Can I put real wooden blinds in a bathroom?

We wouldn't recommend it. Real wood absorbs moisture from steam and humidity over time, which causes the slats to warp or swell. Faux wood handles the same conditions without any issue, so it's the better pick for bathrooms and steamy kitchens.

Do faux wood blinds look as good as real wood?

Modern faux wood finishes are genuinely convincing, with realistic grain and colour options. Side by side, real wood still has a warmer, more natural feel, but faux wood holds up in rooms where real wood simply isn't practical.

Which is heavier, wood or faux wood blinds?

Faux wood slats are generally heavier and slightly thicker than real wood, which is why larger faux wood blinds need a few extra support tapes across the width to stop them sagging over time.

Which is better value, wood or faux wood?

Faux wood is generally the more affordable of the two. Real wood costs more but is the more premium natural material, so the better value option depends on the room and your priorities rather than price alone.

Wooden vs Faux Wood Blinds: Which Lasts Longer?

Published July 2026

Same look, different material underneath

Wooden and faux wood blinds are designed to look almost identical from across the room — the same wide slats, the same warm tones, the same classic venetian shape. The difference is entirely in what the slat is actually made from: real hardwood in one case, a durable PVC or composite material finished to mimic wood grain in the other. That single difference is what decides which rooms each one is actually suited to.

Where real wood shines

In a dry room — a living room, bedroom, home office, hallway — real wood blinds are genuinely lovely. The grain variation is authentic rather than printed, the slats have a warmth and weight faux materials don't quite replicate, and they age well when kept away from moisture. If the look and feel of natural wood matters to you, this is where it counts most.

Where faux wood earns its keep

Moisture is real wood's one genuine weakness. Steam from a shower, condensation on a kitchen window, or general humidity in a bathroom will, over time, cause real wood slats to warp, swell or crack. Faux wood doesn't have this problem — it shrugs off steam and damp without warping, which makes it the practical, no-compromise choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and any room that regularly gets steamy.

This isn't a downgrade — it's simply the right material for the environment. A faux wood blind in a bathroom will still be looking sharp in years where a real wood blind in the same spot would already be showing damage.

Weight and cleaning

Faux wood slats are slightly thicker and heavier than real wood, which is why wider faux wood blinds sometimes need an extra support tape or two across the width to stop them sagging. On the plus side, that same moisture resistance makes faux wood genuinely easy to clean — a damp cloth wipes it down with no risk to the finish, whereas real wood is better maintained with a dry cloth and occasional light dusting rather than water.

Cost

Faux wood is typically the more affordable of the two, without much visible compromise in day-to-day use. Real wood costs more, reflecting the natural material and the fact that no two slats are quite identical.

So which should you choose?

Think room by room rather than picking one material for the whole house. Real wood is a great choice throughout most of the home — living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, home offices — anywhere the air stays reasonably dry. In a bathroom, ensuite, or a kitchen that gets steamy, faux wood is simply the more practical pick, and it still gives you that same wood-look finish without the risk of warping down the line.

See our Wooden Blinds range See our Faux Wood range