Wooden blinds are a guaranteed worthwhile investment piece for your home. Known for their clean lines, neutral aesthetic, enhanced privacy and light control, wooden blinds are both a fashion statement as well as a practical option for homeowners. You can rest assured that with wooden blinds, your home will always boast timeless beauty.
You can even throw a touch of modern innovation into the mix – take your wooden blinds to the next level with automation and revolutionise them into electric blinds. Fitted with an electric motor, your automated wooden blinds will be sure to tick all the boxes. And with this added technology, you can control your blinds from the comfort of wherever you may be – your home wouldn’t be complete without décor that accommodates your lifestyle.
We’re going to take you through everything there is to know about wooden blinds, from their benefits to the different wood finishes on offer.
Wooden blinds are the classy, timeless window dressing that will complement every type of home. A type of Venetian blind, wooden blinds are made up of horizontal slats that can be opened, closed or tilted for perfect light control.
Wooden blinds move using cords which run through tiny holes in the slats. One cord pulls the blinds up and lowers them, whilst the other operates the tilting mechanism to open or close the slats. Once the slats are in the desired position, a cord locking mechanism hidden in the headrail keeps them in place.
Want sunlight streaming into your home? Simply pull the cord of your wooden blinds so that all of the slats raise to the top of your window casing. But perhaps that’s a little too bright? Adjust your slats to whatever angle you like using the cords attached to the tilt mechanism, and voila, you have complete mastery over the light in your home! And if you want complete darkness for a movie night or a good night’s sleep, simply tilt the slats until they’re shut all the way and blackout will be achieved!
If your family’s energy consumption is important to you, wooden blinds are exactly what you need. This is all thanks to their ability to control the amount of sunlight that comes in as well as providing increased insulation. Adjusting the slats to let lots of natural light stream in means you can switch off lights, lamps and use less heat in winter.
Fabric blinds and curtains often need deep cleaning. Who has time for that? With wooden blinds you can simply run a cloth with some polish over the slats and they’re good as new! No stress, no hassle!
Venetian blinds are one of the best at blocking out light. In fact, they work just as well as blackout blinds, and that’s all owed to their thick material. That’s why these nifty window dressings are a popular choice for bedrooms and living rooms where light control is essential.
In general, wooden blinds are great for keeping those prying eyes away as they offer privacy control through their tilt system. This makes them the perfect option for those rooms where a little extra privacy goes a long way, like bedrooms and bathrooms, as it’s near enough impossible to see through the thick and sturdy wooden slats.
You’ve just got cosy in bed, or you’re unwinding on the sofa after a long day at work – but you forgot to close your blinds! The last thing you want to do is leave your comfy spot to do this. Fear not! Your electric wooden blinds can be controlled all from the palm of your hand on a smart device – so no need to move. You can even program them to open and close at different times of the day for maximised lighting efficiency.
All you need is a Somfy motor! Why not try the Sonesse ULTRA 30 WFS RTS Li-Ion? This motor is ultra-quiet, so no need to worry about annoying mechanical noises as you open and close your wooden blinds. And then you can control your electric wooden blinds with products such as the brilliant Telis 16 Pure RTS or the clever TaHoma app (via the TaHoma switch). Easy peasy right?
Wooden Roller Blinds
Usually, traditional roller blinds consist of a piece of fabric which rolls up to the casing at the top. However, wooden roller blinds are of course a little different and are found in two main types.
The first type is a classic wood and fabric combo – wooden slats interspersed with voile slats to create a filtered amount of light. This type of blind gives you options galore as you can choose uninterrupted light with the blinds fully up, dimmed light with the blinds down, or block out light by closing the slats.
The other type is bamboo roller blinds, in which a sheet of bamboo (similar to a bamboo floor mat) rolls up the casing. This is great for homes with a bohemian, earthy aesthetic, or in rooms with East-Asian inspired décor. Perfect boho chic!
Wooden Shutter Blinds
Wooden shutter blinds are similar to Venetian blinds but with a twist! Shutter blinds have a frame around them, allowing them to open and close like double doors. When the shutters are closed you can allow a filtered amount of light in by opening the slats, allowing you to control the amount of light in your home. Or just open the shutters right up to invite the sunshine completely in!
Faux Wooden Blinds
Faux wooden blinds provide the stunning aesthetics and fabulous function of real wood blinds but at a much lower cost. These blinds are usually made of PVC that has been made to look like wood, which makes them waterproof and easy to clean. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that faux wooden blinds can’t handle temperature changes as well as real wooden blinds. Therefore, exposure to high temperatures could cause them to deform into a smile/frown shape.
Electric Wooden Blinds
With Somfy’s motors, you can operate your wooden blinds from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere else you may be (even if it’s a beach). You can control the slats, roll up the casing, or open and close the blinds using Somfy’s controls, voice activation or the Somfy app. Easy as ABC!
Wooden blinds are available in a multitude of finishes, so you can have peace of mind that you can choose wooden blinds that will complement your home entirely. From various shades of varnish and stains, matte paint to gloss paint, or even a simple wax.
When choosing the perfect finish for your home, consider the functionality of the room, the type of atmosphere you want to evoke and whether it’ll complement other furnishings in the space. For example, if you’re looking to create an inviting and cosy ambiance, a darker shade of varnish will help set the tone. However, if you’d prefer to make your home feel lighter, brighter and fresher, a white or cream painted finish is better suited to the task.
Real wood blinds often last a good few years when well maintained. However, rough handling when operating the blinds can cause wear and tear which shortens their lifespan. Or why not opt for electric wooden blinds instead so you don’t have to face this issue? Since they’re operated via a motor rather than a hand-cord, this decreases chances of wear and tear, meaning they’ll last longer – automation is great right?
As you can see, wooden blinds have so many functional and aesthetic benefits – but you can’t enjoy those benefits until your blinds are properly measured and fitted! This is nothing to worry about though, as Somfy’s guides to measuring and fitting blinds make the process super simple. You’ll be installing blinds like a pro in no time!
Prices for wooden blinds start around £35 for faux wood slats and around £70 for real wood slats. Slats usually come in 35mm or 50mm widths and most companies offer a matching pelmet and a range of decorative tapes to finish off the blinds. The slat width and hanging hardware are simply cosmetic so do not change the efficiency of the blind.
Real wood blinds which can only be cleaned with a feather duster, faux wood blind can be wiped clean with a wet or damp cloth.
We recommend measuring your aperture & drop in 3 places to get an accurate result.
Place the brackets onto the blind headrail.
Place the headrail where you want the blind and mark the position of the brackets.
Remove the brackets from the blind and offer up to the previous markings, this time mark the position of the holes. Mark at least 2 holes in each bracket. If you have a long blind or intermediate brackets, also offer these up to the window and mark the holes. (try to avoid the ladder braid or tape position on the blind as this may interfere with the movement).
To determine what material you are fixing to, drill a small hole first, then use the appropriate fixings to attach your brackets.
Once the brackets are attached to the window aperture, open the brackets, place the blind in the brackets and close the hinged doors and ensure the blind is secure.
Whatever type of wooden blind you go for, you can have peace of mind that your home will be the envy of all. And if you want to make life at home even more comfortable, don’t waste another minute – go further with Somfy and check out our Powered Blinds collection. Transform your home by combining the classic elegance of wooden blinds with the modern convenience of automation – it really is the perfect pairing!
Do you need advice? Contact us. We’ll help you find the best solution for your project!