Select Blinds vs Hunter Douglas: The Brutal Truth Behind the Price

You’ve decided it’s time to dress your windows. You start your search, full of optimism, only to slam into a wall of confusion. On one side, you have brands like Select Blinds, offering custom window treatments online for what seems like a steal. On the other, you have the titan of the industry, Hunter Douglas, with prices that can be five to ten times higher. The gap is so massive it feels like you’re comparing a family sedan to a luxury sports car.

This isn’t just about blinds; it’s about a fundamental choice every homeowner faces. Do you opt for the budget-friendly, do-it-yourself route and hope for the best? Or do you make a significant financial investment in a premium product with a reputation for unparalleled quality and service? It’s a decision fraught with questions about value, longevity, and whether that high price tag is truly justified.

In this definitive guide, we will dissect every facet of the Select Blinds vs. Hunter Douglas debate. We will go beyond the surface-level price comparison to uncover the real differences in their business models, material quality, technological innovation, warranty, and overall customer experience. By the end, you’ll have a clear, unvarnished understanding of what you’re paying for and be empowered to make the best choice for your home and your budget.

Meet the Contenders: A Tale of Two Business Models

Understanding the core philosophy of each company is the first step to deciphering the massive price difference. Select Blinds and Hunter Douglas operate on two completely different planets when it comes to how they create, market, and sell their products.

Select Blinds: The Direct-to-Consumer Disruptor

Select Blinds is a product of the internet age. Their business model is built around cutting out the middleman. They sell directly to you online, which immediately eliminates costs associated with showrooms, salespeople, and professional installers. You are in the driver’s seat for the entire process.

This means you are responsible for ordering samples, measuring your windows with precision, and ultimately, installing the final product. The entire system is designed for the cost-conscious, hands-on homeowner who is comfortable with a tape measure and a power drill. Their value proposition is clear: get custom-fit blinds for a fraction of the cost, as long as you’re willing to do the work yourself.

Hunter Douglas: The White-Glove, Full-Service Experience

Hunter Douglas occupies the opposite end of the spectrum. You cannot buy their products online or directly from the company. Instead, they rely on a global network of authorized dealers and professional designers who provide a “white-glove” service from start to finish. The process begins with an in-home consultation where a specialist guides you through material and style choices.

This expert then takes precise measurements and places the order on your behalf. When the custom treatments are ready, a certified professional installs them, ensuring a perfect fit and flawless operation. This model is built on expertise, convenience, and quality assurance, catering to homeowners who want the absolute best and are willing to pay for a professional, hassle-free experience.

Price vs. Value: A Head-to-Head Cost Analysis

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the staggering difference in price. A single Hunter Douglas shade could cost as much as covering every window in a room with Select Blinds. But is it just about price, or is there a genuine difference in value? The answer is complex.

The high cost of Hunter Douglas products is a direct result of their business model and commitment to quality. You’re not just buying a blind; you’re paying for extensive research and development, proprietary materials, innovative features, the personalized service of a local dealer, professional installation, and a robust lifetime warranty. This all begs the question of why are blinds so expensive in the first place, and the answer often lies in these bundled services and premium components.

Select Blinds, by contrast, strips away all those “extras.” Their lower price reflects the savings from having no showrooms, no commissioned salespeople, and no installation teams. While the sticker price is undeniably attractive, the “value” depends on your own skills and time. A mistake in measurement or a botched installation can quickly erode those initial savings, leading to frustration and potentially the need to reorder.

Quality and Craftsmanship: What Are You Paying For?

Beyond the service model, the physical products themselves have distinct differences in materials, construction, and technological features. This is where Hunter Douglas often justifies its premium positioning.

Materials and Durability

Hunter Douglas is renowned for its use of high-end, often proprietary materials. From rich hardwoods and advanced polysatin compounds in their shutters to exclusive, high-performance fabrics in their shades, the emphasis is on longevity and timeless appeal. Their products are designed to resist fading, yellowing, and warping, ensuring they look and function perfectly for decades. Every component, from the internal mechanisms to the cords and slats, is engineered for durability.

Select Blinds offers a wide range of materials that are perfectly suitable for most homes, including faux wood, aluminum, and various fabrics for cellular and Roman shades. While the quality is generally good for the price point, it may not match the premium feel or the long-term resilience of Hunter Douglas materials. For a typical homeowner, these materials are more than adequate, but they may show signs of wear sooner, especially in high-sun or high-humidity environments.

Innovation and Technology

This is an area where Hunter Douglas truly separates itself from the competition. They are the industry leader in innovation. They invented the now-ubiquitous Duette® Honeycomb Shades, which have exceptional insulating properties. Their Silhouette® and Pirouette® shades offer unique light-diffusing capabilities you won’t find elsewhere.

Furthermore, their PowerView® Automation system is one of the most sophisticated motorization platforms on the market. It integrates seamlessly with smart home systems like Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, allowing you to control your blinds with your voice or schedule them to move automatically throughout the day. This constant innovation is a significant part of their premium cost.

Select Blinds also offers modern features, including motorized and smart blinds. Their systems are functional and provide great convenience at a more accessible price. However, they may not offer the same level of quiet operation, seamless integration, or advanced features as the Hunter Douglas PowerView® system.

The Buying and Installation Experience

The path from choosing your blinds to seeing them on your windows is wildly different between the two brands. This journey is a critical factor in your final decision.

The Select Blinds DIY Journey

With Select Blinds, you are the project manager. The process starts with you browsing their website and ordering free samples to see colors and textures in your home. Once you’ve made a selection, you must carefully measure each window. This step is crucial; even a small error can result in a blind that doesn’t fit.

After placing your order, the blinds are shipped directly to your door. Installation is now in your hands. This involves gathering your tools, reading the instructions, and mounting the brackets and blinds yourself. For a confident DIYer, finding the right support is key. For example, knowing how to find studs behind wood paneling can be the difference between a secure installation and a frustrating failure. While this process offers maximum savings, it also carries the risk of error and the responsibility of your time and effort.

The Hunter Douglas White-Glove Service

The Hunter Douglas experience is designed to be effortless for the homeowner. A local expert brings the showroom to you, helping you choose the perfect product for your home’s style, light control needs, and budget. They handle the measurements with professional precision, eliminating any risk of error on your part.

Once your custom window treatments are crafted, certified installers arrive to put them in place. They work efficiently, ensure everything operates perfectly, and clean up afterward. This end-to-end service guarantees a flawless result and provides complete peace of mind, but it comes at a significant premium.

Comparison Table: Select Blinds vs. Hunter Douglas at a Glance

To simplify the decision, here is a direct comparison of the most important factors between the two brands.

Feature	Select Blinds	Hunter Douglas
Business Model	Direct-to-Consumer (Online)	Dealer Network (In-Home Service)
Price Range	$ (Budget-Friendly)	$$$$ (Premium Investment)
Best For	DIYers, Budget-Conscious Buyers	Those Seeking Quality & Full Service
Installation	DIY (Customer Installation)	Professional Installation Included
Measurement	DIY (Customer Responsibility)	Professional Measurement Included
Material Quality	Good to Very Good	Excellent to Superior (Proprietary)
Customization	Extensive Options	Industry-Leading Options & Exclusives
Motorization	Available & Affordable	Advanced & Premium (PowerView®)
Warranty	Limited Warranty (3-5 Years)	Limited Lifetime Warranty
Customer Service	Online/Phone Support	Dedicated Local Dealer Support

So, Who Wins? Making the Choice for Your Home

There is no single “winner” in this comparison. The best brand is the one that aligns with your specific priorities, budget, and comfort level with home improvement projects.

You Should Choose Select Blinds If…

• You have a tight budget. The cost savings are significant and cannot be ignored.
• You are a confident DIYer. If you’re comfortable with a tape measure, level, and drill, you can save a fortune on installation.
• You need a solution for many windows. Outfitting an entire house is far more achievable financially with Select Blinds.
• You are covering windows in a less critical area. For a kid’s room, basement, or rental property, Select Blinds offers fantastic value.

You Should Choose Hunter Douglas If…

• Quality and longevity are your top priorities. You want a product made from the best materials that will last for decades.
• You want a hassle-free, professional experience. You prefer to have experts handle every detail from measurement to installation.
• You desire the latest technology and innovative designs. Access to exclusive products like Silhouette® shades and the PowerView® system is important to you.
• You are making a long-term investment in your “forever home.” The lifetime warranty and superior durability provide lasting value.

Don’t Overlook the Warranty

The warranty is a critical, yet often overlooked, aspect of this decision. Hunter Douglas offers a comprehensive Limited Lifetime Warranty. This covers defects in materials, workmanship, and failure to operate for as long as the original purchaser owns the product. It’s a powerful statement of confidence in their quality and provides incredible long-term peace of mind.

Select Blinds offers a more standard warranty, typically a 3-Year or 5-Year Limited Warranty, depending on the product. While this is adequate for most situations, it doesn’t provide the same long-term security as the Hunter Douglas guarantee. If something goes wrong after the warranty period expires, you are on your own.

The Final Verdict: An Investment vs. a Purchase

Ultimately, the choice between Select Blinds and Hunter Douglas comes down to a simple question: Are you looking for a straightforward purchase or a long-term investment? Choosing Select Blinds is a smart, transactional purchase. You get a quality, custom product for an excellent price by taking on the labor yourself. It’s a practical and economical solution for a vast number of homeowners.

Choosing Hunter Douglas is an investment in your home’s comfort, style, and value. You are paying a premium for superior materials, cutting-edge innovation, and the invaluable expertise and security of a full-service professional experience. Making sound decisions for your home, from choosing the right blinds to understanding unexpected issues like whether you can you drive over a well, is key to protecting your investment.

Neither path is inherently right or wrong. The brutal truth is that you get what you pay for. With Hunter Douglas, you pay for everything, and you get everything. With Select Blinds, you pay for the product and get the satisfaction and savings of doing the rest yourself. The best choice is the one that rests comfortably within your budget and aligns perfectly with your vision for your home.