Possibly the Most Beautiful of All Window Blinds and Shades
Natural blinds—best known as natural woven wood shades or natural shades—are exquisite. They combine beautiful woven patterns with the delightful textures of natural materials to create shades that rival the finest fabrics.
These natural woven wood shades are not only attractive, they’re durable and affordable. Choose from hundreds of fabrics using rattan and other natural materials turned into shades, drapery, and even sliding panels. These window treatments, crafted from hand-harvested natural materials, pair nicely with manmade materials, including custom fabric drapery. And natural shades—which can also be made as natural drapery and natural sliding panels—are easy to install, making them the perfect option for bringing natural beauty and warmth into any modern home.
What Are Rattan, Bamboo, Wild Grass, and Woven Wood Blinds (Natural Shades)?
Rattan is a natural material. It’s the dried stems of a species of palm that grows in southeast Asia. It is extremely tough and can be used to make furniture as well as window treatments. Shades made from rattan are incredibly strong, but so are materials like bamboo, wild grasses, woven wood, sisal, and jute. These natural materials can last for decades, and they tend to only look better with age. No matter which material is used, natural shades, drapery, and sliding panels all share this same toughness and attractive natural texture. A room that utilizes multiple components made with woven natural materials can have an elevated, finished look that conveys luxury and elegance. In the coming year, look for these materials to be trending—they’re highly versatile and present a timeless look.
Top Benefits of Rattan, Bamboo, Wild Grass, and Woven Wood Blinds (Natural Shades) Over Other Materials
Because rattan, bamboo, wild grass, woven wood, and other natural materials are grown in the wild, they have natural variations that make each woven shade unique. No two pieces of natural fabric look exactly alike. This adds to the charm and artistry of natural shades.
Aside from their natural beauty, one of the biggest reasons to choose natural shades is the insulation they provide. The natural materials offer some protection against both heat and cold. Adding a lining increases the shades’ insulation properties. Another reason designers are attracted to natural shades is their natural origin. All of Bali’s natural shades and drapery are made from hand-harvested materials.
What Are the Disadvantages of Rattan, Bamboo, Wild Grass, and Woven Wood Blinds?
Shades, drapery, and sliding panels made from natural materials like bamboo or rattan are at home in nearly any room—with one exception: rooms where there is high humidity and heat. Some bathrooms get very humid and hot, and natural woven materials can be damaged by such an environment. Otherwise, there’s really no room where these versatile window treatments aren’t at home.
Another disadvantage of bamboo blinds and other shades made with natural materials is that they allow some light to pass through and don’t provide complete privacy. But for those who need full privacy, this is easily remedied by ordering shades with a lining that covers and gaps in the weave. The result is a shade that offers excellent light control and privacy. There is even a blackout liner available that can produce an extremely dark room.
DIY Made Simple: How to Measure & Install Rattan, Bamboo, Wild Grass, and Woven Wood Blinds
Measuring your windows for natural shades is a straightforward process. For inside mounted shades (installed inside the window casing), measure the depth of your window casing, the width of the window casing opening in three places, and the height of the window casing.
For outside mount windows (mounted outside the window casing), measure how wide an area you’d like your shade to cover, and then measure the distance between the top of your headrail and the bottom of your shade (how far down you want the shade to go). Be sure to make your measurements so they account for the full area you’d like to be covered by the shade.
Installing Bali shades is a breeze. It’s a simple matter of installing the brackets and clipping the headrail into those installed brackets. If you know how to use a tape measure, a drill, and a screwdriver, you’ll have no trouble completing the installation.
Coordinating with Other Bali Window Treatments
Bali Natural Woven Wood Shades made with wood, rattan, bamboo, jute, sisal, and wild grasses pair beautifully with a variety of other window treatments. Pair natural shades with matching or complementary sliding panels for a very modern look. Or, layer drapery over your natural shades for added depth and character. Natural drapery is an obvious pairing—you can precisely match fabrics to create a finished look. One of the best looks you can create in your home is a uniform fabric hung on all the windows in an open concept room or the entire home—it doesn’t get more breathtaking than that.
Popular Styles & Customization Options
There are two primary styles you’ll find in the natural woven wood shade collections. The first is a finely patterned, single-color style that works in a design scheme in much the same way a single-colored custom fabric would. You’ll find that there are a surprising number of natural fabrics in colors that can match any décor—even in more boldly colored rooms. Spend some time thinking about color and what colors really capture your imagination.
The other main variety of natural fabrics you’ll find is highly textured fabric—materials that really emphasize the patterns and natural variations in the natural materials. These are perhaps the most exquisitely beautiful of all natural shade fabrics. They can exist as a supporting character in your design scheme or can serve as the leading player. Adding a valance or cornice to your shade adds to the drama. Use your imagination and check out photos of finished rooms for inspiration.
To increase the functionality of the natural shades, you have a choice of light filtering and blackout liners. Because of the woven construction of natural fabrics, there are tiny holes through which light may pass. Adding a liner covers these holes and ensures privacy. Liners also protect the outward facing side of the natural shade from UV light—and that adds to the longevity of your shade.
Conclusion: Add Natural Texture with DIY Rattan, Bamboo, Wild Grass, and Woven Wood Blinds
Natural Woven Wood Shades are a breeze to install and last for years. They’re built to stand up to daily use and even look better with age as the natural materials darken slightly and the patterns and textures become more prominent. You’ll find homes where the natural shades have been hanging for decades—still beautiful and just as functional as the day they were first hung. Simple measurement and installation instructions and the long-term durability of these shades, as well as the excellent value, make them a great choice for any room in your home.
FAQ:
What are the popular blinds in 2025?
The wide world of window treatments offers a product for every kind of room. But one of the most versatile is the natural shade. Look for these beautiful works of natural color and texture in magazine editorials and fine interior design projects in the coming year. When designers call for some warmth and natural texture, natural shades—made of rattan, bamboo, wild grass, woven wood, and other natural materials—are their go-to solution.
Can you see through bamboo blinds at night?
Bamboo blinds without a lining do not provide complete privacy. Add a lining to increase privacy as well as improve the insulating quality of the shade.
What blinds look good in a farmhouse?
Natural shades and drapery look great in a modern farmhouse design scheme. The neutral colors featured in natural shade collections are well suited to this design style.
