Why There's Simply No Need For Corded Blinds Anymore

Changing the look of your window treatments are a great way to refresh a room without draining your budget. Whether you're a fan of blinds, curtains, shades, or shutters, the world of window treatments is pretty much your oyster, other than one problematic choice. There's really no need to choose corded blinds at all anymore, and the reason you pass on corded blinds has almost nothing to do with style. It's all about safety.

Blinds with cords certainly look innocuous enough, but do not be fooled. If you have children or pets in your home, cords are one major child home hazard you may have missed. These cords, whether attached to blinds, curtains, or shades, have caused deadly accidents every year. "Young children can quickly and silently become strangled on pull cords, continuous loop cords, inner cords or any other accessible cords on window coverings," warns CPSC Chairman Alex Hoehn-Saric (via the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission). 

On average, nine children under the age of five die every year as a result of cord strangulation, according to the CPSC. They can become entangled within seconds, whether it's a curious baby or an active toddler, and the damage can be irreversible within a minute or two. These corded blinds are absolutely not worth the potential risk. Fortunately, there are a plethora of window covering options available that do not require cords, so you really don't need to have these corded blinds in your home at all anymore.

Blinds in general have been around for centuries, but corded blinds were invented more than 250 years ago, first popping up after English physicist Edward Bevan patented their cord and pulley system blinds back in 1769. By the late 19th century and into the early 20th century, corded blinds became very popular for homeowners who were looking for an easy, economical way to maintain privacy and control how much light was let into a room. 

In recent years, however, corded blinds have been phased out of the market due to well-documented safety concerns for both children and pets. The very real danger of strangulation and injury caused by corded blinds saw new voluntary safety standards introduced by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) in 2018, and by 2019. However, corded blinds are still available in many stores, which puts the responsibility on homeowners to make the right choice for their home. If you want to keep your children and pets safe or you're worried that your window treatments are dating your home, it might be time for an upgrade. Skip corded blinds completely in favor of a look that is more modern, cleaner, and frankly, less dangerous.

There are so many other window treatment options to choose from to avoid the safety dilemma of corded blinds. As CPSC Chairman Alex Hoehn-Sraic notes, "Cordless window blinds, shades, draperies and other window coverings are the safest option." Cordless shades are also a window treatment people are turning to in 2026 to replace dated curtains. In addition to being safer, cordless shades offer a clean aesthetic that provides privacy, letting light in when you want by way of hidden spring tension to open and close shades without dangerous dangling cords. They can be really beautiful as well, coming in a variety of colors and natural materials for a soothing aesthetic, and they're easy to use. You simply lift or pull the bottom rail or even use a remote if you choose the motorized mechanism version.

Be warned that cordless shades tend to be more expensive and sometimes require a custom fit. They also might not work with larger window, since you may struggle to reach the top or raise both sides evenly. If cordless shades are not in your budget or they're just not your style, consider cordless window blinds or even simple draperies. There are so many ways to update your windows, from a tasteful valance to frosted film applied directly to window glass or bamboo cordless blinds for a natural look.