Venetian blinds are a stylish, refreshing, and practical choice for your home décor. When choosing venetian blinds, one of the main things a homeowner considers is making the choice between faux wood venetian blinds and standard wood venetian blinds. What are their key differences, and why should you choose one over the other?
We’re here today to make your choice a breeze. Read on so you can know exactly what to expect from faux wood or real wood venetian blinds, as well as their key differences.
Wood Venetian Blinds
Wooden venetian blinds are suited to various interior designs, from country and colonial, to contemporary. They are an excellent choice to add beauty and style to your home while keeping it light and airy.
Made from natural timbers, our Norman Phoenixwood Venetian Blinds are a popular choice. The timbers used are ‘custom kiln dried’ and undergo conditioning preparation during the manufacturing process. This conditioning makes the Phoenixwood blinds more durable and resistant to heat and moisture. The slats are ‘quarter sawn,’ to guarantee that the wood maintains its shape for years to come. The richness and quality of the wood grain is also enhanced by this process. Sanding and coating the slat surface is the final step in creating the classic, furnished look of phoenixwood venetian blinds.
Available in a range of natural, stain and painted styles, Phoenixwood venetian blinds are a flexible option for your home design.
Faux Wood Venetian Blinds
On the outside, faux wood venetian blinds look very similar to their phoenixwood counterpart. They have the appearance of painted wood and come in a range of possible colour choices. Faux wood in comparison is made of compressed polystyrene slats, an extremely durable material allowing for excellent stability and versatility.
We have two types of faux wood venetian blinds available. The standard blinds are made with Israeli slats and manufactured in New Zealand. In comparison, the Norman wood venetian blinds are imported and delivered by worldwide leading manufacturers. Norman faux wood is slightly more plastic in appearance, but is an excellent, more affordable alternative. The standard blind design has holes for ladder strips, this feature creates a more brightening effect. The Norman design is slightly darker in contrast because it does not include this feature.
Key Differences Between Faux and Wooden Blinds
Heat Resistance
While Phoenixwood Venetian Blinds are made with some resistance to heat and dampness, they are not suited to places high in humidity such as kitchen, bathroom, and laundry areas.
On the other hand, faux wood blinds are a great option for these heat and moisture-prone areas. Similar in appearance, they have the advantage of being highly resistant to UV rays, moisture and mildew damage. Faux venetian blinds offer a functional alternative that will not peel, crack, or warp.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Because of the high durability of faux wood, they are water-safe and can be safely cleaned in the bath.
In contrast, phoenixwood blinds are not water-safe and therefore cleaning them with wet cloth should be avoided. Too much contact with humidity and water could ultimately damage and warp the slats. Damage is easily preventable if you use a soft, dry cloth to wipe the surfaces instead. Furniture polish or using a wood cleaning agent are also good ways to keep your phoenixwood blinds spotless.
In general, venetian blinds are easy to clean, especially if cleaning is done regularly. Keep your blinds fresh with a weekly dust or vacuum, or wipe them over with a soft cloth. If done consistently, this task will be very easy, as dust accumulation will be minimal.
Delivery Time
Norman wood design blinds are the lower cost option and do take approximately 2 weeks longer to deliver.
Overall
Both faux and natural phoenixwood venetian blinds are terrific options to provide light and heat control for your home, while creating a fresh and bright setting. However, to get the best and longest life out of your blinds, make sure you know the temperature conditions of your home, such as room heat sensitivity or the possibility of moisture condensation.
Shop venetian blinds here at NZ Blinds!
Whether you’ve decided to opt for faux wood or real wooden blinds, we provide excellent options to suit your home. If you have any more questions or require expert advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!!