CHOOSING THE FINEST VERTICAL WINDOW BLINDS

Choosing window blinds for the home doesn't have to be difficult. There are many varieties of coverings, window shades, and window blinds. But for certain types of windows, traditional horizontal window blinds or a window shade may not be an option. Curtains can be expensive and may not insulate fully against light or drafts. Instead, consider vertical blinds, which are widely available, cost effective, and which can enhance the aesthetics of any home.

Many homeowners choose window blinds to regulate light and privacy. However, vertical blinds achieve this based on the material they are constructed from, the angle at which they are closed or open, and the layering of each individual slat. Common material for vertical blinds includes fabric, PVC, wood, and a combination of them.

Fabric, a standard for vertical blinds, may come in any color or pattern, and may have varying densities to provide just the right amount of light moderation. Fabric vertical blinds are cost-effective and easily customizable for any room decoration. With fabric alone, light filtering through these will be soft thereby giving ambience to any room setting. Many vertical blinds made from fabric have weights sewn into the bottom to keep them hanging straight. They may also be backed with PVC, which is sturdy and can provide a durable shape, as well as more insulation and light regulation.

Vertical blinds made from PVC are a popular alternative. The PVC can be embossed, textured, or colored in many different ways to create an attractive look for any home. The street-side of PVC vertical blinds is most often white. Also, being less opaque than fabric, they provide excellent light moderation. Nevertheless, PVC is a wonderful option for homeowners on a budget, as they are often inexpensive compared to blinds made from other materials.

However, a material like wood of either faux wood or bamboo offers the same light control and privacy that fabric or blinds made entirely from PVC do. Carefully select blinds made from these materials, as they will be less customizable in color than fabric or PVC. And while still affordable, bamboo vertical window blinds may be more expensive than PVC alone, or PVC and fabric.

Because vertical blinds come in a variety of colors, materials, and sizes, they are a great choice for choosing a window covering in the home. While all of them vary in the amount of light coverage depending on how they're rotated, homeowners looking for vertical blinds with insulation should consider fabric vertical blinds with PVC, as they are a double layer of material with PVC sewn in between. Either way, vertical blinds are excellent as a second layer of insulation for any large window, and will certainly help save on energy costs.

Finally, most window blinds are easy to clean, as dust and dirt will take a long time to accumulate on a vertical surface. PVC especially is easy; all it requires is a quick dusting. Fabric can cleaned easily, but avoid washing fabric vertical blinds, as they may warp. See the manufacturer's instructions when washing blinds, as care instructions will vary across the different materials of each.

Lastly, vertical blinds are a wonderful, economical, and effective choice when considering which kind of window covering will work best in the home. While there are minimum and maximum heights that most manufacturers create them within, window blinds do come in different sizes, can be mounted to any wall conveniently, and for much less than other window coverings can. They are easy to care for, and provide protection from drafts and too much light, which can fade fabrics inside the home and drive up energy costs. Vertical blinds are a smart choice no matter the window type.