What’s the Difference?
There are two main types of blinds used in homes and offices: vertical blinds and horizontal blinds. Horizontal blinds are much more commonly used out of the two types, as they represent the traditional 1”-2” slat blinds that are most often seen on small to medium-sized windows. Vertical blinds use much larger slats that hang from a head rail that’s often mounted to a track, allowing them to be opened and closed with a wand or pulley system. Many homeowners and business owners use vertical blinds to cover large windows or sliding glass doors.
It’s important to remember that there are distinct differences between vertical and horizontal blinds, and both have advantages and drawbacks. Knowing those differences before you make a purchase can help you ensure that you get the right window treatments for your windows and your home.
How Are Vertical Blinds and Horizontal Blinds Similar?
There are two primary ways that vertical blinds and horizontal blinds are similar:
- Light protection – Blinds are designed to block out light, and whether they’re oriented vertically or horizontally, they’re highly effective at accomplishing that task. In fact, both vertical and horizontal blinds can provide near-blackout levels of light protection, making them ideal for rooms like bedrooms, home offices, nurseries, home theaters, and more.
- Similar materials – Both vertical and horizontal blinds are made with similar materials. Blindster’s vertical blinds include PVC and faux wood, giving them a lightweight construction that makes installation easy—even for the largest orders.
What Are the Benefits of Vertical Blinds and Horizontal Blinds?
No matter what type of blinds you choose, you’ll get all the benefits of high-quality window coverings. However, both types of blinds are better at different things, so choosing the right type for your needs is an essential step:
Vertical blinds
- They’re ideal for sliding doors and wide windows. While traditional horizontal blinds can be custom made to fit sliding doors and wide windows, they simply aren’t practical in many instances. Vertical blinds are much better fits, as they’re easily opened and closed and can cover even the widest windows and doors.
- They’re easy to clean. In addition to not collecting as much dust as horizontal blinds, vertical blinds are easier to clean because they’re made from two materials that are highly resistant to moisture: PVC and faux wood. That means more cleaning products can be used without worrying about colors fading or staining.
- They block more light. Vertical blinds have much larger slats and are much wider than horizontal blinds, which means that a single vertical blind can block more sunlight than even the largest custom horizontal blinds.
Horizontal blinds
- They provide more privacy. One drawback to vertical blinds is their tendency to sway from side to side or become off-kilter, resulting in gaps in coverage. Horizontal blinds are much less likely to expose the interior of your home or business.
- They’re ideal for tall and narrow windows. Just as vertical blinds are perfect for wide windows and sliding glass doors, horizontal blinds are more practical for tall and narrow windows due to their design and construction.
- They don’t touch the floor. If you’re worried about dirt or dust collecting at the bottom of your window coverings, horizontal blinds may be the best option, as they typically rest on window sills instead of the floor.
- They make less noise. The operation of vertical blinds can be noisy, especially if their tracks aren’t regularly greased or maintained. Horizontal blinds typically make much less noise.
- They can last many years without replacement. Because vertical blinds rely on a track with many moving parts, they can be more likely to wear out and need maintenance or replacing.
Ready to Find the Perfect Vertical or Horizontal Blinds for Your Home?
If you’re in the market for new blinds, make sure you know the right type for the windows in your home. After you’ve made your decision, be sure to check out Blindster’s selection of blinds. We offer many varieties of high-quality vertical blinds and horizontal blinds, and products in both categories can be customized and outfitted with additional options to create the perfect fit for every room in your home.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful information. I just started my own blog and this information was very helpful! Thank you.
It was really amazing how you said that vertical blinds were easier to clean not only because they do not accumulate as much dust as horizontal blinds but also because they were usually made with materials that were highly-resistant to moisture. I guess that’s the reason why my mom told me to use vertical blinds. The horizontal blinds that we’ve been using for nearly two years have become so dusty that I don’t think cleaning will still be able to save it. Thanks. I appreciate the comparison that you made.
I need to get new blinds for my front room windows and I am glad that I found this article because I did not realize that there are so many benefits of vertical blinds. You make a great point that vertical blinds block more light than horizontal blinds and will help me to keep more sunlight out when I am reading or taking a nap. Also, the fact that they are easy to clean is a huge benefit that will save me a lot of time!
Hi Rosie!
We are glad that we could help. There are many great purposes for vertical blinds. Please let us know if we can help you find the perfect vertical blinds!