Want to know how your favorite window blinds evolved in their diversity of functions and styles over time? You will find it quite interesting. Mini blinds are a popular window treatment option nowadays, They get their name from the width of their horizontal slats, that is eight ½ inch or 1 inch. They are available in a huge variety of sizes, styles, colors, child and pet-safe lift systems, and affordable ranges. Here you will learn about the brief history of mini blinds and how they evolved over time.
A Brief Evolutionary History of Mini Blinds for Windows
Mini blinds for windows in your home, office, farmhouse, RV, or other spaces with small slat sizes emerged in the 1970s. We were warmly received by the homeowners and became very popular in a short time. You can have an idea about their immense popularity that they accounted for nearly 80% of the window-covering market in the US in the 1980s.
And the primary reasons behind their immense popularity were affordability and ease of installation. Even today they are cost-effective window treatments that can be quickly fixed to the windows for an inside or outside mount. Here are some of the prominent evolutionary stages that mini blinds passed through to reach their modern form and functionality.
- Venetian Blinds
Did you know mini blinds are considered a sub-type of Venetian blinds in the UK? Window blinds with horizontal slats have been in use for over a century now. Their initial form that emerged in 1794 was called Venetian blinds. Venetian blinds are also used today, and, like mini blinds, they are one of the most-loved window coverings. Today, the basic difference between the structure of Venetian and mini blinds is the size of the slats or louvers. While mini blinds come with only two slat sizes, i.e., half-inch and one-inch, Venetian blinds have bigger slats, measuring 1.5 inches, 2 inches, or more.
- Invention of Aluminum Mini Blinds: According to an Encyclopedia article a US-based Dutch group invented slatted mini blinds made from aluminum in the late 1940s. They were the first mini blinds. They are considered a precursor to modern mini blinds that are more diverse in terms of material and other aspects. As the initial mini blinds were made of aluminum, they are also alternatively known as aluminum blinds. Aluminum is a lightweight material that exudes silvery grace when uncoated.
- The Peak of Popularity: Soon after their invention, mini blinds became widely popular among homeowners in the United States. And they reached their peak of popularity in 1981.
- Recession: After reaching their peak of popularity, mini blinds saw a period of recession in the late 1980s, when their sales witnessed a sharp decline.
- New Material Options
Over time, slats made for materials other than aluminum were also introduced, which included vinyl, PVC, wood, and faux wood. Today all these material options are easily available for mini blinds.
The evolutionary history of mini blinds also witnessed an increase in color choices. Today, there are lots of color options, like white, black, mocha, gray, beige, cream, and so on. So, you can easily choose a perfect hue according to your taste and the interior decor style of your room.
- Cordless Lift Options: Initially, aluminum blinds were offered with a corded lift mechanism. And later a cordless lift mechanism was introduced. Meanwhile, the US Consumer Safety Product Commission (CSPC) declared corded window treatments a serious safety hazard for homes with young children and pets. Over time, cordless lift options also evolved in diversity. Now you can choose from lots of cordless lift options for your mini blinds, including top-down, bottom-up, and motorized.
- Smart Home Integration
Integration of mini blinds into your existing smart home automation system is one of the latest developments in the evolutionary history of mini blinds. The option of smart home integration allows you to operate your mini blinds remotely with a tap on the touchscreen of your smartphone.
Bottom Line
Summing up, the evolutionary history of mini blinds is short but interesting. Over time, they saw several improvements in terms of material choices, color options, and lift systems. With the introduction of new materials, such as vinyl, mini blinds have become very affordable window treatments.