Venetian blinds in aluminium, real wood and faux wood

Aluminium, wood or faux wood

Aluminium slats are light, slim and cope with moisture, so they are a sensible choice for bathrooms and kitchens. They come in a wide range of colours and finishes, from matt white to metallics.

Real wood slats bring natural grain and warmth to living rooms, studies and bedrooms. They are heavier, so very wide windows are sometimes better split into two blinds.

Faux wood gives the wooden look in a material that tolerates steam and splashes, which makes it the usual answer for a wood effect in a bathroom or behind a sink.

Slat width changes the whole look

Narrow slats suit small windows and give a fine, neat finish. Wider slats let more view through when open and feel more like a shutter when tilted. On a large window a wide slat usually looks calmer, while a narrow slat can look busy. We bring sample slats in more than one width so you can compare them on the actual window.

Ladder strings or tapes

On wood and faux wood Venetians, the slats can hang on thin ladder strings or on fabric tapes. Tapes cover the small holes where the cords pass through, which cuts light leaking through the slats and adds a tailored, contrasting stripe if you choose a different colour. Strings keep the look minimal. Both work well; it is a question of taste and how dark you need the room.

Where Venetians work best

These are the rooms where we most often recommend a Venetian over other blinds:

• Street-facing rooms where you want daylight without being seen from the pavement.
• Home offices, where tilting the slats cuts glare on a screen without darkening the room.
• Bathrooms and kitchens, in aluminium or faux wood.
• Rooms where you like the look of shutters but want a lighter, lower-cost option.

Measuring, lead time and guarantee

We measure on the free home visit, checking reveal depth so the slats clear the handles when tilted. Standard Venetians are usually fitted within two to three weeks, and temporary blinds are available if you need cover in the meantime. Each blind carries the manufacturer's warranty plus our own fitting guarantee.

Cleaning and looking after slats

Aluminium and faux wood slats can be wiped with a damp cloth; real wood is best dusted dry. Tilting the slats closed one way, dusting, then closing them the other way cleans both faces quickly. A Venetian that is raised and lowered straight, rather than at an angle, keeps its cords running evenly for years.

Venetians over sinks and baths

In a kitchen, a short aluminium Venetian inside the recess stays clear of the taps and wipes clean after cooking. In a bathroom, faux wood with the slats tilted upwards lets daylight in while stopping anyone seeing down into the room. Both are measured to sit clear of the sill, so water on the ledge does not reach the bottom rail.

Bays and wide windows

In a bay, each face gets its own Venetian so the slats line up at the same height. Across a very wide window we often split into two or three blinds so each is light to lift and the slats stay level.

Controls

Venetians tilt with a wand or cord and lift with a cord, and child safety devices are always fitted. Some can be motorised through our Luxaflex range for windows that are hard to reach.