Home and living room decoration is a personal preference and taste thing. Each person has a unique personality and character, and this is why everyone would most likely choose a different type of blinds or shades for their living room windows or other rooms of their home.
That being said, there are certain types of window blinds that can be used in certain situations. In this article, we have researched and found the best types of blinds for the living room, which are designed to provide shade during the sunny days, and privacy when needed.
Apart from practical reasons, people also tend to use window blinds to make their places more beautiful. Blinds are a means to make the rooms of your apartment more homey, as they fill the empty window areas in case you don’t want to use drapes.
Making the right choice as far as window blinds are concerned may seem an easy task, however there are some things you need to consider before making the purchase. In this guide, we provide information about the most important considerations you should take.
Why use window blinds
The most important reason why you need to use blinds, is the fact that they can protect you from the light of the sun. If your home or apartment has many windows facing the sun, window blinds are the go-to solution for solving this particular issue.
Sunny apartments are peoples favorites for a good reason. They are brighter which makes them more eye appealing, as they enhance the positive feelings of the owner and the guests. They are a pleasure when it comes to staying in, and they are usually the preferable places for visits and gatherings.
What is more, having a sunny apartment means that it has the ability to stay warmer during the winter months. Apart from being good for the body, this fact means that you can save considerable amounts of money, because you don’t have to use space heaters or radiators to warm the rooms.
Although a sunny apartment offer so many advantages, having the sun of the light passing through the windows of your home from morning hours until late afternoon could be a problem. It could reflect on screens if you work from home using your laptop for example, and it causes fatigue to the eyes after many hours of exposure.
What is more, all people need privacy when they are at home. Having a house with a large number of windows will limit your ability to keep your life private, and may invite indiscreet eyes looking into your home accidentally or even in purpose.
This is why you need high quality window blinds, which can block the view from the outside of your house to the inside. There is a wide variety of blinds and shades to choose from, and place them on your windows according to your personal taste and the decoration of the room.
Types of window blinds and shades
In order to be able to choose the right blinds for your living room, you need to learn about the different types of window blinds that are available in the market. Below, we have made a list with the most common types of blinds, which can be use on all kinds of windows:
1 – Mini Blinds
The most common type of blinds you may have come across, are the mini blinds. They are usually window-sized pieces, that are places on a single window. They come in different sizes depending on the window size, they are very affordable, and they are an effective way to keep the light of the sun out.
They are very safe, and they are fairly easy to install although you might need the help of an expert depending on the model you choose and the difficulty of the position. Mini blinds like the Achim Home Furnishings Luna 2-Inch Vinyl Blind are a simple and elegant solution for all types of living rooms.
2 – Plantation Blinds
The second type of window blinds is the plantation blinds. They are also a very common type of blinds that you may come across in almost any type of house. They are usually side-by-side, smaller window blinds which are placed on windows that are positioned in close distance or in a row.
Plantation blinds such as the 2″ Faux Wood Blind are the perfect solution when it comes to darkening a very sunny room. They are high quality blinds, which are very easy to install and maintain clean with minimal effort.
3 – Panel Track Blinds
In case you have to cover large window areas, panel tracks such as the Chicology Adjustable Sliding Panels Nevada Timberwolf are the must-have option. They cover effectively the area, causing nice warm shade without making the room too dark.
Apart from windows, using panel track blinds you can also cover doors, as they come in very large sizes, heights and widths, depending on your needs. They filter the sun light beautifully, and you can choose from a variety of fabrics.
4 – Vertical Blinds
This type of blinds is most commonly used for offices, home offices or when people need to cover very large areas of windows or doors in the living room. They are very easy to use because of their high functionality, and they add a sense of elegance in the room.
One of the best examples of vertical blinds, is the Brylanehome Embossed Vertical Blinds. They are high quality blinds, that offer maximum privacy to the owner as they provide thick shade to the room. They come in several different sizes which you can adjust to your doors and windows. The most common material used to make vertical blinds are: Faux wood, fabric or vinyl, depending on the manufacturer.
Types of window shades
If you want to protect your living room from sunlight when needed, then there is a large variety of window shades to choose from. The types analyzed below, are going to help you select the right window shade for the particular type of room of your preference:
1 – Roman Shades
Roman shades such as the Radiance Bamboo Roman Shade, work in every type of home or apartment, and they are especially compliant with both living room and bedroom environments. The materials used to manufacture them are usually polyester and polycotton.
You can choose between lined and unlined roman shades. Their difference is the fact that lined roman shades do a better work when it comes to blocking the sunlight from entering the room, while the unlined roman shades are used to lightly filter the light, and create a shady environment.
2 – Roller Shades
The next type of window shades is probably the most common one compared to the rest types. The roller shades, such as the CHICOLOGY Deluxe Free-Stop Cordless Roller Shades, are used in order to filter the sunlight, and enhance the appearance of the living room as well.
They are a very subtle home accessory, and the fact that they can be used along with drapes shows that they have more than one functionalities. They have motorized features for convenience, they come in many designs and they are among the most effective ways to add privacy to your home.
3 – Pleated Shades
Pleated shades are a very elegant of filter the light in large living room, although they are not the ideal solution if you need to completely darken a room. If you want to add a thin shading layer to your living room, then they are one of the best solutions in the market.
You can use pleated shades like the Redi Shade Light Filtering Fabric Shade in order to cover large window or door areas in the bigger rooms of your home, such as the living room. You can choose between cordless and pleated shades with cords, as they are both very easy to use.
4 – Cellular Shades
The last type of window shades are well-known for their color varieties. They are a better solution for adding thick shade to your living room, as they not only filter the light of the sun, but depending on the model, they have the ability to block it completely too.
A great example of a high quality cellular window shade is the Bali Blinds Cordless Light Filtering Cellular Shade. There are many cordless models to choose from, and they can be used for windows and doors of all sizes providing the necessary insulation and privacy.
What is the difference between Blinds and Shades?
There are certain differences between window blinds and windows shades, although most of the times they have almost the same applications.
Their two main purposes are the same: to add shade to the room into which they are installed, or filter the sunlight. Let’s analyze the window blinds and shades separately to understand them better:
Window Blinds
The main characteristic of the blinds, is the fact that they can enhance the privacy of a room, even when they are semi-open. They can be rolled up to a point, and although you can see the outside through them, a part of the room is still covered when they are rolled down.
There is a wide variety of shapes, designs and colors available, and the most commonly-used are the vertical or horizontal slats which can be used in every type of apartment. Their prices change according to the shape and size, as well as the quality of the material used to manufacture them.
Materials used to create window blinds are wood, aluminum or vinyl. Some of them are more affordable than others, although the quality of the blind depends not only on the material, but on the sturdiness of the structure too.
When you are about to purchase window blinds, you need to decide what you need to use them for so that you can select the appropriate model. For instance, if you need window blinds for privacy, you can choose the CBC – Custom 2″ Faux Wood Blinds White which are thick and block the view effectively.
Window Shades
Window shades are usually the most functional and easy-to-use option for living rooms and almost any type of room. They comes in lower prices compared to the blinds, and they are easier to install without the help of an expert.
They have great levels of practicality, as they can both filter the sunlight and block the view, although window blinds are far more effective when it comes to privacy. They are also very elegant, have very simple structures and they can boost the appearance of the room.
There is a wide variety of shapes, structures, designs and textures you can choose from. The price of the window shade depends on the material used to manufacture it. It all comes down to your personal preference, as you can combine them with walls of any color and size.
If you want to block the sun as much as possible, solar window shades are the best option, as they do a significantly good job darkening the room. One of the best options is the Radiance Exterior Solar Shade, which works great for exterior places, such as balconies or verandas, as it offers protection from harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun.
If on the other hand, you don’t like blocking the view of your window completely, you should go for woven window shades such as the Chicology Natural Woven Roman Shades, which are subtle and filter the sunlight on a low level, letting some of the light in.
Blinds vs Shades – The verdict
The vanes of the blinds is what makes them differ from the shades. You can keep the vanes open or closed to control the level of privacy you want for the room, and you can roll them down to completely block the view or the sunlight.
Shades on the other hand are solid pieces of window coverings, which can be used to either open completely the window, or block the view effectively. They are extremely good at filtering the sunlight, while letting some of the light enter the room.
Best blinds and shades for living room windows
After learning about the types of window blinds and shades, it is time to take a look at our list with 10 of the best products in the market. We have researched and found the highest quality blinds and shades and we recommend them for adding privacy or shading to your living room:
1 – Top choice – Achim Home Furnishings Luna Vinyl Blind
The Achim Home Furnishings Luna Vinyl Blind is our go-to option when it comes to completely covering the window of a living room for maximum privacy. They fit perfectly on most types of window, and they re very easy to install as it will not take you more than 15 to 20 minutes.
The material used is vinyl and this is why they come in a very affordable price. You can order custom dimension for perfect fit to your living room windows, and their wooden look is going to make your living room warmer and homey, due to their brown-wood color.
2 – US Window And Floor 2″ Faux Wood Blind
The particular blinds have very strong slats that are not easy to bend or break. The headrail has a very sturdy construction that enhances the overall durability of the product, which guarantees great longevity for a very low price.
The US Window And Floor 2″ Faux Wood Blind have a very minimal although beautiful look, and they are easy to install if you follow the instructions included. You might need screws and a screw gun to make the job even faster. Lastly, their strings are fairly long, so you might need some time to get accustomed with the usage of the blinds.
3 – Bali Blinds Cordless Light Filtering Cellular Shade
If you have pets walking around in your living room, then the Bali Blinds Cordless Light Filtering Cellular Shade are the perfect solution for you. They are cordless blinds, which positions them among the safest window blind model in the market.
As far as insulation is concerned, the particular blinds allow you to add the desired privacy to your living room in a convenient way when you lower them. If you prefer slight filter of sunlight, you can keep them up and enjoy the soft darkening of the room during sunny days.
4 – Chicology Adjustable Sliding Panels
In case you have living room doors leading to your balcony, adding a set of high quality panels for shade is a solution you might need to consider sooner or later. If you want to filter the light of sun and cover large sunny areas, the Chicology Adjustable Sliding Panels are a very elegant and pretty option.
Their style is simple and glamorous. They are manufactured by a combination of various materials, mainly fabric and woven materials. They are perfect for large living room with big exposure to sunlight, as they can cover wide areas effectively, while you can open or close them comfortably without any issues.
5 – Chicology Faux Wood Blinds
This is another product by Chicology, for those that prefer the color and feeling of wood in their homes. The Chicology Faux Wood Blinds are great for providing complete shade to the room, as they are made of high quality PVC, designed to keep the light out of your room.
They look amazing, and they are especially recommended for empty-looking areas such as living rooms without too many pieces of furniture, as they can make the room more homey and welcoming, both for the guests and the owner. They also come in a pretty affordable price.
6 – Bobotogo Light Filtering Fabric Shade
For amazing light filtering in an extremely low price, the Bobotogo Light Filtering Fabric Shade is the go-to solution. They work amazing in all types of rooms, as they are thick shades that have the ability to block the sunlight effectively by filtering harmful UV rays.
If you have children in the house, keep in mind that they are a cordless shade model which means that they are completely safe for kids of all ages. As an extra advantage, the particular shades can be cut with scissors if you want to adjust them in smaller types of windows.
7 – Windowsandgarden Custom Cordless Single Cell Shades
The Custom Cordless Single Cell Shades by Windowsandgarden come in a huge variety of different color. That provides the user with the ability to combine these shades with any type of window or wall no matter the color or the decoration, and this is why they are considered such a flexible product.
They have a great feeling when you touch them, because of their high quality materials and the nice design, and as far as the installation is concerned you will most likely be able to do it yourself in no time at all. One of the best cordless shade models in such an affordable price.
8 – Chicology Bamboo Roll Up Blinds
The next window blinds are a very distinguishing product compared to their competition. Because of the bamboo used to manufacture them, they have a great texture and they you can feel the high quality material and structure from the first touch.
You can select a custom size so that you can fit the blinds to your windows easily. The natural sense they bring to the room, along with beautiful sunlight filter they offer, make the Chicology Bamboo Roll Up Blinds one of the best option for every type of living room.
9 – Arlo Blinds Bamboo Roman Shade
These Roman style bamboo shades work great in very large living room areas with huge exposure to sunlight. They can filter the light effectively and create a nice shaded environment, no matter the amount of light it receives, although they are not recommended as privacy shades.
The Arlo Blinds Bamboo Roman Shade have lift cords which are placed to the right side of the shades, and they have great textures which enhances their already high quality. In addition to this, they can help during winter as they block small amounts of air and wind. This can be helpful for windows exposed to windy conditions.
10 – Radiance Reed Woven Window Blind
Last but not least, the Radiance Reed Woven Window Blind can be used as an alternative for drapes or curtains. The reason why, is because apart from blocking the light or filtering it, they are also one of the most beautiful design choices regarding window blinds.
They can create a nice, warm environment for your living room because of their color. They look amazing with most types of walls, and they can be used both for privacy and for filtering the sunlight, especially during the sunny days of the summer.
Conclusion
Blinds and shades are a necessity when it comes to covering the window area of your living room. They work great when it comes to boosting the privacy of your home, as they can completely block the view from the outside, while they can filter the light adding shade to the living room.
In this article, we researched and found 10 of the best shades and blinds for living room windows. We reviewed them in order to provide you with useful information about their functionality and the quality of the materials.
Now it is your turn. Do your own research and decide which blinds or shades fit better to your own living room!