Window blind is a specific type of window covering which is made with slats of fabric, wood or metal that adjust by rotating from an open position to a closed position by allowing slats to overlap. Metal window blinds are often used outside of the house or business to protect against theft, temperature, vision, bad weather and fire (in fire-prone areas). Often these blinds are machine-operated, rather than hand operated.
The horizontal version uses a thin woven "ladder" system to suspend the slats and enable slats to be closed via a rotating drum to which each upper end of the woven ladder is wrapped and attached. A lift cord allows blind to be pulled up and stack tightly to top of window when desired.
The vertical version uses a generally wider slat and has the added feature of being able to pull a cord to stack the slats together either to one side or to separate in the center and stack on each end. This vertical blind allows rotation of slats by a rotating shaft in the upper head rail housing which runs through independent geared carriers that will convert twisting of tilt rail to a rotation of each individual slat in sync.
The term Window blinds is also sometimes used, somewhat inaccurately, to describe window coverings generically - in this context window blinds include most every type of window covering ie. shutters, roller shades, roman shades and of course, vertical and horizontal blinds.
In Britain awnings are also considered blinds. A blind limits observation and thus “blinds” the observer to the view. The main types are slat blinds which can be opened in two ways and solid blinds.
Solid blinds can only be raised or lowered and are often called shades. There are types of blinds, such as Holland blinds and woven-wood blinds, where there are small spaces between the slats. In others such as pleated shades there are no spaces because the slats are sewn inside fabric.
Window blinds reduce the heat from sunlight. Ancient Egyptian pharaohs had blinds made of reeds. The most inexpensive blinds in the 1800’s were home-made roller shades, made of cloth.
Window blinds can be manually drawn using a cord, or automated through motorization. Controls for motorized blinds can be from a wall switch or keypad, remote control, or a personal computer, eliminating the need for cords and allowing control of otherwise inaccessible windows.
Venetian
Blinds
These are what most people think of when they hear the
word blind. These blinds are constructed with slats, most often made
from metal or plastic. When bamboo or wooden slats are used they are
called either bamboo or wooden blinds instead of Venetian blinds. The
widths of the slats can vary, but they are most commonly about 50mm.
Wider slats look better on larger windows. There are a couple of
variants to the Venetian blind which have become very popular –
mini blinds and vertical blinds.
Mini
Blinds
The
slats of these blinds are never more than 19mm. They get their name
from their very narrow slats.
Vertical
Blinds
The slats of these blinds hang vertically instead of
horizontally, as their name implies. The slats of these blinds are
often constructed from stiffened fabric.
Any blind that has
slats opens and closes using a rotator attachment which controls the
strings running through the blinds.
Solid Blinds
These
blind open and close by pushing and pulling. These types of blinds
have a solid piece of material instead of slats.
Holland
Blinds
These are blinds constructed using woven wood. They
open and close by being rolled up using the attached strings. These
are great at controlling sunlight and thus very popular in tropical
locations. They provide a tropical ambience wherever they are
used.
Pleated Blinds
These blinds are constructed using
pleated fabrics. They can be pulled up to open and usually contain a
recess at the top to hold the material.
Honeycomb Blinds
These
blinds feature a cellular construction with at least two layers of
fabric. The cellular design gives them greater insulating properties.