DECOR : Don’t Turn a Blind Eye to Wood

Less expensive than wood shutters and touting a more classic image than their aluminum cousins, wood blinds are becoming increasingly popular.

“Wood blinds are truly the star of the blinds right now,” says Jenifer Cauble, director of marketing for Levolor, a window treatment company in Sunnyvale, Calif. “They offer a natural look, and they’re a better insulator against heat and cold than metal blinds.”

In addition, wood blinds are more flexible.

“They’re versatile because they can be raised and lowered, and they can be made to fit various window shapes and sizes,” Cauble says. “They can be teamed with fabrics or stand alone. And, they are offered in various slat sizes and decorative finishes.”

Most manufacturers offer wood blinds with one-inch and two-inch slats, although Nanik also offers a 1 3/8- and 2 3/8-inch slat size.

“Generally, personal taste is the biggest factor in deciding what slat width you want,” says Kathy Wendorf, marketing manager for Nanik, a window treatment firm in Wausau, Wis.

However, light control and view are other considerations.

“The larger slat sizes provide good light control because there are fewer slats for light to filter through when the blinds are closed,” Wendorf explains. “The wider slats can also be tilted to deflect the light up to the ceiling, while still keeping some of your view. Smaller slats must be shut completely to control the light.

“I think many consumers choose the smaller slats for relatively small windows because they feel that’s appropriate, but it needn’t be,” she adds. “You can use large slats on small windows or you can use both small and large slats in a room with small and large windows.”

Wood blinds come in several varieties of finishes. Stained, painted, crackled, high-gloss and pearlized decorative finishes are just some of the options.

“All companies will certainly have their own colors,” Wendorf says. “Some even do custom colors, which are very popular with consumers who want their blinds and window casings to match exactly.”

Additionally, most companies offer cloth tapes, which are used to conceal route holes, in various colors and patterns such as florals, tapestries and solids.

When shopping for wood blinds, consider these tips:

* Look for quality woods. Bass is among the most common native wood used for blinds. Ramin is a cheaper wood that is not meant for long-term use.

* Check that the blinds are stained evenly. The grain can be different, but the tone should be even.

* Check that the ladder, cords and wand match.

* Consider cord tilters rather than wand tilters for easy operation on blinds with large slat sizes.

* Look for finished ends and route holes, as well as the application of color and lacquer where the cording runs. This will clearly tell you whether the blinds are properly sealed.

* Ask about warranties. Many companies offer lifetime warranties, but some warranties do not include warping of the slats.

* Once you’ve invested in quality wood blinds, care for them in the same way that you would maintain other wood furniture. Dust your blinds periodically with a soft cloth or feather duster, and polish occasionally with a quality furniture polish. If you’ve purchased painted blinds, you can clean them as needed with a damp cloth.