Stoneside Custom Wood Blinds

Pros and Cons: Wood vs. Faux Wood Blinds

By: Emelia Cortez

Updated: 1/31/2025

There’s nothing like the comforting feeling of real wood to bring a bit of the outdoors inside your home! The grain of the wood, the clean finishes, the inviting warmth of natural materials—there’s a reason that real wood blinds never go out of style. But you have to be careful to not get them wet, and they are a bit more expensive…

So you really can’t go wrong with faux wood blinds! Humidity and high temps aren’t a problem. And you can wipe them clean with soap and a wet rag. Sure, they don’t have quite the same look as real wood blinds, but there are so many colors to choose from. And they’re more cost-effective, too. They are a bit heavy though…

When it comes to wood vs. faux wood blinds, there are pros and cons to each. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between faux wood and wood blinds to help you determine which is best for you.

The Basics of Blinds

Custom blinds are made from a series of slats that can be raised to let in an unobstructed view or tilted to fine-tune how much sunlight and view you’d like. Stoneside will manufacture the blinds to fit your window’s exact measurements. Slats come in 2” and 2.5” options, with 2” slats standard and 2.5” ones generally better suited for larger windows.

What Are Wood Blinds?

Wood blinds are special among window treatments in that their natural look draws attention to themselves while also forming a subtle backdrop to your room’s decor. The real wood creates a forest or garden-like effect in your space, bringing the calming beauty of the outdoors inside.

What Are Faux Wood Blinds?

Faux wood blinds are an excellent alternative to real wood blinds if you’re looking to save some money or need a more robust window treatment. Faux wood blinds are manufactured with synthetic materials that are easy to clean, fire resistant, and great for rooms with high humidity, while also retaining the appearance of real wood. They are, however, heavier than wood blinds.

The Aesthetic Appeal of Blinds

Regardless of which way you lean when it comes to real vs. faux wood blinds, the timeless aesthetics of blinds mean they’ll never go out of style. Let’s break down some of the points that lend them their aesthetic appeal:

  • Wood blinds are one of the few window treatments to use real wood, giving them an unmistakable look.
  • Unlike window treatments that can only be raised or lowered, the ability to tilt the slats on blinds creates a beautiful zebra pattern with the light you allow in.
  • With wood blinds, you have a range of finishes to choose from, while faux wood blinds, thanks to their synthetic materials, come in 21 different colors. This gives you tons of options to customize your blinds to your room’s existing aesthetic.
Stoneside Custom Faux Wood Blinds

Durability and Longevity of Blinds

Like all window treatments, the exact longevity of blinds will depend on a number of factors unique to your environment. Both types of blinds should last a decade or so with proper maintenance, which is fairly standard for window treatments, but some people have been known to get more than double that.

Life Expectancy of Wood Blinds

The life expectancy of wood blinds will largely depend on how well you take care of them. The natural materials mean you need to be extra careful with maintenance and cleaning. Using them in a humid environment, getting them wet, or placing them within reach of little kids or pets is a sure way to shorten their lifespan.

Life Expectancy of Faux Wood Blinds

Thanks to their more robust materials, faux wood blinds tend to win the wood vs. faux wood blinds’ life expectancy battle. And thanks to their synthetic materials being water resistant, they’ll last just as long in humid environments.

Maintenance and Care

Caring for wood and faux wood blinds is fairly straightforward, but you will need to be vigilant in cleaning and maintenance to ensure your blinds last as long as possible.

Keeping your blinds clean is the most important thing you can do to keep them operating smoothly. Due to the material differences between real wood and faux wood blinds, however, the manner you care for them is different.

Wood Blinds

  • The number one rule with wood blinds is to not get them wet. Avoid placing them in humid environments like bathrooms or basements, and never use a wet rag on them.
  • Wipe wood blinds clean with a dry cloth or carefully vacuum dust off.
  • Wood polish should periodically be applied to your wood blinds to keep the materials healthy and strong.

Faux Wood Blinds

  • To clean faux wood blinds, use a damp rag with a gentle detergent to wipe away dust and grime. You can also vacuum away dust with the brush attachment.

Which Is More Environmentally Friendly?

Real wood blinds may seem to have the upper hand when it comes to being environmentally friendly. Indeed, their natural materials mean that they’re easy to recycle. But faux wood blinds have the advantage of being more likely to last longer thanks to their robust materials, in addition to also being recyclable.

Customization and Installation Options

Real and faux wood blinds come in a large range of finishes and colors, are fit to match your window’s exact dimensions, and come with 2” and 2.5” slat size options. You’re sure to have no problem finding a setup that suits your needs and preferred aesthetic.

Smart Home Motorization for Blinds

One of the best customization options you can add to both wood and faux wood blinds is motorization. This allows you to operate your blinds with the flick of a wall switch or tap on your smartphone thanks to a small motor installed on each set of blinds. You can even incorporate automation to have your blinds adjust themselves throughout the day on a schedule you determine.

Installing Wood and Faux Wood Blinds

Some people try to install window treatments themselves, but we highly recommend you employ a professional installer. Stoneside has a team of in-house installers that will ensure your blinds are set up perfectly and that you know how to operate them.

Which Is Best for You?

So when it comes to wood vs. faux wood blinds, which one is best for you? Here are a few key points that should help you decide:

  • Price: Faux wood blinds are cheaper than real wood ones, so if you’re looking to save money, they may be the better choice.
  • Robustness: Both types of blinds can last you many years, but faux wood ones are made of materials that resist water, are fire resistant, and won’t fade or yellow.
  • Looks: Faux wood blinds come in a wider range of colors, but real wood blinds tend to have the advantage when it comes to looks. There really is nothing like real wood in making a window treatment stand out.

Real or Faux Wood, Stoneside Has the Best Blinds for You

Regardless of which side you stand on when it comes to wood vs. faux wood blinds, you’re certain to find the best custom blinds you’ve ever owned at Stoneside. Schedule a free design consultation today, and let us help you find the ideal window treatments for you and your home. There’s no better time than now to get started on transforming your home for the better.