Designing and Installing Doors

Posted on: 6 June 2022

Choosing window coverings for your home can be an unexpectedly trying experience. It doesn't help that they're often called window treatments, as though the coverings are offering some much-needed therapy for your windows. You've already ruled out curtains, shades and shutters, and having decided that window blinds best meet your needs, you might think you're ahead of the game. But now you have to make a decision about the best material for your new blinds. Surely plain, elegant wood is a safe bet?

Colours and Materials

Wooden window blinds are undoubtedly a safe bet, and safe doesn't mean boring. Wooden blinds are available in a variety of materials with a wide range of colours that can complement your existing decor. So is it just a matter of choosing a specific type of wood that meets your aesthetic needs while also being within your budget? 

Types of Wood

Your wooden blinds can be made from hardwood (walnut, oak, maple, cedar, etc.), taking advantage of the natural grain and colour of the wood, with only a light varnish being applied for protective purposes. From a cost perspective, a less expensive type of wood stained to your colour specifications can be more appropriate. However, for some rooms of your house, your wooden window blinds should merely appear to be wooden.

Humid and Moist Environments

Your bathroom, your kitchen, and possibly your laundry room are all spaces in your home that experience high levels of background humidity and moisture. Even with a protective coating, wooden blinds don't perform well in these types of environments. Ongoing exposure to humidity will drastically shorten the lifespan of your wooden blinds. For this reason, faux wood (also called mock wood, or simply fake wood) can be a better bet. This may be partially constructed out of wood, but is primarily made of non-porous acrylic materials. They'll be a colour match for the newly-installed wooden blinds in the rest of your home, and will retain their look and shape despite any background humidity or direct moisture they might be exposed to. Manufactured faux wood tends to be heavier than many types of natural (non-hardwood) wooden blinds, and so must have a headrail and brackets configured to support this weight. 

Wood (or a synthetic recreation of it) is an ideal choice for new blinds. Treat these treatments well, and you'll receive a durable covering for your window that doesn't sacrifice style.