Choosing the right custom window treatments involves balancing style, budget, and functionality. Blindster is a go-to for affordable, DIY-friendly blinds and shades with a modern aesthetic, while Blinds.com offers a vast selection of styles and materials, from entry-level to premium, with the option for professional installation.
Let's compare everything you need to know to choose the right retailer for your home's windows.
Blindster: The Affordable DIY Choice
Blindster targets budget-conscious homeowners, renters, and DIY enthusiasts who want custom-fit window coverings without the high price tag or professional installation costs. Their business model is built around simplicity, offering a straightforward online shopping experience designed to make measuring and ordering custom blinds as easy as possible.
- Product mix: A wide range of custom window treatments including faux wood blinds, roller shades, cellular shades, Roman shades, and shutters. The focus is exclusively on their own branded products made to your specifications.
- Style/vibe: Primarily modern, functional, and minimalist designs. While the selection is broad, the aesthetic is best suited for contemporary and casual interiors that prioritize clean lines and practicality.
- Price point: Highly competitive and budget-friendly. Most standard-sized window blinds or shades fall between $30 and $150, making it an accessible option for outfitting entire rooms or quick home updates.
- Quality: Materials primarily include durable faux wood composites, vinyl, and high-quality polyesters. The quality is solid for the price, providing excellent value for everyday residential use.
- Customization: Every product is custom-sized to your window measurements. You can also customize colors, materials, mount type, and lift control options on most products.
- Return policy: Blindster offers a Fit-or-Free Guarantee. If you make a measuring mistake, they will remake one blind for free per household.
- Delivery & Assembly: All products are designed for straightforward DIY installation and include all necessary hardware and instructions. Lead times are typically a few weeks from order to delivery.
Blindster excels at delivering stylish, functional, custom-fit window treatments at very accessible prices, making it a top choice for anyone comfortable with a tape measure.
Shop Blindster: blindster.com
Blinds.com: The One-Stop Window Treatment Shop
Owned by The Home Depot, Blinds.com is one of the largest and oldest online retailers of window treatments. They offer an immense catalog that includes their house brands alongside well-known names, catering to a wide spectrum of tastes, needs, and budgets. Their experience shines through in their customer support and detailed online tools.
- Product mix: An extensive selection of blinds, shades, shutters, and curtains. They feature their own private label products and offer items from other manufacturers, providing one of the widest ranges available online.
- Style/vibe: Incredibly diverse, ranging from classic and traditional to modern and trendy. With designer collections and a huge array of material choices, they cater to virtually any interior design style.
- Price point: Broader price range. Basic blinds start around $50, but prices can rise to several hundred dollars for specialty materials, designer collections, or advanced features like motorization.
- Quality: Offers a full spectrum of quality levels. You can find everything from basic vinyl to real wood, premium faux wood, and high-performance, eco-friendly fabrics. Higher-end lines feature refined craftsmanship and long-lasting finishes.
- Customization: Extensive customization is a key feature. Beyond sizing and color, you can add motorization, cordless operation, light-blocking liners, and solutions for specialty shaped windows.
- Services: While you can DIY, Blinds.com offers professional measuring and installation services in many areas for those who want a guaranteed perfect fit without the hassle.
- Return policy: They feature a SureFit Guarantee, promising a free replacement if you mismeasure your windows. This applies once per order, giving shoppers peace of mind.
With an unmatched product range and the option for professional support, Blinds.com is a powerful resource for anyone from first-time buyers to those with complex design projects.
Shop Blinds.com: blinds.com
Blindster vs. Blinds.com Comparison
Price Comparison
This is the most significant differentiator between the two. Blindster consistently positions itself as the more budget-friendly option. Their starting prices are generally lower, and their entire product line is geared toward affordability. This makes them an excellent choice for furnishing an entire house on a budget, outfitting a rental property, or for anyone who values cost savings above all else.
Blinds.com caters to a wider market. While they offer many affordable options that compete directly with Blindster, their catalog extends into premium tiers with higher price tags. If you are looking for real wood shutters, motorized linen shades, or shades with designer patterns, you will find them at Blinds.com, but be prepared to pay more for those luxury materials and features.
Style & Aesthetic
Blindster’s aesthetic is clean, modern, and highly functional. They offer dozens of colors and materials, but the overall style is generally contemporary and minimalist. This is perfect for modern homes but might feel limited if you're looking for something very traditional, ornate, or a specific designer look.
Blinds.com is the clear winner for style selection. Their immense catalog covers every aesthetic imaginable, from classic plantation shutters to trendy patterned roller shades and rustic woven wood shades. Their designer collaborations and wider range of materials (like real wood and textured Roman fabrics) provide far more opportunities to create a custom, high-design look for your windows.
Quality & Materials
Blindster products provide fantastic quality for the price. They use dependable materials like faux wood, PVC, and polyester that are designed for durability and easy maintenance in a typical home. While they may not have the premium feel of real wood or high-end fabrics, their construction is reliable and built to last for years.
Blinds.com offers a spectrum of quality. Their entry-level blinds are comparable to Blindster's, but their mid-range and high-end options utilize more premium materials. You'll find options like Basswood, high-performance fabrics with UV resistance, and hardware that often feels more substantial. For shoppers prioritizing long-term durability and a more luxurious feel, Blinds.com has more to offer.
Fit & Installation
Both companies are built around providing custom-fit window treatments and make the DIY process as simple as possible. Each provides detailed written and video guides on how to measure your windows correctly for inside or outside mounts. Both also offer a measurement guarantee (Fit-or-Free at Blindster, SureFit at Blinds.com) that gives customers a free replacement if they make a mistake.
The key difference is that Blindster is a pure DIY experience, you are responsible for measuring and installation. Blinds.com provides a helpful alternative by offering professional measuring and installation services. This is a huge benefit for anyone who isn't confident in their DIY skills, has hard-to-reach windows, or is ordering for a large, complex project.
Sustainability & Ethics
For environmentally-conscious shoppers, Blinds.com has a more defined focus on sustainability. They offer many products made with renewable materials like bamboo or FSC-certified woods. They also feature cellular shades known for their insulating properties and fabrics with GREENGUARD certifications, which means they are low-emitting and contribute to healthier indoor air quality.
Blindster’s primary focus is on value and affordability, and while their products are perfectly safe and durable, they place less emphasis on promoting sustainability credentials like specific eco-certifications.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice comes down to your budget, your style preferences, and how comfortable you are with DIY projects.
Choose Blindster if:
- You have a strict budget and want the most value for your money.
- You are confident in your ability to measure and install the window treatments yourself.
- You are looking for functional, modern, and clean styles rather than ornate or traditional looks.
- You’re a renter or property manager needing durable and affordable window coverings.
Choose Blinds.com if:
- You want the largest possible selection of styles, from basic vinyl to designer fabrics and real wood.
- You're interested in premium features like home automation or motorized lifts.
- You want the peace of mind that comes with professional measuring and installation services.
- Ecologically certified or energy-efficient materials are a priority for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blindster or Blinds.com cheaper?
Generally, Blindster is cheaper. Their business is built on offering affordable, custom window treatments, and their starting prices are often lower than those found on Blinds.com for comparable products.
Which brand has better quality furniture?
This depends on what you buy. Blindster's quality is consistently good for its very competitive price point. However, Blinds.com offers a wider quality spectrum, including higher-end products made with more premium materials like authentic hardwood that surpass what Blindster offers.
Do I have to install the blinds myself from these brands?
With Blindster, yes, all of their products are designed for DIY installation. With Blinds.com, you have a choice. You can opt for DIY installation or you can hire their professional installation services for an additional fee.
Can I get free samples from Blindster and Blinds.com?
Yes, both brands highly encourage ordering free samples to see the colors and feel the materials in your home before you place an order. This is a critical step in buying blinds online.
Which brand is better for custom or weirdly-shaped windows?
While both excel at standard custom sizing, Blinds.com is generally better equipped to handle specialty shapes like arches, angled windows, or skylights, especially with the support of their professional measurement services.
What about motorized blinds?
Both companies offer motorized options for many of their shades. Blinds.com typically has a more extensive selection of motorization features and compatibility with smart home systems like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Which brand ships faster?
Shipping and production times vary greatly depending on the specific product, material, and time of year. Because all products are custom-made, they can take a few weeks. You should check the current estimated lead times listed on each product's page for the most accurate information.
What's the better choice for a first-time online blinds buyer?
Both are great options. Blindster's simple website can feel less overwhelming. However, the SureFit Guarantee from Blinds.com combined with their access to professional support and installation might provide more comfort and assurance for someone new to the process.
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