Before you make the purchase of a new set of bamboo blinds you will want to take the time to go over the four main styles of blinds that are available for your home.  We’ve outlined the different styles to help give you an idea of what it may be that you are looking for your next decorating project.

Roman Shades – Roman shades are among the most common type of bamboo blinds that are available.  The Roman style refers to the way that the blinds are opened and closed.  They fold up into several inch sections as they are lifted, giving them a unique Roman look and feel.

Roll Up Shades – Roll up shades are the second most common type of bamboo blinds.  Rather than lifting up in sections like the Roman style shades, roll up shades actually roll up onto themselves whenever the drawstring is pulled down.  This roll will unravel as the tension on the line is released, allowing the blinds to spread out completely.

Matchstick Blinds – Matchstick blinds are a completely different design than Roman and roll up shades in that they do not utilize flat slats for the blinds, but rather smaller round sticks.  Matchstick blinds tend to let in a lot more light than Roman or roll up shades will allow.  The design features the smaller “matchstick” slats layering on top of each other to create a unique look and feel.

Slat Blinds – Slat blinds are built out of flat, thin slats that are woven tightly together to create a very distinct look.  This type of bamboo blinds offers a much higher level of security and privacy than the previous three types of blinds, and also tend to block out much more sunlight than the previous models will.

Bamboo blinds are an incredibly practical way to show off your personal style and tastes in décor around your home.  However, there are times when the bamboo blinds that you have purchased or inherited are too big for the windows that you are attempting to put them in.  For cases like this you will need to break out your tools and cut the blinds yourself.  Follow along with the basic steps below to start cutting your new bamboo blinds to fit perfectly into the window you intend them to.

Step #1: Determine How You Will Hang The Blinds – First you are going to need to figure out whether you are going to hang the blinds outside of the window frame or if they are going to be installed inside of the frame.  This will help you determine exactly how wide you need to cut the blinds before you can hang them back up.  If you intend to hang the blinds inside of the window frame you will need to measure the inside of the frame and write down the measurement.

Step #2: Remove The Edge Binding From The Blinds – Now you will need to look at the blinds and determine whether or not there is an edge binding on the sides of the slats.  If there is you may need to cut the thread holding the binding on in order to dismantle the shades and begin cutting them.

Step #3: Prep, Measure, and Cut The Blinds – Once you have the edge binding removed you will need to roll the slats around the head rail and use a binding, such as a rubber band or heavy string, to keep the slats in place.  Doing this step will help you cut all of the blinds at once and ensure a clean, smooth finish.  Mark the length that you will be cutting and then apply a piece of masking tape over it so that you prevent any splinters or burrs from forming as you cut them.

Step #4: Ensure The Blinds Are Cut At The Same Length – After you have finished cutting the blinds you will need to line them all up and make sure that you have, indeed, cut them at the same length.  Taking your time in the previous step will help you ensure that each blind is cut at the same length.

Step #5: Reattach The Edge Binding And Hang Your Blinds – Now you can reattach the edge binding and begin to hang the blinds onto the frame.

In order to ensure care-free operation and long-lasting natural beauty of your bamboo blinds you are going to need to make sure that you know how to properly install and maintain them.  Bamboo wood is naturally hardy and is not prone to rot or warping, but over time it will get dusty or problems could arise with the mechanical functions of the blinds.  To fix these problems take a look at some of our maintenance tips, and then go over your blinds to determine whether or not they could use some TLC.

When your blinds get dusty you can take a simple washcloth or duster, such as a Swiffer, and go over the slats with it.  A wet washcloth or Swiffer duster will attract the dust without damaging the slats.  You want to avoid using harsh chemicals to clean the slats, because even though bamboo is a hardy material you can likely damage the finish on the wood.  You may want to go over your blinds at least once a month to ensure that the dust is not going to build up and get clogged in the mechanical parts of the blinds.

Another problem that home owners face when they are using bamboo blinds is when the mechanical parts begin to jam or foul.  This happens from either overuse or a poor maintenance schedule and can be completely avoided.  When you’re dusting the slats you want to take a look at the rollers, pulls, and strings that hold the slats.  Inspect each part to ensure that there are no visible signs of damage and that the roller mechanism at the top of the blinds is operating the way that it should.  If it is not operating the way it should you may need to consider replacing it, or possibly even replacing your blinds.

If you make the decision to sand down your slats you will want to go over them again with a bamboo glaze that will seal the wood once you are finished.  Leaving the bamboo raw can lead to further problems if water or dirt are to get onto the wood.

As long as you follow these steps you should be able to enjoy a long life out of your blinds with very little maintenance.

Purchasing new bamboo blinds for your home is a relatively straight-forward affair.  If you’ve ever bought blinds before, you are probably equipped with the knowledge necessary to purchase a new set of bamboo blinds.  However, if you’ve never done this before you will want to go over some of our basic steps that are outlined to help you ensure you are getting the perfect size, style, and slat width for your home’s windows.

Step #1: Measure The Width Of Your Window – First you are going to need to take a measurement of the window where the blinds will be installed.  To do this you will need to decide whether you are going to install the blinds inside of the window frame or if they are going to overlap the frame and be installed on the outside of it.  Each method provides a very distinct look.  Installing the blinds inside of the window frame will keep them flush with the wall while installing them outside of the frame will add more depth and visual appeal to your windows.

Step #2: Measure The Height Of Your Window – After you’ve determined how you will install the blinds and taken the measurements for the width of the window you will need to, then, measure the height of the window opening.  Again, if you are installing the blinds on the outside of the frame you will need to take a measurement from above the frame itself and measure down to the bottom.  If you are installing the blinds inside of the frame you will need to pull a measurement from the top of the opening and pull down to the sill.

Step #3: Determine The Style Of Blinds – You can now start figuring out which style of blinds you want to purchase for your home.  We have another article on our site that lays out the four main types of bamboo blinds that are available for purchase.  Make a determination on which style is right and then get ready to place your order.

Step #4: Determine The Width Of Your Slats – After you have chosen the style of blinds that is right for your windows you will also need to think about the width of the slats that you are going to want.  Slats vary in sizes from ½” to 1” in most cases, but can also be found in sizes up to 2” or 2 ½” in other styles.

More, and more homeowners are finding different uses for bamboo blinds. This is happening for quite a few good reasons. If you have found yourself debating whether or not bamboo blinds are right for use in your home, you may want to consider some of the better reasons that so many people are choosing them to complete their own home’s interior decor.

Reason #1: Bamboo Blinds Are Highly Decorative – You can either find natural wood finished bamboo blinds, or you can get highly decorative with some of the different painted designs that are on them. Bamboo wood holds paint much easier than other types of woods, which means that manufacturers are coming out with some amazing designs that help compliment the exact look and feel that you are trying to achieve with your home’s decor. of

Reason #2: You Have A Wide Variety To Choose From – Because bamboo material is so cheap to grow, harvest, and manufacture products from, companies are able to make quite a few different products at an extremely low cost. This means that you, as a consumer, have a lot more options in terms of exactly what it is that you want to purchase, instead of being pinned down to a few styles that are easy to mass manufacture.

Reason #3: Bamboo Blinds Offer A High Level Of Privacy – Bamboo blinds offer a different level of privacy than other types of blinds. The wood is excellent at blocking out light, and joining itself together to make sure that nobody can see inside your home. With other types of mini blinds, specifically vinyl style blinds, being able to see in is actually quite easy. If the blinds are turned up people can get underneath them and see what is going on inside, and likewise if they are turned down it is easy to look in from above.

Reason #4: Bamboo Blinds Are Incredibly Cost Effective – As it’s already been stated, bamboo is incredibly cheap to grow, harvest, and manufacture products from. This makes it easy for manufacturers to pass on the cost savings to consumers, and still be able to make money by selling them.

Reason #5: Harvesting And Producing Bamboo Blinds Is Eco Friendly – It takes bamboo wood only three years to grow from a seedling to a height and thickness that can be harvested. When the material is harvested it is cut off at the stalk, which then continues to grow back to its original height and thickness. This means that the land can quickly be reused, and heavy machinery is not required to be able to harvest the material properly. This makes bamboo an incredibly eco friendly material to build products from.