Vertical Blinds

When choosing vertical blinds you’ll want to consider your room's specific needs, such as light control, privacy, and moisture resistance. For living rooms, dining rooms and offices, dim-out fabrics offer the flexibility of shade and light without darkening the room too much, whilst bathrooms and kitchens require waterproof PVC and vinyl fabrics. Bedrooms often require blackout fabrics for greater light and privacy control. Larger windows generally suit lighter, more neutral colours, whilst smaller windows can benefit from colourful and bolder choices.

Vertical blinds have weighted slats that hang vertically and are connected by a chain. They smoothly glide open and closed to the sides. Horizontal blinds as the name suggests have slats that hang horizontally which are suspended on ladder cords or tapes. They raise and lower to open and close.

Vertical blinds have come a long way since their office-staple reputation to become a versatile and stylish way to dress the windows of your home. They offer superior light and privacy control, they’re affordable, and they come in a wide range of on-trend colours, textures, and finishes. Modern vertical blinds feature sleek headrail designs and high-quality materials, making them a popular choice for homeowners seeking functionality, luxury and contemporary design.

The lifespan of vertical blinds depends largely on the quality of the fabric and components used. High-quality, made-to-measure vertical blinds can last 15-20 years, while cheaper, mass-produced ones may only last up to 5 years. Fabric choice, exposure to moisture, and if they’re operated correctly will also play a role in how long they last. Regular cleaning and maintenance will also help extend their life.

Yes, vertical blinds are a great option for kitchens, particularly high-quality PVC or vinyl blinds. Their waterproof, easy-to-clean, and fire-retardant louvres, are also resistant to stains, odours, mould, and mildew, so they’re ideally suited to the demands of a busy modern kitchen.

Replacing the slats is very straightforward. Simply unclip the old slats from the headrail and rehang the new ones. This generally takes only a few minutes. Replacing the track/headrail with a new one can take a little longer depending on if it fits into the original brackets. If it does fit, this will take a few minutes, if it doesn’t you will need to take down the old brackets and fit the new ones.

Previously considered primarily for offices, vertical blinds have been modernised in recent years. Sleek new headrail designs and contemporary fabric styles have transformed them into stylish window treatments for modern living. There is a small gap between the top of the slats and the headrail, to allow for slat rotation, so they don’t provide a complete blackout. Open windows or doors on a windy day can cause the slats to be blown about, creating some noise and letting in some extra light. Generally, the benefits of vertical blinds outweigh any minor drawbacks.

The average cost of professional installation for vertical blinds in the UK is between £35 and £55. Alternatively, you can save yourself some money by purchasing made-to-measure vertical blinds online and installing them yourself.

Absolutely! Even with only basic DIY experience, vertical blinds are easy to install. They come with easy-to-follow instructions, and the process usually takes under 30 minutes using just a tape measure, screwdriver, drill and some common sense.

Vertical blinds are amongst the easiest to keep clean. A quick dusting with a duster or vacuum brush attachment as part of your regular cleaning routine is usually enough. For a deeper clean the slats can be wiped with a damp cloth.
For more details on how to clean vertical blinds, check out our articles on cleaning vertical blinds, washing them in the washing machine, how to steam clean them, and cleaning mould and mildew.