window blinds history, history window blinds, window treatment history

Window blinds is a very practical home fixture innovation. They are called “blinds” basically because of what they do: they blind a viewer of the window, not allowing them to see the insides of the room. The blinds are used to reduce entering sunlight as well.

Today window blinds have become more practical with varying usage. This may be due to the advent of various technologies in materials used in creating window blinds. Blinds can be used to block unwanted heat of the summer sun but at the same time keep in the heat during the winter or colder months. The varying designs as well determine their functionality. But no matter how you they make or design window blinds, the basic function of restricting the field of vision and controlling sunlight remains.

Window blinds have been in use in decades, even centuries. It may not be in the form that we are familiar today but the “ancient” blinds have the same functionality. Desert dwellers, for example, have been recorded to use wet cloths to cover the windows of their shelters. These cloths were used as an additional cooling device for their homes, much like a modern air conditioning unit. Even the early Egyptians already had a concept of their own when it comes to window blinds. The Egyptians used reeds strung together to keep prying eyes from their windows. Meanwhile, the Chinese used bamboos to gain a similar effect. Bamboos, by the way, are still being used today in countries in Asia. When the Middle Ages came, more elegant and finer cloths were used to drape the windows and around the poster beds. These cloths offer protection from drafts.

The popular Venetian blinds were actually invented in Persia. It was the traveling Venetian traders which brought the blinds to Venice and Paris thus were most often being credited as the inventor of this type of window blinds. The Venetian blinds became so popular that they were included in historical paintings, being part of the detailed background. They dotted the windows of well known buildings and offices.

By the 1950s, the Venetian blinds had incorporated two inch wide metal slats and were hung with fabric strips. These fabric strips control the blinds by raising, lowering or tilting the metal slats. However, the older models of the Venetian blinds were rather noisy and their appearance offer very less aesthetics in a room. But by the 1980s, the metal slats had been replaced by one inch vinyl slats. Due to the flexibility of manufacturing vinyl slats, these vinyl “mini blinds” became the standard in the choice of window blinds.

Now, window blinds are used to create a variety of moods whether if it’s in your office or in your homes. There are lots of blinds to choose from, from colors to design, each kind of blinds can easily match the room and the environment you’re going for.