A Practical Guide to Woven Wood Shades

Last month I answered some of the top 6 interior design questions about our home and realized there was a lot more to share! Especially about our window treatments. After moving into our home last year, I searched high and low for pretty, woven shades that would add texture, privacy, and warmth to our space. It was sort of trial & error for me so I wanted to share some tips when looking for woven wood shades with you!

Update: I’ve since used these same exact shades in other areas of the home as well as the home I moved into after this. They are the ones I recommend friends to over and over. Definitely make a huge impact in any space and the style I chose is super versatile.

My main goal for choosing window coverings was function, warmth, and texture. Additionally, I like to a lot of natural sunlight and really wanted more of a softer light control than standard blinds.

Oh, and keeping them super affordable was pretty important too. After gathering tons of samples, I found some woven wood shades (also referred to as woven blinds or bamboo shades) that checked all of the boxes. After looking and testing all of the samples, I chose Natural Wood Shades in Kula Beach for their natural beauty and warmth.

These shades are some of the most asked about items on my Instagram page. I’m answering the most frequent questions along with a quick guide on ordering shades for your window.

What are the best woven wood shades?

As I started out my research back in 2019, I ordered dozens of samples and viewed several options. It was actually a little overwhelming. In addition to finding natural material options, I also looked for affordability, ease of ordering, and simple measure and install options.

After weighing all the options including bamboo, rattan, and reed from many different companies, I ultimately landed on the Woven Shades in Kula Sandy Beach from Blinds.Com (top left of photo below). And, like I mentioned before, I’ve ordered these same natural shades again and again. They adds a neutral warmth and a texture to every room.

Are woven wood shades expensive?

Just like most home decor and updates, some wood shade options can get pretty pricey. Especially if you use a design consultant and have a company do the install. Because Blinds.com makes it easy to order – they bascially justy walk you through step by step, I decided to go this route. Additionally, I first asked my brother to help me install and then realized, they type of hardware was so simple I could do it myself.

When it comes to the actual shades, there are extra features added on (like cordless or blackout liners), that can increase the cost but it’s easy to weigh what’s important for your space. Overall, the shades I landed on are super reasonable and make a major impact. They are one of the first updates I now make in any home or space – in fact I include them on my 9 Easy Home Updates Under $200 post!

Can you see through woven wood shades?

Another question that comes up is whether you can see through natural shades. While each woven wood shade is different, some having a looser weave than others and letting in more light, I think they filter in light in a very pretty way.

I’m the kind of gal who wants & needs all the natural light so woven wood shades are a great way to have some privacy, design detail, and also allow in light. However, for the bedroom window covering, I customized the shades with an added blackout liner for room darkening effect. It was a simple add on that made a big difference.

How to Order Custom Window Shades

You might be wondering just how to go about ordering shades. I always thought they were something so complex and even considered using a company to come out for custom measurements. I am so glad I decided to just order online myself! It could not be any easier.

Blinds.com literally walks you through each step but I’ll share the details of my shades below. When I ordered multiple shades in one order, I was careful about labeling the windows and measurements.

Then, I simply entered the measurements and answered each custom options including:

• COLOR: I chose Kula Sandy Beach
• BINDING TAPE: I did not select binding tape for the side of the shade as I wanted to keep it minimal, I might try this in the future to keep the edges neat
• INSIDE or OUTSIDE MOUNT: I chose the inside mount which works well if you’ll layer with curtains
• CORDED, CORDLESS or OTHER OPTIONS . For some of our blinds, I opted for the pull cord (it’s a less expensive option than the cord-free version). I admit, it’s not my favorite look, but it keeps it budget friendly.
• VALANCE: I opt for the valance as I like the look of the shades folded up, like a roman shade
• EXTRAS: Cord side, liners, headrails, etc

Blinds.com also offers a quick pdf shades ordering guide that helps!

Final Thoughts

So, there you go! A few tips for ordering woven wood shades or blinds. In case you missed it, I chose from Blinds.com (not an ad!) in Kula Sandy Beach – which sounds like vacation don’t you think? They have tons of sales so I keep my eye out for those!

Curious about other options? (Woven shades are a great way to add texture, one of the 7 Elements of Interior Design!)