Faux Wood Blinds FAQs
Get fast, expert answers to frequently asked questions about faux Venetian wood blinds from the team at English Blinds, and discover the benefits of custom-made faux wood blinds before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
They’re a type of Venetian blind made of thick, hardwearing horizontal PVC slats. The slats can be raised and lowered, and you can tilt them to precisely adjust the amount of light, shade, and privacy in your room. Faux wood Venetian blinds are a type of Venetian blind designed and finished to closely mimic the appearance of natural wood.
Faux wood blinds are an extremely versatile window dressing suitable for most rooms in your home, including living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and even children’s bedrooms. Because of their easy-to-clean, 100% waterproof slats, they’re ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and shower rooms. The only space they’re not recommended for is conservatories or sunrooms that may reach temperatures above 55 degrees Celsius, as this extreme heat can cause the PVC slats to warp.
Yes, they’re worth it for several reasons. They offer excellent value; you get the look, style and benefits of real wood venetian blinds at a more affordable price. High-quality, made-to-measure faux wood blinds are exceptionally durable, hardwearing and built to last for many years. They’re also incredibly practical, being waterproof, easy to wipe clean, and resistant to warping and fading. So, they’re ideal for high-humidity areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and children’s rooms. They also offer excellent light control and insulation, making them a great choice for any room in your home.
Faux wood blinds are generally cheaper than real wood blinds. They’re made from PVC, which is less expensive to produce than sustainably sourced wood. The price difference can vary depending on factors like size, quality, and whether the blinds are ready-made or made-to-measure, but like-for-like, faux wood blinds are almost always the more budget-friendly option.
They come in a wide range of colours and finishes, including natural wood grains, painted finishes, and textured options. Choose a shade that best complements your room’s colour scheme and a finish that matches your room’s style and décor.
The width of their slats also impacts their look at the window. Wide slats, 50mm, give you more of an uninterrupted view outside when titled open, whilst narrower slats, 35mm, provide more privacy and light control. Generally, 50mm slats look best in medium to larger windows, whereas 35mm slats look best in smaller windows.
Also, look for good-quality blinds built to last with smooth, high-quality operating mechanisms and durable controls and cords. Cheaper readymade blinds will tend not to last as long or work, as well as made-to-measure faux wood blinds from a specialised reputable retailer.
High-quality, made-to-measure faux wood blinds are not prone to warping under the normal conditions found in the windows of a home in the UK. Warping will only occur if they’re exposed to high temperatures (55 degrees Celsius and above) for prolonged periods. This is more likely to happen if the blinds are situated over or close to an oven, radiator, or fireplace or in very hot rooms such as conservatories that are not well-ventilated.
They can last anywhere from a few years to well over a decade, depending on their quality and how well you care for them. Readymade blinds, whilst more affordable, typically last 4-5 years due to their lower-quality materials and construction. On the other hand, made-to-measure blinds are crafted with higher-quality materials and superior craftsmanship, resulting in a lifespan of 7-8 years or more. Based on our customer feedback and the experiences of our longstanding workforce, we’ve yet to learn of one of our faux wood blinds lasting less than 8-10 years in everyday use.
They’re extremely effective at blocking out sunlight, maintaining privacy and shading the room, but they’re not considered to be blackout blinds. Whilst they block most external light, some light will escape around the sides of the blinds and a small amount through the spaces between the slats and the lift cord hole. However, this is usually minimal and unlikely to disturb sleep, even during daylight hours.
Faux wood blinds are excellent insulators. They’re effective at keeping heat out during the summer and retaining warmth during winter. Made from durable PVC, their thick slats offer an additional layer of insulation, preventing heat loss through windows. For optimal insulation, keep them fully lowered with the slats closed. They’re a cost-effective, low-maintenance solution for maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home all year round.
Faux wood blinds are known for their strength and durability and are not easy to break under normal use if they’re good quality and well-made. They’re arguably one of the most durable types of blinds due to their sturdy PVC construction. They’re more robust and hardwearing than fabric blinds and can withstand moisture, cleaning products, and even reasonable impacts. High-quality, made-to-measure faux wood blinds are more durable than readymade options. Proper care ensures that good quality faux wood blinds should last many years without breaking or requiring replacement.
Faux wood blinds are highly effective at maintaining privacy. When closed, their opaque slats prevent anyone from seeing inside, regardless of the time of day.
Faux wood venetian blinds offer several advantages over real wood blinds with few disadvantages. The only real disadvantages are their relative weight and appearance if you prefer a more natural and organic look.
They’re around 20% heavier than real wood, which is only usually an issue if the blinds are particularly large and you frequently need to raise and lower them. In terms of appearance, modern, high-quality faux wood blinds are extremely good at replicating the look of real wood. They don’t quite have real wood’s natural beauty and warmth, but the differences are generally only noticeable on closer inspection.
Key Features & Benefits
- Authentic Wood Look: Enjoy the classic beauty and warmth of real wood blinds without the drawbacks. They’re crafted to perfectly replicate the natural grain, texture and real wood appearance.
- Light Control: Their fully adjustable slats give you precise control over light, shade and privacy, allowing you to create the perfect ambience in any room.
- Versatile Design: Available in a wide range of stylish colours and finishes, from timeless wood effects such as oak to contemporary painted options, along with a range of customisation options, including a selection of coordinating and contrasting decorative tapes. There is a design to complement any décor.
- Made-to-Measure: Our faux wooden blinds are custom-made, ensuring a perfect fit for any window size.
- Long-Lasting Quality: Crafted from durable HSPVC (heat-shrinkable polyvinyl chloride), they’re built to last. They’re incredibly robust and hardwearing and resist warping, fading, and cracking, even in the most challenging environments.
- Waterproof Slats: Their 100% waterproof slats provide moisture, steam and humidity resistance, making them ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and other high-humidity areas.
- Effortless Maintenance: A quick wipe with a damp cloth keeps slats pristine, banishing dust and marks without the need for special treatments or cleaning solutions.
- UV Protection: Protect your furniture and furnishings from the damaging effects of the sun’s rays. Our faux wood blinds provide excellent UV protection, preventing fading and discolouration.
- Thermally Efficient: They enhance your home’s energy efficiency by providing an extra layer of insulation at the windows. This helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, saving you money on your energy bills.
- Hard-Wearing: Their durable vinyl slats can easily withstand the rigours of daily wear and tear. They’re resistant to scratches and dents maintaining their appearance for many years.
- Child Safety: All our faux wood Venetian blinds are supplied with child safety features and devices for complete peace of mind.
Faux Wood Blinds vs Real Wood Blinds
Faux woods are a great alternative to real wood. They look as good as the real thing, especially with our gorgeous range of modern painted finishes and organic textured grains.
Their main benefits over real wood blinds come from the fact that they’re manufactured from extremely robust PVC, which means they’re a breeze to keep clean. They’re also UV, fire, and moisture resistant, making them ideally suited to areas of high humidity and moisture.
How to Clean Faux Wood Blinds
Faux wood blinds require minimal upkeep. A quick dusting with a microfibre cloth, duster, or vacuum brush attachment will keep them looking their best. For more stubborn sticky patches or grease, a wipe or gentle rub of the slats with a damp cloth is usually all it takes to get them sparkling clean. Avoid strong detergents or anything abrasive, as these can damage the faux wood finish.
For more details on how to clean faux wooden Venetian blinds, check out our guides on how to clean faux wood blinds the easy way, how to clean faux wood blinds in the bathtub and how to clean faux wood blinds that have yellowed.