Window blinds are a necessity for every household. Sunlight can revitalize the mind and spirit, but you can definitely have too much of a good thing. Too much sunlight in your house can raise the temperature significantly. It can also disturb your sleep. Unless you like to get up at dawn, literally, then you'll want to get something to cover up your windows. There are two standard types of window blinds: vertical and mini. Vertical blinds are individual vanes that hang down over the window. They consist of the railing and the vanes. They are usually controlled by a swivel mechanism that moves in a clockwise fashion. This lets you control how much light you want to enter the room. You can also pull them all the way up when you want to leave the window completely open for maximum brightness. Vertical blinds generally come in vinyl, fabric, and aluminum and they can be bought to match the rest of your home decor. Mini blinds, on the other hand, use one inch horizontal vanes. These are found in lots of apartment buildings and offices because they aren't as fancy and won't break as often with repeated use. Mini blinds are made of wood and vinyl most of the time, although they can be made of other materials. Panel blinds are less common, but popular among certain contemporary style enthusiasts. They work best with floor to ceiling windows and are offered in many bold patterns and prints. Roman blinds are relatively rare. These are large, single pieces of fabric that form pleats when raised. They offer a sleek appearance, but are not sturdy at all. Venetian blinds are often made of wood or aluminum. They are horizontal slats that can be tilted or lifted to let light in or keep it out. Other nonstandard blinds include cellular varieties, specially designed outdoor models, and bamboo blinds.
