Blinds offer privacy, can reduce your heating costs, and, if chosen wisely, can also enhance your decor.

Blinds come in many styles rather than the standard white aluminium seen in many homes.

A faux or standard wood version might be exactly what you’re looking for, and selecting and installing them is easier than you may realize.

Why Choose Faux Wood Blinds?

Faux blinds have many advantages and should be considered if you like the look of wood.

Of course, faux wood blinds will cost less than wood versions, which may be a particularly important consideration if you have a lot of windows to cover. Faux blinds are also easier to keep clean and more resilient.

Wood blinds can warp due to high amounts of direct sunlight or excessive humidity, so it is a good idea to exercise caution when using them in kitchens for example.

Faux versions don’t share these problems, and their look and feel is almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing.

Choosing Faux Wood Blinds

When selecting any type of blind or window treatment, the first step should be to measure your windows. This allows you to select an option that will suit your window size and not over- or underwhelm the space.

With blinds in particular, you will need to select the appropriate length and width, and then the size of the slats. The most common slat sizes are 2-3 inches. In order to select the blind length and width, you will need to determine if you want to mount the blinds inside or outside.

Outside mounts cover the entire window, including the casing. This would be a good option for a room with small or abnormally shaped windows.

Inside mounts fit inside the window, leaving the casing exposed. This would be a good option if you have decorative or painted window casings, or if you’d like to pair your faux blinds with curtains. However, you must have enough space inside the casing to mount the blinds; if your window is flush with the wall you will be unable to use an inside mount.

Once you’ve determined the size and mount that’s right for you, you can select a style that you like. Of course, there are plenty of plain faux wood blinds available, or you can select a style with decorative tapes that are color-coordinated with your room.

However, make sure that you like your color scheme before choosing a decorative tape, as these cannot be removed. You could also select a faux wood blind with an attached valance to add design interest.

Installing Your Faux Wood Blinds

1. Remove your existing window treatments, if any. Fill any exposed holes with spackling or joint compound, unless you’ll be able to use them for your new blinds.
2. Measure your windows according to the type of mount you have selected. Outside mount: Approximately three inches past each side of the window. Extend above the window, allowing enough space for the mounting bracket. Extend below the window slightly to allow for a balanced look. Inside mount: Measure the height at the top, middle, and bottom of the window and use the narrowest measurement. Repeat for the width.
3. Screw the side brackets into the walls on the jambs above the casing (inside mount) or above the window (for an outside mount). Verify that the brackets are straight with a level.
4. Make sure that there aren’t any knots in the cords or tape on the blinds.
5. Snap the head rail into place between the brackets. Close the bracket covers, if provided with your model.
6. Install the valance clips if provided with your model, and snap the valance into the clips.

Nothing appeals to our wisdom of natural beauty quite like wood. For warmth, durability and versatility, wood is the natural choice for almost any decor.

Like fine furniture, wooden Venetian blinds provide a level of excellence and craftsmanship not available in most other types of window coverings.

Wood blinds also offer very good insulating qualities to help keep your room warm in winter and cool in summer.

Horizontal wood slats, joined using corded pulleys, allow you to pull all the slats to the top of the window to enjoy a full view outdoors and let in maximum natural light or let them down but set to an angle to retain the view but filter the light and provide some privacy.

Premium woodblinds are cut only from large timbers, which prevent warping and cracking and also gives the slats the finest wood grain possible.

Operation is simply; one cord allows you to raise or lower the slats, while another allows you to set their angle. You can of course angle the slats vertically for complete privacy and light control.

You can also choose vertical wooden Venetian blinds, which will have wider vanes and operate similarly to the horizontal type, except that they are drawn side to side instead of up and down.

With slats generally ranging from approximately 25 mm (1 inch) all the way up to 100 mm (4 inches), these blinds are crafted like fine furniture and offer the finest style and function available in window blinds.

In the highest quality wood blinds, each slat is specially selected for the finest grain and colour consistency, kiln dried and stained or painted to a supreme finish.

Wooden Venetian blinds offer the finest style, durability and craftsmanship available in window blinds.

Woodblinds are generally available in many natural wood finishes and or any colour paint desired. Oak, cedar, cherry, maple and walnut are among the hardwoods used to make wooden blind slats.

Typically with quality blinds, the wood will be treated and a lacquer coat applied to prevent the finish from fading and improve moisture resistance. Depending upon your preference, either ladder tape or a classic cord will be used to tie the slats together.

Be sure to ask your supplier about the length and details of the warranty offered; since you are making a substantial investment when selecting real wood blinds. Also ask for free shipping, which is a common benefit if you are ordering online.

You’ll want to purchase only from a reputable dealer, so check to be sure they have been in business for some period and have happy customer references.

The combination of wood grain, finish and tape or cord, along with the width of the slats together determine whether your blinds will fit better with the clean, sleek lines of a modern decor or the more ornate design of a traditional room.

It is common to use a matching crown valance with wooden Venetian blinds to complete the window treatment.

Versatile, elegant and stylish, you can select no finer window covering than the Wooden Venetian Blind!