Most people pick a venetian blind by colour and material first. Wood or faux wood? White or grey? Fair questions, but there is another choice that changes the finished look just as much, and it often gets skipped: slat width.
Slat width is how tall each horizontal strip is. The three common sizes are 25mm, 35mm and 50mm. That small difference changes how the blind looks, how tightly it shuts, how much view you keep when it is open, and how much glass it covers when raised.
What slat width really changes
Narrow slats create lots of thin lines, which reads as neat and modern. Wide slats create fewer, bolder lines, closer to the look of a shutter.
More slats also means more overlapping edges when shut, so narrow slats generally close tighter. But when tilted open, wider slats leave bigger gaps, so you actually see more of the garden. And when you pull the blind fully up, wide slats form a chunkier stack that covers more of the window.
Comparison table
| 25mm (narrow) | 35mm (mid) | 50mm (wide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Neat, crisp, modern | Balanced, suits most rooms | Bold, softer, shutter-like |
| Light control when shut | Tightest closure | Very good | Good, slightly larger gaps |
| View when open | Restricted | Clear enough for most windows | Most open view |
| Stack when raised | Smallest | Medium | Largest |
| Typical materials | Aluminium, faux wood | Faux wood, wood | Wood, faux wood |
| Best rooms | Bathrooms, kitchens, studies | Bedrooms, landings | Living and dining rooms |
Not every material comes in every width. Aluminium is usually made in narrower sizes, while wood and faux wood suit wider slats where the grain shows. Our range of venetian blinds covers all three materials.
Room by room
Kitchen. Windows are often small and get splashed, so 25mm faux wood or aluminium works well. It stacks compactly and wipes clean. More on our kitchen blinds page.
Bathroom. The clearest case for narrow slats. Small window, privacy first, tight closure. Avoid real wood, as humidity will swell it. See our bathroom blinds page.
Bedroom. Both 25mm and 35mm close well, though 35mm looks softer on a standard window. If children use the room, read the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents guidance on blind cord safety before buying. Cordless and wand options are available.
Study. Narrow 25mm gives the finest control over screen glare, because a small tilt makes a small change to the light. Our study blinds page has the options.
Dining and living rooms. This is where 50mm earns its place. Larger windows suit a bolder slat, and wide wooden venetians sit well in Kent’s period properties. Just watch the stack height on shorter windows.
Getting it right
Slat width is easy to get right and awkward to change later, since made-to-measure blinds are cut to your window.
We supply made to measure blinds in Kent across Rochester, Medway, Maidstone and the surrounding towns. Book a free home visit and we will bring real slat samples to your home.
