Author: Jegor Janockin
Reviewed by: Curtain.lt editorial team
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Wooden blinds: real wood or faux wood, and how to choose
Wooden blinds are slatted blinds made of real wood, bamboo or plastic with a wood effect. The price is worked out by area: faux wood from €48 per m², basswood from €56 per m². The slats come in 25, 35, 50 and 65 mm widths. Real wood warps in damp, so a kitchen or a bathroom almost always takes faux wood. The largest width of one blind depends on the slat: up to 1.8 m with 25 mm slats and up to 3.63 m with 50 mm.
Three types of wooden blind: how they differ
| Type | Material | Slat width | Resistance to damp | Suitable rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real wood | Wood (basswood, abachi, brushed wood) | 25, 35, 50, 65 mm | Low: warps in time | Living room, bedroom, study |
| Faux wood (wood effect) | PVC with a wood texture | 35, 50 mm | High: suits damp rooms | Bathroom, kitchen, child's room |
| Bamboo | Bamboo: natural, but sensitive to damp | 35, 50 mm | Medium | Living room, living spaces |
Four cases where faux wood does better
Real wood has the real grain but is not always practical. In these four situations faux wood almost always does better:
- 1Damp: a bathroom or a kitchen. Real wood will in the end warp however well it is treated. This is not a question of budget but of how long the blind lasts.
- 2Frequent cleaning. Faux wood can be wiped with a damp cloth, real wood only with a dry or barely damp one, so where blinds need cleaning often, faux wood is more practical and easier.
- 3Children or pets. Faux wood stands up better to knocks, is easier to clean and is less easily scratched.
- 4A limited budget. When the price of real wood does not suit, faux wood gives a similar look at a markedly lower price.
Real wood in a kitchen or a bathroom
Real wood in a bathroom or by a kitchen sink is one of the choices people most often regret. Even treated wood reacts to damp in time: the slats bend, the colour changes and the mechanism starts to catch. In damp rooms, use only faux wood or horizontal PVC blinds.
Slat width: 25 mm, 35 mm or 50 mm?
Slat width is a practical choice as well as a matter of looks. The size of the window, the style of the room and the amount of natural light decide it:
| Slat width | Suitable window | Look | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 mm | Narrow and medium windows (up to about 100 cm wide) | Subtle and fine: suits a minimalist style | Offices, small rooms, Scandinavian-style interiors |
| 35 mm | Medium windows (80–160 cm) | Versatile: a balanced look | Bedrooms and living rooms: the most versatile option |
| 50 mm | Wide windows (from about 120 cm) and tall spaces | Bold and rich: it dominates the room | Living rooms with large windows, lofts, offices with panoramic windows |
A practical rule
The larger the window, the better proportioned a wider slat looks. 25 mm slats on a window 200 cm wide make too many horizontal lines and chop the space up. 50 mm slats on a window 60 cm wide look out of proportion and heavy.
What wooden blinds cost, and how the price is worked out
The price of wooden blinds is worked out by area, per m². The exact rate depends on the slat width, the material and the size of the window. Faux wood costs from €48 per m², basswood from €56 per m², and fitting is €15 per blind. You get the exact sum after measuring, because unusual sizes and special materials change the final price.
| Type | Slat width | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Faux wood (PVC) | 35 mm | from €48/m² |
| Faux wood (PVC) | 50 mm | from €63/m² |
| Real wood (basswood) | 25 mm | from €56/m² |
| Real wood (basswood) | 50 mm | from €72/m² |
| Bamboo | 35, 50 mm | from €70/m² |
A worked price example
A bedroom window 120 cm × 150 cm = 1.8 m². Basswood with 35 mm slats: from 1.8 × 62 = €111.60. Faux wood with 35 mm slats: from 1.8 × 48 = €86.40. The difference is €25.20, and fitting is €15 per blind either way.
Maximum sizes, and what to know about large blinds
The largest width of one blind depends on the slat: up to 1.8 m with 25 mm slats, up to 3 m with 35 mm and up to 3.63 m with 50 mm. A wider opening takes two separate blinds. For a large window think about the weight too: faux wood is heavier than basswood, so a large blind is harder to raise by hand.
Care and durability
- Dusting: regularly with a soft cloth, or a vacuum cleaner with a soft nozzle.
- Damp cleaning: for faux wood, a damp cloth. For real wood, only a dry or barely damp cloth.
- Avoiding damp: real wood must not stay long in a damp place.
- Checking the mechanism: once a year, check that the pull cord and the tilt mechanism move freely.
- Durability depends on the room: real wood does best in a dry room, faux wood where it is damp.
Real wood or faux wood: a quick guide to deciding
| Point | Real wood | Faux wood |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance to damp | Low: it warps | High: suits a bathroom and a kitchen |
| Weight | Lighter: suits large windows | Heavier: a large blind is harder to raise by hand |
| Look | A natural wood grain, every slat different | The same pattern on every slat |
| Price | Higher (basswood from €56/m²) | Lower (from €48/m²) |
| Cleaning | A dry or barely damp cloth | A damp cloth |
| Recommended room | Living room, bedroom, study | Bathroom, kitchen, child's room, large windows |
When not to choose wooden blinds
- A bathroom or a kitchen (real wood): damp will inevitably warp the slats. The answer: faux wood or horizontal PVC blinds.
- A very wide window: check the largest width for the slat (25 mm up to 1.8 m, 50 mm up to 3.63 m); a wider opening takes two separate blinds.
- Rooms with children or pets (real wood): knocks and scratches. The answer: faux wood, which stands up to mechanical wear.
- When you need full darkness: wooden blinds do not give a blackout effect, and light always passes between the slats. The answer: a roman blind in blackout fabric.
See the wooden blind range
Every type, every slat width and a price worked out for the size of your window.
Wooden blinds: all the options