You find yourself looking at ten samples on the dining table, with three of them looking almost identical. From a metre away, they look very much like any ordinary slat. But in reality, what separates them is how each holds up after two winters above a bath that steams up every morning.
Quick Summary
Venetian blinds are horizontal slat window blinds that tilt for light control and lift clear of the glass. Venetian blinds in NZ usually come in three variants: aluminium, PVC (usually badged faux wood venetian blinds) and real timber. Aluminium costs the least and shrugs off moisture. Faux wood gives you the timber look in damp rooms. Timber venetian blinds look the best but will not survive a wet bathroom.
For Otago homes, the decision on what type to install comes down to moisture, window size and how much winter daylight you want to keep.
What’s the Difference Between Timber, Aluminium and PVC?
Venetian blinds offer the same tilt function regardless of the material you pick, so the question is which one lasts longer and what it costs. In case you need a closer look, you can find these in our blinds range.
| Material | Relative cost | Where it works | Where it struggles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | Lowest | Laundries, kitchens, offices, rentals | Slats bend if they cop a yank, and rattle in a draught |
| PVC or faux wood | Middle | Bathrooms, kitchens, anywhere with steam | Heavier, so wide windows need a mid bracket |
| Timber | Highest | Living rooms, bedrooms, studies | Warps and stains in wet rooms |
Timber is the material people most often put in the wrong room, particularly in high moisture areas. Wood swells and shrinks depending on the amount of moisture and humidity present inside a room or a house. BRANZ guidance on internal moisture reports that 40% of New Zealand homes had internal moisture problems. This is something to consider: ensure that high-quality timber slats only belong in living spaces, and not above a shower.
What Slat Width Should You Choose?
Three width sizes are more than enough to cover almost every area of your house: 25mm, 50mm and 63mm. Narrow slats give finer control over daylight, while wide slats provide a better view outside when tilted flat.
- 25mm suits small windows, laundries and offices where screen glare is the problem.
- 50mm is the ideal size if you will opt for timber and faux wood. It’s quite beautiful when installed in a bedroom or on living room windows.
- 63mm suits large windows, with fewer slats to clean and maintain.
Wider slats also stack deeper at the top of the window frame when raised, covering a fair slice of the glass on a short window.
Which Rooms Suit Venetian Blinds Best?
Venetians are the best choice if you want better control over how daylight enters your home throughout the day. Tilting the slats upward bounces light onto the ceiling while providing the necessary privacy from the outside.
Living rooms and studies are the strongest fit here. You can minimise screen glare without making the study room dark and gloomy.
Using venetian blinds in bedrooms comes with one caveat. They’re not intended to completely black a room out. Better to add lined curtains when someone needs proper dark for sleeping and resting.
Kitchen and bathroom windows require PVC or aluminium blinds, and never timber. Over a bath or sink, roller blinds wipe clean most easily, and Roman blinds work best in a dry kitchen window. On a wide slider, verticals handle the span better. You can read more about this in our guide to choosing vertical blinds.
Do Venetian Blinds Keep Heat In?
They may hold a bit of heat, but not enough to keep a room comfortably warm. Simply put, Venetian blinds are not suitable if your intention is to keep a room warm.
When Consumer NZ tested several curtains and blinds, they discovered that a well-insulated home loses roughly 45% of its heat through the windows. Testing also reveals that honeycomb blinds trap still air against the pane and can hold back more than 60% of the heat otherwise lost through bare glass.
A venetian cannot do that: the gaps between its slats are the point of the product. Fitting blinds close inside the recess narrows those gaps, but a lined curtain does the real work.
How Do You Measure a Window for Venetian Blinds?
Knowing how to measure for venetian blinds starts with three particular measurements of the window: the width at the top, middle and bottom of the window, and the drop at the left, centre and right. Order a recess fit if it will be installed inside the window frame, to the narrowest width and the longest drop. Order a face fit if it will be mounted on the wall above that will hide a crooked recess.
Measuring your own windows is where jobs come unstuck in older Dunedin villas and bungalows. Those recesses are rarely square, and blinds are cut to order. A measurement of 8mm out leaves you with a blind that will not fit and cannot be sent back. To lessen your installation worries, we offer free in-home measurements. You can book a measure-up with no obligation to buy.
How Do You Clean Venetian Blinds Without Taking Them Down?
Close the slats flat, run a vacuum brush attachment along them from the top down, then tilt them the other way and repeat. Finish with a damp cloth on anything still on the surface.
Timber and wooden blinds need more careful cleaning. Wring the cloth out hard, wipe one slat at a time, and dry it straight away. Standing water raises the grain and leaves marks you cannot buff out. Aluminium and PVC may need some mild detergent. Dust the headrail too, because grit in the tilt mechanism can cause the blinds to stop turning cleanly.
How Much Do Wooden Venetian Blinds Cost?
It depends on the type of material, your window size, and the number of sets that you will need.
- Material. Timber at the top, faux wood venetian blinds in the middle, aluminium at the bottom.
- Window size and count. Here’s a pro-tip: per-window cost drops when the whole house is fitted in one visit.
- Slat width and finish. Stained and specialty timber finishes may cost more.
- Control type. There are cord types, wands, and motorised.
- Awkward fits. Bay windows and angled tops take longer.
On controls, the Government announced in 2026 that new corded window coverings sold in NZ must meet recognised international safety standards, as per MBIE guidance on corded blind safety. With young kids around, a wand is safer and worth the extra. You can find indicative figures in our blinds pricing guide.
More Questions About Venetian Blinds
Are wooden venetian blinds any good?
Yes, in the right rooms. Real timber has a depth of grain PVC cannot match and suits living rooms, bedrooms and studies. Keep it away from steam.
Which venetian blinds suit a damp bathroom or kitchen?
PVC or aluminium. Both handle steam and splashes and wipe clean, while timber does not belong in either room, however well the slats are sealed.
Do venetians block out all the light?
No. Light passes through the gaps where slats meet and through the cord holes, so add lined curtains where real darkness matters.
Are faux wood and PVC the same thing?
Generally, yes. Faux wood is a PVC or composite slat finished to look like timber, so ask what the slat is made of rather than going by the label.
Do you fit timber venetian blinds in Dunedin?
We fit timber venetian blinds in Dunedin and Mosgiel. Because we work from a mobile showroom, the samples come to you rather than the other way round.
Venetian blinds Central Otago: do you travel that far?
Our service area runs beyond Dunedin into wider Otago. Give us a call so we can confirm if your area is serviceable.
Getting Your Venetian Blinds Sorted
Sunlight in Otago is flat for much of the year, and a timber that looked right under retail lighting may look differently against your own walls late in the day.
That is why we bring our showroom to you, right where you are. Our guide to choosing blinds for your home or business covers a wider range.
If you’re ready and excited to see how your home will look with a new set of blinds, then give us a call or book a free in-home measure. We will bring the samples, measure every window, and leave you with an itemised quote.
References
BRANZ. (n.d.). Dealing with internal moisture. https://www.branz.co.nz/design-build/articles/dealing-with-internal-moisture
Consumer NZ. (n.d.). Curtains and blinds. https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/curtains
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. (2026). Corded blind safety. https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/consumer-protection/corded-blind-safety
