Faux Wood Blinds Now

How to Set Up Faux Wood Blinds

So you went to the store, you bought some new window treatments in an effort to improve the look of your home.  Faux blinds make a great addition and its both easy and inexpensive to install.  Unfortunately you are reading this because someone in your home has misplaced the directions, don’t worry – we have exactly what you will need to get the job done right.

There is a small list of tools you will need in order to get the blinds up efficiently and in a timely manner, so go get these things together and get ready for a great install.

Tools you need to get the blinds up without fail;

Screw Driver

A reliable Level

Measuring Tape

Magnetic Nut Driver

Wireless Drill

Verify the Product

The brand of blinds you chose to purchase will determine the specific set of hardware it comes with.  But without fail you should have many of the following in your possession.  This is a breakdown of what you should have received with your faux wood blinds.

Brackets for the installation

Screws to Mount the Blinds with

Small support screws

Valance Clips

Depending on how the manufacture believes you can mount the blinds you have a set of the following as well.

3/8” S Blocks for Spacing

Brackets for Support

Cord Cleats

Hold down Brackets

Other miscellaneous bracket types

How to Install the Blinds

Secure the installation brackets in the desired location

Make sure you set the the proper distance inside the window well

The valance type will have an impact on how deep you will want to set them

Using the Nut Driver mount the brackets

Make sure you use at least 2 of the 8 holes that have been predrilled

Maintain the bracket in the vertical position while you mount the head rail into the bracket

Slide the rail inside the open face of the bracket

Shut the flap to secure the blind and lock it into place firmly

Valance Install

Find the groove line on the rear of the valance

Put the clip into the the groove sideways and turn the clip into the locking position

After you have done this apply slight pressure to the clips in a downward motion to assure it is in securely

So that is it, now that you have successfully installed you blinds you are ready to enjoy the added feeling of style they bring to the room.

In today’s market faux wood blinds have become increasingly popular because of their ability to compliment wood furnishings and add an updated look to older areas of the home, in addition to all that they are much less expensive than traditional wooden blinds.  This is because the cost of production for real woods blinds is so high, while faux wood blinds are made of synthetic materials and they just work better for designers on a budget because they add the same new fresh look without the cost.

To Faux or not to Faux?

Making the decision between faux wood blinds and real wood blinds can often be difficult but in the end it is a matter of personal preference.  Both have unique pros and cons aside from the obvious difference in price.

There is no escaping the fact that faux wood blinds are simply much cheaper than regular wood blinds, so advantage to faux with that one.  Because of the cheaper price point many more people are able to use them.  The downside is that if you are doing this to add value to the house you are actually being counterproductive since they are often way out valued by real wood blinds.

There are ares of the house which make more sense than others to install fake wood blinds because they are seen less and may even hold up a bit longer.  The laundry areas, kitchens and bathrooms are often subjected to high amounts of moisture which can eventually warp the wood, whereas the fau wood in mostly made of plastic and not susceptible to this.  There simply isn’t any value in investing in a more expensive fixture only to have it fail on you a few years down the road, but in the end you are the one that lives in the house so it is ultimately your decision.

In case it wasn’t made apparent earlier, faux means fake, so these blinds are fake wood often made of some combination of plastics and other synthetics and because they are manufactured from start to finish it is a little easier to find them in a more wide variety of colors.  Real wood blinds have the advantage of being made from real wood and just like any wood material it can be painted to match your needs, it is just a little more labor intense to do it.

In the end you will need to decide whats best and if you have questions you can always as the local hardware store because chances are they sell both types and don’t work on commission so you will get an honest response.

Faux wood blinds are not only a great alternative for wood blinds because of the price, they are also a great alternative because of maintenance. Faux wood blinds do not fade as quickly as wood blinds and are very easy to maintain.

Cleaning faux wood blinds is a very simple process and requires less effort than wood blinds. Wood blinds cannot be washed with soap and can only handle small amounts of water which leads to a lot of careful measuring and wiping. Faux wood blinds, on the other hand can be washed with soap and water, making the process much easier.

The first step in maintaining your faux wood blinds is dusting. Dusting each slat regularly will remove all surface dust and stop daily accumulation. Synthetic and feather dusters, or a soft dry cloth can all used to do the job.  As an alternative to dusting, you can use a vacuum to remove the light dust and dirt, just be cautious when vacuuming to avoid scratching the blinds. Handy vacuums, or extended vacuum parts work best.

The next step is to remove any stains or accumulated dirt. This is where the faux wood blinds advantage comes in. Faux wood blinds can be cleaned just like normal plastic blinds, using warm water and nonabrasive soap. Hot water can be damaging to the blind material, so warm water is recommended. Special soap is not required as most liquid dish soaps work perfectly in removing stains and dirt off the blinds.

The best way to wash the blinds is to remove them from the window. This allows you to check for stains, or dirt that cannot be seen while they are hanging. It is also easier to wipe them down the soap and water while they are unattached.

After you are done washing, it is important to let the blind dry properly before attaching back to the window. Faux wood blinds can withstand much denser humidity conditions as compared to wood blinds, but it is still best to let them fully dry before they are place back on the window. If you cleaned your blinds while still attached, you can dry them by simply place a fan in front of them for a few minutes, or open the window and let the breeze dry them.

To ensure your blinds last long and maintain their great look, it is recommended that you dust each week, and wash them every other week.