Wand Vs. Pull Blinds

How Wand Blinds Work

• Wand blinds are opened and closed using a wand, typically made of plastic or wood. When the wand is attached to horizontal blinds, you can turn the wand one way to open the blinds, and turn it the opposite direction to close the blinds. For vertical blinds, you can slide the wand to either side to open or close the blinds. Some horizontal blinds also have a wand you can push up or down to open or close the blinds.

How Pull Blinds Work

• Pull blinds use a string or other object you pull on. When you pull down, horizontal blinds open. the string then locks into place so the blinds remain open. To close the blinds, pull on the string to unlock it; then let the blinds close themselves while holding the pull string to control the speed or length of the blinds as they close. Vertical blinds also might use a pulley system. The string is in a circular or oval shape; pull on one side to open the vertical blinds, and pull on the other side to close them.

Differences

• While both blinds serve the same purpose, the main difference is the wand versus string or pulling device. Families with young children might prefer wand blinds to pull blinds, as the strings on pull blinds might be a choking or safety hazard for the kids. Some manufacturers build a different type of pull blind: you can pull the actual blind down to close it, then pull it slightly down and forward to unlock it and let it roll back up in the open position.

Combination

• Some blinds also come as a combination wand and pull blind. For example, a common do-it-yourself style of horizontal blinds allows you to open and close the blinds using a pull string. However, a wand is also attached. Use the wand to rotate each blind piece open when the blinds are in the closed position. In other words, each blind panel is parallel to the window when closed, but the wand rotates them to be perpendicular, so you can still look out the window.