Metal venetian blinds: modern, practical, and easy to clean

Metal venetian blinds are the workhorse of practical window dressing. Aluminium slats, typically 25mm wide, tilt to control light precisely, pull up into a compact stack, and wipe clean in seconds. They suit kitchens, bathrooms, home offices, and any room where durability and hygiene matter more than softness.

The aluminium slats are pressed from a single sheet, giving them a smooth, non-porous surface that resists moisture, grease, and dust build-up. Unlike fabric blinds that absorb cooking smells or develop mildew spots in humid bathrooms, metal venetians stay fresh with nothing more than a wipe with a damp cloth.

Light control is where venetians excel over almost every other blind type. Each slat tilts independently of the blind's height, so you can angle sunlight upward toward the ceiling for indirect illumination, or close the slats flat for near-complete privacy. This fine-grained control is impossible with a roller or Roman blind, which only offers open or closed.

The colour range has expanded dramatically in recent years. Beyond the classic silver and white, you can now choose from matt blacks, anthracite greys, brushed golds, copper tones, and bold statement colours. A deep charcoal metal venetian in a modern kitchen looks sharp and intentional, nothing like the clinical office blinds of decades past.

For bathrooms, metal venetians are one of the few blind types that cope genuinely well with steam and splashing. The aluminium will not warp, rot, or discolour. The headrail and operating mechanism are designed for humid environments. If you have a window directly above a bath or next to a shower, a metal venetian is a sensible default choice.

Noise is the one characteristic to consider. Metal slats can rattle against each other in a breeze or when bumped. If the window is often open in a windy spot, the clinking may bother you. Hold-down brackets that secure the bottom rail can reduce movement, but they limit the tilt function when engaged.

Slat width is a style decision. The standard 25mm slat gives a fine, linear look suited to smaller windows. Wider 35mm or 50mm slats exist in aluminium, offering a bolder statement that works well on larger windows. The wider the slat, the fewer there are, which creates a slightly less dense look when tilted open.

Fitting options include inside the recess for a flush look, or face-mounted above the frame to maximise light when the blind is raised. Recess fitting is neater, but requires at least 40mm of depth for the headrail. We check this during the free home survey and recommend the best approach for each window.

All our metal venetian blinds are made to measure, cut to the exact millimetre, and fitted by us. They come with a tilt wand and pull cord as standard, or can be specified with a cordless operating system for homes with young children.