Blinds vs Shades

Many people don’t understand the difference between blinds and shades, we get it there's a lot going on in these window-covering worlds! People tend to use them interchangeably without giving them any thoughts, but they’re not the same. Yes, they have their similarities, but they are two different words and mean two similar but different things. That sounds a little confusing, so we’ll explain further. 

The similarity between blinds and shades is that they’re both window coverings, they are both used to filter light and to make for an aesthetically pleasing ambiance. Both of them can also be used for all window types. However, the difference is in the quality of window treatments that you get with both of them. 

Window Blinds

Window blinds are typically hard window coverings. They are made of vanes or slats tumbling down the blinds as you lower them. They can also be pulled across the window to the side, so they stack length-wise. The individual slats or lovers are formed together to get a complete blind, and there’s a manual pull cord used to control it. 

All slats are meant to close tightly for reasonable light control and privacy. However, the users can also adjust or tilt them at different angles to control the quantity of light that comes in. 

Some of the most popular blinds are Wood, Woven Wood, Faux-Wood, Vertical Blinds, and Mini Blinds, and they’re mostly made of metal, wood, bamboo, woven grass, or a composite.  All of these materials and types of blinds offer a classic and traditional look that matches the décor-style of any home. They give an architectural, handsome, and clean look to the windows. 

Window Shades

Window shades are typically soft window coverings or treatments. They’re made of soft materials placed on a continuous roll and used for covering a large part of a window opening. They fit snugly into the window and stack very neatly at the top of the window. 

Shades are rolled up and pulled down using a spring device or a cord at one of the sides. Unlike blinds, they have no vanes or slats and give the window a smooth look. Although you can’t adjust the shades to filter light, as you have with blinds, you can choose your light preferences by determining the level of opacity that you want. The fabric is soft, and the shade gives a warm and flowing feeling.

Some examples of popular shades are Cellular Shades, Roman Shades, and Roller Shades. Cellular Shades is one of the most famous window treatments and is a favorite for many people. 

What to consider before buying blinds and shades

Now that you know that blinds and shades are two different things, you may have trouble deciding which of the two to buy. So here are some things to consider to help your decision-making process. 

• Light and privacy: the amount of light you want in your room or the amount of privacy you want. Do you want your room cozy or brightened up? Blinds keep the sun out when it is closed and let the sun in when it’s tilted. Shades come with fabric options that are light-filtering or room darkening so you can control your room’s brightness. You can pull it up so light can go in or pull it down for more privacy. 
• Decorating style: are you using a casual or formal decorating style? Is it chic or comfortable? Using bold colors can be dramatic or fun, but subtle hues are ideal for a room with neutral decorations and earthy colors. Your preference from either sleekers or corded styles and streamlined cordless ones will also come into play. 
• Budget: budget plays a crucial role in decisions like this. Are you buying this for a window in a room or the whole house? You may need to scale back on some windows and spend more on others. The price of window treatments is often affected by the sizes, so you should get bigger window treatments to be more expensive. Other things that add to the overall cost are custom sizes, patterns, specialty fabrics, and features. 
• Safety: you should choose the cordless styles blinds or shades if you have young kids in your home. This will help you prevent accidental strangulation, which is a major concern for many people.
• Cleaning: you don’t need any professional cleaning for blinds, but they can attract a lot of dust, so you only need to dust them regularly. On the other hand, shades are trickier to clean, but you can spot-clean and vacuum clean lightly.

Conclusion 

The difference between blinds and shades is quite clear. They serve similar purposes, but one is hard, and the other is soft.