Introducing the Very Best Blinds Brands
There really is so much that goes into the creation of an ergonomic, well functioning, yet still beautiful house. You may think it’s just a comfy bed, a quiet fridge, and nice wood floors, but it goes so far beyond that once you really start to pay attention.
I like to say that the things that work well in a home go unnoticed, but the things that don’t work very well are definitely noticed. One aspect of interior design that folks may not think about is how you dress your windows.
Having proper blinds is very important to a lot of people. Not only do they allow you to control the light coming into a room, but they introduce privacy and can be beautiful at the same time. I’m sure you’ve tried to pull down a crappy set of blinds before – it brings about a similar type of rage to stubbing your toe, if you’re anything like me.
If you’re on the hunt for a new set of window blinds, chances are that you’re overwhelmed by the number of styles and choices and that’s how you ended up here, listening to me blab away about a rather seemingly boring subject. But worry not! If I’m good for anything, it’s making boring things at least a little bit entertaining.
To help us along with deciding on and finding the perfect brand to buy a new set of blinds, we’ve had to ask the experts. We’ve been working with a truly tremendous team of interior designers for a little while now, and they were generous enough to share with us their very favorite blind brands they use for clients and for themselves. So buckle up and get ready to get shaded!
Choosing the Right Set of Blinds
Choosing the right set of blinds can be overwhelming once you get a glimpse of truly just how many styles, shapes, colors, and materials there are out there. Where some people revel in having infinite options, it makes me feel like it’s impossible to choose!
So to help you out with deciding what kind of blinds are best suited for your home, we’ve created a few questions that you can ask yourself to help narrow it down. No two home are created equal, and the needs they fulfill are just as unique and special as you are!!
- What size do you need? – This may seem like an obvious one, but so many times I’ve just decided willy nilly while I’m out on an errand that I’m going to switch something up and impulsively buy a replacement before doing any sort of measuring. Do you need blinds for a bedroom window or is this more of a sliding door situation? Whatever the case, make sure to know the exact size that you need before purchasing.
- What are your insulation needs? – Some folks may think that curtains will suffice as window coverings, but blinds can really help when it comes to temperature control. If you live in an area with some serious heat coming in, it may be a good idea to get some white or reflective blinds to help keep some heat out.
- What are the humidity levels like in your home? – The material that you choose can be very important if you live in a place that deals with a lot of humidity. Faux wood or linen can work great to help combat humidity, especially in a room that gets extra like the kitchen or bathroom.
- How much light do you want to let in? – I’m a person who doesn’t actually have blinds because I want as much light in my home as possible, but some folks need black out blinds if they work nights or whatever other reason. The style and material will vary determining on how much light you want to let in during the day.
What Types of Blinds are there?
So now that you’ve started answering some questions about what function you need your blinds to serve, now we can start specifying just how many types of blinds are out there! Get ready, there are definitely more than you expect.
Vertical Blinds – vertical blinds are the no-brainer choice when you have windows that are wider than they are tall. These are great because they offer really specific light control, making them perfect for rooms like bedrooms, home theatres, or living rooms.
Panel Blinds – panel blinds are for you if you have a huge window to cover, like a sliding glass door or just a huge bay window. A panel track blind is usually made from fabric that is a bit heavier. This is a great function because it is smooth.
Venetian Blinds – though they have the fanciest name, Venetian blinds are actually the most standard style featuring horizontal slats. This is a common mechanism where the slat below compresses into the one above. This can get frustrating if they don’t work perfectly well..
Wooden Blinds – I really love the look of wooden blinds because they give a room a very organic and warm look. These are awesome because they look attractive, they combat humidity, have great light coverage, and can come in so many different shades and finishes. You could also pick bamboo blinds for something sustainable and lightweight.
Faux-Wood Blinds – now you may think there is no difference between real wood and faux wood, but folks who live in areas with really intense humidity will often choose faux wood blinds because they don’t experience the same warping as real wood does, but you can still achieve the same look. This option is very durable and moisture resistant.
Aluminum Blinds – this is a great option if you aren’t too concerned with the look of your blinds and you just want something that keeps the heat and light out, and they are very affordable.
Fabric Blinds – fabric blinds are absolutely one of the most attractive options for your home, and there are tons of different materials that you can choose from. Just keep in mind that fabric blinds do get a little bit more complicated when it comes to cleaning.
Thermal Blinds – thermal blinds are a really sustainable option because it can really lower your heating or cooling bill by helping control the temperature in your home. Thermal blinds work their best when they’re covering a big window area.
The 10 Best Blinds Brands (According to Budget)
In a world where heads of lettuce cost $8 and rent makes you consider moving into a treehouse, we gotta operate within specific budgets. So to help your shopping challenge a little bit easier, we organized the follow section according to budgets: lower budgets, moderate budgets, and luxury budgets.
All of the following information was very generously provided to us by that fantastic group of interior designers that I mentioned earlier. If you’re keen on getting to know them or their services a little bit better, just click on the link on their individual names!
The Best Low Budget Blinds Brands
1. Achim Importing Company
Achim Importing Company has over 4 decades under their belts, so you know that’s a company that not only knows what it’s doing, but it goes to show how loyal and satisfied their customers must be, too. You know you can trust they put care into their products too since they only operate with windows and floors.
What I like about the blinds they offer is that they aren’t afraid to use different patterns and materials! They have cordless options, different types of fabrics, and it’s clear that no matter what style you choose, they are going to run seamlessly.
Ahmet Can Ozkara is a really unique interior designer and always look forward to reading his recommendations because he usually suggests a company that feature really fun and unique products. When it comes to home furnishing that needs to work well over anything else, he’s managed to find something that looks good, too.
“The right set of blinds provides both light filtering and privacy. Many of the products made by Achim are made of heavy-duty PVC designed for privacy and resists bending, fading, and sagging. The modern style features an inclined wand and cordless lift.
Simply raise or lower the bottom rail to raise or lower the curtain for child and pet-safe operation. You can control how much sunlight flows into your room by turning the bar to open and close the slats.
Fabric Feature – Fire Retardant (NFPA-701), UV Protection, Lead-Free, Green Protection, and UL certified. Their prices are very affordable and they are often preferred by folks coming from any budget.”
2. Mara Home
Now I’ll be honest here. Mara Home was recommended to us by Andrea Zivic, and she recommended a brand from Serbia. I simply could not figure out how to change the language on the website to english, but it turns out that I didn’t really need to.
Not only do I trust anything that Andrea Zivic recommends to us, their website is so clear that I didn’t even really need words to understand. The folks at Mara Home are making customized blinds according to whatever your desires are.
You choose the fabric, the method of covering, the string, the little beads at the end of the chords, literally anything that goes into a blind you can customize. I have yet to see another brand to offer this type of customization, and I am here for it!
“We present you a brand from Serbia. You can show Mara Home any product and wish and they will make it customized to your liking. The quality is outstanding and can fit into the budget of every home.
When it comes to roller blinds – curtains, they have become very popular on the market. It used to be used only in office spaces, but now with the help of a newer and improved design, it can also decorate your home.”
3. Ikea
Here you thought you could get away without hearing about Ikea! Boy were you wrong. I find that folks tend to disregard Ikea, maybe because it’s been around for so long or maybe because you’ve broken the slats in their $200 bed frame one too many times that you think you can’t trust them, but Ikea shant be overlooked!
I don’t really need to introduce Ikea to you, but I do need to remind you that they are a completely genius company. They have so much options for you to choose from, and the quality corresponds with the price. This is a brand where it will be incredibly easy for you to find exactly what you’re looking for, and at the price that you’re looking for.
Another reason why I know that I can trust Ikea is because Mairead Belcher recommends them to us constantly. Mairead has worked with every different type of client and when someone is working within a tight budget, there really isn’t anywhere else you need to think about going. Here she is recommending her preferred model by Ikea:
“The Ikea Schottis blackout blinds are a great budget-friendly option. Aesthetically simple with honeycomb construction on size view and a corrugated look to the front. The blinds only come in two colours, so that they can be restrictive, but I found this blackout works perfectly for bedrooms rather than living spaces, and the cord is hidden inside the blind, which is essential for children’s safety. These blinds can be wall or ceiling-mounted.”
The Best Moderate Budget Blinds Brands
4. The Shade Store
It seems that offering customized blinds is really the way to go when we’re talking about the most popular and successful blinds companies. The Shade Store is truly one of the OG’s (that means Original Gangster in case you didn’t know) and they’ve been doing it right since literally the 40’s.
But I’m gonna stop talking now. This recommendation was provided to us by the lovely and highly talented Tina Martindelcampo, and they are the only blinds company that she actually uses. So she can explain why she is so dedicated to them way better than I convince you:
“Handcrafted in the US since 1946, The Shade Store has been offering a simple service of creating custom window treatments to reflect your individual style for 75 years. Their custom blinds are made with sustainably sourced natural and alternative woods, and they offer over 65+ styles to choose from.
Custom blinds can be costly, but with prices starting as low as $297, you can customize your entire home. There are showroom stores across the United States from California to New York, where you have the option of viewing products in person.
Another bonus is that all manufacturing is made in the USA. They also have a quick ship time frame, in 7 days or less, which is important especially if you’ve moved into a new home with many windows to cover.
The 2” basic wood blind is the most standard style which includes a valance and is the most recommended for budget friendly purchases. They include the option to order samples of the wood in different colors and finishes, just to make the decision process easier.
You can customize everything on their website and they also offer assistance with an in-house design consultant. Having ordered window treatments from The Shade Store for clients, I can attest that the quality is great whether you purchase the real wood blinds or the faux wood.”
5. Vida XL
Ahmet Can Ozkara understands that for a lot of people, the most important feature of a set of blinds is their ability to block out light and to create privacy. Now I personally can’t relate because I am fed by the sun, but there are tons of people who work nights, who are sensitive to light, or just prefer darker areas.
If you’ve ever tried to buy black out curtains before, you may have noticed that they can be really quite ugly. But that is not the case if you’re shopping at Vida XL. Not only are these curtains nice to look at, but they are really well made and made with high quality materials to boot.
Even though Vida XL is in the moderate budget section, they have so many options in each different price range, so you’re surely to find something suitable for you. Here is Ahmet explaining why he likes to use products from Vida XL:
“The products that Vida XL makes are are quite good if your main priority for blinds is privacy. They are made of a specially constructed high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fabric that is specially designed to block the sun while allowing air to pass through.
The outer curtain has stylish color and design so it easily blends into your interior. The curtain is easy to install and operate, thanks to the included mounting accessories. Blocks up to 90% of UV light.”
6. Coulisse
“Though we chose vertical blinds from this brand, they also offer many other types of blinds. This type of blind can go well in children’s rooms, kitchen areas or offices. It’s great that they also offer a smart system, so you can control your blinds from your bed.”
Did you hear that?? Coulisse is a company that offers controlled blinds that you can use from across the room! This is bringing convenience to a whole other level. Now I just need to get clap lights and train my dog to fetch me beers from the fridge.
But in all seriousness, Andrea Zivic knows what she’s talking about when it comes to home furnishings, and if she tells me that Coulisse is going to offer me something that is gorgeous, well made, and reasonably priced, I believe her!
Here she’s recommended vertical blinds to us, which I personally love because they achieve privacy but they still let in really gorgeous rays of light throughout the house that give a really magical effect. This is a great model because you can be sure that the mechanism is smooth and not even a little bit annoying.
7. Bed, Bath & Beyond
Whenever I hear Bed Bath & Beyond I just think about Abbi from Broad City and how she has a secret handshake with each different person who works there. Obviously people who shop and Bed Bath & Beyond have a special relationship with it – and it’s clear why!
This is a company that really is a one-stop shop for everything you need in a home. Their customer service is amazing, they allow you to tick every item off your list, they’re reasonably priced, and on top of all those great aspects, their stuff ain’t too bad to look at either!
Mairead Belcher is really the queen of giving us recommendations that are attainable to anyone coming from any budget restriction. Though you may not have considered Bed Bath and Beyond, here’s her convincing you why you should:
“Bed Bath and Beyond does a really incredible faux wood blind. I love using wood blinds in my projects, but these can be expensive, so I tend to substitute a faux alternative in the design.
The classic design controls lighting and prevents light from filtering for complete privacy. They are also heated and moisture-resistant, making them great in bathrooms and kitchens, and they come with a one-year guarantee.”
The Best Luxury Budget Blinds Brands
8. Spring Blinds
It seems that when we start heading into the luxury blinds category, it’s not about the blinds being better looking (though that is of course an aspect to consider) it becomes more about how easy those blinds are to use.
Motorized blinds are becoming more and more popular, which is wonderful! You don’t even have to get out of bed in the morning to let the morning sunshine in. What a precious way to wake up! I’m sure there are blinds out there that are voice operated, but I think we would need to create a new budget category for that type of thing.
Spring Blinds is the brand to beat when it comes to motorized blinds. What’s cool is that they also offer a customized print, so you can choose literally whatever print or color your heart could desire. This recommendation came from Ahmet Can Ozkara, and here is what he has to say about them:
“The products from Spring Blinds are motorized and contain a battery that requires charging only four or five times a year. It is operated by remote control. From the comfort of your bed, sofa, or office chair, you can raise the shade to let light in and enjoy the view, lower it for darkness or privacy, or adjust it to any custom height you desire.
You can expect the installation process to be more complicated with electric blinds, but it’s quite a simple process. You just need to attach a couple of brackets to the window frame and then place the shade in place. The quiet operation of the engine is the biggest advantage. This is why it is preferred. Another most important feature is that it provides 100% light-blocking material that protects against harmful UV rays from entering your home.”
9. MHZ
MHZ is doing stuff right. Every single aspect of your blinds experience is customized, from the type of installation, to the fabric, to the method of control, down to the tiniest blind accessories that you didn’t even know existed.
Andrea Zivic has tons of experience working with clients who want the absolute best of the best, and when that is the case, it is always a safe bet to work with a brand like MHZ. Here is her talking about her preferred roller blinds that they make:
“With a modern and functional design, the products from MHZ make your space more comfortable and attractive. MHZ offers an incredible amount of different choices of fabrics achieve different degrees of transparency and shades. That’s why this brand made it to our top brand list, because they’re using gorgeous fabrics to elevate the look of the blinds.”
Have you ever seen that episode of Twin Peaks where the woman with the eye patch invents a way to make her roller blinds completely silent? Well, she did it with cotton balls, but I have a feeling that MHZ achieved the same thing, just with a more sophisticated design.
10. Hunter Douglas
You know you can trust a company when they’re only doing one thing. I’m going to trust the chip truck that only makes fries, and I’m going to trust the boutique that only sells natural wine, y’know what I mean?
Hunter Douglas is only doing window coverings, which is really saying something. A lot of other companies are providing all sorts of different home appliances and furnishings, but when a company is just doing window coverings, you can be certain that those are created with perfection in mind.
We got this recommendation from Mairead Belcher. She always does a fantastic job of supporting brands that are using sustainably sourced materials, and Hunter Douglas certainly doesn’t fall short. Their blinds are beautiful, sustainable, and they have a variety of different motorization options for you to choose from. Here is Mairead talking about her preferred model from Hunter Douglas:
“Hunter Douglas Parkland Natural Wood Blinds are perfect for your home. I love to bring raw materials into my designs, and using wood blinds throughout a home’s design brings warmth and luxury into the space.
Not only do they create a great aesthetic these blinds are incredibly versatile. They allow for light control and privacy and can be controlled by three options: smart motorization, push/pull and push-button. They come in a large array of colours and hit on sustainability by using ethically managed forests to harvest the wood.”
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And there you have it folks. Hopefully I made the topic of blinds feel a little more interesting for you today, and hopefully you’ve managed to find your perfect set for your home. And if not, I’m certain that you at least got some inspiration.
I’d like to thank that wonderful group of interior designers just one more time for providing us with this superbly valuable information. If you’re doing way more furnishing, they’ve provided us with recommendations in all sorts of home furnishing areas. Check these out:
