What are the different types of blinds, and what do they do?

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Blinds are a standard window shading treatment, and it’s highly likely you’ve got them in your home. If not, you probably know someone who does. While blinds are a cost-effective way to shade your windows, there are lots of different types of blinds to choose from. This can make it a bit confusing when you’re trying to work out the best type of blind for you.

What different types of blinds are there?

To remove some of the confusion around the different varieties of window blinds, I spoke to the team at DotcomBlinds to get the inside scoop. Here’s a quick guide to the different kinds of blinds available, and what they’re used for.

Roller Blinds

Let’s start with one of the most common types of window blind. The humble roller blind is a design most people will be familiar with. These blinds are made from a long sheet of fabric which is attached to a barrel. The barrel can roll the fabric up and down to open and close the blinds.

Roller blinds are very versatile. They can be used in any room of the house, and still work effectively and look stylish. Roller blinds are also a more ‘budget friendly’ blinds option, making them perfect for new homeowners or home offices.

Roman Blinds

Next up, we have another classic blinds design, the Roman blind. Again, this blind is made of one long sheet of fabric, but rather than being rolled up and down by a barrel, these are controlled by strings that run the length of the blind itself. This gives Roman blinds their classic ‘Waterfall’ look, and makes them easy to control.

Roman blinds are certainly a more style-conscious choice than roller blinds, creating a smart, timeless look. This is reflected in the price tag as they’re a bit more on the expensive side, but if you’re a style-first person they’ll be worth the investment.

Venetian Blinds

We have another classic blinds style next on our list, Venetian blinds. Rather than being made of a sheet of material, these window blinds are made of multiple horizontal slats. These slats are usually made from wood, plastic or lightweight metal, so there’s a lot of style choice.

As there’s a lot of variation in the material used to make Venetian blinds, you’ll find that there’s also a wide range of prices. Metal Venetian blinds are the most budget friendly option, while wooden blinds are usually at the pricier end of the scale (faux wood blinds are usually cheaper than real wood blinds). No matter what your budget or personal style tastes, there’ll be a venetian blind that’s perfect for you out there.

Day & Night Blinds

striped day and night blinds in a living room

Now we move onto one of the more modern types of blinds, the Day & Night blind. These blinds are made from a fabric that alternates between blackout material and see-through material, and are looped around like a cassette. This means you can line the different layers up to let light through, or create a full blackout and not let any light in, which allows you to manipulate a room’s lighting. Because the material is striped with alternating fabrics, these blinds can look really stylish and make a bold statement while allowing complete light control.

All that style and utility comes at a price however. Day and Night blinds are a bit more costly than most other types of blinds. If you’re prioritising style and good looks over budget, and need blackout shades, these blinds are definitely worth considering.

Vertical Blinds

If you’ve ever worked in an office, you’ll no doubt be familiar with vertical blinds. These blinds are made from lots of vertical fabric slats connected to a headrail, from which they can be rotated or moved to let light into a room. While vertical blinds have traditionally been resigned to offices, they’re starting to become a lot more style-friendly, with nicer colours and fabrics being used.

Vertical blinds are most definitely a budget friendly option, and can be found online at a good price. This is because they’re easy to make to custom measurements and incredibly simple to install.

How do I choose the right blinds?

When to comes to choosing from the various types of blinds available, bear in mind these key areas.

What is your budget? This can have a big influence on the window treatments available to you.
How big is your window? Wide, horizontal slats can make windows look bigger, while vertical blinds are great for making wide windows look taller.
Think about safety. If there are children in the home, cordless blinds are a good option.
Do you want to create a focal point, or tone your blind in with the rest of the room? There’s a huge range of patterns and colours out there, so think about this before you start browsing.
Is privacy important? If the answer is yes, a blackout option is a must. Blinds of all kinds can provide this, so you won’t necessarily be limited on blind styles, but make sure you check carefully before buying.

I hope this guide to the different types of blinds available has helped you understand the best window treatment options for your home and budget. Which is your favourite?