Window blinds have been a perpetual favorite selection of window treatments for many years because they easily are able to manage, or completely block, sunlight, they provide a very good level of privacy, and they can be very effective in helping to keep out extreme exterior temperature fluctuations.

Another reason they are so popular is that they are available in styles to match virtually any taste and decor, are available in a wide range of materials, and can be custom made to accommodate any size of window that needs to be covered.

In choosing your new window blinds, you will need to make two primary decisions before going further. First, do you want to go with horizontal blinds, which are more traditional, or do vertical blinds better suite your needs? Second, you will need to decide if you need a solid type blind, or if blinds with adjustable slats better fits the bill.

The most common type of blinds on the market are the slat blinds, that come in micro and mini slat sizes, in addition to the standard size slat which is two inches in width. Slat blinds are also easy to find in standard sizes and are usually no problem to install. They can also be custom made and installed professionally depending on your needs.

Horizontal blinds, or Venetian blinds, are used in many homes in combination with other types of window treatments such as curtains, drapes, and valance's to add a softer touch to the strong lines of these blinds. Horizontal blinds are very versatile because they can be made from a wide variety of materials such as metal, wood, faux wood, vinyl, or fabric over plastic, making it easy to match your decor.

Vertical shades are found more often in contemporary design schemes and also in commercial applications such as offices. One of the biggest advantages to using vertical blinds, in addition to light control and privacy, is that they can be pulled off to one side allowing easy access to French doors or sliding glass doors. These blinds also come in various colors and materials so that they blend well with any surrounding they are in.

Solid blinds are adjusted by either rolling them up, or in the case of a Roman shade, folding them up. Some people prefer the look of solid blinds, but there is no ability to adjust for light control as there is with slatted blinds. Solid blinds are also available in many materials, and currently a very popular trend is making them from natural materials such as bamboo, grasses, reeds, and hand spun flax or linen.

Recently, motorized window blinds where introduced to the market which allows your blinds to be easily controlled, either by a touch of a button near the blinds, or by custom installed controls similar to light switches, or by using a remote control.

A current style is placing blinds in between the two panes of glass in an exterior window. This significantly reduces the difficulty in keeping the blinds in good repair and free of dust and debris. The controls for the blinds are built right into the frame of the window, or they can be motorized as well.

You will want to be sure to measure very carefully before you order your custom window blinds. The biggest complaint people have about blinds is that they do not fit the space correctly, and this happens because of careless measuring, or not following the specific instructions from the manufacturer about taking measurements.