How to choose the right blinds for your room

Choosing the right blinds can make or break the aesthetic of your bedroom, bathroom, lounge room or other living space. Blinds also present several important functionalities—protecting your privacy from the outside world, blocking out light as you drift off to sleep and potentially saving on electricity costs.

Depending on what you’d like to get out of your blinds—be it functionality, aesthetics, or a mix of both—there are plenty of styles to choose from. There are roller blinds, Venetian blinds, vertical blinds, roman blinds, timber blinds, outdoor blinds—the list goes on. So how do you decide?

As explained on Blinds.com, it all comes down to what works for your home—including your personal design tastes, your privacy needs, the climate you live in and more. Read on to learn more about how to select the perfect blinds in Mornington Peninsula to complement your living space.

1. Decide which style you prefer

In terms of choosing between roller blinds, Venetian blinds or something else, it all comes down to personal taste and preference. All styles of blinds are highly functional and can look beautiful in any room, but each style boasts different benefits and applications. It’s up to you to decide which types of blinds will work best for your home.

Roller blinds are a contemporary choice with a slick, streamlined look, perfect for modern living spaces. Blackout roller blinds are also an excellent choice for bedrooms, working to completely block out light during the day. They’re a perfect option for night-shift workers or anyone who enjoys a good sleep-in!

Venetian blinds is a trendy but timeless option, allowing you full control over how much light enters the room. They’re affordable, come in a variety of slat sizes, and create a sense of privacy while still allowing light to beam through. Timber Venetian blinds are also available in automated, motorised styles, meaning they can be operated remotely from your smartphone or another mobile device. It’s the perfect blend of function, aesthetic and usability.

Vertical blinds are a popular choice for office spaces or rooms with a large amount of natural light. Designed to cover wide expanses of glass doors or windows, vertical blinds are a perfect choice for modern architectural styles. The vertical style means these blinds can expand across any width of window, where horizontal Venetian blinds or roller blinds may not fit.

Roman blinds are another timeless option, first used in Rome around 2,000 years ago. Roman blinds have an elegant look—perfect for a classic design theme—and provide excellent sound and thermal insulation. With Roman blinds, you can also hide any pulleys or chains, leading to a cleaner appearance.

2. Choose the right fabric

Depending on the function of the room you’re selecting blinds for, you’ll need certain materials. Wet areas, such as kitchens or bathrooms, are high in moisture, which can damage certain types of fabric over time. Choose moisture-resistant materials such as PVC or aluminium to ensure longevity for your blinds.

If your room deals with high heat exposure, white timber Venetian blinds or aluminium Venetians are an excellent choice. These specialised styles are embellished with a reflective backing that works to eliminate excess heat.

The colour matters, too—darker fabrics are apt to absorb more heat, but will also reduce glare. This is why lighter fabrics are typically recommended for wet areas or lounge spaces, while darker fabrics are common for the bedroom. Darker fabrics are also an excellent choice for colder environments, keeping the heat in where needed.

3. Consider the size and function of your windows

One of the first steps you should take on your journey to installing new blinds is to measure your windows or glass doors. For wide windows covering the entire expanse of a wall, which is common in apartments, vertical blinds are a great choice.

If you’re installing blinds on a sliding glass door, roller blinds are an excellent option due to their minimal style, functionality and ease of access. Roller blinds open and close very quickly, generally with a simple tug of a chain, making it easy to access your sliding doors when needed.

Roller blinds are also a popular choice for small, narrow windows (such as in bathrooms), where Venetian, Roman or vertical blinds may not be practical.

4. Consider the need for privacy and light control

According to Home Depot, different types of blinds offer different levels of light control and privacy. For rooms at the front of your house, where the window faces out onto the street, Venetian blinds are a popular choice—and for good reason. With the ability to make easy, minor adjustments to how much light enters the room, without compromising on privacy, Venetian blinds provide that perfect balance.

Roller blinds, on the other hand, are a great choice for windows facing away from the street. Able to be easily rolled up, creating a full view through the window, roller blinds allow ample natural light into living spaces and can provide beautiful views of garden areas, bringing the outside in. They’re also a great choice for bedrooms, where plenty of light can shine through during the day, while allowing full privacy at night.

5. Consider the need for maintenance

Thankfully, blinds require less cleaning than traditional drapes or curtains, and will require a lower maintenance budget overall. But over time, blinds still tend to gather dust, and a quick clean every couple of months is a necessity.

While some styles, such as Venetian blinds, can be cleaned quite easily with a duster or cloth, other heavy fabrics may require professional cleaning. If you’d prefer minimal maintenance, roller, Venetian, vertical or timber blinds are a great choice, generally requiring a quick once-over with a non-abrasive duster, followed up by a thorough vacuuming.