Select Blinds is an online-first brand specializing in affordable, fully customizable window treatments with a focus on a user-friendly DIY experience. In contrast, Bali, part of the Hunter Douglas family, offers a more premium product line known for its high-quality materials, durability, and availability through national retailers, appealing to those seeking long-term value and professional support.
Let's compare everything you need to know to choose the right window treatment brand for your home.
Select Blinds: The Affordable Customization Option
Select Blinds is a leading direct-to-consumer online retailer that has simplified the process of buying custom window coverings. The brand is built for homeowners and renters who want a wide selection of styles without the high price tag and prefer a do-it-yourself approach. Their entire shopping experience is designed to be completed online, from measuring with virtual tools to installation with easy-to-follow guides.
- Product mix: A comprehensive selection of custom blinds, shades, draperies, and shutters. Popular categories include faux wood blinds, cellular shades, roller shades, and Roman shades.
- Style/vibe: Functional, versatile, and modern. Select Blinds offers a vast catalog of colors and materials to fit contemporary, casual, and transitional home decor styles.
- Price point: Very budget-friendly. Most standard-sized window treatments start around $50–$150. For example, their faux wood blinds often range from $70-$120, making them an accessible choice for outfitting an entire home.
- Quality: Good for the price point. Materials include durable and moisture-resistant faux wood (great for bathrooms), aluminum, and a wide variety of fabrics. The quality aligns with its affordable cost, offering solid performance for most homeowners.
- Customization: This is a core strength. Every product is made-to-order based on the customer's exact window measurements. Customization extends to color, material, lift options (cordless, motorized), and valances.
- Shopping Experience: Exclusively online. Their website is easy to use and supported by tools like free samples, virtual consultations, and detailed measurement guides to ensure customers order correctly on their own.
- Delivery & Assembly: All products are shipped directly to the customer and are specifically designed for DIY installation.
Select Blinds excels for the price-conscious shopper who wants custom-fit window treatments and is comfortable with the DIY process of measuring and installing.
Shop Select Blinds: selectblinds.com
Bali: The Premium Quality Choice
Bali has been a trusted name in window treatments for decades, recognized for its exceptional quality, durability, and innovative features. As part of the prestigious Hunter Douglas brand family, Bali offers a slightly more upscale product with advanced materials and construction. They provide an omnichannel shopping experience, available online but also through authorized dealers and major home improvement stores like The Home Depot, offering a path for those who want in-person support.
- Product mix: A complete range of blinds, shades, plantation shutters, and draperies with an emphasis on premium materials and advanced features like motorization and smart home integration.
- Style/vibe: Sophisticated, classic, and design-forward. Bali's collections often include designer texture collections, real wood finishes, and elegant woven materials suited for elevated and refined interior styles.
- Price point: Mid-range to upper-mid-range. Basic blinds typically start at $100–$200 for standard windows, while premium options like custom drapery, plantation shutters, or motorized shades can range from $300 to over $800.
- Quality: Superior craftsmanship is a key selling point. Bali uses high-quality materials, including real wood and premium faux wood composites. Their operating mechanisms, especially for cordless and motorized options, are built for long-term, reliable performance.
- Customization: Extensive customization options are available, with precise manufacturing for a perfect fit. Choices include a wide array of fabrics, finishes, and advanced operating systems.
- Shopping Experience: Available both online and in-person through a network of retailers like The Home Depot. This allows customers to see samples, get expert advice, and opt for professional measurement and installation services.
- Sustainability: Bali offers many products with GREENGUARD certification for low chemical emissions, as well as highly energy-efficient options like cellular shades designed to reduce heating and cooling costs.
Bali is the ideal choice for homeowners viewing window treatments as a long-term investment and who prioritize build quality, durability, and access to premium features.
Shop Bali: baliblinds.com
Select Blinds vs. Bali Comparison
Price Comparison
Price is the most significant differentiator between the two brands. Select Blinds is aggressively priced for budget-conscious consumers, with many of their custom products costing less than $150 per window. Their business model cuts out the retailer middleman, passing savings directly to the customer. They also run frequent sales and promotions, further enhancing their value proposition.
Bali operates in a mid-range to premium space. While a standard Bali faux wood blind might cost around 20-40% more than a similar product from Select Blinds, the price reflects higher-grade materials, more robust construction, and stronger brand equity. For high-end options like plantation shutters or motorized shades, Bali's costs can be several times higher, positioning them as a more significant home investment.
Style & Aesthetic
Select Blinds offers a broad and versatile aesthetic designed to satisfy the majority of today's homeowners. Their collections are functional and lean into modern, transitional, and minimalist trends with a huge array of solid colors and simple patterns. It's easy to find something that looks great without being overly decorative.
Bali’s style is more sophisticated and curated. Their fabric and material collections feel more like a designer choice, with richer textures, subtle patterns, and more options for luxurious materials like woven woods or real wood. Bali is better suited for someone building a highly intentional and elevated interior design scheme.
Quality & Materials
Bali stands out for its quality and durable materials. Their constructions feel more substantial, with thicker slats on blinds, smoother operating mechanics, and higher-quality fabrics that resist fading over time. This makes their products an excellent choice for high-traffic areas or windows that receive a lot of direct sunlight.
Select Blinds provides good, reliable quality for its price. Their popular faux wood blinds are durable and warp-resistant, and their cellular shades offer excellent insulation. However, shoppers might notice that the materials and mechanisms on their base models aren't as heavy-duty as what you would find with a more premium brand like Bali.
Customization & Sizing
Both brands excel at providing custom-fit products. You can order blinds and shades tailored to within a fraction of an inch from either company. The customization process is a core part of their offering, ensuring a perfect fit for any window size.
Select Blinds makes the online customization process simple and accessible for beginners. Bali also offers detailed online ordering but complements it with the option for professional in-store or at-home consultations through their retail partners, which is great for complex window situations or for those who want expert guidance.
Shopping Experience
The shopping experience is entirely different. Select Blinds targets the capable DIY-er. You measure, order, and install everything yourself with the help of online tools. It’s convenient, quick, and puts you in full control.
Bali offers more flexibility. You can research and buy on your own online, or you can go to a store like The Home Depot to see and touch the materials, talk to an associate, and arrange professional measurement and installation. This hybrid model appeals to customers who want more hands-on support and assurance.
Sustainability & Ethics
For environmentally conscious shoppers, Bali holds a slight edge. The availability of GREENGUARD-certified products ensures low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, contributing to better indoor air quality. Bali also puts a strong emphasis on energy-efficient products, like their cellular shades, which create an insulating barrier to reduce energy consumption.
While Select Blinds also offers cordless and energy-efficient shades, they don't promote third-party environmental certifications as prominently as Bali.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice comes down to your budget, desired quality, and how you prefer to shop. Both brands provide excellent products, but they cater to very different customers.
Choose Select Blinds if:
- You're on a tight budget and want the best price for custom products.
- You're comfortable with a DIY approach that involves measuring and installing yourself.
- You are furnishing a rental property or just need a simple, stylish upgrade quickly.
- You prefer the convenience of an all-online shopping experience.
Choose Bali if:
- You are willing to invest more for superior durability, quality, and longevity.
- You want access to premium features like high-end motorization or unique designer fabrics.
- You prefer a hands-on shopping experience with in-person support and the option for professional installation.
- Environmental certifications like GREENGUARD are important to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Select Blinds or Bali cheaper?
Select Blinds is significantly cheaper. Its direct-to-consumer online model and focus on affordable materials make it the top choice for shoppers on a strict budget.
Which has better quality blinds?
Bali is generally recognized for having superior quality. Their blinds are made with more robust materials, feature smoother and more durable operating mechanisms, and are designed for long-term performance.
Can I install blinds from both brands myself?
Yes, both brands offer products that can be installed on a DIY basis. However, Select Blinds is specifically designed for DIY installation with comprehensive online guides, while Bali also offers the option of professional installation through its retail partners.
Where can I buy Bali blinds?
You can buy Bali products directly through their website or from authorized retail partners, most notably major home improvement stores like The Home Depot.
Does Select Blinds have physical stores?
No, Select Blinds operates exclusively online and does not have any physical retail locations or showrooms. The company does offer free samples to help customers choose materials and colors from home.
Which brand is better for smart home integration?
Bali has a slight edge in smart home technology, offering motorization options that are compatible with popular platforms. As part of the Hunter Douglas family, they benefit from industry-leading innovation in automated window treatments.
Are Bali blinds worth the extra cost?
For homeowners who see window treatments as a long-term home investment and who value durability, premium finishes, and refined style, the extra cost for Bali is often considered worth it. For those needing a more temporary or an affordable solution, Select Blinds offers tremendous value.
Which brand is better for rooms with high humidity like a kitchen or bathroom?
Both brands offer excellent faux wood products that are resistant to moisture, making them suitable for bathrooms and kitchens. In this category, the choice would come down to your budget and specific style preference, as both have great options.
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