When we asked readers toilet paper over or under? reader Steve was agnostic on the issue. The pressing question in his house: How should blinds be closed? “Believe me, this is a very contentious issue in my household,” he said.
I installed 2″ aluminum blinds from Hunter Douglas in my kitchen (love them), so asked the company if they had a bona fide scientific answer. And yes, now everything is illuminated!
Pros and cons of turning blinds up or down
Bobby Dill, General Manager of the Hunter Douglas Horizontal Blinds Division, provided this assessment of the pros and cons of how to angle the slats on horizontal window blinds:
Reasons to turn your window blinds up:
It really is consumer preference, although we know that turning the slats upward (front edge of the blind upward) usually provides more privacy, less light into the room, and minimizes heat transfer into the room….
Closed in the inside up direction, blinds may not have as soft an appearance, but there is greater control of daylight entering the room. Sunlight and some radiant energy will be deflected upward and away from the room. This benefit is especially relevant in places like offices, where there can be substantial energy savings derived from maximizing that amount of natural lighting in the space.
Reasons to turn your blinds down:
With that said, tilting to the front (front edge of the blind down) provides the most aesthetic benefit, but will admit more light through the small gaps where slats overlap because of the angle of sunlight on the window.
Really, it comes down to personal preferences and the particular situation. Horizontal blinds provide benefits and functionality when tilted in any position. There is no “right” or “wrong ” way go.
Thank you, Mr. Dill, for your guidance. And thank you, Steve, for the question.
virginia says
Just to say that I was happy to get away from blinds because I’ve always lived in places that were small, including our current 1949 rambler — 1200 square feet — tiny — and have a large collection of artwork. Most of it from the 30s 40s and 50s and most of it inherited. I collected some of my own in the 80s and 90s. And am a big framer of images that I like and children’s art.
So there’s a lot going on on the walls of every room and I tend to like it that way. Again, small spaces and I didn’t give into the temptation of knocking down walls to make them larger. I was told repeatedly in the late 90s when we bought the house to make all kinds of changes and am glad I had the good sense not to go there. Nor did we have the cash. Some part of me was learning to live in a house that I didn’t really love and that was far from hip at the time. Years have gone by, I’ve learned to listen to my house and it to me, I think, and I know love it and have learned how best to dress it. Takes time when spaces are awkward and features are out of style.
Blinds started not to work for me when they began to compete with the other visuals. I also don’t care for fussy, frilly window treatments. And, just to make it more challenging, live in a house that is ever so slightly below sidewalk level so folks can peer in. I imagine people have betters things to do, naturally, but like and need privacy. And am also rather odd in that I don’t care for rooms that are flooded with light. I like a bit of shade and mystery during the day.
So the solution has been tension rods placed at mid-level on most windows so that I can see the trees and sky above and have that sense of peace at eye level.
It took many years to figure this one out but it works for me and gives me a chance to highlight a nice collection of fabrics from all over the place — including vintage bark cloth. Nothing falls below the actual window frame and the fabrics are displayed flat and straight. When I want life more open, as I do now, in spring, I just take a straight pin and pin a corner of cloth to itself until the day is done.
But … aluminum blinds — Those have me intrigued.
Didn’t mean to go on and on but as it turns out the matter of windows and how to deal with them has been the most difficult one for me in terms of home decor. Many, many hours spent dealing with various strategies and then taking them apart because I didn’t care for them. When I came upon the solution that worked for me, I truly was able to embrace our house. Odd but true.
pam kueber says
Window treatments are tricky. I have met many people who are virtually paralyzed about what to do.
virginia says
They are very tricky indeed, Pam, and can take many, many days and hours of frustration to get through but, for real, once one gets that feature right it’s a whole lot like kissing the mythical frog. And what’s so funny is that because we live in a world where nothing is certain one could still get it all wrong to the eyes of others. It’s just important that one fall in love with the result! I’m one of those Felix Unger types
— if it’s not right, I can’t sleep! Or eat or do anything else.
I will see if I can get my son to send some photos. None worthy of posting but you can see what I did. And not all tension rods fall from the middle. Some in other areas begin at the very top and hold fabrics that are sheer. The only stipulation is that they, ironically, fall in the frame like blinds. Straight and simple. And some windows are naked.
I also once, in the 80s, went to pull on a set of blinds in a 60s apartment I was moving into and had the blasted things fall onto my head. A terrible migraine that was probably indicative of a concussion. I was too stupid to know.
Now that we are moving into spring and summer, can you help us with outside of our houses?
Your site, love love love it, and Atomic Ranch have guided me through many a depressed day, week, and month. Thank you so much for making us feel good about our love shacks.
Steve says
Thanks Pam! Yeah! We’re both right. That’s my second favorite scenario (right after me being right). This actually clarifies a lot. I do think that tilting upward hides the dust that collects on the blinds. Of course since my spouse is basically oblivious to dust, I can see that would never occur to him.
Lynn says
Were there even blinds in that kitchen? I must have been blind to them because my attention was focused on those beautiful turquoise cabinets with the lovely matching curtains. I am still drooling over that kitchen! “Wow” is all I can say.
pam kueber says
Yes, I put the blinds up from the start. Here is the story I did on them in 2009: https://retrorenovation.com/2009/04/18/2-metal-horizontal-blinds-the-perfect-window-treatment-for-a-midcentury-home/
Lindi says
BungalowBILL, I love you! We have this discussion AT LENGTH, FREQUENTLY, and HEATEDLY in my household! I slant them differently based on desired light coming through, and also on where they’re located, for this reason: when I was in my 20s and dating, I lived in a ground floor apartment with blinds on the bedroom windows. One night, a guy I had dated briefly stood outside my bedroom window and watched me for 45 minutes. Fortunately, I was only reading in bed in sweats, not changing clothes or anything … else. I learned VERY quickly that SLANT MATTERS.
BungalowBILL says
I love you too Lindi! I have blinds going in all directions in the house.
Jay says
I usually keep the living room blinds open during the day but now that the days are getting longer, the setting sun is at an angle that puts full sun and glare onto the TV so they get tilted up for maximum light blockage. The blinds are wood so tilting down is not as effective. Also tilted up on 90 degree days to keep the livingroom feeling cooler. The people across the street have a big family room added on in back so their living room is not used so living the blinds open at night is not a privacy issue.
Robert @ Live Better Electrically says
My house still has vintage aluminum blinds in every window, including the basement windows. I tend to tilt them up simply because it looks better from the outside. Have to keep up appearances and what not. 🙂
pam kueber says
ooooh, the vintage originals — lucky you!
up in my attic, i have, hoarded from an estate sale, several narrow 2″ aluminum blinds — they are green and they have a linen pattern!!!
Diane in CO says
Answer: I tilt them whichever way shows the least dust, of course!
BTW, I love my 2″ brushed aluminum blinds in my newly renovated home office. Retro feel and they show very little dust – affordable and cool-looking! Blend with everything (I also have print drapes) I highly recommend them.
pam kueber says
Pinch pleat drapes over 2″ aluminum blinds = CLASSIC, both practical and beautiful!
Amy in Sacramento says
I like mine with the inside (the edges facing the room) tilted up. Keeps sunlight out, and I don’t have to see the dust on the blinds. 😉
Justin says
I have no blinds in my house. I refuse to ever have them. I prefer curtains and drapes.
Robin, NV says
Having lived in very hot and very sunny climes for most of my life, I’ve always known to “tilt up” for sun protection. It’s not terribly attractive but it works.
I have the despised vertical blinds on my sliding glass door. It faces east, so the blinds are crucial in keeping the sun out. My husband consistently turns them reverse side in, which drives me up the wall. They look AND work better front side in.
pam kueber says
I don’t despise vertical blinds on patio doors at all. They seem eminently functional!
Robin, NV says
The sliding glass door is in my dining room, which is pretty small. Drapes would make the room feel claustrophobic.
pam kueber says
This is exactly why vertical blinds make sense. I think they got a bad rep because if they are vinyl and start yellowing and warping and the chains get all messed up, they look shabby. And not in a shabby and chic way. If this isn’t an issue — or if it is an issue because you don’t have more more more money money money to replace them every couple of years, then I say THEY ARE FINE! They do the trick better than any other window treatment for a patio door that I can think of (if you don’t have the space for pinch pleats)! Don’t beat up on yourself!
Lauryn says
We have the same issue at our house, Robin. East facing patio doors that lead to a (crappy and poorly built) composite deck that just reflects the hot morning sun into the room. The vertical blinds that were there when we bought the house eventually felt apart (the previous owners seeming to have a love affair with crappy building/decorating materials) and we replaced them with “insulating” curtains. It’s not my favorite look and it only partially does the job. Long term plans…rip out the deck, put a patio (more appropriate to the era of our house anyway) with a vine covered pergola. But that involves money we don’t have right now, so maybe going back to better quality vertical blinds is the answer. Anyway, I feel your pain.
pam kueber says
An awning might be a great answer, too — carefully designed to block the sun at its hottest angles … Awnings may be the single best answer — because once the heat is in your house, the heat is in your house. Awnings block the rays from entering altogether — interior window treatments with the possible exception of Window Quilts, do not. I’ve been reading more about windows and window treatments for energy-cost savings — and awnings are surfacing to be my biggest takeaway solution. Back in the “good old days” before air conditioning, they were recognized and used for this reason. Aluminum awnings get hated on today for their looks — but that’s because we are ‘spoiled’ by the availability of air conditioning — there is nothing to hate about awnings for their utility and and possible long-term cost savings!
Lauryn says
I have been looking into awnings for several years, ever since I first read about them (here, of course!) and started noticing how much “happier” the awninged (is that even a word?) houses in the neighborhood are in the summer. When we lost our beautiful shade tree to the west, that became the more pressing issue because it would get hella hot in the afternoon. We even ordered one for our front door, but the guy went AWOL and we never received it (fortunately he didn’t require any kind of deposit!). We have new shade trees that are growing, but still want to investigate an awning for the door. The key is to prevent the sun from ever hitting the glass, not always an easy and, more importantly, affordable (up front at least) option. Hence the “temporary” solution of window treatments.
Jamie D. says
We have a dark brown canvas awning that goes up around the end of April and comes down in early October-ish. Most of the houses on my side of the street have them too because we get very strong afternoon sun. Every spring, without fail, our elderly next-door neighbors contact the awning company to come out and install/take down everyone’s awnings all on the same day, usually for about $22 each, and then they make sure to go door-to-door and tell us all when to have our stuff ready and out on the porch. Totally worth it to pay them rather than to have us fighting and cursing and wondering where the h*^% that extra pole came from.
It makes a WORLD of difference with the comfort level of our living room. Although the room stays dark, it also keeps the brick and stone much, much cooler and keeps our AC bill down. And we can sit out on our huge porch no matter what the weather.
The only drawback is that I have a difficult time finding plants that can tolerate that much shade. Last year my hanging planters became nice little homes for the nesting mourning doves instead, since the awning protects them.
pam kueber says
Just came across this in our archives, here’s what we need for window treatment manufacturers to bring back: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/01/05/full-length-plastic-blinds-on-a-patio-door/
Sarah says
My last house and current apartment have these floor length blinds. The only problem I had with them is that my daughter had pulled a few out of their spots when she was learning to walk at the house. We easliy replaced them before we out the house on the market in late 2012.