Vertical patio blinds are practical and cheap. It’s really easy to access your door with this window treatment. I find that a big downside is the actual aesthetic itself. This is why you don’t usually see a lot of decorators bragging about their use of vertical blinds. However, in day to day living it’s almost essential and there are some ways that you can spruce up this look.
The reason that PVC is usually used is just because of the durability. They slide back and forth all the time and hit against each other so they really need to be able to handle some wear. They also need to be the proper weight just because they’re going to be turning and then swinging back and forth so you don’t want them to get all tangled up.
Usually when you see other materials it’s just going to be as a veneer over the actual PVC. This helps to cut down on costs but also ensures that the vane keeps its shape. If going green is a big consideration for you then consider this carefully when it comes to these vertical patio blinds. Be aware of grasscloth versions. It might have these elements on it but probably is also going to have some man made materials too.
An Unnoticed Look
Sometimes there’s just way too much focus on vertical patio blinds. It just seems like your room can’t be completed until they’re gone or that everyone is going to notice them. However, since they are such a design staple because of their practicality, most people aren’t even going to really register that it’s even in the room. When I first moved into a new apartment I hated the fact that there were white vertical patio blinds in the space. I read up about all kinds of ways to change them or decorate around them. Since I am a renter there wasn’t a lot that I could do. Plus, most landlords still want a cohesive look throughout so they won’t really let you take these down.
However, I found when I actually moved into the apartment and lived in it for a while I didn’t notice the blinds at all. Instead, the focus was on the rest of my décor and the accessories that I had brought into the room. In fact it serves as a neutral backdrop and now I’m glad that I don’t have a crazy or ornate window treatment. If you do hate these blinds it might just be because they’re the wrong color or there’s too much contrast between it and your wall color. Since they are cheap, and I’ll be honest they usually look cheap, I just like to see these in lighter tones that are more neutral that will blend against your wall color such as white if you are a renter.
PVC, Wood Veneer, or Fabric
These blinds tend to be heavy and make a lot of noise when you open and close them. You can find sheer versions. You just might be a lighter weight fabric layered over PVC to mimic tropical window treatments. There are also cellular shades. These will just be sliding panel but it’s still a vertical blind even though it has horizontal cells within it.
It’s also a chance to play around with materials that aren’t typical for this use. This can even mimic shutters. You can find wood veneer versions. There are also plastic PVC versions available but I find that the wood grain looks much too cheap here. There aren’t even bamboo looks available and these tend to look great whether they’re opened or closed. It almost has a tiki flair to it so it only works within certain tropical themes.
Bringing the Vertical Look to Windows
Minimalistic window treatments can actually work to your advantage design wise. We are seeing a lot of rooms that just use one pattern or limited fabric choices. Wood grain is being eliminated in many designs to further create a minimalistic look. If you have dark wall colors or bolder furniture choices you don’t necessarily need to make a statement with your window treatment. You will just need to make sure that it doesn’t draw the focus away from a beautiful fireplace or an expensive piece of furniture. This is an important goal for smaller spaces as well as choosing window treatments that let in as much light during the day as possible. Both of these principles will help your room to feel a little bigger.
If you have limited options you can still customize the piece just with a cornice box, although you will need to have some clearance above your window so that it doesn’t interfere with the actual track system itself. This is where you can add in pattern and coordinate it with your theme. It’s pretty easy to upholster these yourself and you can even make your own fabric covered buttons for a tufted look. I like to see toile prints here just because there’s a white background which will relate back to your vertical blinds but it definitely increases the overall elegance.
