Discount Blinds are not the same as ‘cheap blinds’.

‘Cheap Blinds’ by definition are blinds that are made to be cheap, which normally means mass production, cheap materials, cheap labour, ect.

Discount blinds on the other hand are still a high quality product, they are just discounted for one reason or another, for example during a sale or stock clearance.

What this means is if you are on a tight budget, which I understand a lot of people are during the ‘recession’ you can essentially get hold of the high quality blinds you are accustomed to at the same price as the low quality ‘cheap blinds’ you would usually avoid.

How you say? Simple, search for the discounts and sales!

It is important to understand that you are not the only one feeling the heat of the credit crunch, businesses are feeling it too and they are lowering prices and holding sales left, right and center!

This may sound cynical, but a lot of businesses are also going bust as well, and they have a lot of extra stock they quickly need to get rid of to recuperate at least some money. I’m willing to bet you can get a great discount on that stock!

I’m guessing you have a retail brand you know well, trust and buy from each time? It may be Hillarys, Web-Blinds, Blinds Supermarket or one I haven’t even heard of. But the key to finding the most discounted blinds is to not stick with one retailer but to compare the market, which is relatively easy with a simple Google search.

Another thing to look out for is promotions like ‘price beater’ or ‘price match’ where companies guarantee to beat the quote you’ve been given. This is always worth going for, you have nothing to lose after all!

One last thing to remember is that nearly all sites have discount codes, if you do a google search that looks something like “Web Blinds Discount Code” you may be surprised with what you find

Good luck finding those discounts!

4 Reasons to Buy Made to Measure Wooden Blinds

1.The Perfect Fit

All made to measure blinds are manufactured to fit your window perfectly, this offers a much better finish than ready made blinds which look cheap and don’t fit your window correctly. There is nothing worse than buying ready made wooden blinds and having to cut down the sides yourself as this leaves a very untidy finish.

2.Stylish

Wooden blinds are one of the most stylish blinds available, not only do they compliment your wooden floor or furnishings, but they can also give that classic look depending on which wood colour you choose. Wooden blinds make a great addition to any room.

3.High Quality

Wooden blinds are created from high quality woods and if used correctly and not abused they should last a long time. A high quality wood is easily distinguishable from a cheap one, so if in doubt order a sample of the wood, they are usually free of charge.

4.Easily Maintained

Made to measure wooden blinds can be cleaned easily using a dry cloth, simply wipe the dust or dirt away. If the stains are more stubborn contact your supplier before using any cleaning liquids or chemicals.

3 Reasons Not to Buy Made to Measure Wooden Blinds

1.Expensive

You can’t really expect to buy a high quality wood blind for the same price as a paper thing vertical blind can you? Don’t expect your local 3 blinds for £99 to offer you wooden blinds as part of the offer, and if they do be very weary of the quality. When buying wooden blinds you are paying for quality.

2.Not water resistant

Wooden blinds and water do not mix well, if you are looking for bathroom blinds then choose another material, water will ruin your wooden blinds. Maybe consider faux wood blinds.

3.Heavy

Compared to the alternatives (Aluminium, PVC, ect) wood is a heavy material, when purchasing your blinds you must ask yourself: Is this going to make the blinsd difficult control, and also will the blinds last long holding up that weight? Your supplier should be able to assist you with these queries.

Price

The main advantage of aluminium blinds over wooden blinds is that they cost a lot less to manufacture which means the price difference is then forwarded to you, the consumer, in the form of discounts and special offers.

Waterproof

In rooms that can become steamy wooden slats can become damp and warp. Unlike the wooden alternative, aluminium does not warp when damp, this means you can use them in your bathroom or kitchen with no fear of ruining them.

Large Widths

Aluminium is available in much larger widths than real wood, this means you can purchase aluminium blinds in much larger widths, sometimes up to 5 meters. Aluminium is also a lighter material which means the other components can handle the weight easily.

The lighter weight also eases the force required to control the blinds, which is very helpful if you have a large blind to control.

Easy to clean

Due to aluminium being a very smooth material, dust only rests on the surface rather than being trapped within a fabric. Which means you can easily wipe it off with a dry cloth, if you somehow end up with dirt on your slats then you should be able to remove it with a warm damp cloth.

Diverse colour options

The range of colours available is huge which is great when you are looking for that specific colour or tone to match your decor. The reason there is a wide range of colours is that they are basically painted aluminium, which means there are a massive number of colours available, any good supplier will stock a few hundred.

Environmentally Friendly

Wooden blinds have a negative effect on the environment, to make a wooden blind you need to cut down a tree, most suppliers will then not replant a tree, which means they are contributing to the problem of deforestation, which has an impact on us all as it means there are less trees to take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen. It is arguable that aluminium is much more friendly to the environment which could sway your purchase decision.

If you are on a tight budget faux wood blinds should definitely be considered, they can be acquired for upto 30% cheaper than real wood blinds.

From a distance you can’t distinguish them from real wood blinds, but when you are close up you will be able to notice the differences.

Wood Effects

Faux wood blinds are available in all the popular wood effects such as Beech, Mahogany and Oak. There is a good selection of colours to suit either the classic look or a modernistic approach.

The variety of wood effects available means that faux wood blinds can be used in almost all environments, whether is be a bathroom or an office.

Material

The material used to create the slats is a thin vinyl which is painted to look like wood. The slat width is usually 50mm which is usually the maximum width for wood blinds. Faux wood blinds are much more environmentally friendly than real wood blinds which makes them a great option for environmentally conscious people.

Cleaning

Faux wood blinds can be cleaned easily using a dry cloth, just wipe the dust and dirt off. If the stains are stubborn you can use a warm damp cloth, fortunately it will not damage the slats as they will not warp like real wood.

No Warping

When used in bathrooms or other damp areas wooden blinds can become warped which effectively ruins them, faux wood blinds do not suffer from this problem which makes them a great alternative for bathrooms and kitchens.

Venetian Blinds are made from horizontal slats connected by guide wires. The slats are usually 25, 35 or 50mm. When completely closed the slats slightly overlap each other to block out the light.

Controls

Venetian blinds are controlled using two chords, one which raises and lowers the blinds and one which tilts the slats to control the light. Depending on who you purchase your blinds off you may have a choice of control side, alternatively you may have the choice and be stuck with tilt left, raise right or visa versa.

Materials

• Aluminium – If you are looking for a venetian blind at a bargain price then aluminium is probably the best material to choose. Aluminium is cheaper than wood for many reasons; cost of raw materials, transportation, deforestation. Although if you are really set on wood then you might be interested in wood-effect venetians. From a distance they are identical to real wood blinds and there is a good choice of colours on the market.

• Real Wood – Many people will say there is no comparison to a real wood blind, and I can partly agree with this, they do provide a truly stunning effect. Sometimes though real wood can be just a bit too expensive, although prices do seem to be falling lately. Also wood blinds can become brittle if they receive too much sunlight which is a problem that aluminium doesn’t suffer from.

Cleaning

• Wipe Clean – Blinds, especially venetians, are notorious for collecting dust and grime. Luckily both wood and aluminium blinds are wipe clean materials, which means you can simply wipe the dust off with a standard cloth. If you would like an easier solution ostrich feather dusters are available which ease the cleaning greatly. For more stubborn stains you will probably need to use a warm damp cloth.

Sizes

Obviously the sizes available largely depend on the supplier you purchase your blinds off, that being said aluminium venetians are usually available in larger widths as it is much easier to get long lengths of aluminium than it is real wood. That being said it is not hard to find suppliers of real wood venetian blinds at up to 2.5 meters of around 8 foot. But if you have extra wide windows aluminium venetian blinds can span up to around 4 meters.