Pretend wood blinds are the most common form of blinds used as window coverings. The reason is because they are the perfect alternative to wood blinds and they are cheap. Faux wood window blinds are made of vinyl material or a mixture of vinyl and hardwood. They are called pretend wood blinds because they seem like wooden blinds. However, they are harder than real wood and are OK for all rooms of the home, even those with exaggerated levels of humidity. Pretend wood blinds are also way better to scrub than wood blinds. Fake wood blinds can cost thirty p.c less than wood blinds. They also last far longer than blinds made of real wood, which makes them actually cheap. An occasional cleaning and dusting will keep pretend wood window blinds in perfect condition. Actually , these window blinds are so sturdy, you can take them down from the window and wash them in the bathtub. You can get fauxwood blinds in sizes to fit the tiniest or biggest window.

While you should purchase them in the store in sizes virtually the same as that of your window, you will have them custom made. They are available in mini blinds or vertical blinds and you may get these in motorized versions. Installing fake wood blinds is a straightforward affair. You’ve got to select where you are going to mount the brackets within or outside of the facings on your window. Nearly all of the pretend wood window blinds come in measurements to fit snugly in the facings, so if you need them outside you might need to take a look for inexpensive faux wood blinds that are an in. or so wider.

When you mount the brackets, then you simply slide in the head rail of the blind and insert the tiny covering that keeps it from falling out.

Then you can attach the wand used to open and close the slats and you are all set. Whether you install the pretend wood blinds within or outside of the facing, you may use valances and drapes with these blinds. Most householders do employ a little valance or topper over both pretend wood blinds and real wood blinds, just to fit the dcor of the room and to enhance its ambiance.

Faux wood window blinds have come so far in the last decade that it is almost impossible to tell them apart from real wood blinds. Made from a combination of real wood composite and PVC, these blinds have the natural beauty of real wood but will not be affected by humidity or water. Additionally, you can make them even more personalized with a few optional upgrades.

Routless Ladders – No Holes Privacy
The routless ladder or no holes privacy optional upgrade is perfect for the bedroom and bathroom.

Instead of the traditional lift cord running through the center of the blind slat, the lift cord is located on the back of the slat. This gives additional privacy, since no one can look through the little holes to see inside. Additionally, it blocks out more light than traditional ladders.

Mental Note – Since the cord does not run through the center, the slats can be removed. While this makes for easy cleaning, it is not recommended for areas that have small children or pets.

Decorative Fabric Tapes
The fabric tape replaces the cord lift ladders. It covers the routed holes for additional privacy. Since the fabric tape comes in a wide range of colors, the tape is an additional upgrade that brings your unique personality to the blinds. Plus, color fabric tape when combined with the traditional look of wood not only makes the blind pop, but easily ties them in with the décor of your room.

2 on 1 Headrail / 3 on 1 Headrail
The main drawback of faux wood window treatments is the weight. Faux wood is heavy and this makes it impossible for one blind to cover a large window. However, the optional upgrade of 2 on 1 or 3 on 1 headrail gives the separate blinds a seamless look.

Each blind will still have its own set of lift controls and tilt controls. However, all the blinds will be suspended from the same headrail giving the faux wood blinds a solid look. This gives the added benefit of being able to control each piece separately, allowing you additional control of light filtering into the room.

Mental Note – There needs to be a slight gap between the blinds to prevent them from rubbing together. For best results, you should align the gaps to the divider rails.

Cornice Style Valance
The cornice style valance gives your wood blinds a sense of elegance. It is a crown valance that is on the outside of the window frame. It is designed to extend one inch past each side of the window. Additionally, the valance has sides to give it an authentic crown-molding look.

Mental Note – The main concern with this option is obstructions. Since the valance is on the outside of the window, you need to make sure no obstructions prevent the placement of the valance.

As you can see, faux wood window blinds do not have to be boring. There are many things you can do to give them a touch of your personal style.

Sure, wood blinds look nice but so do faux wood blinds and unless you look really close you can barely tell the difference. Beyond that faux wood blinds have some distinct advantages which I will attempt to enumerate.

First, faux wood blinds, which come in vinyl or wood composite, are significantly less expensive then their wood cousins. A brand to brand comparison reveals almost a 50% savings. If you were interested in purchasing new blinds for your entire house that kind of savings would be considerable.

Second, faux wood blinds are more durable, they won’t warp, crack or split even in humid and hot areas. So, even if you want to go with real wood blinds, I would still recommend faux wood blinds for rooms with a lot of moisture like bathrooms and kitchens. If you live in the humid states of the South- and Northeast, faux wood blinds can save you a lot of heartache.

Third, faux wood blinds are easier to clean than real wood blinds. Sure, both can be dusted. Admittedly, there’s no difference there. But, if you really want to clean your faux wood blinds, you can take them down and dip them in a bathtub of soapy water, or take them outside and hose them down. Don’t try that with real wood blinds.

Fourth, faux wood blinds come in all the same stains, painted colors and even textures that real wood blinds offer. So you aren’t giving up anything from a decorating standpoint. Additionally, they come with all the same options: valances, noholes for tighter closure, cloth tapes, routeless and even motorized. Additionally, as an added bonus, most of the faux wood blinds are UV stabilized, meaning that that the colors won’t fade. This is great if you live in the desert Southeast, places like Arizona and Nevada.

All the major manufacturers, Bali, Hunter Douglas, Levolor, Comfortex, etc., offer faux wood blinds but if you are willing to purchase a non-name brand, most of the online vendors have what they call a “signature line.” These blinds are made by the major manufacturers minus the label and are even more affordable. Who looks at the labels anyway?

Buying wood blinds used to be quite an investment. But that is less true now. With the faux wood option coupled with the various discount internet retailers, you can outfit your entire home for a lot less. This is a great way of sprucing-up the look of your home. And, let’s face it, with the home market in the state it is a lot more people are being forced to keep their existing home.

Faux Wood Window Blinds: Make Your Patio Enjoyable Again

In Hawaii, they have what is called a lanai. It is basically a patio used for additional living space, since the weather is always conducive to being outside. This situation is the perfect example of the functionality of faux wood window blinds. Let me explain further.

Living with Humidity
On the island of Oahu, lanais are extremely popular. Some are screened in and some are not. Some have windows and others don’t. Our lanai had some windows. It was absolutely beautiful overlooking the Kualoa Mountain Range. However, it also meant that the morning sun would come pouring in making it way too bright for 6 am.

Our solution was to put up some blinds. Since the entire lanai was wooden, we wanted wooden window blinds. Unfortunately, real wood blinds and Hawaii do not mix very well. We knew that if we put them up they would only crack and warp over time. Yet, we still needed something.

The solution was faux wood window blinds. They look like real wood and they could stand the humidity and rain (It rains everyday in Kaaawa. It does not rain very long, but enough to ruin real wood.) We found some faux wood blinds that matched our lanai perfectly and they worked great.

Faux Wood Great Anywhere
You may not live in Hawaii but you may face humidity issues. Not to mention issues that come from living near lakes or oceans. Many states border the ocean and I cannot think of one state that does not have a lake. It is these places that need faux wood just as much as we did in Hawaii.

Even if you live in a dry climate, you still have a bathroom and most likely a laundry room. While you may not think about the humidity in these places, it can wreak havoc on your wood blinds. You would do yourself a huge favor if you chose faux wood over real wood blinds in these areas as well.

Choosing Quality Faux Wood Window Blinds
It is not recommended to choose your window treatment based solely on price. Many people do not realize that some places use foam to create cheap faux wood blinds. This should be a giant red flag for you. Foam is not going to last nearly as long as more quality materials.

For the best quality, you want to look for blinds made from PVC or vinyl. Some manufactures incorporate real wood into the PVC or vinyl and this is fine as well. As long as you get PVC or vinyl blinds AND a warranty

Get Free Samples
I cannot stress enough the importance of getting a free sample. Whether you purchase online or in a store, you need to see the blinds in your home to know for sure. You would be surprised in the difference in color of what you thought you had and what you really have.

Follow this advice and you will get quality blinds that you will enjoy for a lifetime.

Real Wood Blinds Too Pricey: Consider Your Options

Wood blinds add a natural homey look to any house. When they are added, they do more than just provide function and block light, they give your home a warm and cozy atmosphere. But what do you do when you discover that real wood blinds cost too much? Are you destined to aluminum or fabric shades?

Faux Wood Blinds a Cheaper Option
If you want the look of wood blinds but cannot afford it, then you need to look into faux wood blinds. Faux wood is not like it used to be. It is no longer a cheap imitation that looks like a cheap imitation. Today’s faux wood looks like the real thing. I am willing to bet that you see faux wood all the time and don’t even notice it.

Today’s faux wood looks exactly like real wood blinds. Even side by side, you would not notice the difference. Until you actually touch the blinds, you would think they are both real wood.

Faux Wood Blinds Better Around Water
Many people do not realize that real wood blinds are not always the best option. There are some places you just do not want to hang real wood. Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms have too much humidity to hang real wood. In high humidity areas, the wood is likely to warp and bend.

However, when you hang faux wood blinds in these areas, you get the look of real wood without all the problems. They will last for years even when exposed to high humidity environments. Even if the blinds are exposed to water, they will continue to work great year after year.

Consider Your Options
If you want real wood blinds and cannot afford them, you still have other options. You can look for discounts and closeouts. This is a good way to get quality wood blinds at a fraction of the cost. Just remember, when buying discount and closeout blinds, always buy enough for the entire room. This is the only way to guarantee you will get the blinds you want. Otherwise, you might discover too late that the discount blinds are no longer available.

Along with shopping for discount and closeout blinds, you will want to shop around. A high quality blinds seller will offer price matching. Therefore, shop around for a good price and then take that price back to the seller. This way you can get a good price and still get quality blinds.

Price should not limit your blinds choice. Whether you need to shop for discounts or substitute faux wood for real wood, you should get the blinds you want.