The Best Choice In Window Blinds

The various types of window blinds, and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

There are many different types of window blinds available today, so you may be having a difficult time in choosing the right ones for your home. Here is a sampling of the types that are available today:

Mini blinds are narrower than standard blinds, coming in sizes ranging from 2 inches down to 1/2 inch. They may come in different thicknesses of the slats as well. The materials used for mini blinds are usually aluminum or plastic. The plastic ones are cheaper, but in either case, the thicker the slats, the higher the cost will be, simply because there is more material and they will therefore be stronger. Mini blinds have long been popular in commercial establishments, and are still relatively popular in homes. The choice of styles and colors is almost limitless. For a good selection, try http://www.mybeautifulblinds.com and click on the mini blind tab.

Venetian Blinds are really nothing more than blinds with horizontal slats. Just about any of this type of blind can be considered a Venetian blind, including wood blinds, Roman blinds, composite blinds and PVC blinds.

PVC blinds may also be considered faux wood blinds. They are essentially formed PVC (poly vinyl chloride) plastic. They have gained a lot of popularity over the last decade. They come in slats ranging from 2 inches to 3 inches and can be plain or made to look like wood. The original PVC blinds were only white, but today come in a great range of colors, including a lot of different wood tones. Their popularity is due to the fact that they are inexpensive, easy to maintain, resistant to sun and moisture and are very hard wearing. They are an excellent choice for children's' rooms for this reason. The only disadvantage is they are heavier than real wood or composite slats, so the wider ones may be hard to raise and lower.

There are many brands of PVC blinds, but the most well known are Faux Wood, Infusion, Wood Plus, Wood Look, Wood Like, Envirowood, Dover Wood and Wood Mates. Most of these quality brands are solid foam PVC, but check with your dealer to be sure.

Composite blinds are just that: a composite of various materials, such as wood flake, glues and plastic. This is one of the newest materials being used for blinds. The slats are usually between 2 and 2 1/2 inches, but sometimes come in 3 inch widths. The surface of each slat is a solid composite or it may be poly coated. They usually come in white, but some colors and wood tones can be found as well. They are very reasonable priced and offer the same qualities as other blinds in terms of being resistant to moisture, UV rays and warping. They are also easy to clean. The only disadvantage is that they tend to be heavier than wood blinds.

Wood blinds are made from real wood. They come in two main types, known in the industry as "value" and "premium". Value wood blinds are constructed from less expensive woods from the Orient. Premium wood blinds are made form high quality Basswood from America. Basswood is wood that is cross grained with a fine detail, and does not warp easily. The slats can be thinner, such as 1 inch wide, but also come in 3 inch wide slats. The surface can be painted or stained, with the color assortment limited by the color of paint, which is just about limitless. If you want to match your cabinet in your kitchen, or the wood trim in your living room, you can get a stain to match exactly. It is not surprising that these types of blinds are the most expensive. But because of their light weight, they are the best choice for very large windows.