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Slatted wooden blinds and shutters are now the most popular types of window furnishings in the UK. Demand for traditional curtains and net curtains has seen a sharp decline as home owners, hotels, and businesses appreciate the contemporary styling and practical advantages of the latest generation of wood blinds.
 Contemporary interior designs favour natural furnishings
The growth in installation of blinds in homes is partly a reflection of changing contemporary interior design fashions which have evolved to favour the use of soft, organic furnishing materials such wood, stone and slate. Simple, natural colours are very much in vogue as they add both a feeling of warmth and elegance to a room.
Venetian blinds have lost their association as purely kitchen and bathroom features. With the advent of stylish wood blinds in a range of colour co-ordinated hardwoods, homeowners wishing to add value to their properties have recognised their role in complementing modern interiors. This has also been in response to recent advances in the quality, functionality, and durability of slatted blinds.
Rising use of blinds in hotels and offices
With increasing computer use, both at work and at home, wooden blinds have proved to be an ideal solution for reducing the sun’s glare on the screen. They can be adjusted throughout the day to provide the ideal working conditions. This trend is being reflected in corporate offices and hotels throughout the UK.
Many of our top hotels are being refitted to reflect contemporary interior design tastes, and this is resulting in the widespread replacement of curtain fabric with wooden blinds in shades that complement the modern furniture and floor coverings.
Warmer summers increase demand for window coverings
The increasingly hot and sunny weather experienced in recent years is also a significant factor in the rising demand for wooden venetian blinds. It has resulted in greater popularity for conservatories and outdoor living.
Whereas roller blinds and curtains are an inflexible way to reduce solar glare, resulting in blocking out the view of the garden and the light completely, it is recognised that Venetian blinds can be adjusted to filter the sunlight. In the heat of the day, the slats can be angled to allow only a small amount of light through to keep you cool, while in the evening they can be adjusted to increase the incoming light.
 Not only do blinds provide welcome relief from summer heat, but they also protect delicate carpets, furniture and artwork from the sun’s intensity. Strong colours can fade and materials and fabrics deteriorate after prolonged exposure to ultra-violet (UV) rays and visible light, as well as heat from direct sun light.
This is a factor in winter as well as summer. In the winter, the sun is lower in the sky and can shine further insider your room, potentially damaging delicate or historic furniture and fabric.
With increasing emphasis on energy efficiency comes the wooden blind’s biggest trump card. Installing blinds in your home or office helps to keep heat inside in winter, reducing heating bills. In the summer, it will help keep rooms cooler and this will reduce energy consumption from air-conditioning systems.
Security benefits of slatted blinds
Another factor in the rising popularity of wood Venetians has been the increasing requirement for security. Slatted blinds can be adjusted to reduce the view of valuable goods and equipment, such as computers.
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Finchingfield,
home to Wooden Blinds Online
On the green at Finchingfield, a picture postcard village in Essex, is the workshop of wooden blind specialist Mike Bethell, who offers a made to measure service in quality hardwood blinds.
Over the last four years, Mike has seen a great rise in demand for wood slat blinds from consumers and hotels alike.
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