Wooden blinds are a lovely addition to a home and because windows are one of the most looked at pieces of a home, picking the proper decoration for them is vital.  This article will go over the details of where to find blinds, what to consider when purchasing, and what advantages you can get directly from manufacturers.  The decision on what sort of blinds to put in your home is not one to take lightly.

The obvious choice for any product these days is the internet and blinds are no different.  You will find countless websites ready and willing to sell you most any sort of blinds you can imagine.  There are things to take into consideration before your first purchase.  The options and choices when it comes to window blinds are staggering.  Once you’ve decided what your basic window blinds will be, you need to begin shopping around to see what other options and benefits you can get from different websites as well as which will be the most cost effective.  Picking blinds can be a hassle, but doing it online you need to do plenty of research to ensure you are getting what you want and need.

One of the major considerations is what type of blinds you want for your home.  Usually if you purchase wood blinds, they will be made of either basswood or ramin wood, which makes them very durable and sturdy.  You need to decide how big the blinds will need to be, as well as whether you want them to be horizontal or vertical.  Don’t forget that it is possible to get made to measure wooden blinds that fit an exact space or cover a specific area.

The manufacturer will also be an important selection for your blinds.  A manufacturer will usually provide customer service for any maintenance that is necessary to your blinds.  Most manufacturers are equipped to build whatever sort of custom blinds you need.  You can also negotiate directly with manufacturers and sometimes get a better price.

Picking out wood window blinds is very important, because they will be an integral part of your home and go a long way to making your home look lovely.  Taking the time to do online research is important, because you can get overwhelm and end up spending too much or not getting exactly what you need.  Most important is the manufacturer, a well established one will make it much easier if problems occur.

The first thing you need to remember when measuring for window blinds is to be precise. You always must use a steel tape measure and never a cloth tape measure. Remember to measure all sizes to the nearest eighth of an inch to avoid errors that can snowball. Do not be alarmed if the windows are not perfectly square because in most cases this is normal. Make sure to clearly state which measurement is the height and which measurement is the width on your notes. It is very common to mix these measurements up so keep a journal. Always measure the height and then the width.

There are two different types of mounting types, and inside mount and an outside mount. It is recommended that you go with an inside mount because it looks neater. When measuring an inside mount it is important to take the exact widow size opening and not to take a deduction. Manufacturers deduct 3/8” to ½” so there is no need to take a further deduction. Measure width and height in three different places. After you have taken this measurement, then write down the narrowest width and the longest height.

In order to make sure that the outside mount is measured properly and to ensure there is the least amount of light gapes you will have to add 4 or 5 inches to each side of the blinds for vertical blinds, or 1 to 1 ½” for horizontal blinds. You also have to leave room for the mounting brackets which are 1 to 3 inches tall in most cases. You do not want to have any deductions so it is important to write down the exact width and exact height.
A wooden blind can make all the difference in your home. Whether you get something standard or something more fancy (like wooden venetian blinds), your home will look spectacular. Now that you have this information, it is time to start measuring your windows today.

Have a look at the below video on blinds from JustBlinds.com.

Clean wooden blinds are a great way to bring an element of nature into your home as well as the charm that only real wood can achieve. The wood slats in the blinds have been specially designed to resist dust and stay clean for a long time. However, no matter how well they are designed they will always need a good cleaning every once in a while. Below you will find some helpful ways on how to clean your blinds.

One of the best ways to clean wooden blinds is to use a vacuum. A vacuum has a tremendous amount of suction and this is perfect for trapping dust that has accumulated on the blinds. You can increase the sucking power by attaching a brush on the end of the hose. The brush will help to lift the dust so that the vacuum can then suck it up. If you have lots of dust build up on the blinds then this is a perfect method to clean the blinds. This method can also be used for cleaning wooden venetian blinds.

Another way to clean wooden window blinds is to use a static feather duster. These dusters attract dust using static electricity. If you prefer, you can also use the traditional most wash cloth. The cloth has the advantage of being very cheap, easy to clean, and fast. If you do not already have a feather duster then using a most wash cloth will work just fine. Just make sure you do not use too much water on the cloth or else you might warp the wood.

Cleaning wooden blinds is an easy task. We talked about how wooden blinds are a great addition to the room, how using a vacuum is a great way to clean your blinds, and how using a static feather duster or a wash cloth are other methods to get the job done. Now that you have this information, it is time to start cleaning today.

Faux wood blinds are not made from strips of timber like regular wooden blinds. Instead wood pulp and certain resins are mixed and formed to mimic the real thing. This can cause them to be much heavier, however this also makes them easy to clean and much more durable than wooden blinds.

Moving onto availability and cost. Wooden blinds and faux wood blinds can be purchased nearly anywhere good blinds can be bought. In fact some stores specialize in just these two products as there is a large variety of woods and colors to choose from. If you are looking for wooden vertical blinds, you my be disappointed as faux wood only come in mini and venetian style blinds. If you are not after vertical wooden blinds then you will be happy to know that faux wood blinds are much cheaper than wooden blinds.

Faux wood blinds are treated for water resistance making them suitable for bathrooms and kitchens. You will not have to worry about the wood getting stained or mildew and mold growing on your blinds.

Which ever type of wooden blind you choose, as well as cost you should take into consideration the application of the blind. Here is a summary of the specific pros and cons for your convenience.

Faux Wood Blinds

Pros

• Do not mark easily (very kid and animal proof)
• Easy to clean with regular cleaning products
• Cheaper than real wood blinds
• Made from recycled materials

Cons

• Much heavier than wooden blinds
• No vertical blind options

Wooden Blinds

Pros

• Look fantastic
• Lighter weight, making them easier to mount

Cons

• Can suffer from water damage in the form of mildew or stains
• Easy to create small scratches on the surface
• Need special cleaning product to care of

Here is a great video on the matter from Blinds.com:

Wooden Vertical Blinds

For rooms which need a lot of natural light such as your dining room or lounge, vertical blinds are a good choice because they can easily be pulled to the side allowing full view through the window whilst at the same time allowing complete privacy during the night.

Horizontal Blinds (Wooden Venetian Blinds)

Horizontal wooden blinds have a similar design to that you would find from a wooden venetian blind except they are made from wood. Again, these are great for rooms that need to be well lit because they can be opened fully as well as shut to keep privacy.

Slider Panel Blinds

If you need your wooden blinds to provide a more complete protection from incoming sunlight then you might want to consider buying a slider panel blind. These are usually made from a dark wood and do a great job of blocking all the sunlight. This is why they are especially useful for more specific purposes such as a media room or dark room.

There are also several other things that you need to think about when you’re buying yourself new wooden blinds. For example, if you’re going to have your blind in a place that is naturally damp such as your bathroom, then you will need to make sure that they are treated blinds to prevent mold building up on them.
You also need to think about the style of the furniture in your room. Make sure that the wood matches the rest of the furniture so that they don’t stand out and blend in with the rest of the interior decor.

The type of blind you buy will largely depend on which room in the house you are buying it for. For that reason it is rarely a good idea to try and get a full set of blinds for every room in the house because each room will need to have a different style of blind and wood type. Don’t just go for a cheap wooden blind because of the price either, but take your time and pick one that will really match the style of your house.