Friend or Faux

Are you choosing between wood or faux wood blinds, but can’t decide which are best for your home? If so, there are several factors to consider when choosing between "real wood" and faux wood window treatments. In this article we will examine the pros and cons of both wood and faux wood blinds to help you make your decision.

With the beautiful texture and look of wood it is no mystery that wood blinds are the number-one selling window treatments in America. This aesthetic appeal can be even further enhanced with natural paints and stains to accent the grain of the wood and match your home decor. Lighter stains are ideal for wooden slats being installed in a casual space while darker stains are well suited for slats in more formal rooms. Wood blinds also require less support strings (called ladders), which give the slats a more seamless, shutter-like appearance. In contrast, faux wood blinds lack the authentic look of real wood and often appear cluttered due to a need for more support ladders.

So what is the difference between wood and faux wood in terms of price? Well, that answer is simple. Faux wood is a great price alternative to wood. Faux wood is usually made up of a synthetic blend of vinyl and other composite materials. Some faux woods are referred to as wood alloy, which is a blend of wood and vinyl. Faux materials are less expensive to manufacture and as a result are offered at a lower price. On the other hand, wood blinds will cost you more, but will still last for years and can be re-stained to refresh the look or match home decor changes. In contrast, faux wood blinds cannot be re-stained.

If you are worried about every day wear and tear, here are some considerations to help you choose between faux and real wood. Although there is some level of durability in wood blinds, they have their weaknesses. Most notably, if you live in a humid climate, wood blinds are susceptible to damage from prolonged exposure to moisture. If not maintained, the end result could be molding. Also, wood blinds have been known to be subjected to abuse from children and pets. Wood slats can be broken with minimal pressure from a curious child or man’s best friend pawing at the outside world from the window!

Faux wood is a great choice for durability because of its synthetic blend. Faux wood blinds are more flexible than wooden blinds and resist snapping. In addition to being flexible, faux wood blinds are also better equipped to deal with humid climates and can generally resist moisture. However, faux wood blinds can yellow from prolonged exposure to UV light. Overall, faux wood blinds are better in terms of durability but wood is a close second.

Last but not least, let’s talk a little about design with wood and faux wood blinds. When choosing blinds for your home windows, the size of the window should correlate with the size of the blind slats. The larger the window-size, the larger blind slat size you should use. A good rule of thumb for the average sized home window would be 2” slats. For smaller windows consider smaller slats (1”) and larger slats (2.5”) for larger windows. Also, pay special attention to the mounting depth of the window casing (the measurement between the glass window pain and the end of the casing). For a finished look, make sure you select blind slats that fit within the mounting depth of each window. When measuring your windows, keep in mind that wooden blinds offer more sizing options than faux wood blinds.

Which blinds are the best for you, wood or faux wood? Well, that answer will differ from one shopper to the next depending on your unique style and needs. Ultimately, you will be the one choosing which type of blinds work best for your home, but we hope this post has made your decision that much easier.