How to Choose the Right Wooden Blinds for Your Home

Wood blinds have been a popular choice for decades. You can find them in all styles of houses, from Victorian homes to contemporary dwellings. Ever the timeless window treatment, the right pair of wood blinds can turn a house into a home.

Why Wood Blinds?

Aesthetics 

Wood blinds are simultaneously modern and classic. Thanks to their versatile style, they blend with almost any interior design. 

Versatility 

Blinds can tailor the lighting of a room better than most other window treatments.  Their opaque material offers complete darkness when closed and full light when opened. Then, the mobility of their slats allows every light level in between, so you can tweak it just as you like. 

Authenticity  

Wood looks and feels organic. It adds interesting texture to a space in a way that aluminum blinds simply can’t. 

Practicality

Both real and faux wood blinds are made from insulating materials, which help to maintain the desired temperature of your house regardless of season or climate. In the summer, they keep the hot air out and the air conditioning in. During the winter, they keep the frigid air out and the heated air in. 

How to Choose Wood Blinds That Are Right for Your Home

The bright side of wood blinds is that you don’t have to sacrifice style for practicality. You can have both. However, this also means that there are a few extra decisions to make when choosing a pair of blinds that fit your home’s functional and stylistic needs. Here are some elements to consider.

Color 

Despite being made of wood, there are actually a variety of colors and finishes to choose from for this style of window treatment. You can stick with the natural color of the wood that the blinds are made from, or you can choose a painted finish. 

White or Light Colors 

Light wood and white finishes feel fresh and beachy. They also blend nicely with other elements of certain homes, such as white molding. Consider matching your blinds to the shade of white used for your home’s trim. It looks cohesive, and it also prevents your blinds from drawing attention away from the rest of your interior design. 

Neutrals or Pastels 

Neutral and pastels subtly accent a space. At the same time, their light color keeps the room feeling bright and open. 

Tans and Medium Browns

Tan and brown woods feel cozy. Plus, they can be matched to wood flooring or furniture to create a consistent style. 

Dark or Rich Hues

Dark wood adds sophistication. Deep colored blinds can be used as statement pieces or to evoke warmth and coziness in a home. 

Material 

Real Wood

Real wood blinds feel the most authentic, hands down. They are crafted with care, often cut and stained by hand, so they age gracefully. In addition, their natural hues are unmatched by other materials. 

Faux Wood

On the other hand, there’s no shame in choosing from the faux wood variety. Faux wood blinds look much like the real thing. And yet, they are cheaper and more sturdy than real wood blinds. They can withstand humidity, making them ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. They are also resistant to cracks and scratches, making them a popular choice for households with pets and children. In addition, faux wood is lighter than real wood, so they are easier to adjust and can be installed with smaller window attachment devices. 

Fit 

Corded

Corded blinds are the most traditional style of wood blinds. They offer the most versatility. You can pull them open completely or halfway, and you can tilt the slats at any angle when pulled down. 

Cordless

There are also cordless alternatives of window blinds that are safer for families with young kids and pets. For example, some blinds are structured like shutters. They are arranged between two slender wood beams that connect all of the slats. You can run your hands up or down the blinds to open, close, or tilt them in one swift motion. This option is ideal for rooms in which you don’t care to open the window completely, such as in common areas like dining rooms or private rooms like bathrooms. Furthermore, since cordless blinds don’t have a pulley mechanism, the cords and accessories can’t fray or wear out.

A Final Note About Maintenance: 

Blinds are sturdy. They reason they look so hearty because they are. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take good care of them. You can extend the lives of your real or faux wood blinds by keeping them clean. Luckily for you, blinds, wood blinds in particular, are one of the easiest window treatments to clean. Every once in a while, run a soft microfiber cloth along the front and back side of each slat to pick up dust. For stains and marks, you can also use a slightly damp cloth with a tiny bit of dish soap. Thanks to this window treatment’s smooth finish, they are as easy to clean as they are to style.