Best Type of Blinds for Living Room Windows
If you’re looking for the best type of blinds for living room windows, you’re likely looking for window treatments that complete the look of your room while providing needed privacy and light control. From traditional slatted Wood Blinds to chic Metal Blinds to alternatives like Roller Shades and Roman Shades, you have a lot of options to choose from to find the perfect look and the right functionality.
To choose the best type of blinds for living room windows, it’s important to first consider your room and how you want your window treatments to enhance the space. Keep in mind that there is no single best type of blinds — the best will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
Tips for Choosing the Best Blinds for Living Room Windows
When deciding which is the best type of blinds for living room windows, it’s important to take your specific needs and preferences into consideration. From light and privacy control to insulation to functionality, consider these factors to help guide you toward the right blinds for your living room.
Natural Light
Do you get a lot of sunlight, or very little? Are you concerned about the sun bleaching your furnishings? Do you need heat control or glare reduction? All blinds and shades will block light when closed, but some, like Solar Shades will let light through while blocking UV rays, which insulates your room against heat, reduces glare and prevents fading of your furnishings.
Privacy Needs
Do your living room windows face toward the street where there’s a lot of passersby? Do any windows clearly face your neighbors’? What’s your level of privacy concern? Different types of blinds and shades offer varying levels of privacy, from little privacy with Solar Shades to maximum privacy with Wood Blinds and blackout-lined Roman Shades.
insulation
Do your living room windows have a draft in winter or let in the heat during summer? Certain blinds and shades are better at insulating than others, like Cellular Shades, which trap both hot and cold air in their unique cells for more temperate indoor temperatures.
window size
The best blinds for large living room windows will be different than the best for small or narrow windows. For instance, very tall or wide windows will benefit from motorized shades or blinds that you can lift with the press of a button a remote. For smaller windows, you’ll need to make sure the type of blind or shade you prefer can be made small enough to fit correctly over your window.
Functionality
The best type of blinds for living room windows will give you the functionality that suits your needs. The easiest control types include cordless and motorization, but other options are available for certain products, like continuous loop, so you can choose the right one to fit your needs.
aesthetic effect
All types of blinds and shades have different aesthetic styles that you can customize by material and color. The best blinds for your living room will capture just the right look, whether it’s classic and traditional or bold and modern.
Explore the Best Blinds for Living Room Windows
With tips for choosing the best type of blinds for living room windows, it’s time to learn about all your options. This list includes both blinds and shades, which are very similar window treatments and so offer you more solutions than just blinds alone.
Learn more about the best blinds for living room windows so you can choose the right one for your space.
Blinds with Horizontal Slats
When initially thinking about the best blinds for living room windows, the first thing that comes to mind is likely traditional blinds with horizontal slats. These blinds feature 2-inch slats of a hard material like wood or metal connected by ladder cords that allow the slats to be tilted up or down as well as lifted and lowered. With the option to either tilt your blinds or lift/lower them, blinds with horizontal slats are ideal for flexible light and privacy control.
wood blinds
Wood Blinds feature 2-inch slats made from real wood for a classic, sophisticated look. They come in a many attractive grain patterns from chic painted wood looks to highly varied exotic wood looks. Thanks to their real wood slats, Wood Blinds are durable and long-lasting, however they can get heavy on very wide or tall windows. Additionally, their wood slats may slightly warp or crack in very humid environments, so keep your application and environment in mind before choosing these blinds.
Pictured: Wood Blinds, 2-Inch Exotic in Zebrano
wood BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- A sophisticated, classic look ideal for formal living rooms.
- A wide range of aesthetic styles including traditional, Scandinavian, coastal, mid-century modern and more.
- Average-sized to smaller windows as the real wood can get heavy, making it a bit more difficult to lift and lower regularly.
- Easy light and privacy control thanks to tiltable slats.
Metal blinds
Metal Blinds are made with 2-inch aluminum slats available in several sleek metal finishes from cool Silver to warm Champagne to a deep Night black. Thanks to their aluminum slats, Metal Blinds are very durable while also being lightweight. This makes them ideal for living room windows that are tall and wide. Plus, they’re resistant to moisture, so they won’t warp or crack in humid environments.
Pictured: Metal Blinds, 2-Inch Metal in Champagne
METAL BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- A sleek, modern look ideal for formal or casual living rooms.
- Aesthetic styles including modern, industrial and glam.
- Tall and wide windows, as they won’t be too heavy to lift and lower thanks to lightweight aluminum composition.
- Easy light and privacy control thanks to tiltable slats.
Vertical Blinds
Vertical Blinds, sometimes called Panel Track Blinds, feature vertical panels of hard textiles that run along a track system. Some types of vertical blinds are tiltable, but the Vertical Blinds from The Shade Store run flat on a track system, overlapping with one another, and do not tilt.
Vertical or panel track blinds are ideal for very wide windows, like wall-to-wall windows, or for sliding glass doors as they easily span large distances. Plus, they’re available in many different light-filtering materials from simple neutral tones to complex patterns.
Vertical BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- A chic, modern look.
- A wide range of aesthetic styles thanks to material options that range from subtle to bold.
- Large, expansive windows, like wall-to-wall windows, as the vertical panels can easily cover a wide space.
- Easy light and privacy control thanks to panels that run easily on a track system.
Zebra Blinds
Zebra blinds, also called zebra shades, zebra roller blinds or Double Roller Shades are comprised of two layers of material with alternating sheer and opaque bands. You can adjust the bands easily to either alternate and let light through or overlay them for privacy and light control. Additionally, zebra blinds can also be fully lifted and lowered, giving you lots of flexibility for light and privacy. With lots of options for your light and privacy, zebra blinds are great for windows that will be frequently adjusted throughout the day.
Zebra blinds come in a range of neutral colors with varying textures as well as different levels of light control, with some opaque bands being partially light filtering and others being blackout.
zebra BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- A modern, linear look.
- Aesthetic styles like mid-century modern and contemporary homes.
- Large to small windows.
- Easy light and privacy control thanks to simple adjustment of alternating bands.
Venetian Blinds
Also called Venetian Roller Shades, Venetian Blinds features tiltable vanes between two sheer layers of material. You can also lift the entire shade up for a completely unobstructed view. Just like zebra blinds and blinds with horizontal slats, Venetian blinds are another great option for living room windows that you’ll frequently be adjusting for light and privacy control.
Venetian blinds are available in multiple neutral tones, with vanes that are either light filtering or blackout so you get a versatile, attractive aesthetic with the right level of privacy and light filtration.
Venetian BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- A soft, linear look.
- Aesthetic styles that range from traditional to modern thanks to the versatile look that can blend into nearly any style.
- Large to small windows.
- Easy light and privacy control that combines the best of blinds and shades, with tiltable vanes as well as the ability to be fully raised and lowered.
Roller Blinds
Roller Blinds, also called Roller Shades, are a popular style of window treatment with a single panel of hard textile that rolls around a tube at the top of your window. Roller Blinds are a simple, sleek window treatment solution that’s very versatile and can suit nearly any application from very small windows to very large. Plus, they’re available in many different colors, textures and patterns in both light-filtering and blackout options so you can find the right look with the right privacy and light control.
roller BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- A sleek, simple look.
- Aesthetic styles that range from traditional to modern thanks to many material options.
- Light filtering options for softening light.
- Blackout options for a room darkening effect.
- Install versatility that makes Roller Shades suitable for both large and small windows.
- Easy light and privacy control regardless of control type.
Solar Blinds
Solar Blinds, also called Solar Shades, are a type of Roller Blind with a single panel of UV-blocking material that rolls around a tube. Solar Blinds materials offer the unique ability to block up to 99% of UV rays while still allowing natural light to filter into your home for an inviting glow. UV rays are a source of glare, heat and fading of your furniture and floor, so by blocking UV rays, you reduce glare and heat buildup while protecting your possessions.
Solar Blind materials are all light-filtering but feature degrees of UV protection and transparency. For instance, 1% materials block 99% of UV rays and offer the least transparency, while 10% materials block 90% of UV rays and offer the best transparency for a near-clear view of the outdoors.
solar BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- A sleek, simple look.
- Nearly any aesthetic style thanks to its versatile material selection that features neutral tones in a variety of textures.
- Bright, sunny living rooms thanks to the ability to cut glare and mitigate heat.
- Fade protection for your floors and furnishings.
- Large to small windows.
- Easy light and privacy control regardless of control type.
Roman Blinds
Roman Blinds, also called Roman Shades, feature soft fabric that folds into itself when raised and unfolds in a cascading motion when lowered. Roman Blinds come in a six styles, ranging in terms of aesthetics and functionality.
Fabric options for Roman Blinds vary from natural fibers like linen, wool and silk to performance synthetics like Sunbrella® acrylic and offer a wide range of privacy and light filtration levels. If a fabric you love doesn’t quite give you the privacy or light control you need, you can add privacy or blackout lining for no extra charge when you choose Roman Shades from The Shade Store. A cotton flannel interlining can also be added at no extra charge for shades that need a little bit more body and insulation.
ROMAN BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- An elegant or causal look based on the style chosen.
- Nearly every aesthetic style thanks to its large, versatile material selection and six styles, all of which deliver a different aesthetic.
- Large to small windows.
- Light filtering with unlined or privacy-lined fabric.
- Room darkening with blackout-lined fabric.
- Excellent insulation with interlining.
- Easy light and privacy control when you choose functional styles.
- Beautiful decorative options in Relaxed and Tulip Roman Shades.
Woven Blinds
Woven Blinds, also called bamboo blinds and Woven Wood Shades, are made from natural woven fibers like reeds, bamboo and grasses and add texture and warmth to your living room with their organic aesthetic.
These shades come in four styles, three of which are similar to Roman Blind styles, where the material folds into itself, and one of which is similar to Roller Blinds, where the material wraps around a tube. All styles are functional and easy to use, plus you can add privacy or blackout lining for better light and privacy control to the Roman Blind styles.
woven BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- An organic, natural aesthetic.
- Aesthetic styles including boho, Scandinavian design, mid-century modern, coastal and any other style where natural textures are championed.
- Large to small windows.
- Light filtering with unlined or privacy-lined fabric.
- Room darkening with blackout-lined fabric.
- Good insulation with privacy and blackout lining.
- Easy light and privacy control with all styles and control types.
Cellular Blinds
Cellular Blinds, also called Cellular Shades, feature a unique honeycomb design with pleated fabric cells that expand and contract like an accordion when the shade is raised and lowered. Cellular Blinds come in single-cell and double-cell options in many versatile neutral colors. Both light-filtering and blackout materials are available in either single- or double-cell designs.
Another option is a Day/Night Cellular Shade that combines light-filtering and blackout material on the same shade, allowing you to easily adjust your light control and privacy as needed.
cellular BLINDS ARE BEST FOR:
- A simple, minimalist aesthetic
- Nearly any aesthetic style thanks to its versatile design and neutral color selection.
- Light filtering options for softening light.
- Blackout options for a room darkening effect.
- Large to small windows.
- Easy light and privacy control with all styles and control types.
Connect with an Expert to Make Your Final Selection
While you have a better understanding of the best blinds for living room windows, you still might have some questions or need additional guidance for choosing the right product. Schedule a free design consultation with one of our expert Design Consultants who can answer your questions and guide you in your selection. Consultations can be done virtually or at your local showroom, where you’ll also be able to see all your window treatment options for yourself.
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