The sheer variety of window treatments makes the choice of the right fit for your windows a bit challenging. The extensive range available in the market today features a wide collection of materials, color schemes, patterns, and textures, with the more modern ones fitted with different technologies like easy pull or automation to make life easier.
As if that weren’t enough, the choice between vertical and horizontal blinds gets added to the mix. But thankfully, these two types of blinds differ in terms of their characteristics and the environments they’re best suited for, making your selection much easier.
What are the key factors to consider when choosing between vertical and horizontal blinds? How are vertical blinds different from horizontal blinds? When is it best to use vertical blinds? What advantages do vertical blinds offer over horizontal ones? We answer these and more questions to help you zero in on the perfect fit for your windows.
Differences between Vertical and Horizontal Blinds
As the name suggests, vertical blinds have vertical slats. In other words, they have vanes or slats that run up and down, as opposed to left and right as in horizontal blinds.
Vertical blinds slide sideways while horizontal blinds slide up and down. The opening mechanism of each of these blinds is different too. Since horizontal blinds lift from the bottom, they typically have a cord-and-pulley system. Where horizontal blinds become too heavy to manually manipulate for a large window, vertical blinds can cover beautifully.
The long slats of vertical blinds are suited to broad windows and doors while horizontal blinds are great for smaller, narrower, and taller windows. In addition, the visual effect created by each blind is different. The long slats of vertical blinds add the feeling of spaciousness and height and allow more light to filter in when open or closed as compared to horizontal blinds. As vertical blinds stack to the side when open, they create a completely exposed window for light to come through as well as an unobstructed view.
When to Use Vertical Blinds?
Vertical blinds are best suited for sliding doors and for large bay windows that are difficult to cover with other window treatments. They are especially effective for any window or door with a wide expanse.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the places where vertical blinds would best fit:
- Large French doors
- Window treatments for sliding glass doors
- Wide windows
- Bay windows
- Uniquely large-sized window
- Patio doors
- Large windows or doors in a sunroom
One of the most important considerations for choosing the right vertical blinds for any space is the size of the window or door. The larger the window or door, the wider the slat width should be.
Budget Blinds makes it easy for you to find the right fit of vertical blinds for your windows and doors, with its customization options. You can customize the slat or vane size to meet the requirements of the most unique-sized windows.
Budget Blinds Vertical Blinds for Sliding Doors and Large Windows
With Budget Blinds vertical blinds, you can cover large windows and doors with a designer touch and meet both your style and functionality needs. They increase the spaciousness of any room by enhancing height and dimension. Plus, they stack neatly to the side giving any space an organized look. And they are easy to operate, making it convenient for you to open them when you need an outside view.
With the ability to withstand high heat, direct sunlight, and high humidity, vinyl vertical blinds are the perfect alternative for windows and doors in any space, including the living room, kitchen, sunroom, patio, and even the laundry room. Garden doors are uniquely suited to blinds for sliding glass doors. With a good selection of vane styles, various fabrics, hundreds of colors, and patterns from basic curved to deeply embossed styles, you can coordinate these with your home décor and custom match other furnishings.
Fabric vertical blinds are a great option to add softness to any room and they come in a variety of weaves and colors. They provide years of crisp, wrinkle-free operation with invisible, sewn-in weights. To create an inviting ambience with delicate natural light, consider using sheer vertical blinds that look elegant in any space.
Budget Blinds vertical blinds are available with a range of operation options such as chain control, wand tilt, right draw, left draw, and split draw for convenience and personalized view control. With enhanced privacy and glare control they are an excellent fit for windows in the bedroom. Home theater spaces can benefit from the added room-darkening aspect offered by S-shaped vanes.
With Budget Blinds, you don’t have to worry about the challenges that are typically encountered in operating vertical blinds. We use a heavy-duty head rail system that keeps vanes permanently aligned, and the traversing and operation smooth and quiet for years of worry-free enjoyment.
Vertical Window Blinds Alternatives
If you’re not sold on the idea of installing vertical blinds, consider using Budget Blinds vertical window blinds alternatives that are perfect, too, for window coverings for sliding glass doorsand large windows. The options are varied and include vertical cellular shades, sheer vertical blinds, sliding panel track blinds, and woven wood natural blinds. All the alternatives have great privacy and view control, thanks to custom configurations like free-floating, side stack, and split stack.
To help you find window covering solutions that match your existing home décor, Budget Blinds offers these in a wide variety of cell sizes, fabrics, colors, and opacities. For better lighting control, sun protection, and energy efficiency, sliding panel track blinds and roller shades on panel tracks are great too.
No matter how unique the shape and size of your windows and doors, Budget Blinds has a window covering solution for you. Our team of experts is pleased to answer any questions that you may have and to also provide guidance in helping you select the window treatment that is a right fit for all your requirements. All you need to do is schedule a complimentary in-home consultation with one of our local Style Consultants. We would love to visit you!
FAQs
Vertical blinds are great for wide windows and sliding doors. Horizontal blinds CAN sometimes be custom fit for sliding doors and wide windows, but vertical blinds are often a better choice in this context, as they can be easily operated and smoothly cover even the largest windows.
Should I get vertical or horizontal blinds? ›
Horizontal blinds are a better selection if privacy is your main concern. As vertical blinds offer slightly more exposure as they allow light to pass through more easily than horizontal blinds.
What are the disadvantages of vertical blinds? ›
Among the few disadvantages cited by homeowners with vertical blinds is the clacking sound the vanes can make when blown about by a breeze or ceiling fan. Some homeowners also dislike the bulky way the vanes stack at the side of a window when the blinds are open, which can interfere with their view of the outdoors.
What is more popular vertical or horizontal blinds? ›
Vertical blinds can be made in more or less any width and drop, which is why they're the most popular patio door blinds overall, and in some cases, the only option for large windows.
Are vertical blinds dated? ›
Do people actually still buy vertical blinds? The answer is "definitely". Vertical blinds continue to stay relevant because they are functional and available in increasingly modern fabrics and materials.
Are vertical blinds old fashioned now? ›
Since their heyday in the '80s, vertical blinds may have faded from view a little, but have never truly gone out of fashion. And they are now enjoying a resurgence in popularity, although, thankfully, we've moved on from the bright, gaudy styles (hello mirrored gold vinyl) that were considered trendy back in the '80s.
Do vertical blinds make a room look bigger? ›
Vertical blinds tend to take up a lot of physical space (comparatively to other types of blinds, that is) and also visual real estate; but if you're working with a wide window in a low room, the fact that they're vertical can give the impression of greater height, and make the room feel less cramped or low-ceilinged.
Why do people like vertical blinds? ›
Easy Light Control
A vertical blind provides better levels of tilt and angle capabilities as Venetian blinds. You can block sunlight whilst still being able to see outside, depending on the position of the sun or adjust the blind position to maximise indoor light at different times of the day.
What are the pros and cons of vertical blinds? ›
There are pros and cons to choosing vertical blinds. For a larger window, they can be an ideal choice for affordability and coverage. They are easy to clean and inexpensive to repair. However, they can create noise that some buyers find annoying.
What is the point of vertical blinds? ›
Vertical blinds feature slats that run top to bottom versus left to right like other blinds. They provide maximum control over light and privacy with low maintenance. They operate better on sliding doors and large windows which glide from side to side.
Allusion blinds are the fastest-growing window shading trend for 2023 because they provide seclusion, light control, and gentle, delicate beauty. More convenient than typical vertical blinds for patio doors and windows, these blinds aren't connected by chains, meaning you can walk through them with ease.
Which way do blinds turn for most privacy? ›
Up (Rounded Side Facing Out)
When the blinds are turned up, the rounded side faces outward. Blinds turned in this direction offer more privacy and light control since the convex side faces the window, blocking light or views from the outside.
What is more modern in blinds? ›
Roller shades are some of the most modern blinds you can get. They are very sleek and simple and they offer a really neat and streamlined look. Your best bet is to avoid patterns and prints and go for those core colours we mentioned above.
Can people see through vertical blinds at night? ›
Are vertical blinds good for privacy when it's dark outside? Yes, as long as they're fully closed with the louvres lying flush. If you have gaps in the louvres and your room is lit whilst it's dark outside, passers by will be able to see through the gaps.
Are vertical blinds making a comeback? ›
The styles from the 1980s are making a comeback in 2023 and if you are into the look, choosing a more vintage vertical blind style can add a lot to your interior. Above all else, it's about what you want for your space and doing it with clear intention.
What is the lifespan of vertical blinds? ›
Good quality made-to-measure vertical blinds are designed to live a full life of 10, 15, or even 20 years of being opened, closed, and adjusted multiple times a day, and don't require particularly delicate handling; but they won't last for as long if they're handled very roughly or operated incorrectly.
Why do vertical blinds break so easily? ›
What causes your vertical blinds to break? Vertical blinds are sensitive to pressure. If you pull too hard on your blinds or open them too quickly, it will take a toll on the material between the hook and the hole at the top of the slat.
What type of blinds are modern? ›
Modern Window Blinds and Shades
- Cellular Shades.
- Roller Blinds.
- Roman Shades.
- Venetian Blinds.
- Vertical Blinds.
Yes, vertical blinds pair well with curtains, allowing you to get the best of both worlds; the opulence and potentially, classical styling of curtains with the control and adjustability that only comes with light-filtering blinds like verticals.
Are vertical blinds OK in bedrooms? ›
Vertical blinds are actually a very good choice for bedroom blinds, and they have a lot of points in their favour.
Horizontal stripes/lines make the room feel wider, while vertical lines can make the space seem longer/taller. Accent pieces such as striped rugs can also help make spaces feel bigger.
What color blinds make a room look bigger? ›
If you are trying to go for a room enlarging feel, it is best to stick with lighter colors. Darker colors tend to make a space feel more enclosed, by choosing white, cream, or eggshell type colors, the blinds will lend a peaceful, airy feeling to the room.
Why should you close your blinds at night? ›
It is easy to see outside when you are inside a darker place. This works also at nighttime but the other away around. Being dark outside, it is easy to see the inside of the window when there is light in this setting. Blinds help to a certain extent the amount of privacy the household wishes to control.
Should vertical blinds touch the floor? ›
Should vertical blinds touch the floor? Full length Vertical blinds should finish off the floor. Why are vertical blinds so popular? Quite simply because of a combination of cost, privacy and light control that is hard to surpass.
Which is better vinyl or fabric vertical blinds? ›
Fabric Blinds Aren't Necessarily Going to Block the Heat
They're still excellent in the summer as they'll block the UV rays. In fact, fabric can be better than vinyl in the summer because of the room darkening effect instead of the blackout effect.
What blinds do designers use? ›
Roman shades are a designer favorite because they are made of fabric, so they offer a softening look similar to that of curtains, without dragging on the floor or getting caught up in the furniture.
What is the most popular window treatment today? ›
Roller shades are consistently one of the most popular choices for the best window coverings year after year. This is because they are easy to use, offer a clean, sleek, look, and can be designed using a wide range of styles, colors, textures, and patterns to fit your room and design aesthetic.
What are the most practical blinds? ›
Roller blinds are the most economical type of blind to buy overall, making them practical in terms of their expense. Waterproof roller blinds can be used in any room of the home, including kitchens and bathrooms.
What are the best blinds to not block the view? ›
Venetian Blinds
Venetian Blind, wood blinds, and faux wood blinds allow to regulate the light and so the privacy.
Do blinds look better inside or outside the window? ›
As the blind is fitted away from the window it allows more light into the room when retracted. Likewise, when the blind is drawn or rolled fully down, it can block out more light without any unwanted rays creeping in. The blind's material will retain it's colour better as it isn't sitting on the actual window itself.
No, blackout blind fabric is absolutely impermeable to light and so, eyes; not a thing can be seen through blackout fabric, even if the room behind the blinds is lit up like a nuclear blast just went off.
What type of curtains are in style 2023? ›
Grommets and wave pleats are being left behind, with pinch pleat drapery gaining popularity instead. The more adventurous are opting for Austrian shades and soft romantic draped shades, which bring more drama to the windows and allow them to take center stage in the design of a room.”
What is the most popular blind width? ›
If you've ever wondered what the standard size of window blinds is, the standard window length ranges from 36 to 72 inches, and the standard width ranges from 24 to 60 inches. However, window sizes and shapes can vary greatly, especially in older homes or homes with custom windows.
What are blinds called that you can see through but can t see in? ›
Solar shades are designed to allow you to see out, but other's not see in, providing daytime privacy. The exact opposite is true at night! When a light is on in the room, people outside will be able to see directly into your home. While a solar shade provides privacy during the day, it will provide no privacy at night.
What blinds can see through from inside but not from outside? ›
Sheer and voile roller blinds are window dressings that are made of a see through. These see through blinds have a transparent weave which allows you to see the view outside but to protect you from prying eyes outside. Think net curtains for the modern house!
Can vertical blinds meet in the middle? ›
Vertical blinds can open to stack on the left, on the right, in the middle, or split in the middle to stack evenly on both sides.
How often should vertical blinds be replaced? ›
So what's the average lifespan of blinds? Blinds, like shades, need to be replaced every few years. Often, you'll see signs of wear and tear on your window treatments that are a good indication they need to be replaced. We recommend replacing them every 6-8 years to ensure proper safety and ease of use.
Are sheer curtains outdated? ›
While heavy drapes or curtains can make your home look outdated, sheers are back on trend and are a great way to breathe new life into a place.
What type of blinds last the longest? ›
Functionally, Roman blinds are very robust and durable, and as the top-end blind in any seller's range, actually designed to last for longer than most other types of blinds with appropriate care!
Do vertical blinds need cleaning? ›
Vertical blinds made from fabric should be regularly vacuum cleaned to keep them free from dust. Use the soft upholstery brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner and move gently from top to bottom.
As with any blind style, you may notice a build-up of dust and dirt on the slats of your blinds over time. Vertical blinds attract less dust compared to other styles, however, they will still need a deep clean from time to time.
Which way do vertical blinds turn for privacy? ›
You can turn them either way. Whether you turn them to the left or the right, they will still lie flush against each other and negate the possibility of any gaps, as long as they don't get knocked or blown about in a breeze.
Are horizontal blinds good for privacy? ›
Horizontal Ceiling Blinds
Angle the slats so that edge is up (but not totally closed). With this technique, someone from the outside can only see up to the ceiling and daylight can enter the room. While not completely private, outsiders can't look in at you directly.
Why do apartments use vertical blinds? ›
Childproofing Apartments
In the past, older types of horizontal blinds had cords on them that hang down and children could strangle themselves with the cords. That's the beauty of cordless blinds–they are childproof to protect the little ones in an apartment.
Do vertical blinds look good with curtains? ›
Yes, vertical blinds pair well with curtains, allowing you to get the best of both worlds; the opulence and potentially, classical styling of curtains with the control and adjustability that only comes with light-filtering blinds like verticals.
Can you see through vertical blinds at night? ›
A: Due to their slat design, vertical blinds block a good amount of natural light while also providing an adequate level of privacy. However, the materials used in vertical blinds are slightly transparent, so some light will still come through at night.
Do vertical blinds look good in a bedroom? ›
Vertical blinds are actually a very good choice for bedroom blinds, and they have a lot of points in their favour.
