Vertical Blinds vs. Horizontal Blinds: Choosing What’s Right for Your Space
BWS Marketing • January 14, 2020
When it comes to finding the perfect window treatments to complement your home, there are countless options of blinds available on the market to meet your space’s style and functionality needs. Before you start comparing colors, patterns, and materials, however, it’s important to consider whether the windows you are designing would benefit most from vertical or horizontal blinds. While they share many similarities, becoming familiar with the differences between the two can make all the difference in getting the most out of your window coverings. Here are some critical factors of each style to keep in mind when shopping for blinds.
Vertical Blinds
- Window Size: Ideal for sliding glass, patio, or particularly large doors and windows, vertical blinds work well in filling out wide spaces nicely.
- Maintenance: Vertical blinds should be cleaned regularly and are slightly easier to maintain than horizontal if done consistently. Because they move on a single track, they may need to be replaced more frequently than horizontal blinds.
- Privacy: While vertical blinds are more effective at blocking sunlight than their horizontal counterparts thanks to their large slats, they still tend to let in some amount of sunlight. For this reason, they may not be the best option for a room that requires total privacy, such as a bathroom or bedroom.
- Positioning: Windows that face east and west are most suitable for vertical blinds.
- Size of Slats: Vertical blinds tend to have larger slats that hang from a head rail at the top of the door or window. They can be easily closed using a wand or chain pulley system.
Horizontal Blinds
- Window Size: Perfect for small, narrow, or unusually tall spaces, horizontal blinds work well in small or medium sized windows.
- Maintenance: Like vertical blinds, horizontal blinds are easier to clean if done frequently, rather than trying to deep clean them when they are quite dirty. While they tend to last longer than vertical ones, horizontal blinds can be hard to reach and have additional strings that make cleaning more challenging.
- Privacy: When privacy is a top priority for your room, horizontal blinds can’t be beat. They are very effective at blocking out sunlight when closed, and don’t pose a risk of being accidentally pushed open like vertical ones.
- Positioning: Windows that face north and south are most suitable for horizontal blinds.
- Size of Slats: Horizontal blinds tend to have smaller slats that do not touch the floor, while vertical ones do. They are also less noisy, especially if they will hang in windows that will be left open on windy days.
Similarities
Now that you are familiar with the strengths and differences of vertical and horizontal blinds, you can focus on how you want your window treatments to look in the room you are designing. The good news is that no matter which style you choose, both options are great at blocking out harmful UV rays from the sun, can help keep your home cooler, and can be made from numerous materials, such as aluminum, wood, vinyl, and more, to meet your unique needs.
While many retail stores offer a decent selection of blinds for doors and windows, not all blinds are made equally. Inexpensive blinds may save you a few bucks upfront, but what they save in cost they will lack in durability and attractiveness. To get the most out of your window treatments, it’s best to invest in blinds that will serve you well for years to come. Just Blinds, Inc. are experts at providing custom window coverings to make even the most challenging of spaces inviting and functional. Serving the River Region and Birmingham areas for over 30 years, Just Blinds, Inc. takes pride in offering homeowners and contractors quality products and superior service. Our large selection of custom blinds, free in-home consultations, and knowledgeable design experts will make the process of selecting the perfect window coverings to complement your space a pleasure.
Expert Advice by Just Blinds
Your selection of window treatment products and services is not merely about getting a job done. Rather, if you look hard enough, you can find direct correlations between the type of person that you are and the window treatment that you select. We have created this personality-based guide to help you best discover what kind of window treatment truly matches your spirit. The Dependable Type: Wooden Blinds You are the person that all of your friends can count on. You are the type of person who truly sticks to your plans when you make them, and you are the type of person who will choose wooden blinds for your home. Privacy is important to you when selecting your blinds, and that is why you find yourself pulled into the idea of putting up wooden blinds. Besides that, they happen to be highly functional, and that's not something that you are willing to pass up either. The Planner: Blackout Curtains Those who value truly getting the most value out of their blinds or anything else that they install in their homes will think very carefully about their options. For those people, going with blackout curtains makes a lot of sense. They want to gain as much value as possible out of their options, and they know that they can significantly improve their quality of sleep and so much more when they opt for blackout curtains. These also happen to be a great option for those who work night shifts or other odd hours and yet still want to enjoy their sleep. They need blackout curtains to help increase the quality of that sleep and allow themselves to get their day started right. The Tech Enthusiast: Smart Shades They roam among us: The type of people who are quick to adopt any new technology and get to work figuring out how it can improve their lives. These people are great because they are not afraid to take a risk and because they help to move our society forward. They simply want to get more out of each day, and they often do so by adopting and using the latest technologies. These individuals will gravitate towards smart shades for the following attributes: Innovation - Who wants to stick with the boring old ways of shading one's house? Smarter options are now available, and you better believe that the tech enthusiasts among us are willing to latch on to them. Efficiency - These shades are a more efficient option for those who care about that kind of thing. They can be easily activated and set up to open or close automatically (how cool is that?!). Progressive - The "cool" factor is a big deal for people who fall into this category as well. They might not admit to it right off the bat, but they care deeply about what others think about them. As such, they want window shades that have that cool factor attached to them. The Dreamer: Sheer Curtains Finally, we land upon the dreamer. This is the person who views every day for the possibilities that it can bring. They are not scared off by those with a negative attitude. If anything, they believe that they can change those people! Instead, the dreamer wants sheer curtains because they bring in soft light, open spaces, and bring about a feeling of possibility all throughout the house. Sheer curtains are the ideal option for someone who classifies themselves in this way. They will receive plenty of compliments on their curtains, and they will appreciate how open they are to the world. Which kind of person are you and which window treatment option makes the most sense for your personality? For more inspiration and ideas, reach out and contact us today.
We all know and understand the concept of installing outdoor shades on a patio. It is the classic way to create a cool and comfortable space for yourself and your friends to spend some quality time together outdoors. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is limiting to think that the patio is the only part of one's property where outdoor shades are appropriate. There are some surprising and unexpected places where homeowners have taken to installing outdoor shades recently. We want to take a look at some of these to provide you with ideas for your next home improvement project. 1) Balconies Some homes are built quite close together, and some homeowners naturally feel like they would like to do more to protect their privacy. Although their neighbors might not intentionally be looking through their balconies, it is easy for the human eye to drift. Thus, some city-dwelling homeowners have made the choice to install outdoor shades in this area. On top of keeping prying eyes off of your property, outdoor shades also block the sun rays from your balcony as well creating a more comfortable space to spend some time. 2) Outdoor Kitchens One of the most delightful social experiences that someone can have is to invite over a large group of friends for a meal cooked outside. It gives everyone the opportunity to share stories, laughes, and a bit of food all at the same time. Of course, this is best done in an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is a space where you should feel comfortable and have the ability to entertain a large group of people all at the same time. This means looking at installing outdoor shades to provide an extra layer of protection from the heat of the sun. Thus, this has become another area where homeowners are quickly installing outdoor shades. 3) Poolside Lounges Now we are really talking! Who doesn't love to kick back with their favorite cold beverage and spend some time relaxing next to the pool? That is what you can enjoy more completely when you set up a poolside lounge with outdoor shades. Poolside lounges are meant to be a place where you can spend several hours at a time. However, it can get pretty hot while doing so if you don't put some outdoor shades in place. Get those shades up so you can let all of your worries melt away as you take in the smell of pool water and sunscreen. 4) Garden Areas Do you enjoy a little gardening in your downtime? You might like it even more after setting up outdoor shades that protect you from the excessive heat of the sun. Gardening is labor-intensive work and can take several hours of diligent labor to do it properly. However, you don't want to overextend yourself and end up getting physically overworked. Keeping some of the sun away is an excellent way to ensure that you don't overdo it. Just make sure that you check up on the sunlight needs of the various plants that you intend to put into your garden before installing outdoor shades. 5) Exterior Windows Did you know that it is possible to reduce your energy bills by installing outdoor shades? It's true! If you place outdoor shades on the exterior windows of your home, you can reduce the strain placed on your air conditioning by naturally reducing the overall temperature within your living space. This means less money out of your pocket and more money for working on your next project. There are many interesting places where homeowners are installing outdoor shades these days. For more creative ideas on what you can do with yours, reach out and contact us now.