jargon.
If you are considering getting blinds to spruce up your home, breathe new life into your rooms, while staying practical and economical, then you aren’t alone! You and 58% of America have made the same choice.
But how do you go about choosing the perfect one? What color should you get? What size? Are you using it to filter out the sunlight or nosy neighbors? Does the fabric really matter?
I understand that it can get complicated. Which is why this article can help you choose among the different types of blinds for your windows.
What’s more? I even have a brief rundown of the different materials you can get your blinds in! Read on to find out more.
Outline
17 Different Types of Blinds for Windows
1. Venetian Blinds
Used as an umbrella term for horizontal slat-style blinds, Venetian blinds are probably the most common type of blinds you’ll encounter. They are incredibly versatile but suit smaller windows the best.
You can use a cord or cloth strings to tilt these blinds up to 180 degrees to control the amount of sunlight you want to let in.
They come in every material you can get blinds in, have a thick and thin variant to choose from, and can be a great addition to any kind of window you might have. Venetian blinds are hassle-free to clean. A quick clean with a dried-out duster will make it look good as new.
2. Cordless Blinds
You can get a cordless version of most blinds, aside from the cloth or string types. This means your children are safe from accidentally hurting themselves over strings or cords.
With a single motion, you can adjust the blinds without any hassle. Be it to you or your children! For most people, blinds prove to be easier to manage without the cord. You can simply pull down the bottom rail, or push it up to operate the blinds.
This type of blinds can be arranged for whichever material you wish to get.
3. Vertical Blinds
As the name suggests, they are pieces of fabric that go vertically down, and individual slats go across the top railing. They are ideal for patio and glass doors or large windows.
Depending on the type, they can go all the way to either side or can part in the middle. Additionally, they are relatively hassle-free to clean.
The slants come in vinyl or fabric, but the material might be an important factor depending on the room you’re getting it for. For example, it is better to go with PVC or Teflon as the materials when you’re getting it for your kitchen or bathroom.
4. Mini Blinds
Mini blinds are very similar to Venetian blinds. The only difference is in their width, with mini blinds being just 1” thick.
Mini blinds usually come with metal slats, however you can choose to get them in wood or faux wood to add a dash of elegance to tie the decor of any room together.
The main disadvantage of mini blinds has to be the extra effort you need to keep it clean, owing to the fact that you have more slats to worry about. Personally, I would use mini blinds for smaller windows.
5. Micro Blinds
Believe it or not, you can go even smaller than mini blinds. 50% smaller to be precise!
Micro blinds have slats that are only ½” thick. They can be a perfect finishing touch for bi-fold doors or windows. Micro blinds are incredibly versatile when it comes to compact spaces.
What makes them a practical, as well as elegant, choice for your glass doors is the fact that micro blinds allow you to retain the functionality of your doors or windows, as the blinds don’t get in your way. Micro blinds come in several finishes and materials, usually vinyl or aluminum.
6. Perfect Fit Blinds
Perfect Fit blinds get its name from how it is installed on to your windows or doors. These blinds are installed between the beading and the gazing of your window, and look like they’re a part of the window itself due to their discreet frames.
Perfect Fit blinds fit your windows and glass doors perfectly, and can be used even with the windows open. They look the best with French doors, patio doors, and conservatory windows.
Usually available with aluminum slats, they are child-safe as there is no cord involved, and the blinds are raised or lowered by hand. You can adjust the degree of the slats with a single scroll.
7. Smart Blinds
Want to feel a little sci-fi with your blinds? Smart blinds can give a futuristic appeal with a wide-range of ways to adjust blinds (including touchfree!).
Also referred to as motorized blinds or modern blinds, smart blinds sync with a proprietary smartphone application, your Alexa or Siri, or even a dedicated remote.
You get the freedom to control all the blinds at once, or operate them individually. Some let you schedule the exact time you want the blinds down or raised. Nothing beats getting sunlight automatically in your room just as you wake up!
Moreover, the lack of any cord makes them a child-safe option for many homes.
8. Panel Blinds
If you’re on the lookout for blinds that fit large windows and patio doors perfectly, look no further than panel blinds.
Much like vertical blinds, they hang from above on a top railing, allowing you to open and close them. Panel blinds don’t tilt like regular blinds, which means you need to commit to them fully when looking for solutions to filter light.
Panel blinds work as room dividers too, and usually come in fabric of different colors. They can work as an excellent statement piece to spruce up an otherwise dull looking window or door. Depending on your needs, they can be translucent, visible, or blackout.
9. Outdoor Shades
A solution for when you want more weather-resistance for your windows, outdoor shades are made from heavy-duty materials. Outdoor shades are perfect for patios and decks.
They’re placed outside windows to fend off rain, snow, and sun. Unlike most options like solar shades and skylight blinds which are great options for sunlight control, outdoor shades effectively manage the overall heat.
The slats are a lot closer together, and are usually available in woodgrain or reed. Needless to say, you need to keep in mind the overall aesthetic of your house from the outside when choosing the right material and color of outdoor shades.
10. Roller Blinds
Roller blinds define luxury in simplicity. Different from the usual blinds, roller blinds unroll from the top bracket instead of the slats stacking on one another.
Usually made from synthetic or natural fabrics, roller blinds are excellent to keep the heat in and control the cold from outside. Roller blinds can also come with features like thermal or blackout.
Roller blinds can be an economical alternative, where the cheaper ones have exposed mechanisms and mounted hardware. The more posh-looking expensive roller blinds cover these parts up with valances, cornices or fascia’s.
Cleaning them is hassle-free as well because you just need a cursory wipe with a dry or wet cloth.
11. Blackout Blinds
A feature that you can add on to most blinds, blackout blinds come in handy whenever privacy is key.
Going by its name, you probably guessed it already that this kind of fabric is excellent for blocking out all light. They are used mostly on large windows and window walls.
You have a surprisingly large selection of patterns and fabrics to choose from if you opt to get blackout blinds. They save you a ton of energy, and can elevate the room as they look like regular blinds themselves.
12. Roman Blinds
For a truly timeless look, you can always choose to get Roman blinds to fill up some space in an otherwise empty looking room.
The distinct characteristic of Roman blinds is the fact that when you raise them, the fabric keeps folding in on itself. When it is fully raised, it creates a stack of fabric above the door or window.
So although they might take away a portion of the viewable window when fully raised, it creates a more vintage and clean look to any room you fit it into.
Roman blinds are usually made with jute or seagrass, and the cleaning alters differently with every other material.
13. Tie Up Shades
Another timeless piece, however with a more rustic flair, the tie-up shade is a combination of both window blinds and curtain blinds.
The fabric they are constructed with extends beyond the bottom of the shade, and you can raise them by rolling them up and tying them in place. Tie up shades come in different kinds of materials, and are perfect for a casual or country look.
14. Solar Shades
What can best be described as a pair of sunglasses for your room, solar shades are excellent in light and sun blocking benefits.
Solar shades are an excellent choice if your room is exposed to the sun. Besides filtering the light coming in, solar shades reduce glare, protect from long exposure to UV rays, and prevent your furniture from fading out from the sun.
Solar shades are typically made from vinyl, and they are finely woven to provide proper light and heat coverage.
15. Skylight Shades
Skylight windows can be tricky to cover and filter sunlight through. Skylight shades are designed to fix this problem.
Believe it or not, but you have a wide variety of options regarding the choice of skylight shades. Most commonly they are used with conservatory blinds, covering the glass roofs of conservatories. You can also get skylight shades as roller, pleated or cellular blinds.
What’s more, you can install skylight shades without compromising on the overall style of your house. Skylight shades come in various materials, and have insulating properties. You can adjust the shades with a removable rod, or go for the automated variant.
16. Cellular Shades
Cellular shades might resemble pleated shades, but they differ in their structure and function.
Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, are made with two different materials. These shades have a hollow middle part in each of the slats, giving cellular shades insulating properties.
Cellular shades come in different sizes of cells, and are perfect for keeping you cool in the summer and warm in winter. Usually made with spun polyester, they come in single, double or triple combs that can trap air and give you proper temperature control.
17. Pleated Shades
Finally, we come to pleated shades. The best way to describe how pleated shades look would be to compare them to an accordion.
Each slat or panel of these blinds are pleated so that they can align themselves with each other when you raise or lower them. They resemble Venetian blinds, but unlike regular blinds you can only move them up or down.
Pleated shades are made from paper or fabric, and give a softer look to your rooms and windows.
Blinds Material
Beyond the different kinds of blinds and shades, the material you choose for them is equally important and based strictly on your requirements.
1. Wooden Blinds
Arguably the most common material you can get your blinds in, wooden blinds can come in various different stains, wood, and color. If you’re looking for more permanent solutions, wooden blinds can be used to create shutters on your window instead.
The cleaning procedure is simple, however wood suffers cracking or splitting in humidity or moisture.
2. Faux Wood Blinds
If humidity and moisture are a concern, you can instead opt for faux wood blinds.
They are made of synthetic material and emulate real wood, without the risk of splitting and cracking. Faux wood blinds are a cheaper alternative, making them more economical. Faux wood can be placed in bathrooms for their added durability.
3. Metal Blinds
Metal blinds are a great alternative to wooden blinds if you need it in a place with a lot of humidity and moisture.
They come in several finishes and are available in different gauges. A smaller gauge means a thicker and durable slat. There is one drawback to metal blinds. They can be noisier than every other type of blind, and hence be a bother to some people.
4. Fabric Blinds
Natural fabric blinds are a popular choice when choosing stylish and affordable blinds. The most common materials are cotton, jute, and seagrass.
Natural fabric is usually used to make Roman or tie-up blinds, and are easy to clean. However, these fabrics are susceptible to wear and tear, and fading from UV rays.
5. Plastic Blinds
If you’re looking for the most economical option, nothing beats plastic blinds. They are a great choice for almost any situation you would need blinds in, even in bathrooms with humidity.
However, their finish does not provide the same satisfaction as other materials. Worse still, they are an environmental hazard.
6. Paper Shades
Contrary to the previous selection, paper shades are environmentally friendly, and available mostly in pleated shades.
They usually come as solid colors, but often have beautiful paintings and decorations to make them visually appealing. The former is a very popular choice in home décor all over Asia.
7. Synthetic Fibers
Synthetic fibers are common on blinds that need to withstand a lot of environmental exposure. They are used in tie-ups, rollers, and Roman blinds the most.
Synthetic fibers have the durability and hassle-free cleaning of natural fibers, but maintain their color and form for much longer than the latter, and are resistant to fading.
When on the lookout for the perfect blinds for your home, there are more things to consider than just color. With this article on different types of blinds, you have an extensive checklist of things to consider.
