If you have a room that is in need of a new look and you don't want to invest in new carpet and furniture, try adding new window treatments, such as wood blinds or plantation shutters. Blinds and shutters provide excellent light blockage and privacy while creating a linear look. They can be combined with curtains, sheers or drapes for an interesting combination of textures and patterns. Keep in mind that the light shining through them will make their textures more distinct.



Wood blinds enhance the look of your home from the inside and also the outside. They lend a natural, warm look to any room. Because they can be matched to existing wood tones, they can enhance woodwork, cabinetry and furniture. Custom blinds can be crafted to suit the decor of any room. To avoid making your blinds the main focus of a room, try to match other surrounding tones.

The two primary types of wood used in wood blinds are ramin and bass. Generally, the preferred wood is bass because of its distinguished grain and strength. Bass also can easily be custom stained.

There are several slat widths available. The one-inch slats are preferable for small windows and French doors. Two-inch slats are more versatile and are well suited to any size and shape of window. They look more like plantation shutters. The larger slats allow more space to see through when open. Wood blinds can be constructed with no holes for rooms that need to be very dark.

Cordless binds are an option if you are concerned about the safety of small children and pets. Hold-down brackets are used to brace blinds in areas with wind and high traffic and also on surfaces that move, like doors. The ultimate convenience is the remote controlled blind for windows that are hard to reach; such as above a doorway or behind a large couch. With the touch of a button, blinds can be opened and closed or the entire blind can be raised. Anti-static properties, fabric tapes and UV control are also available.

Some other options are vertical blinds, which are most often used on sliding glass doors, and faux wood blinds, which are best suited in rooms with high humidity such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Faux wood blinds are designed to look like real wood, but are made from other less expensive materials. Generally, they are made from PVC, a plastic polymer, or a combination of hardwood and a plastic base. These combination, or composite, blinds are lighter in weight than PVC blinds but are slightly more expensive.

Besides price, other advantages of faux wood blinds are their strength and durability. They are simple to clean and do not wear, fade or crack easily. Added UV protection can prevent excess damage where sun exposure is high. They are also more tolerant of extreme temperatures, both heat and cold, than real wood. They are suitable for any location.

Wood blinds are available at many retail home improvement outlets. Considerable cost savings may be achieved by ordering standard or custom blinds on any one of the numerous dealer sites on the web.