A practical shade
Vertical window shades are very good at keeping out direct sunlight but still keeping the room bright. This is important if you want to protect furniture and furnishings from the ravages of sunlight.
They are often avoided, as they are associated with 'office' blinds. But the choice in slat color, texture and size has never been greater, and you can find very attractive ones for the home.
More choice than you might think
There are a number of features to be aware of when you buy and fit vertical window shades.
Width of the slat
There are normally two sizes for the slat: 3.5 inch or 5 inch. Five inches is often too wide for home use, so if in doubt go for the 3.5 inch.
Control position
Many suppliers allow you to choose on which side the contols are positioned. There are normally two controls, one to rotate the slats, and one to open and close them.
Headrails
Some suppliers have economy versions and more sophisticated ones for you to select from. The more expensive ones are usually more robust and operate more smoothly. You can also obtain electrically operated ones.
Use with drapes
Vertical blinds can be specified so the slats draw back to both sides (bi-part stack), or just one side (single stack). When you have vertical shades set behind your curtains, if you leave the curtains open but still overlapping the window a little, you can draw back the vertical shades behind them.
Single stacking
Why would you use a single stack? If you have a patio door where one door slides while the other is fixed, have the vertical window shade stack on the side away from the sliding door. Then you can have the sliding door wide open, and breezes and pets (and children!) won't damage the slats.
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