A window blind is a type of window covering. There are many different kinds of window blinds which use a variety of control systems. A typical window blind is made up of several long horizontal or vertical slats of various types of hard material, including wood, plastic or metal which are held together by cords that run through the blind slats. Vertical blinds run along a track system which can tilt open and closed and move side-to-side. Window blinds can be manoeuvred with either a manual or remote control by rotating them from an open position, with slats spaced out, to a closed position where slats overlap and block out most of the light. There are also several types of window coverings, called shades, that use a single piece of soft material instead of slats.
Various window blind styles
Window blinds stopper. An old window part to prevent open window blinds from closing. From the Sarona Museum in Israel.
Japanese Shoji Blinds in Nottingham UK.
Cellular shades, also called honeycomb shades, hanging in a window.
Window coverings are considered any type of materials used to cover a window to manage sunlight, privacy, additional weatherproofing or for purely decorative purposes.
Superdrug with boarded windows during the 2009 G-20 London summit protests
