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How to Choose Between Horizontal & Vertical Window Blinds for Your Home
When it’s time to install or replace your home’s window blinds, the first thing to decide is whether you need a horizontal or vertical style. As their names suggest, horizontal treatments have a sideways layout, while vertical window blinds run up and down. While the decision between the two may seem obvious to some, your residence could have windows that fit both types. Explore our guide to understand the advantages of each treatment and to determine which design is right for each room in your house.
Many homeowners choose horizontal blinds for the widest of style options, as well as their complete coverage of small, slender or particularly tall windows. They are also an excellent choice for windows that move up and down, because they follow the same path as the aperture’s openings and hardware mechanisms.
Should you have pets, horizontal treatments will allow them to see out of the bottom of the window while simultaneously keeping your house cool and maintaining privacy. They also allow for quick open and close in a matter of seconds. Many materials and colors will easily keep light out, including darker styles and wood options. If your window has a dynamic design and faces north or south, you may want to consider going horizontal. The unique angle of the sunlight on your home is more easily controlled with a side-to-side composition.
Vertical blinds are ideal for sliding doors and backyard windows. However, they can fit a variety of openings, including kitchen windows and dormers at the front of the house. With these treatments, you can see outside without exposing the inside of your home. Whether you’re watching the kids play before dinner or trying to increase the sunlight in your living room, you can enjoy excellent visibility and let illumination in without any concessions to privacy.
An up-and-down design allows for seamless variations between light and dark. Room darkening blinds keep the home cool while the family is at work and school, then quickly shift open when it’s time to enjoy the sunset in the evening. Some products, however, will let more light in if you live in a shady area or prefer constant, natural light.
A vertical style also fits windows that open from the side. With the help of an upright design, families can move their blinds aside to maximize energy efficiency and enjoy cool, mild air in the spring and fall. Finally, windows that face east or west may benefit most from the perpendicular style, which effectively blocks the sunrise and sunset as it falls on your house. In addition, many homeowners also consider vertical blinds easier to clean than the horizontal variety.
Now that you know the benefits of each treatment type, you can select your ideal choice based on a few factors. These include the orientation and style of the window, as well as what you expect to do with each framework. If your home includes sliding doors your family enters or exists the outdoors from, slider windows that are opened often or apertures that face east to west, vertical blinds may be your best choice. If you need to accommodate apertures with a narrow shape or north to south orientation, or if you prefer a quick open and close of your treatment, horizontal designs will provide the most style and color options.
While these treatments do vary, both selections are available in a spectrum of trendy colors, including white, brown, copper, silver and green. Popular choices for vertical window blind materials include fabric, high-quality PVC and wood grain. If you opt for horizontal blinds, you can purchase treatments in everything from basswood to faux wood to aluminum.
Whatever you decide on, you can make your treatments fit your home’s needs even better with an affordable, custom-fit design. Most vertical and horizontal window blind manufacturers will even provide you with free samples of their various styles, so you can choose the color, material, and orientation that completes the unique and beautiful look of your home. With a little brainstorming and the help of this informational guide, you can enjoy a gorgeous ambiance while making the most of each room and entryway.
Benefits of Horizontal Window Blinds
Many homeowners choose horizontal blinds for the widest of style options, as well as their complete coverage of small, slender or particularly tall windows. They are also an excellent choice for windows that move up and down, because they follow the same path as the aperture’s openings and hardware mechanisms.
Should you have pets, horizontal treatments will allow them to see out of the bottom of the window while simultaneously keeping your house cool and maintaining privacy. They also allow for quick open and close in a matter of seconds. Many materials and colors will easily keep light out, including darker styles and wood options. If your window has a dynamic design and faces north or south, you may want to consider going horizontal. The unique angle of the sunlight on your home is more easily controlled with a side-to-side composition.
Benefits of Vertical Window Blinds
Vertical blinds are ideal for sliding doors and backyard windows. However, they can fit a variety of openings, including kitchen windows and dormers at the front of the house. With these treatments, you can see outside without exposing the inside of your home. Whether you’re watching the kids play before dinner or trying to increase the sunlight in your living room, you can enjoy excellent visibility and let illumination in without any concessions to privacy.
An up-and-down design allows for seamless variations between light and dark. Room darkening blinds keep the home cool while the family is at work and school, then quickly shift open when it’s time to enjoy the sunset in the evening. Some products, however, will let more light in if you live in a shady area or prefer constant, natural light.
A vertical style also fits windows that open from the side. With the help of an upright design, families can move their blinds aside to maximize energy efficiency and enjoy cool, mild air in the spring and fall. Finally, windows that face east or west may benefit most from the perpendicular style, which effectively blocks the sunrise and sunset as it falls on your house. In addition, many homeowners also consider vertical blinds easier to clean than the horizontal variety.
Making Your Choice of Quality Window Treatments
Now that you know the benefits of each treatment type, you can select your ideal choice based on a few factors. These include the orientation and style of the window, as well as what you expect to do with each framework. If your home includes sliding doors your family enters or exists the outdoors from, slider windows that are opened often or apertures that face east to west, vertical blinds may be your best choice. If you need to accommodate apertures with a narrow shape or north to south orientation, or if you prefer a quick open and close of your treatment, horizontal designs will provide the most style and color options.
While these treatments do vary, both selections are available in a spectrum of trendy colors, including white, brown, copper, silver and green. Popular choices for vertical window blind materials include fabric, high-quality PVC and wood grain. If you opt for horizontal blinds, you can purchase treatments in everything from basswood to faux wood to aluminum.
Whatever you decide on, you can make your treatments fit your home’s needs even better with an affordable, custom-fit design. Most vertical and horizontal window blind manufacturers will even provide you with free samples of their various styles, so you can choose the color, material, and orientation that completes the unique and beautiful look of your home. With a little brainstorming and the help of this informational guide, you can enjoy a gorgeous ambiance while making the most of each room and entryway.
