Best Blinds for Toronto Pre-War Homes: A Heritage Guide

Toronto's old houses are beautiful but tricky

If you live in a pre-war home in Toronto, you already know the windows are different. The frames have settled. The casings are thicker than anything in a new build. The sashes might be original, with all the imperfections of 100-year-old wood. And probably a few panes have been replaced over the decades, none of them quite matching the rest.

That's the charm. It's also the headache when you go shopping for blinds.

We've installed window treatments across Toronto since 1992, and the pre-war housing stock in the Annex, Forest Hill, Riverdale, Cabbagetown, and the Beaches is some of the most complex work we do. This guide covers what we've learned from working in those homes, including which products actually fit, which ones don't, and how to think about heritage character when you're picking blinds.

What makes pre-war Toronto windows different

Most homes built between roughly 1900 and 1945 in Toronto have a few traits in common.

Sash windows are the default. Either single-hung or double-hung, where one or both panels slide vertically. The frames around them are deep, often 4 to 6 inches, with prominent moulding. The glass is divided into smaller panes by wooden muntins.

Frames aren't square anymore. A century of settling, freeze-thaw cycles, and structural shifts means the difference between width-at-the-top and width-at-the-bottom can be a quarter-inch or more in the same window.

Bay windows are common. Particularly in homes from the 1920s and 1930s. They are often three-section bays with a wider centre pane and angled side panes.

Transom and stained glass details. Many of these homes have decorative transom windows above doors or at staircase landings. The original glass might be leaded or stained, which usually shouldn't be covered.

Original woodwork everywhere. Trim, casing, mouldings, in stain or paint. Window treatments need to look right against this woodwork, not fight with it.

If you're working with windows like these, off-the-shelf blinds from a big-box store aren't really an option. Even budget custom blinds often don't accommodate the depth and quirks of these frames properly.

Best blind options for pre-war Toronto windows

Real wood blinds for the front-facing rooms

For the rooms that read as "the historic part of the house" (formal living rooms, dining rooms, entry hall) real wood blinds usually look the most appropriate. The grain matches the original window casings. The horizontal slats line up with the visual rhythm of muntin-divided glass.

We typically recommend basswood blinds in 2-inch or 2.5-inch slats for pre-war homes. The wider slat suits the proportions of older windows better than narrower modern slats. Stain finishes tend to look more period-appropriate than painted ones, but a soft cream paint can work if your trim is painted.

The downside of wood blinds is that they're heavier than fabric, which matters in older windows where the casing might not love taking weight. Always measure depth carefully and use the correct mounting hardware.

Cellular blinds for energy efficiency

Pre-war Toronto homes leak heat. The original windows are typically single-pane, and even the better restorations rarely match modern thermal performance. Replacing the windows on a heritage home is expensive and often restricted by neighbourhood preservation rules.

Cellular blinds, also called honeycomb blinds, are the practical solution. The honeycomb structure traps air between the fabric layers, providing insulation that can reduce heat loss through a window by 30 to 50 percent depending on the cell size. We measure real temperature differences in rooms before and after installation.

For pre-war homes, double-cell cellular blinds are usually the right call. They cost a bit more than single-cell but the additional insulation is worth it on aging windows. White or off-white fabrics keep the heritage aesthetic clean.

Roller blinds for back rooms and kitchens

Not every room in a pre-war home needs to be heritage-themed. Many of these houses have been renovated extensively, and the kitchen, family room additions, or bedrooms might have a more contemporary feel.

Roller blinds work well in those spaces because they have a clean, minimal profile that doesn't fight with whatever the room's design language is. For kitchen windows, vinyl roller blinds in a moisture-resistant fabric handle splatter well. For bedrooms in renovated parts of the house, blackout roller blinds are the standard.

Zebra blinds for transitional rooms

Some pre-war homes have rooms that bridge the old and new aesthetic, often family rooms in additions or basement apartments with newer windows. Zebra blinds work in those rooms because they're flexible. The alternating sheer and solid bands look modern, but you can pick a fabric texture and colour that doesn't fight with the rest of the house.

We don't usually recommend zebra blinds for the formal pre-war rooms (the wood blinds or cellular shades fit better there), but for transitional spaces they're a sensible pick.

Window types and what works for each

Standard double-hung sash windows

The most common pre-war window. We typically install either wood blinds for heritage character or cellular shades for thermal performance. Inside mount works if the casing depth is at least 3 inches. For shallower frames, outside mount with a wide covering looks intentional rather than awkward.

Bay windows

Three-section bays in pre-war homes are tricky because the angled side panes mean the blinds need to mount on independent rails for each section. We custom-cut three separate blinds for these. Wood blinds, cellular shades, and roller blinds all work; the choice depends on the room's overall design.

Transom windows and stained glass

If the transom is decorative or has stained or leaded glass, leave it uncovered. The light coming through these features is part of what makes the home feel old-Toronto. We often install blinds only on the lower window, leaving the transom exposed.

Casement windows

Less common in pre-war homes than sash windows, but some 1930s and 1940s homes have them. Casements open inward, which means inside-mount blinds need to clear the swing path. Outside mount is usually the safer pick. Vertical blinds don't suit pre-war casement aesthetics; stick with horizontal wood, cellular, or roller.

Toronto neighbourhood notes

The Annex and Yorkville

Lots of Edwardian and early-Victorian homes here, three-storey townhouses with bay windows on the front. The depth of the frames is generally good for inside mount. Heritage character matters; we lean toward wood blinds or layered cellular-with-drapery installations.

Forest Hill and Lawrence Park

Many homes here are slightly larger 1920s-1940s detached builds. Window restoration is more common here than in some other neighbourhoods, which means tighter frames with better thermal performance. The choice is usually about aesthetics rather than energy. Drapery layered over rollers is common, and wood blinds work well for the studies and libraries that these homes often have.

Riverdale and the Beaches

Mid-sized pre-war detached homes and semi-detached. Window frames vary more here than in the wealthier neighbourhoods because renovation has been less consistent. Cellular blinds are popular for the energy benefit. Roller blinds in linen-textured fabrics work in the renovated kitchens and family rooms.

Cabbagetown

The oldest housing stock in the city, much of it Victorian. These homes have the most idiosyncratic windows we work with: original sashes, hand-blown glass in some cases, frames that have settled significantly. Custom is essentially mandatory. We often recommend cellular shades for the thermal benefit alongside drapery for the heritage look.

What to expect during measurement

Pre-war windows usually take longer to measure than modern ones because we're documenting more variables: width at three points, height at three points, depth, frame condition, mounting surface options, and any obstructions.

Plan for a 45 to 60 minute consultation per home, longer if you have many rooms. Bring questions about heritage character, energy efficiency, and how the blinds will look against your existing trim. We'll bring fabric samples that suit pre-war homes specifically, plus the measuring tools and laptop with our pricing system for an on-the-spot quote.

A note on heritage permits

If your home is part of a heritage conservation district (parts of Cabbagetown, the Annex, and other pockets), exterior-visible window coverings can sometimes require approval. Most blinds in white, cream, or natural fabrics don't trigger this, but check with your local heritage office if you're unsure. We've worked through the approval process before and can help you pick options that won't cause issues.

Ready to book a consultation?

Free in-home measurements take 30 to 60 minutes. We work in Toronto and across the GTA, with no travel charge regardless of which neighbourhood you're in. The number is at the top of the page, or you can fill in the quote form.

If you live in another part of the GTA, the same approach applies to the older homes in your area. Heritage windows in Hamilton, Burlington, and parts of Mississauga all have similar considerations to pre-war Toronto.