Wooden Venetian Blinds

Wooden Venetian blinds bring something no fabric can: the warmth and grain of real timber. They sit comfortably alongside wooden floors, period fireplaces and oak furniture, and they’re just as much at home in a modern room with white walls, where a run of natural slats adds texture without clutter.

They also give you finer control over light than most other blinds. Instead of a choice between up and down, you set the slats at whatever angle suits the moment. Half open, they soften harsh afternoon sun on a desk or dining table. Nearly closed, they give privacy with a gentle glow of daylight. Fully closed, they shut out the evening.

Choosing your finish

Wood is a material you need to see in person. A finish that looks warm on a screen can look orange next to an oak floor, or grey against a cream wall. That’s why we always carry real slat samples on a home visit, letting you hold them against your floor, skirting boards and furniture in your own daylight.

• Natural and stained finishes let the grain show through. Lighter tones keep a room fresh and Scandinavian in feel, while deeper walnut shades suit studies, dining rooms and period homes.
• Painted finishes in white, grey or black give a crisper, more tailored look. A white wooden blind still shows a faint grain up close, which is what sets it apart from a plain painted surface.

Fabric ladder tapes are worth considering too. As well as hiding the cord holes, they add a band of colour down each side of the blind and soften the overall look.

Where real wood works, and where it doesn’t

Wood is a natural material, and it reacts to moisture. In a living room, bedroom or study, that’s never a concern. In a steamy bathroom or en-suite, it is: repeated steam and condensation can make wooden slats bow or warp over time. The same goes for a window directly above a kitchen sink.

For those rooms, we’ll recommend faux wood Venetian blinds instead. They give a very similar look and are made to cope with damp. If you’re weighing up the two, our guide to wooden vs faux wood Venetian blinds sets out the differences side by side.

If you love the look of timber slats but want something more permanent, shutters give a similar look, with tilting louvres set into hinged panels that fold back from the window.

How it works

1. Book a visit. Call, WhatsApp or ask for a quote online, and choose a day that suits you. We’re available 7 days a week.
2. Choose your wood in your room. We bring finished slat samples to compare against your floors and furniture, and measure every window while we’re there. Quotes are free, and there’s no pressure to commit.
3. Made for each window. Each blind is made to your measurements, with your chosen finish, slat width and tapes or cords.
4. Fitted and adjusted. Our fitters hang the blinds, check the slats sit level and close evenly, and show you the controls. Fitting is included in your quote.

Wooden Venetian blinds are a lovely way to add warmth and character to a room. Having fitted blinds for 20 years, our team will tell you plainly whether real wood suits each window, and suggest faux wood where it makes more sense.