1/2 --Inch Mini Blinds

• Micro-mini blinds are 1/2-inch metal mini blinds. Micro-minis offer a slim-lined, stylish appearance and work well on doors and sidelights as well as standard household windows. This blind also works well in shallow windows where wider slats could rub up against the windowpane. Micro-mini blinds are normally a special-order blind, but some specialty stores have them in stock. Blind manufacturers generally construct this blind from 6-gauge aluminum. The colors available depend on the manufacturer; however, most companies offer a wide variety of colors in both flat and glossy finishes.
  
  

1-Inch Mini Blinds

• The 1-inch mini blind remains the most common size of both aluminum and vinyl blinds. Most department and home improvement stores sell this size as a ready-made, off-the-shelf product. Ready-made blinds of this type typically only come in white or alabaster. Most window blind manufacturers offer both vinyl and aluminum mini blinds as a special-order product, and the buyer can choose between 6-gauge metal or 8-gauge metal and a variety of colors. Vinyl blinds also come in specialty colors; however, manufacturers normally offer more color variety for aluminum blinds. Because of the head rail size, 1-inch mini blinds need at least ¾-inch of space if mounted inside the window frame and 2 inches of space for a flush mount in which the blind is completely contained inside the frame.
  
  

1-3/8-Inch Mini Blinds

• Many blind companies manufacture special-order blinds in non-standard slat sizes to offer more variety for homeowners and to offer slats that look good in varying window sizes. The 1-3/8-inch mini blind works well in large windows where the homeowner prefers a slat bigger than 1 inch without the bulkiness of a larger 2-inch slat. This in-between slat size offers more visibility through the slats than a 1-inch slat when the slats are open. This size mini blind also comes in a variety of colors and finishes.
  
  

2-inch Mini Blinds

• While smaller-slat mini blinds are the most popular, some people prefer a mini blind with a retro feel, such as the 2-inch slat mini blind, often called Venetian blinds. Some specialty stores carry 2-inch metal blinds in stock, but most companies offer this style of blind as a special order. Along with a myriad amount of available colors, you also can choose a variety of decorative tapes to cover the blind's strings. The 2-inch mini blind needs more window frame space when mounted inside because of its 2- to 2¼-inch head rail. The minimum amount needed for an inside mount is 1¾ inches; you need 3½ inches of space for the head rail to be completely flush-mounted. Vinyl blinds are also available in the 2-inch slat size.