Blinds are a great choice of window covering for bedrooms as they’re affordable and, unlike shades or curtains, they give you the option to block all of the light or to let some in, while maintaining privacy.

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This article about the best bedroom blinds will help you to decide if blinds are the best option for your bedroom, as well as offering some tips on how to choose the right blinds from the myriad of styles that are available.

What are the best blinds for bedrooms?

The most popular type of bedroom blinds is Venetian blinds. For the very best bedroom blinds, look out for voice-controlled opening mechanisms and child-safe cordless designs. Be sure to read the reviews to know that you are buying the best blinds for your budget.

Below, you’ll find some quick links to the window blinds with the best reviews. Otherwise, continue reading to find out how to choose the best blinds for your bedroom.

Our top picks for bedroom blinds

Best Venetian: Symple Stuff Deluxe Cordless Room Darkening Venetian Blind

Perfect for bedrooms, this luxury Venetian blinds a stylish way to create a dark room, even in the daytime. This blind has a streamlined silhouette that is designed to overlap the edges of the window frame to block out light.

It comes with a decorative crown valance and a cordless design which is safer for children and pets.

Colors available: Hickory brown, pine, seal grey or white
Material: Faux wood
Sizes available: 76 different sizes

Best mini: Charlton Home Irondale Mini Room Darkening Venetian Blind

This horizontal Venetian blind has mini slats for a neat design. The small size of the slats also means that it’s available in a wider variety of sizes – with over 400 sizes to choose from there’s a good chance of this blind fitting your window perfectly.

This blind is lightweight, easy to fit and has a cordless design for extra safety.

Colors available: White or alabaster
Material: Vinyl
Sizes available: 427 different sizes

Best for large windows: Orren Ellis Deluxe Adjustable Room Darkening Vertical Blind

This vertical blind has sliding panels that are perfect for large windows and balcony doors. The blind will fit a window that’s up to 86” wide and 96” high. As the panels are made from fabric, you can easily trim them with scissors for an exact fit.

These blinds are light in color so allow light to gently filter through while providing the privacy that you need in a bedroom.

Colors available: White/gray or white
Material: Natural and synthetic fabrics
Sizes available: Trim to fit

What are the best window coverings for a bedroom?

The best window covering for your bedroom may be a blind, but you should also consider other options including shades, curtains and shutters before deciding that it is, in fact, a blind that you’re looking for.

The best bedroom window coverings will depend very much on your family’s needs. There’s no one simple answer as to which option is the best.

Some things to consider when searching are bedroom window treatments are:

Light control – In a bedroom you’ll probably want to block out the majority of, if not all of, the light from entering.

Privacy – You may wish to allow some light into the room while preventing your neighbors from seeing in as you undress.

Insulation – Window coverings can keep your house warm in the winter by preventing heat from escaping.

Visual impact – Bedroom window coverings can be eye catching and bold or blend into the surrounding walls.

Fit – Odd-shaped, large windows or high up windows may require custom-made solutions to fit.

Cleaning – Horizontal blinds can attract dust and require regular cleaning whereas vertical blinds and shades are generally lower-maintenance.

Installation – Do you want to be able put up the window coverings yourself, or are you happy to hire a professional?

Safety – Particularly for a kids’ bedroom, you’ll want to choose a style that doesn’t have accessible cords.

Price – New bedroom window coverings don’t need to break the bank and there are some good options to suit every budget.

After reviewing the options that are available online, you’ll want to weigh up the pros and cons of bedroom blinds, shades and curtains for your home.

Can blinds be used in bedrooms?

Blinds are a popular choice for bedrooms, but it’s important to know that almost all bedroom blinds will allow some light to escape into the room around the edges. If you prefer to sleep in total darkness, then you might need to consider using curtains in addition to a blind for the best effect.

Which is better: Blinds or curtains?

Blinds and curtains each have their advantages. Blinds are generally cheaper, easier to clean and have more options to control the light. However, curtains offer better insulation and soundproofing.

Which is better: Blinds or shades?

In many parts of the world, the terms blinds and shades are used interchangeably and mean the same thing. However, they are actually two distinct things. Blinds are usually hard window coverings with slats, whereas shades are made from a single piece of fabric.

The main advantage of blinds over shades for a bedroom is that blinds have the option to let some light in while maintaining privacy. Shades, however, only have the option of being open or closed.

What window treatments are in style for 2021?

A recent poll by Home Stratosphere found that 58% of people prefer blinds out of all of the window treatment options including shades, drapes, curtains and shutters. While all of the options are popular, blinds do seem to be one of the top choices at the moment.

How to choose the right blinds

Once you’re sure that it’s a blind that you’re looking for, you’ll want to make sure that you choose the best blind for your bedroom.

Types of blinds

There are two main types of blinds:

Venetian blinds – The most common option for household blinds, these can be used in any room of the house, including the bedroom
Vertical blinds – Hanging from to bottom, these are the best blinds for very large windows

Within those two types, there may be other names for the blinds, according to the size of the slats:

Mini blinds – These are venetain blinds with small slats, each of which is only an inch tall
Micro blinds – Even smaller than mini blinds, these slats are around half an inch tall
Panel blinds – A type of vertical vblind, these have wide sections of fabric which don’t tilt but can slide to the side.

Blind materials

Blinds are commonly made from these materials:

Wood – Durable and eco-friendly, wooden blinds are often brown but they can be made in a variety of colors and finishes
Faux wood – Made from plastic, these look just like wood but are usually cheaper. Faux wood doesn’t warp, making it very useful for high-humidity environments like bathrooms
Aluminium – Metal blinds can make an annoying clattering sound but they offer a budget choice that’s commonly-used in offices
Vinyl – Most vertical blinds are made from vinyl as it’s flexible, durable and light-blocking
Fabric – Some vertical blinds are made with a thick fabric that may be plain or patterned

Which type of blind to choose will depend on your budget and what’s important to you.

Features of blinds

There are also some extra features of blinds which you may wish to look out for. While these can increase the overall cost, you may decide that the extra expense is worth it, depending on your circumstances.

Cordless blinds

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a child in the US dies almost every month from being entangled in blind cords. To minimize the risk, many parents opt for cordless blinds that will keep young children safe when nobody is watching them.

Automatic blinds

In the past, automatic blinds came with a remote control that you had to point at the blind to lower and raise them. Not any more. Today’s modern automatic blinds offer smart options like timer controls and voice controls for effortless adjusting.

Do I need custom-made blinds?

Blinds come in standard sizes. Measure your window, and see if you can buy a ready-made blind and fit it yourself or if you’ll need to have something custom-made to fit.

Standard window widths are:

24 inches
36 inches
48 inches
60 inches

Standard window heights are:

36 inches
48 inches
60 inches
72 inches

Some window blinds allow you to trim them yourself, so it’s easy to get an exact fit, provided that you’re handy with a tape measure and scissors!

What kind of blinds are in style?

Top window blind trends for 2021 include:

Layering – Using blinds in combination with curtains or valances, usually in different but complementary colors
Neutral tones – Not just basic white and beige, the popular blinds of 2021 have subtle patterns or textures
Garden prints – While classic floral prints can be overly feminine, garden-inspired fabrics depicting leaves and branches are hot right now
Automation – The fully-motorized blinds of 2021 are compatible with apps like Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri.

Are vertical blinds still in style in 2021?

Vertical blinds first appeared in the 1980s and have been popular ever since because they are practical and affordable. While they used to be the go-to choice for every window, they are now mostly used for patio doors.

That said, there are some very stylish vertical blinds for bedroom windows, so if that’s what would work best with your room, then you shouldn’t worry about them looking outdated as they are still a great choice.

Are valances out of style in 2021?

Traditional, puffy, ruffled valances may look dated, but on the whole, valances aren’t out of style for 2021. In fact, valances are very fashionable right now, as part of a layering trend that sees valances being used in combination with coordinated blinds or shades.

There are many different kinds of valance, including formal ascot-shaped valances, puffy balloon valances and fancy swag valances. For the most modern look, you should consider box valances with bold prints or perhaps an elegant scarf valance.

What are the best quality window blinds?

When buying window blinds, it’s wise to look out for the ones that are of top quality. Cheap blinds can be notorious for having problems with the cords getting stuck, the blinds becoming jammed and there’s even the potential for injury. Choose the best quality blinds and they should last you for at least ten to fifteen years with no issues.

The best quality window blinds in the US are those produced by Graber and Hunter Douglas. If these luxury options are out of your budget, then you should also consider companies like Blinds To Go, Home Depot blinds and Ikea blinds as well as online at Amazon and Wayfair.

To conclude

When choosing the best bedroom blinds, you should think about which type of blinds offer the best combination of light blocking, privacy and style.

If blocking 100% of the light is important to you, then you may decide that you’d actually be better off with a shade or a pair of curtains rather than a blind.

Don’t forget, there’s always the option to double up on a blind with a curtain or valance, to create a layered look for your window that’s very trendy for 2021.