venetian blind

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For the desktop theming software, see WindowBlinds.

Front and side view of Venetian or horizontal blinds.

A window blind or door blind is a covering for a window or door, usually attached to the interior side of a window. Blinds hide from sight (thus "blinding" a viewer of the window) or to reduce sunlight. Blinds have varying thermal effects: they can block unwanted heat of the summer sun and they can keep in heat in cold weather. But in both of these applications, they also reduce light to varying degrees, depending on the design. Many kinds of blinds attempt varying balances of blinding external viewers and allowing sunlight.

All kinds of blinds can also be motorised and, because of this, automated. Some motorised door blinds are transpassables (one can cross them). Motorized shades can be controlled from a wall switch or keypad, remote control, or a personal computer. This eliminates the hazard of dangling cords.

Another type of window blind, which is effective in light blocking, is the Duette blind. It can be used in any type of room as it is custom made. The fabric used is polyester fabric. It helps control the room temperature. It can be custom made to different pleat sizes.

Slats

Venetian blind detail, showing how slats are connected.

Slat blinds, which consist of many horizontal slats, usually of metal or vinyl, connected with string in a way that they can be rotated to allow light to pass between the slats, rotated up to about 170 degrees to hide the light, or pulled up so that the entire window is clear. The blinds can be tilted by rotating a small knob that is attached to the strings, twisting a long wand or by pulling a cord; the raising and lowering of the blinds is achieved by pulling a different string. However, there also exists version with a winding mechanisms that combine both functions into one winding rod and can mostly also be used for motorisation. Such blinds include:

• Venetian blinds - basic slatted blind made of metal or plastic; wooden slats are sometimes used but these are usually referred to as wood blinds or bamboo blinds. Venetian blinds were introduced around 1770, possibly in Venice, Italy. Slat width can be between 16-120 mm, however most common are 50 mm).

• Miniblinds - venetian blinds with very narrow slats (usually 19 or 24 mm wide).

• Microblinds - blinds with tiny slats (usually 1 to 2 mm wide).

• Vertical blinds or track blinds - consisting of slats of stiffened fabric, plastic, or metal hanging by one end from a track; like the horizontal versions, the slats can be rotated 90 degrees to allow light to pass through or to fold up on one side of a door or window.

Solid blinds

Solid blinds, which either roll up or fold up but cannot be opened in place to allow light through. These are also often referred to as window shades. Such blinds include:

• Holland blinds, or roller shades - pull-down rolling window blinds.

• Woven-wood blinds - slats of decorative wood, bamboo, or other natural material woven together with simple string, colored yarn, or other decorative material to make a nearly solid blind; these either roll up out of the way or fold up out of the way. Wood blinds are known for their energy efficiency, and greater light control, as well as being economical alternatives to shutters.

• Pleated shades - pleated fabric shades that pull up to sit flat at the top of a window.

• Honeycomb shades or cellular shades - which are similar to pleated shades except that there are two or more layers joined at the pleats to form compartments that trap air, providing insulation. Due to their cellular construction, cellular shades are known to be energy conscious. For greater insulation, cellular shades also come in double and triple cell styles. The more cells, the greater energy efficiency.

• Roman shades - made of fabric or woven wood, that pull up by having each section of the shade fold behind a higher section. Roman shades are thought of as being easy to operate, and for extremely efficient in insulation.

Automobile blinds

Some vehicles include or are retrofitted with sun blinds for rear and rear side windows. See also car glass. These blinds are used to protect the vehicle and the passengers from direct sunlight. The rays of the sun can damage the interior of most vehicles over time. Blinds on the side windows can be important for protecting adults and especially infants. Car window blinds are usually mounted with brackets and are easy to install or remove.

Car shades are another common way to protect the vehicle. The shades for the rear and front windows are designed to be unfolded and sit against the window. They can be made of plastic or cardboard. The shades that go on the side windows of a vehicle are usually attached using suction cups or using static cling.

Gallery

Horizonal blinds

Detail of turning rod (blind stick) attachment on miniblinds

Vertical blinds

Close-up of a pleated shade

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Window blind

• Curtains
• Domotics
• Mini blind
• Sudare

Sources

• HunterDouglas Masterpiece Collection - Making Every Window A Showpiece (pamphlet)
• Bali Window Fashions Collection (pamphlet)

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