On the surface, you may think that faux wood and natural wood don’t differ too much but there are actually a few factors to consider that will ultimately affect your final decision.

• Classic and timeless

The textures, patinas and colours of natural wood have influenced interior design for centuries. Rich, warm, comforting and sturdy - wooden furniture will never not have a place in the home. Whilst faux wood makes a strong effort to mimic these qualities, nothing can compete with the real deal.

• Naturally insulating

Not just picked for being visually pleasing, wood is also used in homes and homebuilding due to its highly insulative properties - take log cabins for example. Having natural wood blinds hanging from your windows will block out the harmful UV rays and stop the heat from the sun creating a sauna-like environment in your home. They also prevent your internal heat from escaping.

• An excellent choice for living rooms and bedrooms

Stylish, available in a range of colours/finishes and able to be fitted to size, having natural wood blinds in the rooms you relax and rest in really does bring comfort like nothing else. There’s something about the scent and primal proclivity to real wood that draws us in and instantly creates feelings of comfort and homeliness.

• To be avoided in areas of high humidity

Sadly, wood will not fare well in rooms where the humidity levels are high or constant - areas such as bathrooms, kitchens or laundry rooms. This is because natural wood, when exposed to humidity, degrades to the point of warping, and fading and can accumulate mould.

• Slightly more difficult to clean

Being that water will damage your natural wood blinds, you can’t give them a deep clean in the same way you would with the faux wood alternatives. Instead, we would recommend regularly dusting them with a dry cloth or one that has a small amount of furniture polish or even lemon oil on it. Adopting a “little and often” approach to cleaning your blinds should remove the need for a deep clean.

• More durable and forgiving than natural wood

Faux wood blinds are usually constructed from poly-vinyl chloride or PVC; this is effective not only in imitating the look and feel of real wood but also in offering much more durability and an ability to withstand spills and accidents without permanently damaging the blinds.

• Easy to clean and look after

Anyone who owns blinds can affirm that cleaning them doesn't sit at the top of their list of favourite household chores. With faux wood blinds, however, the process is made far easier in the fact you can take them down and give them a good rinse without worrying about any damage.

• A more cost-effective option

Not a reflection of poor quality, but faux wood blinds will almost certainly cost you less than wooden ones as PVC is a lot cheaper to manufacture and produce than natural wood. If you are looking to get maximum coverage and keep costs down then faux wood may be a better option for you.

Each will require a different cleaning approach; with wooden blinds you can get away with dusting them with a dry cloth or microfibre mitt if you find this easier. Avoid using water unless very heavily soiled. In these instances, a small amount of lukewarm water with a very mild detergent can be used but you must dry them immediately to prevent damage.

Faux blinds are less delicate when it comes to cleaning and can be rinsed with water when needed. Day to day maintenance is the same - wipe over with a dry cloth.