What are Pleated Blinds Made From?
Pleated blinds are generally made from fabric that has been pleated. This pleating adds a sense of texture to the window area and the room. Many people choose pleated blinds because when they are pulled up, they rest in a flat position that you do not notice when the blinds are fully open. This is because the fabric is thinner than many other types of blinds. They may also be motorized to make opening and closing them much easier as well as safer when there are children in the home. The pleated texture of these blinds looks like subtle stripes when the blinds are closed.
Pleated blinds usually have a texture to them and may have a pattern as well. If they are solid color, the subtle stripe pattern is still there due to the pleating. The fabric itself is made to look much like shades when they are down. It is made from one fabric layer that has been folded into neat and crisp pleats.
How Do Pleated Blinds Compare to Cellular Shades?
When you first see pleated and cellular shades, they may look much the same. Both blind types are made from fabric that has been pleated and is often made from woven fabrics. They both look a little like shades when they are down, and both offer a slight stripe pattern to the room. However, they are constructed very differently, and each has its own strong suit.
Pleated blinds have that single layer of fabric, so they do control some light and a thin layer of insulation for the window. They are sometimes lined to offer more light level control as well as to offer more insulation. However, cellular blinds are constructed very differently.
Cellular shades are a much newer invention. They were created to give the user a better level of energy efficiency by offering multiple layers of insulation for the windows. They are made from at least two fabric layers that create a central pocket of air between them that looks like a honeycomb shape. They are sometimes called honeycomb blinds for that reason.
The extra layer as well as the air pocket gives added resistance to heat loss as well as reducing the heat coming in from the window in the summer. They may be made from as many as six layers of fabric, and the texture is generally an unwoven one. They may also be linked with another layer of fabric for more light control and insulation.
Because they are constructed with more materials and in a more complicated way, they tend to be more expensive than pleated blinds. However, their higher level of energy efficiency can help you to save on energy costs over time. They come in pleating that varies in size, from 3/8″ between pleats to 1 1/4″. Like pleated blinds, they are made to fold into a neat, flat shape so that they are not noticeable when the blinds are open. There are no cord holes visible in these, so the look of them is highly streamlined. They also come in wider widths for windows that are wider than normal.
What are the Pros and Cons of Pleated Blinds?
There are many pros to having pleated blinds. They are great for those who want a soft look for their windows. They are easy to open and close, and when closed they filter sunlight so that rooms do not get too bright. They offer a small amount of insulation, especially when keeping heat out in summer. Because their construction is simpler than cellular blinds, they are less expensive.
They also come in a wider choice of fabrics. Many, many looks are possible, from crinkle silk to sheers to the look of woven grass for some extra texture. You can choose the thickness of the fabric to have more control over the light coming in as well as your level of privacy. They also come in cordless varieties for good looks and added safety.
There are also some cons to having pleated blinds. Among them is that they have cord holes running down each side. This is a look that some people do not want, especially when it means that you will have tiny dots of light around the room where the sun is coming in. These pinholes are visible both from inside the room and outside the window. They also do not offer that much insulation, especially against winter cold coming through.
There are also many pros to having cellular blinds. These offer superior insulation for the window, resulting in lower energy bills. They are particularly good at keeping the heat in during the winter. And because of their construction, the cord and cord holes are all inside the layers so that they cannot be seen in the room or from outside the window.
This gives a minimalist look that many people choose. They also offer more light blocking that also gives users more privacy. There are also double-cell blinds that offer even more room darkening and privacy. They cancel some of the noise from outside as well as coming from the inside for even more privacy.
There are also cons when using cellular blinds. They can be harder to clean than pleated blinds because of their intricate shape inside. Cleaning requires cleaning each of the cells on the inside. If a fly were to get deep into a cell, it can be difficult to remove it.
Blinds with slats allow you to have a lot of control over the light that comes in, but cellular blinds give you very little. Without blackout fabrics, they may let in too much light. But with these fabrics, they often do not allow you light when you do want it. They also tend to be more expensive than pleated blinds. Many people do not like the way cellular blinds look and find them to be less than fashionable.
What are the Best Companies to purchase Pleated Blinds From?
There are a lot of aspects to a company that creates its overall quality. This includes both the quality of the blinds and the way the company caters to customers and gives good customer service. Each company on this list is good at all these factors.
Fenstermann Window Fashion is a pleated blinds company well-known for its custom-made German-made shades and window treatments. They use no strings hanging down for a neat and clean appearance. They also make extra-large blinds for large windows up to 15′ wide, and they are available in more than 80 fabrics. They have won the Best of Houzz awards both the best design and best service.
Hunter Douglas is a company that makes impeccable blinds at affordable prices. They allow for plenty of experimentation with different looks, and they are known for their high-quality materials and craftsmanship.
Crown is a company dedicated to making custom blinds and shades. They focus on a wide range of choices available at affordable prices. They offer so many different blind looks that it is possible to find exactly what you are looking for to make your windows look just the way you want them to.
