Understanding Various Types of Interior Blinds for Your Home

Blinds are a good choice for any home, but especially for smaller rooms and spaces, as blinds don't billow into foot traffic and they don't take up space next to windows when opened. When you do shop for blinds, you might be surprised to see how many varieties there are on the market; note a few tips for understanding these various types of blinds, so you can determine the best choice for your home.

Perfect fit blinds

Perfect fit blinds are fitted with a track that is installed along a window or doorframe, and the blinds stay inside this track. These are good for when you want maximum privacy and light blockage, as there is no space between the blinds and the frame of the door or window. They're also good for homes with children and pets, as they lift and lower with a tab at the bottom of the panel, eliminating the need for a cord that could become a choking hazard.

Pleated blinds

Pleated blinds are sometimes called honeycomb blinds, because their pleats create a honeycomb shape inside the blind panels. Pleated blinds can actually work to insulate a home, as the air that sits inside the honeycomb pockets can block out cold air or heat that would otherwise come through the windows. The pleats also offer some added visual interest, as the blinds are thicker than standard slats; many are also made of fabric that adds softness to a room, making them a good choice for bedrooms, where metal blinds may seem a bit too industrial and stark.

Roller blinds

Often called shades, roller blinds are good for when you want a clean look to your blinds, as shades will come in one long piece of fabric or vinyl. They can include any type of pattern or colour, so they might add some artistic interest to a room as well. Roller blinds are good for maximum light blockage, as the solid piece of material means there are no gaps between slats to let in light.

Venetian blinds

Venetian blinds are horizontal slats, and the word "venetian" specifically refers to metal slats and not wood or vinyl. These blinds are good for kitchens and bathrooms, where humidity levels are high; while wood blinds may absorb that moisture and soften or become warped, the metal of venetian blinds won't get damaged by high humidity levels. However, metal blinds can be noisy when they move, so use caution in installing them in a space under a ceiling fan or next to a heat register