Best Blinds
Based on In-Depth Reviews

It’s early morning and the sun is about to rise. In the background plays the song “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles. As the guitar fades in, so does the sun. “Here comes the sun (doo doo doo, doo), here comes the sun and I say...” Normally, you would curse because it means the sun is going to come in straight through the window, but today you can actually say: “It’s all right.” It’s all right because you just recently bought blackout shades! “Sun, sun, sun, here it comes!” And you’ll sleep as if it still were night. Thank goodness window coverings were invented! 

The truth is that window coverings — which encompass blinds, shades, and shutters — play more than a decorative role. They also offer practical benefits. They can help you save on energy costs, maintain the temperature of the room, and filter light. There are also different types, each made in a variety of materials and in different shapes, sizes, and colors. So, the question is, how do you choose the right blinds for your home? 

How To Choose Blinds for Your Home

Choosing the right window blinds greatly depends on your answer to these important questions: where will you install them, and why do you want them?

A Blind by Any Other Name

Horizontal Blinds (a.k.a. Venetians)

Horizontal blinds are among the most popular types of window coverings. This type of blind has horizontal slats attached with strings. Usually, a cord or a wand is used to raise and lower the slats. 

Pros

• Horizontal blinds are affordable and easy to install. 

• They are made of practical materials: wood, faux wood, vinyl, aluminum.    

Cons

• Horizontal blinds are lifted in a stack when fully raised, which means they tend to take up space in the upper part of the window, limiting some of the view.

• Since its slats take some stack height, they’re not a good option for sliding or patio doors. 

Cleaning Tip: With the slats closed, use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to remove dust build-up. You can also use dust feathers or dry cleaning cloths.  

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds have individual slats running along in a track. Usually, vertical slats open by parting in the middle or from side to side. 

Pros

•  Vertical blinds are a good option for large windows, and for sliding, glass, or patio doors. 

•  They’re made of different materials like faux-wood, PVC, and fabric.

 Cons

• Vertical blinds have a track system, which requires mounting depth. 

• They don’t block light completely or offer maximum privacy

Cleaning Tip: Before cleaning you should remove the slats from the clip in the track. These can easily break if you move them too far. After removing them from the track you can use a duster cleaner, a micro-fiber cloth with soapy water, or the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner. 

Roman Shades

Roman shades are made of a solid panel of drapes in cotton, silk, or patterns. Its peculiarity is that it folds into itself. 

Pros

• Roman shades come in different colors, textures, fold styles, and patterns. 

• They can easily coordinate with other fabrics in the room. 

• They can feature cords, but can also come in cordless and motorized options. 

Cons 

• The manner in which roman shades fold creates a stack of fabric on top of the window.  

• Some Roman shades don’t have a finished back, and might look plain from the outside. 

Cleaning Tip: Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to clean dust. You can use warm water with mild soap and a microfiber cloth to clean stains. Make sure to dry with a cloth to prevent any watermarks. 

Cellular Shades (a.k.a. Honeycomb or Cell Shades)

Cellular shades have different layers of fabric that create their honeycomb-like shape. 

Pros

• Its cells hold air and help maintain the temperature of the room. In short, they’re good for room insulation. 

Cons 

• Cellular shades can absorb odors and smells if installed in humid places like the kitchen or bathrooms.

• Its cells could become a 5-star hotel for bugs if you don’t clean them regularly. 

Cleaning Tip:Use the brush attachment of the vacuum cleaner to carefully clean dust. For the insides of the cells, use compressed air. Never submerge them in water since the shade could lose its fold.

Roller Shades

Roller shades are made with synthetic and natural fabrics or vinyl. They’re characterized by their roll-up system. 

Pros

• Roller shades offer privacy and block exterior light.  

• They come in multiple colors, patterns, and textures, and look stylish. 

Cons

• When installed inside the mount a small gap remains between the roller mechanism and the frame allowing some exterior light inside the room. 

Cleaning Tip:Use warm soapy water and microfiber cloths for cleaning vinyl roller shades. For fabric, use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Never submerge roller shades in water as it may damage their mechanisms.

Choosing the right material 

Wood

Wood blinds have a more traditional design and are good for achieving a natural and elegant vibe in the room. They also come in different types of wood and colors. Nonetheless, they’re not recommended in areas with high humidity. Additionally, wood slats are vulnerable to cracking and breaking with time.

Cleaning Tip: Clean dust build-up with a feather duster or cloth. From time to time, treat your slats with products for wood. 

Faux-Wood

Faux-wood blinds are a cheaper alternative to wood. Unlike wood, faux-wood can be used in damp areas like the kitchen or the bathroom. Usually, they’re made of synthetic materials which makes them a durable option.

Cleaning Tip: Faux-wood is also easy to clean. Just use a feather-duster or a dry cloth.  

Aluminum & Vinyl

Aluminum and vinyl are durable materials, resistant to moisture and peeling. This makes them ideal for rooms with high humidity. These materials are also cost-effective and available in multiple colors. 

Cleaning Tip:Clean with mild soap solution with warm water and a cloth or a sponge.  

Fabric

There are natural and synthetic fabric options. Both are commonly used to produce roman and roller shades. Fabrics also help filter light and provide privacy. They’re durable, easy to clean, water-resistant, and anti-scratch.

Cleaning Tip:Use a vacuum cleaner to wipe the surface or a damp soapy cloth to remove dust. 

Tips for buying window blinds online

• Ask for Samples:If you’re buying window blinds online you’ll definitely want to make sure you know what the fabric or material looks like in real life. Looking at pictures online is not enough, particularly because colors can be slightly different from how they look in pictures. The good thing is that most retailers online offer free swatches, which makes it easier to evaluate material, quality, texture, and color. It’s also a good option for comparing samples from different companies. Sometimes there’s a limit of 10 or 15 swatches per customer, so making a list of your top options can help you get the most from this service. 

• Measure Carefully:All windows are not made equal. That’s why regardless of whether you’re getting custom-made or ready-to-install blinds, you should aim to have the right measurements for your window treatments. Measuring is important because not every company has warranties for measurement errors. There are two ways to tackle this step. If you’re buying online, look for measurement instructions—most companies that sell blinds online have them available on their website. You can also opt to get a professional to do it for you. Some companies already offer in-home consultations that include measuring services at no cost. Others might not, but could still help you find a certified professional in your area. 

• Warranties / Returns: What can I do if my window blinds are bigger or smaller than expected? What if they arrived defective, damaged, or missing a part? What if the operating mechanisms stop working after a year? In order to answer these questions, you should consult return policies and the terms of the warranty. Most window treatment companies include warranties for their products, and some might let you purchase or upgrade the warranty for an additional cost. 

• Check Shipping Options: Many companies offer free regular shipping for their orders. Regardless, you should always verify if there are any exceptions. For example, they could charge shipping fees for orders with oversized products or have limitations for certain addresses.

From an Interior Designer’s Perspective

Photo courtesy of Yadira Torres/Colegio de Diseñadores y Decoradores de Puerto Rico

For interior designer Yadira Torres, one of the first things customers should do is know the differences between blinds and shades. “Sometimes customers talk about blinds and shades as if they were the same, or mistake one for the other.” 

Although they're both window coverings, they provide different features and aesthetic effects. 

These are her tips on how to choose the right blinds for your windows:

Highlight #1: Blinds

Blinds let you modulate the light that comes into the room. Their mechanism moves the slats in angles which helps create different dimensions in ambiance. As interior designers, we like to play with this.                                     

Also, blinds help bring the exterior to the interior, which can be a decorative and designing aspect to contemplate. Think about where the window is located and what’s behind that window. If it’s a garden or a nice-looking area, it’d be fabulous to have a type of window covering that doesn’t block the view.  

As for the materials, there are wood blinds. These can be more expensive, because of the wood, but they’re an elegant and sophisticated option for the living room, or dining room. Plus they come in different colors of wood. They’re also made in white wood, which goes very well with glass windows. 

Blinds are also often used in bathrooms and kitchens, but it’s not recommended that we use wood. If you’re going to install blinds in the kitchen make sure they’re made of PVC or faux-wood. This material is synthetic and behaves well with humidity and heat.   

Highlight #2: Window Blinds Color: Dark Wood vs. Light Wood

Blinds are timeless. Regardless of existing trends, they do very well in bedrooms, living rooms, or kitchens. Now, it all depends on the room and the type of decoration you want. If you want the room to feel more relaxing and informal you can use light wood colors or maybe white PVC. If,on the other hand, you want it to look more formal, then you can use dark woods. Everything depends on the style you already have in your home, your taste, and how daring you feel experimenting with new looks and colors. But generally, darker colors tend to be more elegant, while lighter colors are a little more informal and easy to combine without creating any kind of focal point or distraction in the room.   

Highlight #3: Shades

All shades are made of fabric. They come in natural fabrics, synthetic, jute, and bamboo. They are versatile because you can choose from different fabrics, patterns, colors, and texture. Their advantage is that you can customize them however you want.

Never choose silk for a window exposed to the sun because it will wear out very quickly. Silk is a big no-no, unless you have blackout curtains or will not let the sun hit the fabric all the time.

Highlight #4: Inside Mount vs. Outside Mount

The advantage of an outside mount is that it will cover the whole window and completely block external light. With inside mounts, the light can pass through the frame or all around the window. Also, if you have mouldings, inside mounts could give your windows a nice finished touch. 

Highlight #5: Motorized Options

This is only used with shades. I recommend it for houses with kids and pets. Motorized shades are also good for big windows, it’s convenient.