A Little-Known Fact
Window blinds are a part of our every day life. We raise them in the morning and lower them at night. They provide privacy for our homes and other buildings, and let in the light when we need them to. However, not many of us stop to think where they came from or who invented them. In fact, with just a simple search online it is hard to find much evidence of their origins, even though they are actually quite important in our daily lives.
So, who did invent window blinds?
It seems that several cultures had invented window blinds with a similar functionality to our modern version as early as thousands of years ago. It is believed that the first type of window coverings were made from animal hides that were placed over doorways. The early Egyptians were some of the first and most famous groups of people to discover the concept of window blinds. They used materials readily available to them, such as reeds, to protect their privacy and block out the heat of the sun. The early Chinese made similar blinds out of bamboo. It was the Persians, however, that invented the famed “Venetian” blinds, which got their name as Venetian merchants helped to spread these blinds through trade.
Slightly more recently, on December 11, 1769 in London, Venetian blinds were actually patented for the first time by Edward Beran. Ever since then, window blinds have taken off, and today you can find them in unlimited colors, materials, and shapes. However, even with the many modern advances and varieties in window blinds, the basic concept for the design and function remains very similar to how they were invented thousands of years ago.
The next time you look at your own window blinds, say a little thank you to the ancient groups of people who made them possible.
At Blinds to Go, we are passionate about bringing the best window blinds and the best service to the Kansas City area. Call today at (816) 920-0260 for more information.