The Best Blinds

Buying Guide

Your home’s ambiance affects your mood more than you might think. Details like beautiful paint colors, calming furniture arrangements and lively wall hangings can turn your home into a soothing oasis. However, there’s one quality that affects your surroundings more than you might think: lighting.

Harsh lighting can make rooms look smaller and create an unpleasant atmosphere. Natural lighting gives any room a more peaceful feeling. A great set of blinds, curtains or shades gives you full control of the light levels in your home.

Blinds and window shades come in many different styles. Light-blocking blinds (sometimes called blackout blinds) block all light out of your room. They’re often made from polyester, and most come in a cellular shade style. These shades, also called honeycomb shades, are made up of 3D cells that cover your window. 

The honeycomb cells trap light and heat, creating a completely dark room. They’re great for anyone who has trouble sleeping or for rooms with east-facing windows that get very hot. Since these blinds block out light and heat, they can save you money on your electric bill and help out the planet. They also protect your belongings from sun damage. 

Light-filtering shades also reduce the amount of sunlight that enters your room, but they still let a little bit come through. They’re often made with the same honeycomb design, but their lighter materials let some of the morning sun seep through. Light-filtering shades are great for homes that have a lot of trees blocking your light, or for anyone who loves a bright, cheery room.

You don’t have to dedicate yourself to a standard design when choosing blinds. Some blackout options come as tie-back curtains, cafe shades and vertical curtains that reach to the floor. 

From a home decor standpoint, there are also some factors to consider when purchasing blinds, says Vicki Liston, our home improvement expert and the host of “On The Fly…DIY,” an award-winning show with unique project tutorials.

“Wider slats give the illusion of ‘bigger’ so they make the window and surrounding room appear more spacious,” she says. “Conversely, thinner slats, like those in mini blinds, have the opposite effect. Keep this in mind if you want to make a small room feel bigger or an expansive room feel cozy.”

She also points out that if you have kids at home, you’ll want to take their safety into account before purchasing blinds.

“In homes with small children, the cordless lift option is a must-have safety feature,” she says. “This brilliant alternative will allow you to raise, lower, open and close just like traditional blinds but without a dangerously dangling loop cord.”

There’s a lot to consider when you’re picking out window dressings for your home. You’ll want to choose wisely to give your rooms the best lighting and ambiance possible. Our Tips & Advice will help you make the best call.

• The first step to choosing great blinds is carefully measuring your windows. Make sure you have the exact width and height down to 1/16th of an inch so you can choose the right size blinds when you buy. 
• If you’re going for longer curtains, measure the wall’s full height and width, as well as any space between the windows and other furniture. You’ll want your curtains to complement the rest of the room, and curtains that are too large or small can throw off the feel of your room.
• You’ll need to provide your window measurements when buying your blinds. Some companies customize your blinds before they ship them to you. Carefully read the return and exchange options in case a measurement is off and your blinds don’t fit. 
• Other companies offer paper blinds that you can trim down yourself. Have someone else help you if you go this route: A second set of eyes can keep your measurements and scissors on track.
• Decide if you want light filtering blinds for subtle shade or light-blocking blinds for full coverage. You can still buy mini blinds or vertical blinds, but light-reducing honeycomb shades are affordable and attractive. They’ll also save you money on your power bill by cutting out the light and heat that comes in through your windows. 
• Honeycomb light-blocking blinds need special care to stay in shape. To clean them, you need a can of compressed air and your vacuum’s brush attachment. Shooting the compressed air through each honeycomb cell will blow dust, debris and unlucky insects out of the blinds. 
• If your blinds are dusty or gray, gently swipe your brush attachment in horizontal strokes across the pleats. You can also lightly use a lint roller if the vacuum doesn’t pick everything up.
• Keep honeycomb blinds away from water at all costs. If you’re fighting tough stains, you can blot the shades with gentle detergent and a warm, damp cloth. Avoid scrubbing the blind; this creates pilling and bends the pleats out of shape. Blot the spot dry with a second clean cloth when you’re done.  
• Mini blinds and vertical blinds are tougher than honeycomb blinds. Plastic varieties can be wiped down and scrubbed with a household cleaner, and wooden blinds need regular dusting and cleaning with a damp cloth.