Blinds Buying Guide

First decide on the look you want in your room. If you are going to sleep in the daytime, a blackout blind may be best for you. If you like a solid appearance with some light coming through the window, a roman shade may suffice. If you enjoy angling your available light (up or down, side-to-side), choose shutters or slat blinds (horizontal or vertical). Remember, check the direction your window faces, the way you intend to use the room, and the amount of light you wish to block or tolerate before deciding on the best blinds or shutters for you.

Types of blinds and shutters

Cellular shades allow sunlight to filter into your home in a very subtle way. Your privacy is never sacrificed with these blinds, and cellular shades offer great insulation. Cellular blinds are constructed from layers of fabric which filter light while they keep heat and cold out, and they are easy to clean by vacuuming.

Roller shades are the time-honored standard blinds. Today's technology makes these window treatments reliable and durable, and they come in blackout or filtering types.

Mini blinds can give you full coverage of your window or just small pinpoints of light and angled distribution of the available light. Whether you prefer aluminum, faux wood or real wood in a mini blind, measuring for size is the same. See the section "Measure your window" in this buying guide.

Venetian blinds are also called horizontal blinds. Venetian blinds, are the cousin to the mini blind but have wider slats and are usually made of plastics, composites, or vinyl.

Roman shades have classic clean lines and will suit most any home décor. They are manufactured in bamboo styles, woven fabric, solar materials and others. The characteristic roll style bottom of roman shades is controlled by cords. Other styles are stitched in horizontal folds which lift incrementally as the drawstrings are adjusted.

Vertical blinds have all of the great qualities of the venetian blind and the mini blind. Verticals can vary in width and come in a host of modern materials, from aluminum and plastics to textured, fabric-covered selections.

Window panels can add modernity and interest to your home. These vertical sliding blind panels operate on a top and bottom track, and are often used as closet covers, sliding doors, patio doors, room dividers and more.

Window panels of Tiffany style stained glass add beauty and lend your window distinctive style with color. Each piece of stained glass is hand cut using methods developed in the 19th century by artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. Note: Stained glass window panels and lamps are treated by the manufacturer with an oil to protect the leading or copper foil during shipping. Simply wipe the window panel (or lampshade) gently with a soft cloth to remove the oil when you unpack it.

Wood blinds are made from fine grade kiln dried basswood and then sanded to a silky finish. These popular horizontal wood blinds are either stained or painted. The durability of a wood blind is high, and most are easy to keep clean by dusting or vacuuming.

Woven wood blinds filter light through the slats when they are closed, never eliminating all natural light. These shades are made in a horizontal style with colored string and yarn woven between the slats. The use of stained or painted woods with colored yarns creates many decorating choices in these popular blinds.

How to measure for blinds

First determine whether you want an inside or an outside mount. You will need a writing tool, paper, and a measuring tape with a minimum 1/8 inch increment (metal measuring tape is best for accuracy)

An inside mounted blind will require more precision in the size of the blind or shade than an outside mount. Inside mounts are installed inside the window frame. If you have a shallow window opening (less than 1 1/2 inches) you may need to mount the blind outside the window frame.

Outside mounts require much less precision in sizing. Outside mounts are put on the wall surrounding the window. Some windows are mounted flush with the wall and have no windowsill at the bottom. These windows should be measured as an "outside mount." The width and length of the blind or shutter cover the whole window opening and overlap with the wall.

Overstock.com generally recommends outside mounts on faux wood and real wood mini blinds.

Note: all blinds come with instructions for easy installation. Keep these instructions in a safe place for future use.

Inside mount installation for blinds:

• Measure the inside recess width in several places, particularly at the top of the recess. Also measure the inside recess height in several places.
• For an inside mount take the smallest measurement. Now subtract between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch so that the fit is not too tight but not so loose that the window is not covered by your blind. This will be the width of the blind you need to order.
• The blind will be exactly the size that you order, so if you order a 30-inch wide blind it will arrive at 30 inches. The mounting brackets will add about 1/8 of an inch. In order to inside mount a 30 inch wide blind, you need a window that is about 30 3/8 inches to 30 5/8 inches wide.
• The valance will be a bit larger, between 32 and 32.5 inches, to fit over the headrail and your window completely.

Outside mount installation for blinds:

• Take an exact width and height measurement of the area you would like the window treatment to cover, including the headrail. The headrail is the hardware at the top of the window treatment which contains the mechanical parts to control the blinds.
• Insure that the blinds you purchase are close enough to this size to please you. Make certain you choose a length that is equal to or longer than you need to cover the window fully.
• The blind will come with all mounting brackets and a valance and side returns large enough to cover the mounting brackets. If you order a 30-inch wide blind, it will come as 30 inches. The mounting brackets will add about 1/8 of an inch. The valance, which will be about 32 inches, will cover the headrail completely.

Shutters

Shutters come in a wealth of styles. Interior shutters are generally more formal and substantial than window blinds. Shutters are made to fit the window, and will unfold side to side. The slats which control the amount and direction of light are controlled by a tilting bar.

Traditional (or colonial) shutters, with 1-1/4-inch louvers (slats) to control the light, come in different widths to span your windows. Painted shutters add great impact to the décor of your home. Most are painted in various shades of white or cream tones. Because of the light colors, these shutters reflect a moderate amount of sunlight away from your room.

Plantation shutters are designed with 2-1/2 inch to 4-1/2 inch movable slats which are wider and more contemporary than traditional shutter slats.

Wood shutters for interiors are usually made of basswood, which is a renewable wood source in the United States. Because of its fine uniform texture and smooth finish, basswood is generally regarded as the best wood for shutters.

Vinyl, plastic, poly-wood or faux-wood shutters are man-made and contain no wood. They are usually white in color and cannot be stained. These attractive synthetic shutters look and feel like the plastics from which they are made. If you wish to have the look of wood, you may want to consider wood shutters. If this is not an issue, then you will enjoy the clean and easy-to-clean appearance of your synthetic shutters for many years.

How to measure for shutters

Installing shutters is relatively easy. In fact, many homeowners have proven the "professional installers" wrong by installing their own shutters following the manufacturer's instructions. Before you purchase interior shutters, determine if they will be mounted inside or outside of your window opening.

Inside mount installation for shutters:

• Mounting shutters on the window jamb is preferable. This is better than mounting on the outside, and you won't need hang strips or frame strips. Your window should be squared and have a solid jamb for attaching screws.
• Measure from top to bottom and from side to side, the same as you would for blinds (see above).
• Measure from the front to the back of the window jamb. The directions that come with the product should tell you the necessary depth for the style of shutter. If you do not have enough depth in the window opening you should mount your shutters outside the opening.

Outside mount installation for shutters:

The frame or the hang strips in this type of installation screw directly into the wall or your window trim, and the shutter is hinged to the frame strip. Check the guidelines provided with your shutters to ensure the proper placement.

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