Learn about buying discount blinds, shades and shutters.

 

Custom Made Blind Tips

So you would like to know more about buying custom made blinds, shades and shutters but don't know where to begin? Well, fear not, you're not alone.  With millions of blinds sold every year online in the United States alone, the sheer number of choices can seem overwhelming.  My job is to best inform the general consumer about the different types of window coverings so that you can make an informed decision as to the best product for your home or office.  First, please review the checklist below and see where you fit in.

• Window coverings / blinds for home
• Window coverings / blinds for office

I make a clear distinction here because choosing the best coverings for your windows and doors, residential projects typically focus more on colors and textures whereas commercial applications tend to focus on insulating characteristics as well as overall costs and durability.

In the next few pages I will move on to describe the best products for the mentioned applications so you can find the product that best fits your needs.  I will cover issues such as style, available colors, ease or difficulty of measuring and installation (along with the tools needed to do the job right).

First, let's look at the popular window coverings you may have seen recently.

Faux Wood Blinds

The most popular by far product in the United States right now are faux (pronounceˈfoʊ/) which is French for false (as in faux pearls) wood blinds.  Typically, these are 2 inch wide slated horizontal blinds made of a PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) material similar to PVC furniture.  We have a link for details about the faux wood blinds here.  These blinds feature a look that works in contemporary as well as traditional applications.  These window blinds offer a clean look, long design lines and offer more "see through" visibility than many other types of window blinds.  As I mentioned, they most popular by far is the 2 inch slat variety but these blinds are also available in 2 1/2 inch slats which have taken off in popularity over the last few years as the larger slat size match that of some plantation shutters.  Since these blinds are made from man made materials, color consistency, resistance to damage from sunlight and moisture is minimal.  When these blinds were first introduced in the mid-nineties, the slat manufactures' displayed the blinds in fish bowls just to show that they were unaffected by water.  Colors typically range from a number of whites and off whites to colors that match natural and stained woods.  Since these blinds are installed using square or rectangular brackets, installation is very easy requiring nothing more than a cordless drill and a bit to fit the screw head.  When measuring for faux wood blinds, always use a steal tape measure and measure to the closest 1/8 of an inch as described on the measuring section below.  Please note that almost all factories take a width deduction from the measurement of the valance, slat and bottom rail to allow the blind to float between the window jambs.  Always order faux wood blinds using the actual window dimensions and let the factory take the needed deductions as noted on our measuring page.