Wooden venetian blinds, made to measure

Basswood is a light, straight-grained timber that takes stain and paint evenly, which is why it is used for real wood blinds. It feels and sounds like wood when you touch it, and it is the choice for dry rooms where you want the genuine article.

Faux-wood slats look similar from across the room but are made to cope with humidity. If the blind is going into a kitchen or a bathroom, faux-wood is the sensible pick, because real timber near steam can move over time.

Wider slats need more recess depth to tilt freely and stack taller when raised. Our wooden venetian slat sizes guide goes deeper into which width suits which window, and we will check depth on the survey so nothing catches the handles.

The ladder is what holds the slats in position. A cord ladder is thin and nearly invisible, letting the wood speak for itself. A fabric tape runs down the front of the blind in a band of colour, covers the small cord holes in the slats, and cuts out more light at the edges when the blind is closed. Tape is a styling choice as much as a practical one: a contrasting tape on a pale blind can look very smart in a period room.

Tilt the slats upward and daylight bounces off the ceiling while people outside see mostly wood. Level them for the view, close them flat for privacy. Wooden slats are opaque, so closed they give good dimming, though a little light always shows between the slats and at the edges. If a bedroom needs genuine blackout, a blackout roller behind or a different system is a better fit, and we will say so.

Written quote after a free survey. For wooden venetians the main factors are the window size, basswood or faux-wood, the slat width, since 50mm carries a small premium, and whether you add tapes. Lead time confirmed when you order.

Dusting is most of it. Close the slats flat one way and run a soft cloth or a duster along them, then close them the other way and repeat. A slightly damp cloth is fine on faux-wood; on real basswood keep it barely damp and dry it straight away.

Raise the blind with the slats level, not tilted, so they stack neatly and the cords wear evenly. If you have young children or pets, we fit child-safety devices on every corded control and show you how they work.

Wooden blinds also pair well with other products. A wooden venetian in the lounge alongside shutters in the bay, or a faux-wood blind in the kitchen matching the timber tone of the dining room, keeps a house feeling consistent. We can measure for all of it on one visit, since we make and fit blinds, shutters and awnings ourselves.