Naples Shutter Blog

When designing your home, you’ll quickly find out how much of an impact window treatments have on a space. Think about it, your windows take up a large portion of any given room, which means that what you choose to hang on them will matter…a lot. For many homeowners, blinds and shades complete the look of their home; however, it may be challenging to figure out which particular type will work for you, especially when it comes to horizontal and vertical blinds. Does one look better than the other? Do certain openings require a certain type of shade? If you’re wondering what the best look for your home will be, let the pros hand out some helpful advice. Comparing horizontal vs. vertical blinds, here are the best applications for each.

When to Use Horizontal Blinds

You’ll see a lot of homes with horizontal blinds running across the windows. After all, these are some of the most common, widely used products in the industry. These energy-efficient options not only keep cool air in and hot air out, they’re perfect for protecting your furniture and valuables from damage by the sun’s harmful UV rays, while offering intense privacy. In addition to the obvious horizontal slats, horizontal blinds operate up and down, either with a pull cord, wand or remote control. Ideal for covering small to medium sized windows, horizontal blinds, including honeycomb shades, Roman shades and wood blinds come with a host of benefits, such as:

• More privacy
• Less clutter, as they typically don’t touch the floor
• Long-lasting
• Less noisy

Horizontal blinds are also perfect for tall and narrow openings, making them go-to choices for many types of windows in the home. This is why you’ll see so many horizontal blinds available, due to their unmatched versatility.

When to Use Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds have vanes that run up and down the shade and are used when an opening needs a little more to it than a horizontal blind can provide. In addition to providing ample privacy and exceptional light filtering abilities, vertical blinds are easy to clean and maintain, making them perfect for many homeowners. These types of blinds work best on openings like:

• Sliding glass doors
• French doors
• Wide openings
• Large windows
• Oddly shaped windows

You’ll find that vertical blinds also come in more elegant options as well, including luxury sheers and shadings to really enhance the appeal of the room. When your window is a bit larger and in need of something that makes more of a statement, vertical blinds are capable of adding unparalleled style to any space.

Horizontal vs. Vertical Blinds: How to Choose

It helps to work with a window treatment professional, who can help you determine your needs and the style you’re looking to create in your home. By taking a closer look at your windows, they can provide the necessary advice on which type of shade will work for each and every opening. Remember, for smaller openings, horizontal blinds are ideal. For larger or uniquely shaped windows, vertical blinds work better here. In addition, you’ll want to define your home’s design, so that you’re able to select the window treatments that not only fit in with this style, but amplify it.