Q:
Which is better wood blinds or cellular shades?A:
One question we get all the time is "What is better horizontal wood blinds or cellular shades?" This is like comparing apples to oranges. Both products serve their purpose and both are very popular window coverings. First, let's start with the pros and cons of both.Pros and Cons of Wood Blinds
Horizontal wood blinds are traditional window treatments that have horizontal slats that can either be titled or raised. They offer the warmth and beauty of natural wood that easily complements any home.
Pros
Horizontal wood blinds offer more style and a traditional look to your windows. They can be adjusted with the tilt mechanism to allow for different levels of privacy and light control. They come in a wide assortment of colors ranging from natural stain wood tones to an assortment of painted options.
Cons
Horizontal blinds can be heavy to lift especially with larger windows. Raising and lowering these can be hard and most consumers choose to simply tilt the blinds instead. Horizontal window blinds also have some light leakage between the slats and the holes for the lift and titl cords therefore they are not the best for blackout applications.
Pros and Cons of Honeycomb Cellular Shades
HoneyComb Cellular Shades offer a softer look to your window. Crafted with accordion-style pleats that offer insulation, cell shades come in various light control fabrics in an assortment of colors.
Pros
Because of the design of cellular shades, the biggest advantage is the insulation they provide. Cell shades are like adding a blanket to your window for added heat loss or gain in the cold winter or hot summer months. Also, the fabric allows for unlimited color selection so you are sure to find one to match your home decor. Lastly is the light control they offer. Cell shades come in light filtering, room darkening or blackout materials making them ideal for rooms such as bedrooms or theater rooms where light control is important or family rooms where privacy is key but with some light allowed to enter while they are closed.
Comparison of Wood Blinds vs Cellular Shades
Wood Blinds | Cellular Shades | |
Style | Offer a warmth from the real wood materials and a classic lean look. | With a wide variety of colors to choose from, cell shades accent any decor. |
Installation | Simple installation with two mounting brackets on both ends but heavier larger windows can be difficult and may require assistance. | Easy to follow installation. Most cell shades are lightweight and easy to lift during installation. |
Cleanability | Easy to clean but darker wood tones will show more dust and have to be cleaned more often. | Easy to clean and can be vacuumed on the low setting. Like any fabric they can be stained but very easy to wash. |
Light Control | Ability to easily adjust more or less light control but does not allow for complete blackout. | Blackout fabrics are available for rooms such as bedrooms or theater rooms. |
Ideal Use | For smaller windows that need an added design flare. | Virtually any window especially those with light control or insulation neeeds. |
Cleanability | Easy to clean but darker wood tones will show more dust and have to be cleaned more often. | Easy to clean and can be vacuumed on the low setting. Like any fabric they can be stained but very easy to wash. |
Durability | Larger heavier horizontal blinds can wear out faster over time. | Made with lightweight fabric so the lift mechanisms are not as taxed for a longer lasting product. |
Energy Efficiency | Offer less insulation than cellular shades. | Can offer as much as 40% more insulation to your windows and that means lower energy bills in the cold winters or hot summer months. |
Conclusion
Both wood blinds and cellular shades are top-selling excellent products and work for many applications. It all depends on which style you prefer, the insulation properties, maintenance, ease of use, durability and installation. Based on these criteria we recommend cellular shades. They are easy to use, long lasting and offer great light control and insulation.