Real Wood vs. Faux Wood Blinds
It is a common misconception that faux wood blinds are simply a cheap alternative to real wood blinds. Here the distinction between cheap and less expensive is critical. When first introduced, faux wood blinds were cheap, they were composed of materials that “yellowed” over time and fell apart easily. Slowly manufacturer’s product lines have matured and faux blinds have undergone a Renaissance. Today many faux offerings are made of vinyl compounds and composites, which are comprised of among other things, vinyl and real wood. This new breed of super-blind is resilient. Today’s faux blinds can take a beating from children and pets and keep on ticking. If they are worked over enough that slat replacement is required, it isn’t that big of a deal, replacement slats are much cheaper than their real wood equivalents. Faux wood blinds can even hang on windows real wood wouldn’t dare adorn, such as those in bathrooms or more specifically showers. If you decide faux blinds are the product for you, you’re still not out of the woods. Most manufacturers have a couple faux blind product lines.
Generally there will be a less expensive faux product that will be made from 100% vinyl. These blinds are usually pretty heavy, so you may want to avoid them on larger windows where the blinds will be raised and lowered often. The color selection is also usually quite limited on these products. The upper tier of faux blinds are typically called composites and as discussed earlier, are made of compounds that contain wood. These blinds are lighter and often available in a larger selection of colors. Some of these blinds even look quite good stained, although, swatches should be examined to ensure a proper match with your woodwork. While the composites are more expensive than the 100% vinyl products they come much closer to the real wood look.
