Mini blinds are also known as 1” blinds, horizontal blinds, and vinyl blinds. They are fairly easy to repair. The most common repairs include replacing a broken tilt mechanism, restringing the blind, and replacing broken valance clips.

Mini blinds are window coverings made up of slats that are usually 1” wide. The horizontal slats were aluminum in the past, but are more commonly vinyl or PVC today. Mini blinds can be raised and lowered to cover/uncover the window, and the slats tilt open and closed for privacy and light control. A variation of mini blinds, micro-mini blinds, have ½” wide slats.

The first horizontal blinds were made from natural materials. Centuries ago, Egyptians used reeds to cover their windows, and Chinese used bamboo pieces for privacy and sun protection. In Persia (modern-day Iran), wood blinds were first used from 1100-1500 AD. Traders from Venice imported these designs, and they gained great popularity. The term “Venetian Blind” was born! In rapidly colonizing North America, John Webster began to sell “Wooden Venetian Sun Blinds” in Philadelphia in 1767. Then in New Orleans in 1841, John Hampson invented the mechanism for controlling the angle of the slats. Hunter Douglas was the first company to develop light, aluminum horizontal blinds called “Flexalum” in 1946. By the late 1970’s, 1” aluminum slats were introduced and quickly grew in popularity. The 1” slats were favored over their 2” wide counterparts because they were considered easier to clean. Mini blinds remain a popular and economical choice for window coverings today.