Some people look down on 'faux' and think the real deal is always the way to go. While there are times we'd agree (faux cheese will never compare to a fine Stilton, for example), there are also times when faux wood blinds outperform their real wood counterparts.
High-quality faux wood blinds have a wood effect that mirrors natural wood grain. The look of faux wood has gotten so good that often only an expert can tell the difference between it and the real thing. But style isn't the only reason to love this window treatment. Here's a look at the features of faux wood blinds, how they compare to real wood and how you can measure your windows to ensure a perfect fit.
Features of Faux Wood Blinds
Most faux wood blinds are actually a type of venetian blind, and they share all the same benefits and features of venetians. These blinds are made with slats that hang from a headrail via a cord or decorative tape. Most will come with a matching wooden valance to cover the headrail. In a faux wooden blind, both the slats and the matching valance will be made from either a wood composite (a blend of wood and plastic), PVC or vinyl.
Faux wood blinds tend to perform better in tall windows than wide windows. When the slats on venetian blinds get too long, they start to bow in the middle. So, if you have a window that's more than 240cm, you'll need to install multiple panels of wooden blinds to cover the full width, and light may creep in where the two panels meet. If you don't want to install multiple panels of blinds, you may be better off choosing vertical blinds for wide windows.
Unlike roller blinds, vertical blinds and roman blinds, faux wood venetian blinds don't provide blackout room darkening. But they will block 90-95% of the light, depending on their slat width.
Most faux wood venetians feature a wider slat size, which blocks more light than a thinner slat size. So, the 50mm slat on a faux wood blind will provide better light blocking than the 25mm slat on aluminium venetian blinds.
While this window treatment won't block 100% of the light, it does offer better light control than any other blind. You can raise, angle or lower the slats to direct the light however you want it. So, let's say you add faux wood venetians to your kitchen and the afternoon sun hits your window directly. You can angle the slats down toward your counter to light up your countertops as you work and keep the afternoon sun out of your eyes.
Faux Wood Blinds vs. Real Wood Blinds
Real and faux wood blinds share the features of venetians listed above. The main differences are in the look, durability, care and price.
Look
Both real wooden and faux wooden blinds come in a variety of colours and wood grains, including dark and light wood stains, bright white, dark grey and driftwood. So, with either option, you can match your decor or use colour to change the feeling of your room. A white venetian blind will brighten a dark space, while a dark wood stain will make the space feel cosier.
Faux wood has a natural look, and most people won't notice a difference. But to the discerning eye, there's nothing more beautiful than a natural wood grain. With real wood, every slat will be unique in the pattern of its grain. Real wooden venetian blinds will look especially beautiful next to the real wood furniture in your living room or dining room.
Durability
High-quality faux wood blinds can last just as long or longer than real wood blinds. Faux wood doesn't warp or crack as easily as real wood. It's moisture resistant so it's a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
The durability of faux wood also makes it a good choice for a kids room. Give yourself peace of mind by choosing blinds that come with built-in child safety mechanisms.
Neither faux nor real wood blinds are a good choice for conservatories because these rooms get so hot they can warp both materials.
Care
To clean both faux and real wood blinds, you just need to wipe down the individual slats. Faux wood blinds are slightly easier to clean because you can use any household cleaner to wipe them down.
With wood blinds, you'll need a wood cleaner to avoid drying out the slats. If your real wood blinds start to look dry, you can treat them with a wood wax or wood oil to extend their life.
Price
Faux wood is less expensive than real wood. If you want to splash out on real wood blinds but can't afford them for all the windows in your home, consider adding them to a room where the windows are an important feature, like a living room with a bay window.
Window Blind Measuring Guide
Good window blinds are made-to-measure. So before you can checkout with that set of white faux wood venetians you're eyeing, you'll need to measure your windows. First, decide whether you want your blinds to fit inside or outside the window recess.
If you want your blinds inside your window recess, measure inside the recess in three places for both the width and the drop. For the width, measure across the bottom, middle and top of the recess. You'll use the smallest of the three measurements when ordering. For the drop, measure down the left side, middle and right side of the recess. Again, you'll use the smallest measurement when ordering.
If you want your blinds outside your window recess, measure the width along your wall from where you want the blinds to start to where you want them to stop. Then, measure the drop from where you want to install the headrail to where you want the bottom of the blinds to stop.
Be careful not to confuse your width and drop measurements when you order. If at any point, you're confused about the measurements: Stop. Take a breath. And measure again. Remember, you can measure your windows as many times as you want, but you can only have your blinds cut once.
Go Faux for Long-Lasting Style
Faux wood blinds give you the look of real wood with added durability and a lower price tag. They're easy to care for and allow you to control the light in your home better than any other blind.
If you're not sure how faux wood will look in your house, browse our large range of wooden blinds, select your favourite styles and order free samples. Our samples let you see how the blinds look with your decor and the natural light in your home. Plus, all our blinds come with a 5-year guarantee and built-in child safety mechanisms. So, your family can enjoy them for years to come.
