Blinds have several advantages to their name. From being a relatively cheaper option as compared to curtains to being so much easier to install as well, blinds can just be the thing your house needs.

The fact that you have so much more control on how much light you want to enter your living space is also a hard to ignore advantage which comes with blinds. Having said all of this, shopping for the right blinds can be a little intimidating since there are so many different types of blinds available out there.

The best thing for you here would be to do a little homework on your own to see which type of blind would be most suitable for your needs and then shop accordingly. Let’s have a more detailed look at the 3 common types of blinds.

1: Blackout Blinds:

As the name suggests blackout blinds are the ones which prevent the light from passing through them, giving you a darker environment. These are the blinds that will darken any room. Controlling light levels is not the only advantage they have to their name; they are also equipped for absorbing the heat which is coming from the outside, giving you a much cooler environment inside.

So if you are looking for creative ways to save up energy and cut costs on your electricity bills, installing blackout blinds could be one.

2: Vertical Blinds:

Vertical blinds are those that help you control the levels of light and your levels of privacy by standing up vertically against your wall. Most people tend to opt for vertical blinds when they are looking for something they can put on their sliding doors and windows. If you are on the lookout for low-maintenance blinds then vertical blinds may be the perfect option for you; the fact that they stand vertically prevents them from collecting a lot of dust!

3: Roller Blinds:

Ever seen the blinds which are attached to a roller and you have to adjust them using a chain that is attached to their side? That’s a roller blind for you. If you are looking for the type of blinds which have the most variety to offer then roller blinds are the one you need to consider.

From bonded roller blinds, blockout blinds, light filter roller blinds and sunscreen roller blinds—all are its different types. Bonded roller blinds have their fabric attached or “bonded” to their surface. Blockout blinds are the basic types which block the light, their advantage lies in the variety of styles and colors they come in. Light filter roller blinds are good for filtering the light (or the amount of it) which enters the room. Sunscreen roller blinds control the harsh UV rays by filtering them out; their light filtering properties are better than light filter roller blinds.

These were the 3 most common types of blinds and their functions. You can opt for whichever suits your needs and of course, your budget and have them installed.

Did you know that Venetian blinds actually originate from Persia and not Venice in Italy? Or the fact that their history can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt? No matter what their birthplace has been, one thing is for sure and that is, venetian blinds have made a special place in our hearts, which is the reason why we have been using it as our window treatments for the past three centuries.

In recent years, the design has undergone a lot of changes, but the adjustable horizontal slats have remained unchanged throughout. Let’s have a look at the history of these Venetian blinds.

History of Origin

The origin of the Venetian blinds date all the way back to ancient Egypt, who were known to tie reeds together and then use it as a window covering. Experts claim that the first Venetian blinds were seen in 1760, and at that time, they were made from wooden slates that were hung with the help of cloth ribbons.

Early History

It is said that the Venetian blinds were brought to Europe via Persia through trade. The blinds were appreciated by the masses and made their way into France, with the help of freed Venetian slaves because they wanted to earn a livelihood for themselves. The French referred to these blinds as “Les Persienes”. These blinds then made their way into the US, as a result of the efforts of John Webster of London in 1787.

Popularity

The Venetian blinds had become extremely popular in the US in the 1930s. Venetian blinds quickly gained popularity in homes as well as public buildings. St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia, Independence Hall, and the RCA Building (the GE Building of today) in New York City started using these blinds as their window treatments. It is said that the venetian blinds became popular because of the following reasons:

• They were durable
• They were easy to operate
• They were cheaper than the rest of the options

In 1936, it was estimated that people bought $210 million worth of shades, made of different materials like wood and metal. The figure stated the fact loudly – Venetian blinds were all the rage in institutional and commercial markets.

Innovation

The credit for innovation of the blinds goes to John Hampson from New Orleans who made a device that changed the angle of the slates on the Venetian blinds and is used even today. The device was a rod that was placed at the top of the blinds.

Development

The first company that developed a light Venetian blind for sale was Hunter Douglas in 1946. Their designs included a one-inch slat that was introduced in the market in the 1960s.The designed was further modified in the 1990s and the size of the micro blind was reduced by half an inch.

Today, wider slats are preferred by the people and we see two inch blinds in the market. The blind design that we see today was patented back in 1841. However, it is the style and ease of use that has helped it in maintaining its popularity decades later since then.

A wooden venetian blind is different from other types of blinds and window coverings available today because it consists of a set of slats that are suspended on a wall as a form of covering for (amongst others) windows, ventilation points, and patio doors.

A Venetian wooden blind typically works by tilting the slats. They may be made of wood or plastic or any other flexible material that could prove imperious to the sun’s UV radiation, so as to be able to control the amount of light and air that passes though the blinds into the room in which they are located.

Most blinds are manufactured of the following materials

• Wood
• Aluminium
• PVC
• Fauxwood

Each construction material has its own advantages and disadvantages. In terms of sheer aesthetic beauty and that (often) unfathomable touch of class, wood is the classiest looking of the lot.

There is something positively quaint about Venetian wood and it carries with it an aura of ‘genteel old world charm’ that enhances the elegance of any room in which such blinds are installed.

However, it is not all just ‘window dressing’ because Venetian wood is more than simple ‘form over substance’. Since wood (and its derivatives such as different types of wood laminates and Formicas) are tough they do not break easily even when the slats are opened and closed multiple times in a day.

Like their aluminium and PVC counterparts Venetian wood is also available in a medley of different colours and styles. However, the look of well-polished grain is as timeless as it is beautiful. The rich warmth of a well preserved and lacquered wood can easily give a facelift to the most ordinary looking room, which is why many people prefer to keep their venetian wood in the natural stage rather than painting it over so that it would be able to resemble its aluminium counterparts more closely.

An issue that many PVC and aluminium slats face is that they tend to lose their structural integrity after constant usage and many slats bend or fold over or otherwise break easily, thereby marring the overall look and finish of the window blind.

This is not the case with wooden blinds since they are both sturdier and usually thicker so that they could easily be able to handle even excessive strain, resulting from daily wear and tear.

Thanks to technological advancements, now many different types of venetian blinds are available with electrical controllers that are operated via remote control. However, such units are generally found with non-wooden blinds because of the comparatively heavier weight of the wood.

Nevertheless, there do exist many different types of heavy duty ‘electric venetian blind controls’ built specifically for venetian wood so that you would not have to get out of bed on a lazy day to open the blinds and let in some light and air in your room.

Venetian wood is available in a variety of different shapes and sizes to suit different tastes. Install an all wooden vertical blind in your home and you will not be disappointed.

The summer sun is shining upon us in full stream. The cloudless sky forms a canopy of accumulating heat that encircles us during the day. As the sun takes full momentum during the often dreaded month of summer, it is best that you think of ways to combat the summer heat by keeping your house all cool and cozy.

Considering you’re probably reading this with sweat storming down your forehead, we won’t waste and would cut write to the chase by listing down 10 methods of keeping your house cool during the summers.

Hack your sheets

This might sound insane at first, but once you try it, you will confirm the effectiveness of the method. The best way to beat the summer heat on your bed is to keep your bed sheets in the freezer for some time every day. The sheets, when you take them out, will emit wonderful waves of cool air that’ll not only make the room cool, but will also remind you of the Swiss Alps.

Be smart with your blinds

Blinds come in very handy in keeping the summer heat out of your home. The smartest thing to do with your blinds during the summer is to keep them closed. This might sound like a very simple and easy instruction, but many people still tend to forget it when summers strike. So, do not forget to roll the vertical blinds down, to stop the heat from coming in.

Turn on your exhaust and bathroom fans

These fans are there for a reason, and it is best that you extract the most out of them. All exhausts in your home tend to push the hot air out, and come in very useful during summers. Be very particular about the exhaust system while cooking so that there is no chance for the heat to accumulate within your home.

Night air is your savior

Temperatures, during summer, tend to fall during the nights. Take this scientific fact as much to your advantage as you can. To take the most out of this, you can open windows during the night to let the night air come in with all the momentum. During the night, the air will encircle the house if there is a good ventilation system, and assure you of a good night’s sleep. The benefits are not limited to night, as your house will be cool during the day if you let the night air in.

Implement some long term improvements

Those who are completely against the Air Conditioner lifestyle can implement a few improvements in the exterior of their home, for the current season and the seasons to come. One of the most necessary additions is to have vines or trees planted outside all of your windows. The plants will keep the windows cool during the summers and would assure a constant flow of cool air.

Furthermore, you can also purchase insulated window films to keep your room cool during the summers. All these additions are for the long term and would shield you from the tormenting sun for quite a few seasons.

If you implement all the right things, you can well enjoy the summers within your home, safe from the threat of a heated interior.

Choosing blinds for your house may seem like an easy task, but there are many things that you need to take into account if you will be spending your hard earned money on blinds. There are so many options to choose in the market that people end up being overwhelmed. If this is your first time choosing blinds for your house, you have come to the right place as we will discuss the top five things that you need to consider when choosing blinds:

Type of Window

Make sure that you take the type as well as the size of the window into account when purchasing a blind. If you want to dress a large window like bi fold sliding or French doors, you might want to opt for vertical blinds, as they will not come in the way when you open or close the window. If you are dressing a standard widow, you can go for any design based on your needs and preference.

Room

You need to take the room into account when choosing the blinds because there are so many special options available out there like bathroom blinds and kitchen roller blinds. Are you getting blinds for your bedroom? If that is the case, you would like to keep the sunlight out and might want to go for blackout roller blind. Want something for your living room? You can go for a hybrid and pick shutter blinds.

Cost

If you are on a budget, you would want to look at the price of the blinds. A good technique is to set the budget before you go shopping. Blinds are something that you don’t buy every year, so make sure that you invest in high quality items that fit your window and offer you maximum privacy.

Longevity

As mentioned above, you won’t be changing your blinds every year, so it is important that you opt for something durable that won’t go out of fashion. If you want to opt for something sturdy, go for blinds that are made from wood or vinyl.

Preference of the Blind

In the end, it’s all comes down to your need, preference, and the interior of your house. Some of the things that might influence your choice are:

Material

You should choose the blind based on the purpose that you want it to serve. Want the blinds for decorative purpose? You can opt for the ones made with plastic. Want them to block sunlight? Go for a heavier material like wood.

Color/Pattern

There are so many colors and patterns available in the market that you will be spoilt for choice. A good advice is to pick the blind based on the décor of the room.

Style

There are several styles out there that you can check out. Some of the most famous ones include:

• Pleated blinds
• Wood blinds
• Aluminum blinds
• Honeycomb blinds
• Light filtering blinds
• Blackout blinds
• Vertical blinds

So, now you know the things that you have to look out for when you go blinds shopping. Make sure that you take the advice listed in the tips, as they will surely help you out. Happy shopping!

How a Small Family Business Climbed the Ladder of Success

Wilsons Blinds was established in 1989. Today, it is a well-reputed name in the window treatments industry with over a quarter of million satisfied customers. It offers an impressive range of high-quality window blinds. With over a 10+ years of experience, it is one of the largest eCommerce running business. This has allowed it to work with the finest of suppliers to ensure only the best quality of blinds are produced, received and delivered in unbeatable prices.

But like any other idea that pops in one’s head, as they are standing under a hot showerhead with no resources or means to make it a reality, Wilson blinds also had its ups and downs.

It Wasn’t All Splendour at the Beginning

The owner Daren L Wilson left school to go for an YTS scheme to make a career in joinery work. After attending the scheme for 1 year, he landed a job at the carpet fitter in the next street. Thinking that he wouldn’t have to pay extra money on bus fares, he decided to take it and was paid £10 per week. After learning all the essential skills on the job, he tried his luck in a few more carpet fitting companies for a couple of years before starting one of his own in 1989.

At just the ripe age of 19 with only a cheap van, which was no more than £200, he explored several ventures on his own. That was when he first learned how difficult running a business was.

He supplied and fitted vinyl and carpets for the next few years until in 1998, he finally decided to expand his niche and sell window blinds too. But even then he felt the like something was missing. Perhaps, it was the absence of awareness. His brand had set up a reputation with the locals but there was still a whole world unchartered.

He wanted to go big and decided to place an ad in the last section of the News of the World newspaper on a Sunday. To make his offer catchy, he offered 3 vertical blinds only for £99. He listed his number so that the customers could call him up for samples and request an order form that will later be delivered to their doorsteps via mail. It worked well for some time but he still wasn’t satisfied with the results.

The Day We Went Live

He thought having an online website will surely elevate his chances of attracting new customers. He had carefully researched websites of his competitors. He also wanted one where potential customers can view all his projects and fill out an online form instead of receiving one via mail and then resending it. But his lack of internet knowledge wasn’t sufficient enough to DIY a website. So he turned to the Yellow Pages for help and searched for local web developers.

Fortunately he found a great guy. Meanwhile, his research also revealed that some online businesses were offering their customers the leverage to get a price quote after entering their measurements. That was what he needed! After talking to the web developer about how he wanted the website and all that he wanted to incorporate, he had a mini-heart attack when the web developer told him that it would cost him about £20,000. The web developer he had found locally, agreed to set up his website in £3,000 to start him off.

All the products were then loaded up and www.wilsonsblinds.co.uk went live. But there was still the issue of lack of traffic. He decided to try Google Pay Per Click and put a 10 budget per day. It took a few days for the first few orders to roll in. The first customer placed an order for the wooden venetian blinds while others requested samples.

Even then so, the family-owned small business took its dear time into maturing into an established enterprise. Today the company is doing better than the predicted plans it had for the future and there is only one way it will go –up!

Thinking of getting blinds but don’t know which ones you are supposed to opt for? If that is the case with you, you have come to the right place, as this article will discuss why wooden blinds are the best.

Learning about Wood Blinds

Wood blinds are generally made from a blend of vinyl and real wood. A lot of people have now started to opt for faux wood as well because it is lighter and cheaper. We all know how important blinds are when it comes to the appearance and the environment of your house. Wood have been the choice for blinds for several years. You might not know this, but the history of wood blinds date to ancient China, when people used to use bamboo sticks on their windows, in order to protect themselves from the heat and for privacy’s sake.

Reasons Why You Need to Get Wooden Blinds

Wood blinds are extremely popular today, so let’s have a look at some of the advantages:

It Will Offer You Privacy

Wooden blinds offer additional privacy to the people inside the room. One disadvantage of plastic blinds is that people can have a look at the inside of the room because of tiny spaces that the plastic blinds have. When you will install wooden blinds, you will see that the room will not be visible from the outside.

It Will Block light

Other than privacy, another advantage of wooden blinds is that it will block light. If you work night shifts or like to sleep late in the morning, this might be the perfect choice for you.

Easy to Maintain

Wooden blinds are extremely easy to clean. One of the main issues with plastic blinds is that you have to hold them with one hand and then clean the slats with the other one. In wooden blinds, you don’t have to face any such hassle because the slates go all the way down and form a solid whole. Once they do that, you can easily clean them with a damp cloth.

They Are Durable

Wooden blinds may be expensive, but you would learn that the investment was worth it because they are durable and will last for a very long time.

It Is Stylish

One thing is for sure – wood blinds never go out of style. One of the main reasons why people opt for them is that they can match almost any kind of interior. Wooden blinds are aesthetically pleasing and can help in improving the appearance of the room unlike plastic ones. Furthermore, wooden blinds are extremely diverse, which means that they are suitable in a corporate environment as well as inside our homes.

Environmentally Friendly and Recyclable

Wooden blinds are much more environmental friendly than plastic blinds because they are biodegradable.

These are some of the reasons why wooden blinds are the best. If you are thinking of redoing your house, make sure that you check these out.

Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday award was created by Theo Paphitis in October 2010. SBS award was a simple hashtag started by an entrepreneur, ex-dragon, chairman of Robert Dyas, Ryman Stationery, Boux Avenue lingerie and London Graphic Centre –his newest acquisition. He is also a joint owner of the Red Letter Day.

The SBS Award was his brainchild. The idea was to give small business a platform to express what makes them unique and help them in the best manner without spending a dollar on advertising costs. But how did it work and what were the requirements for businesses  to become eligible for the SBS Award? Let’s take a look!

Eligibility Criteria to Enter the SBS Award Contest

For starters, there isn’t any! Any small business looking for a big break can enter the contest. All they have to do is script a tweet explaining what makes their business different or what products or services they have to offer. Bear in mind that the purpose of the tweet is to tell the customer why it is going to benefit them. The tweet is then posted @TheoPaphitis with the all-important hashtag #SBS

The contest is open for tweet submissions every Sunday between 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Tweets sent in other hours of the day are not considered valid. After reviewing all the tweets sent his way, Theo Paphitis then rewards 6 lucky tweets that lived up to what was expected from them. The results are announced the next day (Monday night) at 8:00 PM. He announces the six lucky winners by re-tweeting their tweets. With his 500,000+ followers, one can only expect what would happen next. The chosen tweets get a massive boost, both in terms of exposure and free promotion.

The Prospective Benefits

The promising benefits of course include increased following on Twitter, positive recognition and publicity and even increased sales for many businesses. However, he also quotes that the success isn’t guaranteed as customers are the ones who help any business grow and not just good publicity.

His philosophy or Theo-logy –as he likes to call it

Being a successful entrepreneur himself, Theo has a strong admiration for those who are fueled by passion and a strong will to succeed. He created the Small Business Sunday slot so that more and more small businesses, who lack the resources to promote themselves in full throttle can sell their pitch to him and in return he can make it easier for them to get noticed.

Our Success Story

On the eve of June 29th, 2014, we submitted a Tweet to Theo Paphitis explaining what makes Wilsons Blinds unique. Briefing mentioned the many products we provide and the aim of the tweet was to introduce our then small business to the world in order to attract new customers.  All we wanted was some exposure in the competition-driven industry of window treatments and entering the contest and winning it seemed like the easiest way to do so.

Call it our lucky day as our tweet got selected from the thousands of others posted by other small business owners. And that was that! The next day was a busy day where the phone kept ringing. There were many small business suppliers who wanted us to work with them, many potential customers who were renovating their homes and offices in the UK and were on the lookout for reputable firms.

In the time that followed, we did receive many new orders, signed new contracts; expanded our network and our social media presence increased by thousands. For any small business, it was a dream-come-true moment. That one re-tweet by Theo instilled a respectable reputation for us and helped us gain customer’s trust.

That being said, how can we leave without mentioning the award-worthy tweet? For those looking for a similar inspiration, here is how we pitched ourselves.

“Wilsons Blinds supply made to measure window blinds of all styles including Venetian Blinds, Vertical Blinds, Roller Blinds and Roman Blinds. #SBS”

History of Blinds

Nowadays it is easy to see that blinds and curtains are the most common type of window treatment. You won’t find anyone in the UK who would not be familiar with blinds because there is so much variety available today be it Roman blinds, Venetian blinds, roller blinds, or vertical blinds. This article will discuss the history of blinds, from the beginning of the ancient era to how it got to its current form.

Learning about Blinds in the Ancient Times

The history of the blinds dates back to the times when nomadic tribes existed in the deserts of Asia and Africa. These tribes, in an attempt to protect themselves from the harsh heat of the desert used to cover the windows at their house with basic sheets. With the passage of time, the blinds were used to fulfill basic human needs, the most important being protection from the sun, shelter, and most Importantly, privacy.

The ancient Egyptians are known to use reed from River Nile as an attempt to save themselves from the scorching sun, while making sure that the fresh breeze made its way into their house. Similarly, in ancient China, people had their own version of blinds that they used to make with bamboo sticks. That is interesting, because you will find that bamboo is used to make blinds even today.

Learning about Blinds in the Middle Ages

It is said that Persians brought the concept of blinds into Europe. Persian traders used to go to Europe on trading ships, and that is how they introduced blinds in Venice, Italy. The Venetians changed the blinds according to their own liking and their style became famous all over the continent. They raised the blinds and lowered the strings that were attached to a series of the slates. This style is famous even today and is referred to as ‘Venetian blinds’.

With time, the blinds made their way in all the major cities in Europe that included Paris. In the 18th century, blinds made their way to England, amidst the Industrial Revolution. This led to the mass production of the blinds and soon it became a part of every house in the UK.

Modern Blinds

A lot of developments took place in the 20th century, as blinds with different styles, cuts, and materials started appearing in the market. The Venetian blinds remained popular but vertical blinds that were drawn horizontally with the help of a long string became extremely popular. Roman blinds also became really famous, as they had one piece of foldable fabric instead of multiple slats.

In the 21st century, roller blinds became extremely popular because most of them were controlled by a remote control. One simple click and the blinds would open. Some of these blinds could be connected wirelessly through laptops, which adds convenience. Today, you will see a wide variety of the blinds available in the market that are available in different materials, colors, cuts, and designs.