Before my current house, I always got those wood slat blinds and never thought much about it. When we moved into our current house, it was bank owned had had absolutely no window coverings. For the main living areas (living room, family room) we decided to get shades instead of blinds or shutters. They were freaking expensive (almost $900 per window, irrc), but they are automatic on a remote, and we can raise and lower them all with a button. Before with blinds at the old house, they mainly stayed closed and we didnt fuss with them much because it was a pain to go to each window. If we did want some natural light maybe we would open one or two of them. Now every morning all of the shades go up, and in the evening they go back down. Tons of natural light all day long with no hassle, and its great.