Best Blinds
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Window blinds can help you moderate the amount of external light that makes it into your living space and give you privacy from the outside world. However, with such a wide range of products to choose from, it can be difficult to find the best blinds for your needs.
To help you decide, we reviewed our top five choices for the best window blinds on the market today. We listed their strengths and weaknesses, stand-out features and anything to watch out for. We also included a handy guide section below to help you better understand the different types of window blinds and the key features to look for when shopping for blinds.
Our Top Picks For Best Blinds
- Levolor Cellular Shades Model #12X70199 Model- Best for Budget
- Symple Stuff Room Darkening Vertical Blind – Best for Luxury
- Bali Blackout Cellular Shades – Best Blackout Blinds
- Graber Motorized Shades – Best Motorized Blinds
- Hunter Douglas Duette® Vertiglide – Best Vertical Blinds
Best Blinds Reviews
Why we chose it: The Levolor Cellular Shades Model #12X70199 took our top spot for budget blinds due to its high-quality construction and affordable price point.
The Levolor Model #12X70199 comes in a broad range of sizes and over 300 colors. They feature a manual pull-down and automatic motorized format, plus self-installation is available if you're feeling confident in your DIY skills. Best of all, these blinds have mostly satisfactory customer reviews on several trusted third-party platforms.
Positive reviews for the blinds mention its easy installation process, energy efficiency and agreeable appearance. However, several low-star ratings noted their flimsy construction and tendency to break. The product comes with a limited lifetime warranty, but it's still best to read the fine print before you commit to a purchase.
While the Levolor Cell Shades offer a variety of automatic blind functions, you won't be able to integrate them with many of your smart home devices. Nonetheless, you can still control the blinds through your smartphone or a special remote control. You can also set automatic scheduling to raise and lower them at specified times or when certain conditions, such as a specific temperature, are met.
Why we chose it: Despite its quality construction, the Symple Stuff Room Darkening Vertical Blind is reasonably priced, putting it within the reach of most homeowners. This foldable vertical blind provides an elegant covering for your larger windows and French and patio doors.
The Symple Stuff Room Darkening Vertical Blind is made from a natural paper-polyester woven blend and operates off a 45.8-inch to 86-inch adjustable four-rail track. You can position it inside or outside the window frame. It's also possible to attach it to the ceiling to create a natural room dividing barrier.
The blind's stiff window coverings let in a limited amount of light through, creating a shading effect. You can easily trim it down to your preferred dimensions with a pair of scissors. This product does not use a motor, and at present, it does not integrate with smart technology, so you'll have to pull on its attachable handle to close it.
The blind comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers most damages outside of normal negligence, abuse and normal wear and tear. Customer reviews trend positive for this model. Many reviewers noted a simple and straightforward installation process. Some even praised the blinds for their aesthetic beauty and privacy-enhancing qualities.
Why we chose it: The Bali Blackout Cellular Shades do more than just filter out unwanted light. Their honeycomb structure can also make your home more energy efficient.
The Bali Cellular Shades can cut down on your monthly heating bill, all while offering a higher level of customizability than many of its competitors. You can choose from a wide range of colors and sizes and from cordless and corded versions. The cordless version is one of the more affordable motorized window blinds on the market.
You can control the Bali Blackout Cellular Shades from your smartphone or via remote control. These blinds come with a spring-loaded cordless version that removes the safety issues inherent in blind cords without resorting to motorized control. They also come with a limited lifetime warranty, though the exact terms and conditions are fairly stringent, making it advisable to familiarize yourself with them thoroughly before you make a purchase.
Another promising aspect of these Bali blinds is their positive customer reviews on trusted third-party review platforms. Many customers have praised the blinds for their price, light filtering and energy efficiency. Some reviewers noted the high-quality fabric used in the blind's construction and their aesthetic appearance.
One negative piece of feedback that popped up several times was related to the installation process. Although the company website advertises an installation time of just 12-15 minutes, several customers voiced concerns about the blinds' overly complicated setup process.
Why we chose it: The Graber Motorized Shades use Z-wave technology to remotely manage its mechanical rising and falling systems. While it's not the most affordable option on the market, these smart blinds beat the competition in terms of quality and customization.
You won't have to worry about managing electric cords or taking up valuable socket space with the Graber Motorized Shades. These blinds come with a rechargeable battery pack that can last up to one year between charges. They also feature a savvy API that lets you control it through a number of smart home management app systems, such as Alexa and Google Home.
You also have the option to purchase a remote control that you can use to manage these blinds. Smart technology enables you to program the Graber Motorized Shades' automatic raising and lowering according to the time of day or when certain benchmarks are met. For example, you can program them to lower automatically when your home rises above a preset temperature.
These motorized blinds are available in a wide variety of colors, styles and sizes, which you can explore on the Graber website. The company offers a limited lifetime warranty on all its products, excluding normal wear and tear, abuse and negligence.
It's possible to install the Graber Motorized Shades yourself. However, with a complicated setup and poorly organized product guide, most customers will be better off with a professional installation.
Why we chose it: The Hunter Douglas Duette® Vertiglide is a premium product that provides great privacy while maintaining tasteful, ambient lighting.
Vertical blinds consist of a vertical length of fabric that slides down a track. They offer a simple and tasteful aesthetic that can enhance the interior appearance of your home. The Duette® Vertiglide comes in several versions, including a single-celled honeycomb window blind that helps maintain your home's temperature without contributing to your monthly energy bill.
This automatic blinds'API lets it sync with a variety of third-party apps, including Alexa and Google Home. You can use these to create an automatic opening and closing schedule. Before you purchase, you can schedule a professional consultation with an in-house company representative. They'll give you a personalized overview of the product and how it will fit into your home.
The primary downside to the Duette® Vertiglide is its cost. This product is not budget-friendly, and the fact that you'll need to get it professionally installed is a major contributing factor to its price point. Still, if you're willing to pay a little extra, the Duette® Vertiglide provides a range of premium features that most window blinds can't match.
Other Blinds We Considered
We evaluated blinds based on their pricing, customizability, customer reviews and warranty periods. While the following blinds are quality products, they did not make our main list due to their failure to excel in one or more of these areas.
MySmartBlinds
MySmartBlinds offers basic automatic blind features at an affordable price point. While it does come equipped with raising and lowering scheduling options, it failed to make our list due to its lack of API integrations, unattractive appearance and inability to raise and lower automatically.
Levolor Real Wood Blinds
The Levolor Real Wood Blinds combine a sleek aesthetic design with solid customizations. However, we did not include it in our list due to its lack of smart home integrations and high price point.
IKEA Fyrtur
The Ikea Fyrtur offers an array of basic automatic blind features, such as third-party integrations and schedule settings at an affordable price. However, it failed to make our list due to its severe lack of customizations and complicated setup.
Blinds Guide
We've compiled this helpful guide to help you better understand all things window-blind related.
The Main Types Of Blinds
In this section, you'll learn about the three main types of window blinds. Before we dive in, it's important to note the difference between window shades and window blinds. Window shades consist of a single piece of loose fabric, while window blinds are made up of overlapping rigid slats, collapsible tubes or fabric that's been stretched into a more rigid shape.
Vinyl Blinds
Vinyl blinds exploded in popularity in the 1970s. While they've become less popular over time, they're still commonly found in homes, schools and other buildings. Vinyl blinds (sometimes called mini blinds) are made up of a number of horizontally stacked thin plastic bars held together on either side by pieces of string.
You can pull vinyl blinds up and down with an external cord, by pushing or pulling from the base or by using a built-in motor. The slats can be rotated up and down by twisting a rod or tugging on a second cord. This helps moderate the amount of external light allowed in through the window.
Unlike window curtains, vinyl blinds always allow in some amount of light even when they're tightly closed, making them a poor choice for sleeping areas.
One of the main advantages of vinyl blinds is their low cost. On average, vinyl blinds are more affordable than wooden or cellular blinds. Additionally, they're easy to set up, and their lightweight design makes them well-suited for a variety of window types.
Vinyl blinds represent a choking hazard for small children and pets. While newer cordless models eliminate this risk, you should take caution if your home contains older vinyl blinds. Keep the cord up and away from the floor where a child or unsuspecting animal could accidentally get tangled up.
Wooden Blinds
Wooden blinds are made up of overlapping wooden slats held together by strings in a horizontal pattern. Like vinyl blinds, you can raise or lower your wooden blinds with a long external cord. Newer models can be pushed up or pulled down from the base. Rotate the wooden slats to let in more or less light by twisting the externally located wooden rod.
Compared to vinyl blinds, wooden blinds tend to be heavier and more expensive. Many interior decorators and homeowners prefer wooden blinds for aesthetic purposes. Similar to vinyl blinds, wooden blinds still allow some light to pass through even when completely closed.
To save on costs, you can substitute faux wood blinds for the real deal. Made of a durable polymer material, faux wood blinds are moisture resistant, which makes them well-suited for bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. They're also less likely to crack and chip.
Cellular Blinds
Unlike Venetian blinds, cellular blinds are not made up of overlapping slats. Instead, they consist of an accordion-like series of stacked hollow tubes commonly made from fabric. Cellular blinds are sometimes called honeycomb blinds due to their honeycomb-like appearance. You still use an external cord to pull these blinds up and down.
Cellular blinds help moderate temperatures. The tubes trap air which acts as a buffer between the room and the outside world. This buffer can keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. You can expect some light to filter through the fabric for most cellular blind models.
Aside from their energy efficiency, some homeowners prefer cellular blinds for their solid appearance. They range somewhere between vinyl and wooden blinds in terms of cost.
What To Keep In Mind When Shopping For Blinds
Knowing what you need before you start shopping may prevent you from making an expensive mistake you'll later regret. In this section, we'll help you understand what options best fit your individual needs.
Your Sizing Needs
Before you begin shopping, it's important to have an accurate idea of your window's dimensions. You can do this with a tape measure. Keep in mind that your measuring needs will differ depending on whether you're using an inside or outside mount. Let's start with the best measuring practices for an inside mount.
When measuring your windows from top to bottom, it's important to take multiple measurements from both sides and the middle because many windows are slightly uneven. Use the longest measurement and round up to the nearest one-eighth of an inch. Then, do the same thing to find the window's width. Measure at the top, middle and bottom, but this time choose the smallest measurement and round down to the nearest one-eighth of an inch.
Outside mounts have slightly different size requirements. You'll want to take three measurements for both the width and the height. Go with the longest measurement for each and add four inches to the total length. Creating a greater coverage area will help to block out more light.
While many window blinds come in various sizes, some have a very limited size range, like the IKEA Fyrtur. Knowing your window's measurements before you start shopping can save you time and frustration.
Your Material Preference
Your material preference should match your use case and personal needs. For example, if you're a budget shopper, you'll likely choose vinyl blinds over wooden blinds. If you'd like to have a variety of colors to choose from, you might prefer cellular blinds over wooden shutters.
If creating a warm and inviting aesthetic matters to you, you should consider wooden blinds. Faux wooden blinds offer a similar appearance to traditional wooden blinds while providing greater durability and moisture resistance.
Extra Features You May Want
You can customize some blinds with extra features. For example, you can choose from a variety of automatic blinds that use a motor to open, close and rotate. Many newer models sync with wireless home systems that let you open and close your blinds automatically to cut down on energy costs.
You can also pair your blinds with window curtains to dampen sunlight infiltration. Curtains can also contribute to your home's overall appearance.
Indoor Or Outdoor Use
Blinds built for outdoor usage differ from indoor blinds in a few big ways. First, you'll have fewer material options when it comes to outdoor blinds. Indoor blinds can be made from vinyl, aluminum, fabric, wood, faux wood and more, whereas outdoor blinds are usually formed from weather-resistant vinyl.
Blinds for windows tend to be smaller and less durable than blinds that descend from awnings. You might also opt for special features when selecting your outdoor blinds. For example, outdoor blinds might be built with mosquito netting or stormproof material.
Installation Ease
Different types of blinds vary considerably in their installation complexity. If you're handy with a toolbox, you should be able to install most lightweight blinds by yourself. Heavier, more complicated blinds, like some wood slat blind designs, typically take longer to install and require more strenuous lifting.
Custom blinds, especially smart blinds that make use of the internet of things, may require some technical know-how. If you're not the most tech-savvy person out there, consider seeking help with the installation process.
Blinds FAQ
How We Chose The Best Blinds
We used the following criteria when assessing our picks for the best blinds.
- Pricing: We evaluated each blind based on how competitively it was priced relative to similar models.
- Customizability: We favored blinds that allow for personal customization in size, color, third-party app integrations and more.
- Customer ratings: We consulted trusted third-party platforms when making our selections.
- Warranty period: We favored blinds with more extended warranty periods and less stringent warranty restrictions.
