Are Shades Better than Blinds?

You want the best when outfitting your home with flooring, appliances, décor, and especially window treatments. But, finding just the right window covering for your home can feel quite overwhelming. After all, there are seemingly endless options—how can you choose the best out of hundreds of different ones? The key here is to chip away at that massive catalog by establishing some of the basics about exactly what you want. For example, perhaps you want shades or blinds rather than shutters or drapes.

However, you may find yourself still stuck between the two remaining options. Blinds are a classic choice, but shades seem to be in nearly every home you see. So, are shades better than blinds? Or are blinds really what you are looking for? The answer depends on what you are looking for, and we are here to help you break down the specifics so you can settle on something that’s just right.

Shades Versus Blinds

When asking, “Are shades better than blinds?” it’s best to look at each window treatment through functional and aesthetic lenses, including:

Privacy and Light Control

• Blinds and shades offer both of these needs but in different ways. Blinds are hard window treatments, meaning they have slats that can be tilted to provide adjustable light control. On the other hand, shades are a soft window treatment made of fabrics. This means they only have two options when it comes to light control and privacy: open or closed. Hunter Douglas offers several light-filtering shades, including options like Luminette® Sheer Panels, that let you filter the amount of incoming light into your home when the shade is closed.
• If you prefer adjustable light control, blinds are your best bet. If you desire privacy and light filtration/transformation, you’ll want to look for shades.

Durability

• We want our window treatments to last—that’s a given! Since blinds are made from hard materials like wood, alternative wood, and aluminum, they hold up to wear and tear better than most shades. This doesn’t mean shades aren’t durable, but if you have a household that has small children or pets (AKA spills, bump-ins, and other little accidents), blinds are easier to clean and maintain and can “bounce back” better than most window treatments, especially if you choose a material like aluminum.
• If you need unwavering durability and easy cleaning, blinds are for you.

Style

• This is where shades and blinds are similar yet incredibly different. With shades, you can select from various fabric colors that range by the hundreds when you choose Hunter Douglas. From neutral tones to bright hues, shades offer various creative expressions. Blinds, however, provide classic wood tones, neutral hues, white colors, and a few fun finishes when you choose aluminum. Though slightly more limited than shades, blinds are beautiful in their own right and come in a wide range of different materials.
• If you want unlimited design options, then shades win this round. If you desire a timeless style, blinds will never fail to impress.

Contact Us Today

At the end of the day, one window treatment being “better” than the other comes down to your preferences. We are happy to help you continue along your journey of choosing between blinds and shades at Imperial Blind & Shutter. We are located in Venice, Florida, and proudly serve the surrounding area. No matter what you are looking for, even if you don’t quite know yet, we have the expertise to help you find just what you are looking for. Contact us today!