Comparing Different Types of Blinds
The old-school types of window blinds were pretty basic: standard vertical and Venetian blinds made from vinyl. The color choices were also pretty limited to a singular white shade. We’d struggle with cords or stubborn control mechanisms that also made them hard to use.
Fast-forward to 2025, and we see how far the selections have evolved with high-end custom blinds that look better and last longer, from Hunter Douglas. At Kaloko Shutter & Blind, our clients deserve nothing less than the best, and our design experts enjoy showing our most modern, innovative styles.
Horizontal Style: Types of Window Blinds
Horizontal blinds have narrow or wide slats that run parallel to the floor. The slats are connected by cord free operating mechanisms that allow you to raise, lower, and adjust the angle of the entire blind with smoother and safer movements.
- Modern Precious Metals® Mini Blinds are made from aluminum in matte or pearlescent finishes, with ½", 1", or 2" slats. Surprisingly flexible and durable, they come in 70+ colors, and suit casual interior spaces like kids’ rooms, offices, and recreation rooms.
- Parkland® Wood Blinds have an elegant, traditional aesthetic that’s always in style. Crafted from sustainably harvested 100% hardwood basswood, they offer 2" or 2 ½" slat sizes and 50+ paint and stain finishes. We often suggest them for living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms.
- EverWood® Faux Wood Blinds are a durable alternative to genuine wood blinds, made with high-quality composite materials that resist heat and moisture. They have the same number of finish options and the same slat size options as Parkland® Wood Blinds; they’re perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and other high-traffic areas in a home.
Vertical Window Blind Options
Here we share four of our favorite selections — including innovative hybrid designs.
- Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds bring simple style and operation into the picture, with 3.5" louvers and 40+ material/color choices, including fabric and vinyl. Its understated, sophisticated profile lets you spotlight other furnishings. We like these in casual spaces like family rooms.
- Somner® Vertical Blinds offer a wider variety of choices, with 170+ material/color combinations available from fabric to metal and vinyl. They also have 3.5” wide louvers, interesting metal finishes, and statement fabrics that make stronger design statements. Somner® Vertical Blinds also suit casual spaces, but many of the fabrics are elegant enough for formal settings.
- Skyline® Panel-Track Blinds work exceptionally well in larger rooms and even work as room dividers. The clever design has wider, 11 ½" or 17" fabric-covered panels attached to a track to create a gliding movement. With this type of window blinds, you can choose from 450+ fabric/color choices; homeowners love these in open-concept settings and on floor-to-ceiling windows.
- Luminette® Sheer Panels have an almost magical appearance, with 180-degree, soft 3 1/2" fabric vanes integrated in between sheer panels offered in 80+ choices. They resemble sheer drapes and radiate light beautifully. Use them in casual and formal rooms where others will see them; wait for the ooohs and aaaahs.
We Have the Best Custom Blinds in Kailua-Kona
This advice can narrow down the choices: Horizontal blinds work best on windows that are wider than they are tall, while vertical blinds suit glass patio doors, French doors, and tall or tall/wide windows. Still, you won’t know which to choose til you see them in person.
At Kaloko Shutter & Blind, our expert team provides free in-home appointments. We’ll bring all the samples you’ll need to make your decisions.
Whether you decide to go horizontal or vertical, trust that you’ll be in the best hands with our team and Hunter Douglas. Visit our showroom or contact us for a consultation in Kailua Kona, Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea, Kohala, Waimea, Kamuela, Hualalai, Holualoa, Captain Cook, and Kealakekua, HI.