Glossary
Shallow Mount
Shallow mount blinds are installed inside the window casing where there´s enough room to install the brackets but there is not enough room for the blind to be installed fully within the window frame and so part of the blind/headrail will protrude from the window frame.
Flush Mount
Flush mount is when the blind is mounted completely within the window frame and no part of the headrail/blind protrudes from the window frame.
Aluminum Blinds
Also referred to as mini-blinds. These horizontal blinds are available in a 1" slat size through Accent Blinds & Shades. The slats themselves are the typical curved aluminum, which also serves as the valance piece.
Basswood
Type of real wood used in our 2 and 2 ½" horizontal wood blinds. Basswood material is considered the best quality. You can see the appearance of a fine wood grain on these lightweight slats.
Blackout
Blackout shades, also referred to as room-darkening shades. Our honeycomb shades are available with the blackout option in a 3/4" pleat size. To create the room-darkening feature, the center of each honeycomb is lined with a foil that prevents light from entering through the shade. These opaque shades are great for energy efficiency. This product is quite popular in bedrooms. On woven wood shades it is an optional white liner on the back of the shade referred to as the privacy liner.
Bottom Rail
This is the thicker bottom piece on a blind or shade. This piece is where the ladders/cords on the blinds are secured into place. This heaver piece helps to ensure the window covering hangs properly.
Ceiling Mount Brackets
Brackets used to mount your window coverings to the ceiling or the top of the window casing rather than on the sides of the window frame.
Cellular Shades
Also called Honeycomb Shades. Available in single or double cell, blackout and varying pleat sizes, these shades are constructed for maximum energy efficiency by combining two or more sections of pleated fabric to form a honeycomb appearance from its side view.
Cloth Tape
An upgrade option in place of the standard braided cord ladders on horizontal blinds, excluding our 1" aluminum mini blinds. These 1-1/2" cloth tapes come in an assortment of colors.
Clutch Roller
A cord-free lift system using a spring clutch roller to raise and lower the shade. This system is perfect for households with young children since it is a cordless system. This option is available on our roller shades.
Continuous Cord Loop
This system is available on our cellular shades for a nominal charge and comes standard on our roller shades with a beaded chain and a standard braided cord loop on our Sheer-Lite shades. The continuous cord loop system is used to lower and raise the shade to the desired height.
Depth
The distance from the front edge of the window to the back is its depth. Some inside mounted blinds/shades require a minimum mounting depth.
End Bracket
A metal bracket that is attached to the wall to hold the blind´s head rail into place.
Extension Bracket
This is a no charge optional piece of hardware that is used to bring the blind out from the mounting surface. These are also known as "L" brackets. These help to make the blinds line up where you want them such as lining up with a windowsill.
Faux Wood Blinds
Faux wood blinds are less expensive than their real wood counterpart. Faux wood blinds are great for humid areas such as bathrooms and resist warping of the slats or peeling of the paint.
Hardwood
Type of real wood used in our 2" horizontal wood blinds. This hardwood consists of a medium density fiber wood. You can see the appearance of a fine wood grain on these lightweight slats.
Head Rail
The metal box at the top of the blind that holds the tilt and lift mechanisms of the blind. One head rail can hold up to 3 blinds if needed depending on the width of the blind.
Height
The measured distance used from the top of the window to the bottom.
Hold-Down Brackets
Applies to outside mount window coverings. These brackets hold the bottom rail in place. They are ordered when a blind or shade is placed on a door to prevent the window covering from swinging back and forth when opening and closing the door.
Honeycomb Shade
Also called Cellular Shades. Available in single or double cell, blackout and varying pleat sizes, these shades are constructed for maximum energy efficiency by combining two or more sections of pleated fabric to form a honeycomb appearance from its side view.
Horizontal Blind
A blind where the slats run from left to right and can be tilted and lifted. The vanes on vertical blinds run top to bottom and can be tilted and traversed back and forth.
Inside Mount
An inside mount blind or shade fits inside of the window frame as opposed to outside the frame. Our measuring instructions detail how to measure and order for each mounting type. See also Outside Mount.
Ladder (Braided Ladder)
The vertical cords/strings that hold and control the slats of a horizontal blind. These can be covered with an optional decorative cloth tape.
Lift Cord
This term refers to the pull cord that lowers and raises a blind. As a standard it is located on the right side of the blind. Horizontal blinds with very small width measurements may be available only with a tilt cord/wand mechanism, which will be located in the center of the blind. Typically blinds that are 13” or less will operate by tilt only, however this limitation varies by product. Please see individual product specifications and limitations to be certain. See also: Tilt Control.
Mini Blinds
Also referred to as aluminum blinds. These horizontal blinds are available in a 1” slat size through Accent Blinds & Shades. The slats themselves are the typical curved aluminum, which also serves as the valance piece.
Motorized Tilt
Available on select products, this is a device that controls the angle/tilt of the slats using a battery-operated remote control. There is an additional surcharge to add this feature.
Mount Type
This terms refers to how you will mount your window covering, whether it be an inside mount or outside mount.
Mullion
A vertical strip separating windowpanes.
Opaque
A term most commonly used when referring to cellular shades. Our blackout or room darkening cellular shade option is considered opaque.
Outside Mount
An outside mount refers to blinds or shades that are mounted outside the window frame, usually because the windows are not square or there is not enough depth to mount the hardware/product inside the window frame opening. Our measuring instructions detail how to measure and order for each mounting type. See also Inside Mount.
Plantation Blinds
A horizontal blind with a 2 ½” or 3” slat will sometimes be referred to by this product name. These size slats give a more open view for those who do not want to incur the high cost of plantation shutters.
Privacy Liner
Available on our Woven Wood Shades. Our selection of woven wood shades offers varying degrees of light filtration and privacy levels. For complete privacy or light control a fabric liner may be attached to the shade, which will provide UV protection, energy efficiency, and give a uniform street side look.
Remote Control
Battery-operated infrared wireless remote that controls the angle/tilt of the blinds.
Return
Refers to the sides of a valance that come on outside mount blinds, the part of the valance that extends back to the wall or window frame molding.
Also refers to the distance of this piece from the front of the head rail to the wall or frame.
Reverse Roll
Refers to the roll option on roller shades. Reverse roll is when the roll comes off the front of the roll holder toward your room whereas the standard roll will roll into the window opening. In a standard roll you can actually see the roller as opposed to the reverse roll that hides the roller behind the material coming forward.
Room-Darkening
Room-darkening shades, also referred to as blackout shades. Our honeycomb shades are available with the room-darkening option in a ¾” pleat size. To create the blackout feature, the center of each honeycomb is lined with a foil that prevents light from entering through the shade. These opaque shades are great for energy efficiency. This product is quite popular in bedrooms. On woven wood shades it is an optional white liner on the back of the shade referred to as the privacy liner
Route Holes
The small holes in the slats of blinds that the ladder cords go through. Cloth tape can be added as an option to cover the cords and route holes for additional light privacy.
Routeless
Often referred to as “no holes” or “de-light”. Standard blinds have small holes in the slats for the ladder strings. Routless blinds have small notches in the front and backside of each slat, which replace the use of the holes and hold the strings in place. This option is chosen when wanting to prevent additional sunlight from streaming in.
Shutter Blind
A horizontal blind with a 2 ½” or 3” slat will sometimes be referred to by this product name. These size slats give a more open view for those who do not want to incur the high cost of plantation shutters.
Slat
The individual pieces that make up a blind that can be tilted at an angle in order to open or close.
Spacer Blocks
Also simply called “spacers”. These are used typically when mounting blinds on doors that may have trim or molding and the back of the blind needs to be projected out just enough from the mounting surface to ensure the blind an even lie with the window in order to operate properly.
Stack
The height referred to when a blind or shade is raised fully up against the head rail.
Three Blinds on One Head Rail
3 blinds can be put on 1 head rail with a single valance (the decorative piece that covers the head rail). Each blind would operate independently with its own set of controls. The manufacturer recommends multiple blinds on 1 head rail where weight is a concern on wider windows. This is due to the stress on the operating mechanisms of the window covering. For this reason, manufacturers will not warranty a single blind on 1 head rail where they have recommended 2 or 3 blinds on 1 head rail.
Tile or Molding Cut-Out
A blind or shade that has had a small rectangular area removed from it to avoid obstructions, usually from one of the corners or from the bottom. Such a cut out might typically apply to tile found at the base of a kitchen or bathroom window that causes the window opening to narrow.
Tilt Control
This term refers to the tilt mechanism that controls the angle of the slats. A cord tilt control is standard on most horizontal blinds with the exception of our 1” aluminum mini blinds, which come standard with a want tilt. A wand tilter is an option available for no extra charge in place of the standard cord tilt. The cord tilt consists of 2 separate pull cords with tassels. Wand tilt controls the blind by twisting the wand to open and close the slats. The Tilt Control is typically located on the left side of the blind; however, blinds with small width sizes will only be available with a tilt cord or wand located in the center of the blind and will not have a lift cord feature.
Top-Down/Bottom-Up
An upgrade option on our cellular and woven wood shades that uses two sets of lift cords enabling the shade to be opened by lowering the top down or by lifting the bottom up. Standard shades are opened by lifting the bottom up only. These are great for allowing light to enter but still ensuring privacy.
Two Blinds on One Head Rail
2 blinds can be put on 1 head rail with a single valance (the decorative piece that covers the head rail). Each blind would operate independently with its own set of controls. The manufacturer recommends multiple blinds on 1 head rail where weight is a concern on wider windows. This is due to the stress on the operating mechanisms of the window covering. For this reason, manufacturers will not warranty a single blind on 1 head rail where they have recommended 2 or 3 blinds on 1 head rail.
Valance
Decorative piece that covers the head rail.
Valance Clip
Clear plastic clip that holds the valance onto the head rail.
Valance Returns
Refers to the side pieces of a valance that come on outside mount blinds, the part of the valance that extends back to the wall or window frame molding.
Measured as the distance of this piece from the front of the head rail to the wall or frame.
Vanes
The individual pieces on a vertical blind that run vertically and can operate by tilting open and closed at an angle.
Wall Mount
When the mounting brackets are installed on the wall or trim around the window. See Ceiling Mount Brackets.
Woven Wood Shades
Shades made from carefully selected, bamboos, grasses, reeds, matchsticks and natural woods. Our selections offer various degrees of light filtration and privacy levels. For complete privacy or light control a fabric liner may be attached to the shade, which will provide UV protection, energy efficiency, and give a uniform street side look.
