Consider the "Stack" on Vertical Blinds

When you open blinds, the vanes or slats come together to form what is referred to as the stack. When you open horizontal blinds, you have no choice: the stack gathers at the top, by the headrail (the top bar from which the slats hang). For vertical blinds, however, you choose where you want to have the stack: to the right of the window or doors, to the left, or split (when your vertical blinds open in the center and half of the vanes go to the right while the other half goes to the left).

Be careful when ordering your vertical blinds: once you choose your stack position, you can’t change it. The vertical blinds’ tracks are configured by the manufacturer and cannot be changed by the customer. So how does one decide which stack position is best? To choose between a right, left or split stack, consider the following:

Furniture/Room Layout

What do you want to accomplish when your blinds are fully open? Do you want the stack to hide behind furniture or to be seen? Your stack may be 4 inches or more of fabric, vinyl, wood or aluminum. If you have a large empty wall to one side of the window or patio door, positioning the stack on that side might accent the space.

Outside View

The great advantage to having a large window or patio doors is that you “bring the outdoors in”. When you have a split stack, you create a dramatic frame around your window or door, drawing even more attention to that picturesque view. Instead of one large stack, with the split stack you’ll have two smaller stacks, one on each side of the window/doors.

Light Control

You may find you like to have your vertical blinds open only part way at certain times of the day. Watch the light patterns in your room before choosing a stack position. If the most intense light shines in on the left, you might want to have the stack there so you can leave the blinds open slightly on the right, where the light is less intense.

Choosing between a right, left, or split stack is usually a matter of personal taste. As with all the other choices you make when purchasing your vertical blinds (from color and size to fabric and patterns), the position of the stack will help make your room uniquely yours.