Pittsburgh is a city unlike any other — and if you’ve lived here more than a season, you already know what that means for your home. We deal with humid summers that warp wood, gray winters that make you crave every bit of natural light, and older home architecture that doesn’t always play nice with off-the-shelf window treatments.
So when it comes to choosing window blinds, Pittsburgh homeowners can’t just grab whatever’s on sale at a national chain and call it a day. You need blinds that hold up to Western PA weather, fit the character of your home, and look good doing it.
At Lachina Drapery & Blind Factory, we’ve been outfitting Pittsburgh homes for over 60 years — three generations, one factory, right here in the city. Here’s our honest guide to what works best.
First, Know What Pittsburgh’s Climate Does to Window Blinds
Pittsburgh’s weather is legitimately tough on window treatments. Here’s what you’re up against:
- Humidity in summer: Western PA summers bring real humidity. Real wood blinds can absorb moisture, warp, and split over time — especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and sun-facing windows.
- Cold, dry winters: Repeated temperature swings cause materials to contract and expand. Cheap vinyl and low-grade composites crack over time.
- Gray skies: Pittsburgh averages around 160 sunny days per year — one of the cloudiest cities in the country. You want blinds that maximize light when the sun does show up, not block it unnecessarily.
- Older home construction: Many Pittsburgh homes — especially in the South Hills, Squirrel Hill, and North Side — have non-standard window sizes. Standard off-the-shelf blinds often don’t fit properly.
The Best Window Blinds for Pittsburgh Homes, By Room
Faux Wood Blinds — The Pittsburgh Workhorse
If we had to pick one blind for the typical Pittsburgh home, it’s faux wood. Here’s why: they look like real wood — the warm, classic look that works in Colonial, Craftsman, and traditional-style homes throughout the South Hills and North Hills — but they’re made from a moisture-resistant composite that won’t warp in our summers.
They’re also significantly easier to clean than fabric alternatives, which matters in Pittsburgh’s dusty, sooty air (thanks to our industrial heritage). Best rooms: living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and any room with south- or west-facing windows that get direct afternoon sun.
Real Wood Blinds — For the Right Spaces
Real wood blinds are beautiful — rich, warm, and undeniably premium-looking. They’re a great choice for Pittsburgh homes in dry, climate-controlled rooms: think formal living rooms, home offices, and dining rooms where humidity is well-managed. We’d steer you away from real wood in kitchens, bathrooms, and finished basements.
We carry real wood blinds in our Pittsburgh factory in a range of stains and painted finishes. Custom sizing means they’ll fit your windows perfectly, even if your house was built in 1940.
Aluminum Blinds — Kitchens, Bathrooms & Utility Spaces
For Pittsburgh kitchens and bathrooms, aluminum blinds are the practical choice. They’re completely moisture-proof, easy to wipe down, and hold up to steam, grease, and the general abuse that kitchens take. They’re also the most affordable option in our lineup — a great choice when you need coverage across multiple windows without breaking the budget.
Modern aluminum blinds come in a wide range of colors and slat widths, so they don’t have to look institutional. We can match them to your kitchen’s color palette.
Cellular / Honeycomb Shades — The Energy Efficiency Pick
Pittsburgh winters are cold. If you have older windows — and many of our city’s homes do — cellular shades (also called honeycomb shades) provide a meaningful layer of insulation. The honeycomb structure traps air and creates a buffer between your cold window glass and your warm interior.
They’re available in single-cell, double-cell, and triple-cell configurations, with triple providing the most insulation. Great for bedrooms and living rooms in older South Hills and North Hills homes. Available in light-filtering and blackout versions.
Vertical Blinds — Sliding Doors & Wide Windows
If you have sliding glass doors, patio doors, or wide picture windows — common in Pittsburgh ranch homes and updated Colonials — vertical blinds are the practical answer. They stack neatly to the side, give you full control over light and privacy, and hold up to daily use. We make them in fabric, vinyl, and faux wood.
What About Cordless and Motorized?
New federal safety standards now require most window coverings sold in the U.S. to be cordless or have inaccessible cords — primarily to protect young children from strangulation hazards. All of our blinds meet these standards.
Motorized blinds are also increasingly popular in Pittsburgh homes, especially for hard-to-reach windows, smart home setups, and homeowners who want to control their blinds by app or voice command. We offer motorization on most of our custom blind lines.
Why Buy from Lachina vs. a Big-Box Store?
Here’s the honest answer: at a big-box store, you’re buying what fits their inventory. At Lachina, we build what fits your windows — custom-cut to your exact measurements, in our Pittsburgh factory, by people who have been doing this for three generations.
That means:
- No gaps or awkward overhangs from wrong-sized blinds
- Trademarked exclusive fabrics and finishes you won’t find anywhere else in Pittsburgh
- Factory-direct pricing — no middleman markup
- Real expertise — our team knows Pittsburgh homes, Pittsburgh weather, and Pittsburgh windows
- Two showrooms — Dormont and Wexford, serving the South Hills and North Hills
“The Quality You Deserve at Prices You’ll Appreciate.” — Lachina Drapery & Blind Factory LLC
Call Lachina Drapery & Blind Factory for a no obligation appointment @ (412) 665-4900 or visit us online at www.LachinaDrapery.com.
