Horizontal Blinds

Before you make the decision between these two popular styles of blinds, be sure to evaluate your options and determine which style will be best for your room. In addition to functionality and usability, be sure to include the aesthetic properties of both horizontal blinds and vertical blinds into your choice.

For starters, horizontal blinds are most associated with window coverings. These blinds have a variety of widths and shapes. As per their name, horizontal window blinds are threaded horizontally and are raised and lowered in order to cover the window. For this reason, smaller windows typically work the best with horizontal window blinds, as windows with a great distance from bottom to top can bend the blinds. Furthermore, large doors generally do not work the best with horizontal shades. If you are looking to install horizontal blinds into double or even triple windows, consider using more than one single width blind in order to best accommodate the span of the window.

Typically, horizontal blinds are divided dependant upon the width of the individual blind. Mini blinds are the most popular type of horizontal window blind and are usually anywhere from one inch to one-half of an inch in width. These mini blinds are typically made of aluminum to keep their weight light and can mount either inside a window frame or outside the entire window. Furthermore, mini blinds are available in a host of colors to that you are sure to find one that fits into the design scheme of your room. Growing in popularity are the two inch wood blinds, which tend to have a look that mimics plantation shutters. These horizontal blinds work best when installed inside the window frame and are made of both wood and plastic.

The opposite of horizontal blinds are vertical blinds. These blinds, true to their name, hang vertically, allowing the blinds to open and close pulling the blinds on a track from side to side. Usually, vertical blinds are used for larger windows and doors, since the blinds can completely accumulate on the side of the structure, so weight does not play a role. Vertical blinds are typically available in different colors and even textures, allowing you to choose a look that best fits your home. It is not uncommon for both vertical and horizontal blinds to be used in the same room.

The preference of vertical or horizontal blinds is completely personal. Some individuals prefer the look of horizontal window blinds, whereas others favor the appearance of vertical blinds. Although the size of the blind will definitely factor into the overall cost of the window covering, vertical blinds tend to come with a higher price tag than horizontal blinds, but that is not always the case depending on other factors, such as blind width and color.