Whenever you opt for pleated blinds you are making a choice for simplicity of use, a minimum of wasted space when folded, great elegance and original fabrics.
Pleated blinds are available and practical for almost any type of window. Besides being functional they are esthetic and the choice of colors, prints, textures is almost unlimited. For a pretty finish you can add a valance in an assorted or contrasting color. Some will let a soft diffuse light in while others will block light entirely. You can then choose the one that fit your needs best. Some are even a metallic fabric, offering a perfect solution for conservatories as they reflect light and heat better.
A pleated blind is (as you gathered by now) a fabric blind that folds on itself like an accordion. The folding is done with a drawstring on the side. You can then adjust the height of the portion that is covered by the blind. Their function is to either block all light or filter light into the room, to preserve privacy, and to decorate a room.
If you've ever been annoyed by the thin streams of light that often streak between the slats in a closed vinyl blind, you will appreciate the fabric covered models. They will be a welcome relief because they block the light more evenly. Light-colored fabrics block the glare but still allow a room to be brightened, while dark fabrics tend to keep more light out. You can purchase them with liners or purchase separate liners to block most of the light and get the equivalent of room-darkening shades. The highest-quality, dark blinds are probably thick enough to darken a room without a liner.
Because of their simplicity and the little space required, we often use pleated blinds on slanted windows, to dress a conservatory or sunroom windows for example. As a matter of fact I would advise to use a very good quality pleated blinds for any conservatory or sunroom. One with a metallic waterproof fabric, that would resist both condensation and harmful sun rays. Pleated conservatory blinds are available in both pre-cut and custom made options.
A Few things to note about pleated window blinds:
Don’t confuse a pleated blind with a standard curtain. What the name pleated blind implies is the mechanism that allows the accordion effect when you pull on the drawstring. It is all the charm and functionality of these blinds. In fact they have nothing in common with regular curtains in terms of sunlight reflection.
There are also some paper pleated blinds made by Redi Shade® that can be used as temporary blinds when you first move into a home and have not yet decided what type of window treatment you would like. One great thing about these temporary paper blinds is that they are very inexpensive, and buying these for the first year might give you an idea if you will like the look of pleated blinds in that room. I have seen many paper blinds last longer than a year and you could possibly reuse them somewhere else.
You can buy pleated blinds in some department stores like Walmart, or in building specialty home stores like Home Depot, in specialty window dressing shops, and of course the new way to shop the internet. The selection in Department stores and home stores may be limited to a few colors and standard shapes. If you need special shapes like a trapezoid or a triangle you might have to shop in specialty window dressing shops. It will result in higher prices but you will find what you really need and want. Online merchants can be one of the best places for large selections of shapes, sizes and colors.
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