Vertical blinds or Horizontal blinds

We have shutters throughout the house (brilliant but not cheap) except in our kitchen diner where we have the day/night roller blinds like Joseann....lots of companies make them....they are brilliant & MUCH better than venetian blinds which I found a nightmare to clean.

We also have shutters at the windows at the front of our house, which face almost due south, and are very pleased with them. The biggest advantage is that you can adjust the slats a few at a time to keep the sun out but let the daylight through the rest.

After having vertical blinds for many years and in three homes I recently decided on day and night blinds.. so much better, as for vertical blinds, to me they belong in offices

Alverstone25

After having vertical blinds for many years and in three homes I recently decided on day and night blinds.. so much better, as for vertical blinds, to me they belong in offices

Sorry, meant to say I’ve had venetian blinds for many years

Hate vertical blinds. Make houses look like the doctor’s or dentists. And the bottoms always seem to fall apart.
We have horizontal wooden blinds on most windows, and white ones in the conservatory

After not finding the right curtains, and upon recommendations from friends I bit the bullet and decided on shutters. They took a wee bit of getting used to, but I’m soooo glad I went for them. They’re great. Not cheap but worth every penny.

Verticsal blinds are just hideous. I have horizontal blinds at some windows and none at others as no-one can see in.

I've had both but changed more ir less to wooden venetian blinds and shutters. Main reason for change was wooden stops light and gives better insulation. The wooden shutters do both plus help reduce noise. I do have a remote control kitchen blind but find more light gets in the sides and supposed not to rest on the windowsill - no idea why - perhaps to stop moisture being absorbed? If cost wasn't an issue I'd have wooden shutters all over.

We were in a holiday cottage in the lakes and every window had a Roman blind on. The colours were amazing. In my room the design was massive hydrangea flowers.
I’m thinking of getting some in my lounge.

We have a number of very large windows, some of which are cathedral style floor to ceiling. Bespoke curtains are fine for upstairs but downstairs we want privacy at the front during the day and the ability to shield the glare of the sun at side and back. We have the type of horizontal blinds which Joseanne showed. They’re extremely effective. Dusting is sufficient most of the year (long handled duster reaches the tops), but in the summer we get flies as we live in the countryside, and of course they leave marks. Wiping the blinds is a pain, but easily done really apart from the tops of the tallest ones which necessitate getting the stepladder out.

livelylady

We have a mixture of blinds.
Our latest are wooden venetian and new style verticals without the bottom chains which could get broken in past years.
One thing I find difficult in older age is cleaning the top portion of vertical blinds. So the dust just lies there nowadays as I don't climb steps. How about a roller blind or 'night and day' shadow blind?

I had this problem with cleaning venetian blinds. Found a new friend in those fluffy duster by Flash, I think. Extendable pole too.They find dust where you never thought it existed. Leave blinds dust free.

Just replaced verticals with Venetian. What a difference! Mine are faux wood - light ash colour. Easy to clean and won’t fade.

Don’t those dusters just disperse the dust into the air or do they actually collect the dust, which you than wash ?

I would never have venetian blinds (again). Cleaning, cord issues, noisy - yuck.

Depends on your window size - I currently have custom made pull (up & down) shades for smaller (standard sized windows. Quiet, beautiful.

For patio or deck sliding door windows - only vertical, wide slats (like venetian) where you can regulate amount of light coming through while closed.
USA Gundy

On the subject of blinds....a word of warning to those of you who have birds. One of mine got tangled up in the blinds cord. Luckily I was here at the time and was able to free it, otherwise it would have strangled.

They really do collect and keep hold of the dust CrazyH, then you bin them. Not environmentally friendly but extremely convenient and effective.

I have a lovely brightly coloured roller blind in my kitchen which I love. Then just vertical blinds in two rooms. I prefer them to net curtains. I just run my long handled feather duster over the tops, then take it outside and give it a good shake.
I've had venetian blinds in the past but found them tricky.

Thank you ladies such varied advice and choices, I have decided to go with Venetians there some very smart ones available , I know the cleaning of them can be tiresome but will have too call on family members for help 🙂

crazyH

Don’t those dusters just disperse the dust into the air or do they actually collect the dust, which you than wash ?

The duster heads are disposable crazyH.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202310/medium-212612-20231023-112152.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202310/medium-194901-20231023-112133.jpg

If you mean this sort.
(Ooops, I think it shows how grubby my picture rails and skirtings are!) 🫨

Grannmarie

👋 Hello, MamGul2. I have had both venetian and verticals over the years.

Venetians were murder to clean, I ended up getting a company to take them away and clean them. The verticals I had were machine washable on delicate, much easier to clean. Rehang straight from the machine with the windows open, dry in no time.

Now I have Roman blinds downstairs, no curtains, and blackout rollers upstairs, clean with a long handled feather duster, wonderful!

My parents had venetian blinds and I hated having to dust them when I was helping Mum do the cleaning.
I remember Dad use to take them down in the summer, hang them on the washing line and would use the hose pipe to wash them off.

I knew someone who wanted new vertical blinds but couldn't afford to replace them.
She made new with wallpaper. The fittings were already there, so she got her blinds down, cut out from the wallpaper 2 slats of each and pasted them back to back. Putting the holes in. When dry, she hung them up just as the old blinds had been.
I never even noticed until she told me to take a much closer look!!
I had been admiring her pretty blinds. She used the heavier wallpaper. Anaglypta, is that what it is, with a raised pattern, you can paint or leave white? But you could use patterned or coloured to make them how you like - & make the neighbours jealous!