Swap Your Venetian Blinds For A Modern Alternative From Amazon

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You've likely had Venetian blinds in your home, whether you know them by their actual name or as the common window treatment type with flimsy plastic slats, cord controls, or twist wands. Venetian blinds allow you to change light and privacy levels by manipulating the angle of the slats. However, they can be a hassle to deal with, and the ones that have cords pose a safety risk to young children and pets. Plus, they don't do much for the aesthetics of the room. That's where stylish and functional zebra shades come into the picture. These window treatments have a fresh, contemporary look while still providing privacy and adjustable light filtration.

If you're ready for a change, consider Persilux Cordless Zebra Blinds. These shades, an Amazon's Choice product, get a 4.6-star rating from customers and have over 4,000 reviews — over 80% of reviewers give them 5 stars. If you raise or lower the fabric panels on these blinds, the stripes line up to block light or alternate to allow light in. There are no cords or twist wands involved; you just push up or pull down on the bottom rail. One customer praised their style and versatility, saying, "They instantly gave the room a more modern, updated look, and I love being able to easily adjust how much light and privacy we want." Others remarked on how easy they were to install. Another positive seems to be the wide variety of sizes customers can choose from to fit their window dimensions. You can even do a custom order.

Before you choose a shade size, you need to determine whether you want to mount it inside or outside the window casing. This means avoiding the biggest mistake when measuring windows for blinds and shades — failing to take accurate measurements. Measure height, width, and depth. Next, reference the images on the Amazon listing, which explain how to determine the right blind dimensions based on your window's measurements. For inside mounting, there needs to be a 0.4-inch gap between the sides of the shade and the side jambs to ensure they can move up and down without rubbing against the wall. For outside mounting, Persilux suggests adding 4 inches to the total width of the window, likely to minimize gaps that let light in.

Next, decide which color would work best in your space. The all-white zebra shades let in the most light even when closed. By contrast, the gray shades may block a little more light. Depending on the dimensions you need, you might also be able to choose black shades, which could provide a better room-darkening effect when it's needed. It's important to note that while you can give outdated window treatments a new look with modern zebra shades, as well as filter light and add privacy, the shades won't block out light completely. You'll still be able to see through the lighter stripes. One reviewer pointed out that in order to fully close the shades and cover the entire window, she had to mount the shades a little higher, creating a small gap between the bottom of the shade and the window sill. Pairing the shades with blackout or sheer curtains could help.