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If light leakage through fully closed slats creates glare on computer or television screens or if light disturbs sleep, additional light reduction can be accomplished in several ways:

Slat Style - Slats are available in two different types: flat and curved. Flat provides a clean uniform look that is traditional. Curved provides stronger light protection for a darker room.

Light Control
If light leakage through fully closed slats creates glare on computer or television screens or if light disturbs sleep, additional light reduction can be accomplished in two ways:

• Routless: This feature, also known as de-Light™, NoHoles™ and LightMaster™, reduces light  leakage by eliminating the traditional rout hole through the center of the slat and replaces it with a notch on the side of each slat through which the cording controlling the tilting and lifting of the blind.
• Cloth Tapes: Available in widths ranging from 1” to 2”. Cloth tapes minimize light leakage through rout holes. Tapes in solids and decorative prints coordinate with room colors and add that finishing touch to your window treatment. Cloth tapes are appropriate only on Composite-type faux wood blinds as the closeness of the ladder spacing on PVC blinds makes cloth tapes look busy and unattractive.

Slat Size Comparison
As a rule, the narrower the slat, the more slats necessary. What this means for you is:

• The 1" slats create a busy look, limiting your view to the outside.  If you are working around a door handle you may need a 1" slat size.  However, you may want to consider changing the handle on the door and using a 2" or wider slat. Also consider that with a 1" slat, when fully raised, the stack can cover a good portion of your upper window, blocking the view.
• Blinds made with 2" wide slats provide a traditional look and are the most popular of the widths available. 
• The 2 5/8-inch, and 3" slats provide a shutter-like look and offer a less obstructed view to the outside; because the slats are wider, it takes fewer slats to construct the blind. With a 2 5/8" or wider slat, when fully raised, the stack will block the smallest amount of space in your window, maximizing your view. 

 

Wood Blind Basics Wood blinds are consistently the most popular products because they are easy to install and provide a classic feel to any home. They offer varying options that make taking care of a specific need that much easier. Easily coordinate with the color of wood flooring and fine wood furniture. The 2", 2 5/8" and 3" slat sizes create a look similar to that of a plantation shutter. Blinds made with the 2 5/8-inch and 3" widths produce a smaller stack of slats at the top of your window when fully raised, than their 2-inch or 1-inch counterparts. This is because the wider the slat, the fewer slats necessary, resulting in a shorter stack of slats when fully raised. Effectively control outside light by tilting the wood slats with a wand or cord while providing necessary privacy. A room can be darkened substantially when the slats are fully closed. Simple to operate. Blinds can be pulled up to allow an open view to the outside. Please note that if you intend to pull your wood blinds up regularly, carefully consider the size of your window and the resulting weight of the blind. The larger a blind’s size the heavier the weight. The heavier the weight, the greater the effort required to raise and lower the blind. Lifting mechanisms like the cordless lifting systems reduce wear on the blind and make raising your window covering easier. To reduce wear and tear on cords, fully open slats before raising the blind. This reduces friction and requires less effort. Easy to maintain and very durable. Types of Wood The quality of the wood used in slats is often overlooked. Do not be fooled. All wood is not equal. Since wood blind slats are natural wood products, warpage and cracking are potential issues. There are two types of wood used primarily in the production of wood blinds, 1) North American hardwood such as basswood, poplar or aspen and 2) a lesser quality (but less expensive) Ramin wood. About 75% of the window coverings industry agrees that basswood is the "ideal" wood for wood blinds. The most important thing to remember is that wood blinds purchased from reputable companies will be far less likely to have problems and are warranted against warpage and cracking. North American hardwood - basswood, poplar, or aspen  Lighter in weight than Ramin which is an important consideration in determining the ease of raising and lowering your blind.     Less tendency to warp and more prone to keep it’s shape because of the internal structure of the wood. Ramin Wood Approximately 60% heavier than hardwoods making it harder to lift Has a greater tendency to warp and distort in shape due to higher water content Costs less than hardwoods