Shoppers in the market for discount blinds are typically looking for products that offer maximum value for money, extending beyond decorative benefits to offer enhanced functionality, particularly in terms of saving energy through light and heat control. In fact, with energy bills rising and consumers increasingly aware of their environmental impact, there’s never been a better time to consider how your discount blinds can save energy.
Some specialised window coverings offer specific benefits designed to insulate your home; however when it comes to energy savings, any blind is better than none. Roman blinds, roller blinds or panel blindswill allow the homeowner to control the amount of light entering the home, helping reduce the need for air conditioning in summer. On the other hand, such products will have little effect in mitigating heat loss during winter, and therefore won’t have much impact on heating bills unless they are made from high grade blockout fabric. Vertical blindsand venetian blinds do allow for maximum light control and are therefore a worthwhile investment, but again, may not be so effective in controlling heat loss.
When purchasing discount blinds it’s worth remembering that some blinds will be more effective in terms of energy savings than others. As mentioned in our previous post, honeycell blinds, also known as cellular blinds, are designed with air pockets to control heat and optimise insulation. Meanwhile dual roller blinds have a highly effective blockout function.
The window coverings industry is currently working on an energy rating system to guide consumers looking for energy saving blinds. In the meantime, shoppers for discount blindswill need to be aware of the issues and rely on trustworthy retailers for the right advice. Any reputable retailer in this space will have staff on hand with many years of industry experience and the expertise to provide solid advice about energy savings.
For consumers with a more technical turn of mind, a measure such as R-value, a standard gauge in the building and construction sector that’s also widely used in the window furnishings industry, may be useful in assessing the energy saving profile of certain types of discount blinds. R-value measures thermal resistance and relates to how much a material inhibits temperature transfer for the benefit of insulation. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. Some discount blinds that claim to be energy efficient will have been tested for their R-value, so it may be worth enquiring about this before making your purchase.
For many discount blind customers, while energy savings are of high importance, aesthetics still remain at the forefront of their minds. The good news is that products such as honeycell blinds and dual roller blinds are available in an impressive range of colours and textures that will suit most décor styles. Another solution to the energy saving challenge is to combine your blinds with good old fashioned heavy drapes and pelmets. As well as providing visual warmth to a room, these classic window treatments certainly stand the test of time in terms of keeping your home insulated.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, there’s a strong possibility that you’re on the lookout for window blinds. It’s also highly likely that you’ll know by now that there are a huge range of cheap window blinds available on the market, from venetian blinds to roller blinds, honeycell blinds, panel blinds, holland blinds, roman blinds and more. There are also a number of more unusual products, as well as interesting ways to style them that you may not yet have considered. Here are three of our top picks.
Custom printed blinds
If you want to personalise a child’s bedroom with one of their favourite drawings, or open up a small bathroom with a beautiful seascape photograph, adding some excitement to your cheap window blind by custom printing it is a great way to add verve, style and undeniable uniqueness to any space. There are a number of specialised businesses operating in the Australian market that can turn the blank canvas of your plain roller blindinto a distinctive artwork for a relatively low cost.
Coloured or sheer vertical blinds
Reinvention has the power to change something workaday into something wonderful and this is definitely the case with vertical blinds. If your mission is to find cheap window blinds then look no further than this elegant, simple and cost-effective product, which has had a makeover in recent times. Previously reserved for office space and functional areas of the home, vertical blinds are now available in a wide array of fashionable colours to suit any décor scheme. They are also available in directional print patterns as well as sheer versions, a great way to channel the trend for sheers that is very much in vogue at the moment.
Luxe layering
Layering two kinds of window treatment such as venetian blinds, roller blinds, or roman blinds, with sheer or patterned curtains provides visual interest as well as the functional benefits of light control and privacy. Sheer curtains throughout a room make the rest of your décor scheme a focus and if you are privileged enough to have great view they are a great asset.
The ability to contrast and complement patterns and textures is another benefit of layering. Rich timber venetian blinds can look great with the lightness of sheers or printeddrapes in a co-ordinating palette. Meanwhile the pairing of patterned, heavier drapes over say a sheer roller blind has a comparable effect in reverse.
White on white is another trend that’s emerging in layering, while sheer white on sheer white ups the impact even more to bring lightness and a sense of freshness to any interior. Relatively cheap window blinds definitely achieve the luxe look through this treatment; sheer white roman blinds with gossamer light sheer drapes layered over them will welcome buckets of natural light, not to mention a unique sense of style,into your home. While you many need to invest a little more in keeping this look clean, we think you’ll agree it’s worth it.
If you’ve recently purchased discount blinds online or you’re researching your options with a view to purchasing, you’ll no doubt already know that blinds come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, from venetian blinds to roller blinds, panel blinds, holland blinds and roman blinds.
While all these products offer different qualities, it’s worth bearing in mind that insulation and energy efficiency should be a key factor, particularly with winter fast approaching. Australians living in the cooler states may well be considering how to insulate their homes for greater heat retention, a sensible approach given the rising costs of energy bills.
A number of options are available – including complementing your blinds with extra insulation provided by curtains, perhaps with the added benefit of a pelmet. Such window treatments not only enhance the visual appeal and warmth of your home, they also contribute significantly to keeping temperatures cosy.
Another product well worth looking at if you’re purchasing discount blinds online, is honeycell blinds, also known as honeycomb shades.
Often referred to as ‘cellular’ shades, ‘honeycomb’ shades or honeycell shadesare constructed with cell pockets that resemble a honeycomb. This construction captures air in individual cells or pockets, resulting in highly efficient heat transfer reduction.
Increasingly popular in the Australian market, honeycomb shades are available in a wide range of colours. There are also numerous cell sizes available. It’s also worth knowing that there are a number of styles of honeycomb shade available, each offering different degrees of energy efficiency performance.
While some leading brands have developed their own highly specialised versions, the two key types of honeycell or honeycomb blindsare single cell and double cell.
Single cell honeycell blinds come in a variety of sizes, including 10mm and 20mm cell sizes. They feature a single air pocket with each honeycomb component stacked on top of the other, creating a blind made up of a series of single cells in a row.
Double cell shades are typically constructed using two 8-10mm that form a figure eight comprising two air pockets. Because they contain more pockets, they are generally considered better insulators.
Honeycell blinds are fairly technical products and some options are better designed and constructed than others. As with all such instances, you generally get what you pay for! So how do you know if your honeycomb blind is fit for purpose? Of course it’s worth asking the advice of an expert in the field, but it may also help to arm yourself with some technical knowledge too.
It is commonly accepted that the best way to measure the insulation capacity of these productsis to use something called R-Value. This is the measurement used to quantify the insulation properties of materials, as tested in a laboratory, and it calculates thermal resistance, or how much a given material prevents the transfer of heat. The honeycomb blind’s thermal resistance depends on the number of air pockets used. Because air is an inefficient conductor of heat, the more air pockets the product contains, the better it will perform.
Once you’ve done your homework, you’ll be pleased at the investment you’ve made. Honeycomb or cellular shades’ growing popularity is confirmation of their great benefits. And most suppliers will be able to provide fabric in a colours and texture that complements your other window furnishings, be they curtains, venetian blinds, roller blinds, panel blinds, holland blinds or roman blinds.
If you’re in the market to buy blinds online you may well be looking for a number of products to fit out the various zones in your house. These might include venetian blinds, roller blinds, honeycomb blinds, panel blinds or a range of other options.
Venetian blinds are usually made from timber, PVC or aluminium and feature tilted slats that filter the light. They are great for wet areas such as bathrooms or more functional zones such as kitchens and offices. A real classic, roman blinds feature generous textile horizontal pleats that fold onto each other when the blind is raised. Pleated blinds have folded translucent fabric with a concertina or honeycomb construction. Traditionally used in offices or more functional settings, panel blinds have undergone something of a renaissance in recent years with the introduction of fabrics that include prints and higher quality textiles.
For some types of blind, motorisation is an increasingly popular choice as it can prolong the life of your blinds by removing the need to handle them excessively. It is also an elegant, easy and convenient way of controlling the amount of light and heat entering your home. Another advantage is that motorised blinds operate without the need for chains, ensuring the safety of children as the absence of a chain removes any choking hazard.
If you’re planning to buy blinds online it’s worth scoping out the motorisation options that might suit your financial and practical requirements.
Most online blind suppliers will offer two options to motorise your blinds; a wired motor or a wire free motor. The former involves a more powerful motor suitable for larger blinds or areas in which two or more blinds are linked together. With a built in radio receiver, it operates via a remote control. Another key point about to bear in mind about a wired motor is that it will require a licenced electrician to install.
Meanwhile a wire free motor doesn’t require installation by an electrician and is also good for operating blinds up to two by two metres in dimension. This kind of motor also has a built in radio receiver and operates via remote control.
Motorised roller blinds generally come with the motor already installed inside the roller blind tube. You can also set the remote control limits for stopping your blind at pre-programmed positions. And of course, other types of blind can also be motorised. Blinds such as venetians blinds, roman blinds, or pleated/honeycomb or panel blinds work well with motorisation. The kind of blind you choose depends largely on the function you’d like it to perform within your home.
Whether you decide to choose motorised options or not, one of the best reasons to do so is their growing affordability. As market uptake of motorised products grows, the cost of purchasing and installing them continues to drop, meaning they are now more and more price accessible, even to those on a budget.
Windows are a key focal point for any home, and with blinds performing both a decorative and functional role, it’s no surprise that choosing a window treatment is often regarded as a priority for homeowners.
With the number of options available on the market, including roman blinds, venetian blinds, roller blinds, honeycomb blinds or panel blinds, selecting the right blind or any other kind of window treatment can be a daunting task, prompting questions not just about what kind of product you should purchase, but where you should buy it: should you try a blind store, a local home wares or DIY centre, or shop for cheap blinds online?
In terms of what product to choose, there are a few pointers worth considering:
Light and privacy – how much of each do you want? This may well depend on each room and its orientation. For example a bedroom may require block out fabric to minimise the amount of light that comes in, while a south facing street side living room may require sheer or mesh fabric that allows light in while also enhancing privacy. Consider the look you’re going for too; do you want a room that’s bright and airy and full of natural light or more snug and cosy. These factors will have a bearing on the styles and fabrics you choose.
Budget – are you fitting out just one room or the whole house? It may be worthwhile spending more on “high impact” windows such as those in a lounge or master bedroom and cutting back on others. Window treatments are priced by size, so the larger they are the bigger the price tag. Custom sizes and high design fabrics also add to the cost.
Safety – this is an important consideration that’s often overlooked.If you have small children in your household it’s key to invest in cordless blinds and shades as corded versions can be hazardous.
As for where to shop for your blinds, there are a few options:
Blind stores
Specialty blind stores will sell blinds and blinds alone, meaning their product knowledge and the service they offer should be second-to-none. The key advantage of buying here is that you should get great service. If you want something tailor made to fit a particular size window or an unusual shape, this is your best bet.
Homewares stores or DIY centres
If you’re working to a budget, many of Australia’s leading big box homewares or DIY stores should be able to cater to your needs. Bear in mind that you will probably be limited to ready made products and therefore restricted in terms of the fabrics and dimension available. You will also have to install the item yourself.
Online stores
Increasingly, businesses are taking advantage of the internet to keep their overheads low and supply low cost blinds online – many of these suppliers will sell both custom made and ready made blinds and despite the low price tag can often be impressive in terms of quality and service.
The ‘wow factor’ of the Opera House and Harbour are two of the more obvious reasons Sydneysiders are rightfully proud of their native city. And of course another no less important advantage of living in the New South Wales capital is its enviable climate, a key factor that influences the purchase of affordable blinds in the Sydney area.
Sydney’s typical weather is temperate, with warm, sometimes hot summers and cool winters and moderate rainfall throughout the year. With a generally warm, sunny climate, reducing glare and optimising insulation from the heat are two of the key functions that window coverings can perform for Sydney householders.
If you’re living in the Sydney area and looking for low cost blinds, these factors are well worth bearing in mind. Any supplier of affordable blinds and window coverings operating in that locality should have an idea of the best products to purchase for the purpose of protecting your property from local climatic conditions, while also ensuring the design brief for your home is met.
Most reputable operators offering affordable blinds in Sydney should stock a wide range of blinds, including venetian blinds, roller blinds, honeycomb blinds and panel blinds, and should be well placed to help you with advice on how to measure accurately to get the best from your installation, what product to use, and how to achieve the most from your window coverings. Many suppliers offering price accessible or affordable blinds in the Sydney area will also offer enticing discounts for larger orders.
With such a sunny climate it’s perhaps no surprise that Sydney residents typically opt for sun protection products. Many suppliers now offer a wide range of affordable exterior blinds that can prevent the heat and glare from entering your home during the warmer months.
Of course the warm climate also means Sydneysiders’ ongoing love affair with the alfresco lifestyle remains strong. There’s nothing more reminiscent of a Sydney summer than eating outdoors under the protection of state-of-the-art shading, enjoying a crisp glass of wine, summer salads and BBQs and, if you’re lucky enough to live in a waterside location, savouring the views of the ocean.
Growing sales of shading products, in particular those designed to provide an extra ‘outdoor room’ to any household are a testament to this trend. Outdoor awnings in sturdy fabrics such as canvas, mesh or sunscreen, which can be custom made to suit any requirements, are strong sellers in this area. Spring loaded automatic’ awnings are designed to roll away out of sight,and can stop in any position thanks to their self-locking arms.
Whether you’re after affordable venetian blinds that allow you to retain visibility while protecting yourself from the sun, or a large awning for your outdoor area, there are plenty of low cost blinds suppliers operating in the Sydney area. However before you get carried away by discounts and knock down prices, remember to read the small print to ensure you’re getting a the best deal available for your budget and requirements.
Who doesn’t love a bargain? And when a product such as a blind is on offer at a lower than expected cost, it’s not surprising that buyers are tempted, particularly as a blind, and a cheap blind at that, is often perceived as one of those necessity purchases, like car tyres, that is a must rather than a pleasure.
Blinds are one of those staple classics of the window furnishings world that never seem to have gone out of style, and now thanks to a number of clever innovations to the blind systems and fabrics available, they’re able to offer functional as well as aesthetic benefits. Home owners increasingly use blinds to enhance their privacy, enable views to the outside and of course enhance their energy efficiency.
The changeable nature of the Melbourne climate – ever heard the expression ‘Four seasons in one day’? – means blinds are in high demand among the city’s home owners, builders architects and interior designers. Whether they be venetian blinds, roller blinds, honeycomb blinds, panel blinds, holland blinds or roman blinds, they can be equally used to reduce heat and glare or to keep a home insulated from cold, and in Melbourne’s fickle weather patterns, this can be of enormous benefit.
You may be renovating your home or buying a new one and even if you’re prepared to splurge in order to get the look and finish you want, it may well be worth using cheap blinds along with more expensive elements in order to reduce your overall costs; a low cost roller blind underneath some great statement drapes in your living room for example.
For first time home owners, investors or even primary home owners who want to keep a tight rein on their budgets, the lure of cheap blinds is increasingly strong. Thanks to the internet, the overheads once carried by suppliers are now next to nothing, while inexpensive imports from Asia or other manufacturing markets means that the ability to buy cheap blinds is now greater than ever.
There are a number of operators in the Melbourne market, either online businesses or bricks and mortar retailers, offering cheap blinds. However before you succumb to temptation, remember to ensure that you take a close look at what’s being offered and if possible scrutinise the small print before you buy. Any Melbourne cheap blind supplier you deal with should be able to offer some kind of quality guarantee; at the very least a credible returns policy. If possible, go for a supplier that can provide testimonials from its customers to vouch for the quality of the products on offer and ease of installation across its product range, including clear and easy-to-follow instructions.
Remember, cheap or low cost does not always mean poor quality, but the key is to shop around. If you’re savvy about where you purchase your cheap blinds you could well save yourself some dollars that can be put towards high light items such as a great feature rug or an art work.
Once upon a time, in the ‘olden days’ before the world wide web, investing in new window coverings used to entail a trip to a show room or a visit from a sales representative followed by an in depth process of measuring and quoting to secure the final product.
Thanks to the internet, the ability to buy blinds online has changed all that forever.
It’s now possible to buy a comprehensive range of window covering products including blinds, holland blinds, roman blinds, venetian blinds, roller blinds, honeycomb blinds or panel blinds on the net. Simply by touching a button or clicking a mouse, any number of blinds or blind-related products can be purchased before being delivered directly to your home. And because online businesses have few overheads, their products are often very competitively priced; a win win!
But if the apparent ease of online purchasing seems too good to be true, be warned; sometimes it is! In a sphere where you can’t touch and see the product first-hand, it pays to proceed with caution to avoid falling into the trap of dealing with less reputable operators.
In order to get the best out of purchasing blinds online it’s worth bearing a few tips in mind.
First, do your homework. Aside from the benefits of purchasing online, the other advantage of the internet is its ability to provide endless avenues for inspiration and research. Sites such as Pinterest, along with many of the home décor and interior design sites, showcase a wide array of window coverings including blinds in inspirational settings that will get your design antennae in tune. While these sites may not provide information on the functional aspects of the different types of blinds, they will certainly offer equally important style inspiration.
Once you’ve refined your search to the looks you like, it’s time to narrow it further to gain an understanding of how your different blinds will function. Many online retailers will be able to provide advice on the best products to use for different applications or areas of your home, either through an online enquiry system, phone advice line or from the website itself.
If you’re thinking of buying blinds online, look for companies with a proven track record. A reputable company will employ or utilise the skills of experienced designers and blind makers. You also need to ensure that products you order online have a quality and size guarantee. And it’s worth gaining a clear understanding of the company’s returns policy, should you receive blinds that don’t match your expectations, be it in terms of correct measurement, colour palette and quality.
Most companies will be able to advise you on how to correctly measure your window coverings so that the blinds fit properly, and in general how to get the best out of your window coverings.
Many also deliver all over Australia, generally free of charge – although there may be surcharges to far-flung locations.
By following these simple guidelines, you will be well placed to secure the best blinds for your project, and all without leaving your home!
If you’re looking for a great way to enhance the overall aesthetic and functionality of your interior, there’s probably no better place than to start with your window coverings. And custom made blinds are an ideal option in terms of offering both value for money and quality.
Of course the phrase ‘custom blinds’ covers a multitude of products, including classic roller and roman blinds, cellular blinds, panel blinds and many more.
Roller blinds
Roller Blinds
Sleek, functional and affordable, roller blinds are the kind of custom blind that will never go out of style. They work well with most types of windows and with modern innovations such as double roller blinds, which combine the benefits of two roller blinds on one bracket, offer great flexibility. Double roller blinds mean that you can opt for greater control over light entering your interior and visibility to the exterior.
Roman blinds
Roman Blinds
Another classic, roman blinds offer a contemporary look that works well with today’s modern décor. They provide your windows with a clear view when fully open and total privacy when drawn at night. By choosing custom blinds in the roman category, you’re ensuring a good fit, which is particularly important with such a simple, minimal product. Roman blinds are available in a wide range of fabrics and colours, with some suppliers also tapping into renewed interest in prints to create custom blinds in this category with real vibrancy and flair.
Panel blinds
Often thought of as a rather functional product most commonly used in utilitarian areas such as offices, panel blinds have had a renaissance recently, with many suppliers releasing new versions in contemporary colour palettes and interesting finishes. Custom panel blinds work particularly well with sliding and bi–fold doors and offer a simple, natural look that is particularly effective in informal areas.
Venetian blinds
Venetians Blinds
If you’re after a product that won’t date, venetian blinds offer practicality and classic style. Custom blinds in the venetian blinds category are available in aluminium and timber as well as other materials such as lookalike timber. Venetians are particularly useful if you want control over your level of privacy, and the amount of light entering your interior as their slats can be adjusted easily at the touch of a wand.
Cellular blinds
Cellular blinds are an innovative and revolutionary product that is great for energy efficiency, thanks to the unique honeycomb shaped cells that trap air, helping to keep a more constant indoor temperature within your home.
Custom blinds in the cellular category can be made to suit any size or shape window, and come in a range of colours and fabrics from light filtering to room darkening.When raised, the blind stacks neatly and tightly against the header rail, almost out of view.
With the wide range of custom blinds available, it’s worth talking to an expert about the best kind of blinds for the different areas and functions of your home. Suppliers are ever more conscious of consumer demand for aesthetically pleasing solutions, so most of them will be able to assist you in creating a unified look throughout your home, using the many different types of custom blinds available.
