Venetian blinds are window coverings made up of slats that are often 2” wide. The slats lay horizontally, and can be 1”, 1 3/8”, 1 ½”, 2”, or 2 ½” wide. Slats are traditionally aluminum, but may also be vinyl or PVC. Venetian blinds can be raised and lowered to cover/uncover the window, and the slats tilt open and closed for privacy and light control. Venetian blinds traditionally operate with cloth tape ladders as opposed to string ladders.

Horizontal blinds were first made from wood. 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! During the 1700’s, Venetian blinds were embraced by the masses across Europe. In 1760, Englishman Gowin Knight received a patent for the first Venetian blinds, and in 1761, St Peter’s Church in Rome was fitted with them. 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 a light, aluminum Venetian blind called “Flexalum” in 1946.