Very Durable Shades and Blinds

Q: I have a house full of young boys and who have managed to destroy a few shades on their voyage into adolescence. Although the older ones are growing out of the rowdy stage, I still have two more to go. I need “unbreakable” shades that still look decent but won't cost me a fortune. Can you help me?

A: Of Course!! In fact, faux wood blinds not only look fantastic, they're also made to be durable under a huge range of conditions. There are two types of faux wood blinds: wood composite and PVC. Both are extremely durable, and very easy to maintain. Since they're not real wood, they're easier to clean and can withstand the bumps and jars of everyday life. They're also more dense which makes them heavier than wood blinds and you can get them in all kinds of colors (including ones that look like real wood!)

You might also want to consider roller shades. They are simple, flat and can withstand lots of traffic. They come in a wide range of colors, textures and styles that give you a lot of flexibility on looks, too. Different materials need different maintenance, though, and you might want to look into vinyl shades. A lot of people are turned off by the word “vinyl”, but these shades are very different than the ones from decades ago. You can even dress them up with trims and hem styles.