Are you considering window blinds vs window shades? Both blinds and shades can be customized to fit the look of your home, but sometimes it isn’t easy to choose between them. Let’s start by presenting the pros and cons of each kind of window treatment to help you choose the option that works best for you.

Pros and Cons of Blinds and Shades for Your Windows

Both window blinds and window shades have some obvious features going for them.

The pros of blinds for your windows include:

• Less expensive than shades.
• Easy to clean.
• Great control over the amount of light entering each room.
• Easy to operate.

The pros of shades for your windows include:

• Easy to use.
• Safer for children and pets.
• Long-lasting, durable.
• Many styles from which to choose.
• Can be energy-efficient.

On the other hand, both window blinds and window shades have their disadvantages.

The cons of blinds for your windows include:

• Don’t provide as much privacy.
• Cords can be dangerous.
• Slats catch dust.
• Not energy-efficient.
• Not available in as many colors and shades as shades.

The cons of shades include:

• More expensive.
• Easier to clean than blinds but harder to maintain.
• Not as easy to adjust as blinds.
• Have to leave room for fabric stack at the top of the window.

Design Choices

Blinds have slats that you can manipulate to let in the amount of light you want. With shades, the amount of light you allow to come through the window depends on how far you pull them down. Blinds are better for changing the brightness you get inside the room.

Shades come in a huge variety of colors and designs. It is easy to match shades to your interior design. This is not something you can do with blinds.

Privacy

You get better control over privacy with blinds because you can let them up or down. But you can get more privacy when you pull down the shade than when you adjust the blinds.

Installation

Installing either blinds or shades can be a do-it-yourself project, but most people prefer to leave this task to professionals. First, you install the hardware. Then, you mount the blinds or the shade on the hardware.

The part of installation that most DIY homeowners forget is to cut the cord on blinds, so it does not become a choking hazard for children or pets.

Appropriate Uses

Blinds are better for rooms where you don’t need a lot of privacy, but you want to be able to control how much light comes inside your home. Blinds work for hallways, living rooms, and family rooms.

Shades give you more privacy for bedrooms and bathrooms. They also help you keep heat inside your home during the winter and block heat from sunlight during the summer.

Cost

Recently, Fixr posted typical costs for the installation of blinds and shades:

• Blinds for a single window usually cost $20 to $25. Installing them on a single window adds another $20 to $60.
• Shades for a single window usually cost $50 to $65. Installing them on a single window adds another $90 to $160