Hunter Douglas is known for making high-quality custom window blinds, shades, and shutters. Their products come in endless styles, colors, and materials to fit any decor.
However, Hunter Douglas is also one of the most expensive brands when it comes to window treatments.
If you love the look of Hunter Douglas but not the premium prices, there are more affordable alternatives worth considering. Brands like Graber, Levolor, and Allen + Roth offer similar custom-made window treatments at lower price points.
In this guide, we’ll compare the pros and cons of using alternative brands versus splurging on Hunter Douglas:
Hunter Douglas Alternatives To Consider
Here are some of the best alternatives to Hunter Douglas to get luxury window treatments at lower price points:
- Graber Blinds and Shades
- Levolor Custom Blinds and Shades
- Allen + Roth Custom Blinds and Shades
- Bali Custom Blinds and Shades
- Budget Blinds
- Blinds.com Custom Blinds and Shades
- SelectBlinds Custom Shades
- Blindster Custom Window Treatments
Let’s talk about them in detail.
Graber Blinds and Shades
Graber is one of the most popular alternatives for high-end custom window treatments. Their products come in a wide selection of styles, materials, features, and colors to match the options from Hunter Douglas.
Some of their most comparable product lines include:
- Signet Faux Wood Blinds: Made from durable composite wood in unlimited paint and stain options. Offered in 2″ and 2.5″ slat sizes.
- Traditions Wood Blinds: Real wood blinds in basswood, poplar, oak, maple, and exotic woods. Provide natural beauty for less.
- CrystalPleat Cellular Shades: Pleated cellular shades that mimic the soft folds of high-end Hunter Douglas cellular shades. Energy efficient and custom-fit.
- Roller Shades: Custom roller shades in light-filtering and room-darkening materials, available in hand-crafted detailing.
- Specialty Shades: Unique options like pleated, roman, woven wood, and skylight shades.
Graber offers most of their products in cordless lift options, motorization, curved and shaped windows, top treatments, and other high-end details found with Hunter Douglas. However, their prices are 20-40% lower on comparable window treatments.
Levolor Custom Blinds and Shades
Levolor is another reputable brand offering Hunter Douglas-quality at more affordable pricing. Some of their best Hunter Douglas alternatives include:
- Riviera Classic Wood Blinds: Real wood blinds made from premium basswood and other hardwoods. Offered in paints, stains, and rustic distressed finishes.
- Modern Faux Wood Blinds: Composite wood-look blinds with sleek, thin slat profiles. Durable, fade-resistant, and customizable.
- Cellular Shades: Levolor cellular shades match the texture and energy efficiency of Hunter Douglas cellulars, at a fraction of the cost. Available in multiple opacities.
- Roller & Roman Shades: Custom-fit roller shades in blackout and light-filtering materials. Roman shades offer a softer, pleated look.
- Sheer Shadings: Soft, transparent woven shades that allow natural light to filter into a room. Mimic the look of Hunter Douglas sheer shades.
Levolor gives you tons of made-to-order options like Hunter Douglas, just at more reasonable prices across all their products lines. Their lifetime warranties also ensure years of performance.
Allen + Roth Custom Blinds and Shades
Owned by Lowe’s, Allen + Roth is their premium line of custom window treatments offering Hunter Douglas-level quality and customization. Their best options include:
- Premium Faux Wood Blinds: Composite wood blinds with natural wood looks or color finishes. Offered in horitonzal, vertical, and arched options.
- Solar & Roller Shades: Light-filtering and room-darkening roller shades. Solar screen fabrics help insulate windows.
- Natural Shades: Woven shades in bamboo, jute, and high-end synthetic materials. Filter light beautifully.
- Cellular Shades: Honeycomb cellular shades for insulation and energy efficiency. Come in opaque and translucent styles.
- Roman Shades: Custom-fit roman shades with crisp pleats and beautiful drapery. Works well over other shades.
An added perk of Allen + Roth is in-store support at Lowe’s locations for design, measurement, and installation. However, their products are still 20-50% cheaper than Hunter Douglas.
There are more alternatives. Let’s have a look at them quickly.
- Bali Custom Blinds and Shades
Bali is a mid-range brand that still offers high-end details and plenty of customization options. Their wood blinds, faux wood blinds, cellular shades, and roller shades mimic popular Hunter Douglas styles at lower price points. They also have a wide selection of fabrics and finishes.
- Budget Blinds
As their name suggests, Budget Blinds provides more affordable custom blinds and shades without sacrificing style. Their wood, faux wood, solar, and cellular shades are great lower-priced Hunter Douglas alternatives. Excellent for a medium budget.
- Blinds.com Custom Blinds and Shades
Blinds.com offers in-depth customization online across their affordable product lines. From real wood to faux wood to roman shades, they have quality Hunter Douglas-lookalike options at lower prices.
- SelectBlinds Custom Shades
SelectBlinds has an enormous catalog of custom shades at budget-friendly price points. Their cellular shades, roman shades, solar shades, and woven woods make good cheaper Hunter Douglas equivalents. Lots of colors and options.
- Blindster Custom Window Treatments
Blindster focuses on specialty window treatments like exterior roller shades, cordless cellular shades, remote control blinds, and custom arches. Great quality with advanced features at lower prices than Hunter Douglas specialty offerings.
Why Consider Alternatives To Hunter Douglas?
There are a few key reasons why you may want to seek out lower-priced alternatives for custom blinds and shades rather than defaulting to the Hunter Douglas brand:
- Lower Upfront Cost
Hunter Douglas window treatments often cost two to three times more than comparative products from Graber, Levolor, and Allen + Roth. For example, a basic Hunter Douglas wood blind may retail for $500, while a near-identical style from Graber may cost $200.
Over an entire home with numerous windows, choosing an alternative brand can save thousands in upfront costs. This allows you to allocate budget to other parts of your home improvement project.
- More Approachable Pricing
In addition to being pricier upfront, Hunter Douglas window treatments also come with premium ongoing costs. Options like motorization, cordless lifts, routing returning, and decorative finishing drive up lifetime costs.
Alternative brands still offer high-end features like these, but at lower price points accessible to more homeowners. If you like the Hunter Douglas look but not the continuous costs, an alternative may suit your budget better long-term.
- Comparable Quality
Major brands like Graber and Levolor may not be direct equivalents to Hunter Douglas, but their top-tier offerings provide excellent quality and durability. These alternative brands give you access to premium materials, hardware, and warranties without the Hunter Douglas name.
Unless you need the absolute highest end product, comparable quality from another brand can save you money without sacrificing on craftsmanship or longevity.
Pros of Sticking With Hunter Douglas
While alternatives can save you money, there are some advantages that come with real Hunter Douglas window treatments:
- Superior Brand Reputation
No other brand equals the reputation and recognition of Hunter Douglas when it comes to window treatments. Their 50+ years of experience and innovation have created an unmatched legacy. If having the brand name matters, Hunter Douglas is worth the investment.
- Best Materials & Construction
Hunter Douglas uses the finest and most durable materials for exceptional longevity and performance. For example, their wood blinds use select hardwood veneers and their cellular shades utilize premium ultra-opaque fabrics. Construction is also meticulous.
- Trendsetting Styles
Hunter Douglas is always pioneering fresh new styles and releasing unique products. Their designs, colors, and innovations outpace the competition. If you want cutting-edge window treatment style, Hunter Douglas delivers.
- Ultimate Quality & Durability
Every aspect of Hunter Douglas window treatments is built to last, from the hardware to the materials to the motorization. Their warranties guarantee a lifetime of performance unmatched by competitor brands.
For any customer seeking the absolute best in window treatments, Hunter Douglas remains the pinnacle. No alternatives can quite match their quality, innovation, and prestige.
FAQ on Hunter Douglas Alternatives
Graber makes some of the best Hunter Douglas blind alternatives. Their composite wood blinds and real wood blinds come very close to Hunter Douglas quality at 20-40% lower prices. They offer all the same custom options as Hunter Douglas too.
Some great alternatives to Hunter Douglas include Graber, Levolor, Allen + Roth, and Bali. These brands offer similar styles and features at lower price points. While not identical, their top-tier offerings provide excellent quality versus Hunter Douglas.
Graber makes an excellent lower-priced alternative to Hunter Douglas. While not quite the same pinnacle quality, Graber’s high-end custom blinds, shades, and shutters rival Hunter Douglas in style, options, and durability. Their materials and construction quality come very close.
Hunter Douglas commands premium pricing due to their brand reputation, trendsetting innovation, meticulous craftsmanship, and use of top-tier materials. Their costs are also higher due to extensive research, new product development, and advanced manufacturing processes. However, lower cost alternatives can provide similar quality for less.
Final Thoughts
While Hunter Douglas makes some of the world’s finest custom window treatments, their products come at premium prices. For homeowners seeking luxury window treatments on a budget, brands like Graber, Levolor, and Allen + Roth make excellent lower-cost alternatives.
These options allow you to get the same styles, features, and quality of Hunter Douglas for 20-50% less overall. While not an identical product, the high-end selections from these brands make great cheaper alternatives for beautiful custom window treatments.
Carefully compare materials, warranties, options, and pricing to find the best fit for your budget and needs.