Although Roller Blinds have been present in our homes for 300 years, they have kept up with modern trends and continuously evolved with technological advancements – with their versatility and simple lines consistently made them a popular choice.
High demand and the sheer volume of blinds being manufactured today has seen Roller Blinds become more cost effective than many other window furnishings on the market. Their simple design allows them to be made in a huge array of fabrics and colours, and at a relatively low cost, meaning you don’t have to break the budget for quality stylish window furnishings. Even custom made Roller Blinds are becoming closely affordable to ready made because of outstanding competition in this sector.
Clever, sleek and easy to use, roller blinds can be made to any window size -small to large; and are especially suited to apartments or places with limited space as they won’t clutter the room. When rolled down they sit neatly against the window for a streamlined and clean appearance, while they can easily be rolled up so you can enjoy the full view outside. Alternatively, Roller Blinds are very effective in covering large windows in a variety of textile options and can be manufactured at a cost effective price. Add linking and motorisation and you also have the perfect blind solution for large spaces with multiple windows.
The minimal gaps that come with Roller Blinds reduces drafts and minimises light penetration, keeping your house well insulated and private. This also makes them suitable for bedrooms where you can sleep in peace with reduced disturbance from external noise and sunlight, or in family rooms that require a reduction in glare on your TV.
Take a look below for a buyers guide to interior and exterior roller blinds, fabrics and how to choose blinds colours.
Buyers Guide To Roller Blinds
Custom Roller Blinds and Ready Made Roller Blinds
The wide array of fabrics available for Custom Made Roller Blinds is a prime reason why they are so popular. There is also no need for a blind size chart as the blind is made to measure. They can be customised for any decor and window size, adapting to suit any style of home. Not to mention they’re low maintenance and easy to clean! Ready Made Roller blinds are a cheaper alternative, yet more restrictive as you are provided with a specific set of sizes or a blind size chart that you must adhere to. They are often also manufactured overseas whereis some companies like Blinds on the Net manufacture all of their Custom Made Roller Blinds in Australia. Ready Made Roller Blinds are more often than not limited to a maximum width of approximately 2400mm due to the tubes being thinner and components not coping with going any larger. Custom Made Roller Blinds are generally a better quality product and will last longer.
No matter whether your Roller Blinds are customised or ready made, they are low fuss with simple aesthetics and super affordable – much like the desired modern minimalist Australian home. Our Custom Made Roller Blinds are by far our best selling blind because of these qualities.
One of the best things about our Custom Made Roller Blinds (other than being affordable) is that they come in an extensive range of fabrics and materials. Roller blinds are versatile and customisable enough to suit any household and satisfy any aesthetic or practical need. Since Roller Blinds have a simple up and down motion, it’s important to select the right type of fabric for your lifestyle requirements.
The best type of fabric to choose depends on which room and what you’d like the main function of your blinds to be. For example, is it privacy from a busy street? Or filling the space with natural light in the kitchen? Choosing the right fabric is important not just for the right look in your home but to make the most out of your window furnishings from a practicality point of view and enhance your entire interior space.
Our fabrics here at Blinds on the Net are quality made, tried and tested for the Australian Climate – so you know you’re getting the best when it comes to good quality blinds at a reasonable price. We provide an outstanding collection of blind styles and fabrics for your home. Scroll down for a buyers guide to interior Roller Blind fabrics and how to choose blinds colour.
Double Roller Blinds | Dual Roller Blinds | Day/ Night Roller Blinds
The newly invented Dual Roller Blind has increasingly become a prominent choice for their abilities to combine the advantages of both block out and translucent and/or sunscreen fabrics. They can adjust to the home during both day and night for maximum control of light and privacy. Rather than choosing between an all or nothing view, you can have the best of both worlds to shade and transform your space during all hours. Their superior adaptability is becoming vastly favoured.
Order your FREE samples to test our beautiful materials and choose which combination of fabrics are right for you. To learn more about Dual Roller Blinds click here or free call one of our friendly customer service team on 1300 852 912.
LInked Roller Blinds
If you have windows whereby you are going to sit 2 or more blinds side by side, Linked Roller Blinds may be a great option for you. Depending on your needs, you can use various joining brackets to get the result you are looking for. Using a linked joining bracket will link the blinds together so that only one of the blinds needs a chain control with all blinds moving up and down together, whereas an independent joining bracket requires each blind to have a control and therefore are controlled and move independently.There are many combinations of linking, such as linking 2 blinds with adjoining bracket and a third with an independent bracket so that 2 blinds move together with one independently and so forth. Linking your Roller Blinds can also save you money if you are motorising your blinds. If you are happy to have your blinds go up and down at the same time then link them together and just use the one motor. Linking your blinds can also reduce the gap between the fabric and create more coverage with your window furnishings.
Motorised Roller Blinds
Not just for the smart homes of the future – Motorised Roller Blinds are quickly becoming a part of our day-to-day lives as they provide exceptional convenience, can prolong the life of your blinds and are the best child safety alternative. Increasing in popularity over recent years, they are excellent for those with limited mobility or low strength, so they aren’t just for the tech savvy but all ages and all homes. Motorised Roller Blinds can be operated remotely which has many benefits from keeping your home cool while you’re at work to making it look like you’re still home while on family vacation. They are also great for big windows with large blinds for precision control or simply to add a dash of luxury at the touch of a button.
Depending on the type of motor you install, Motorised Roller Blinds can even be controlled from your very own smart phone! At Blinds on the Net we also supply Somfy Connexoonand Automate Pulse home automation hubs that can work in conjunction with your motorised blinds and other parts of your home (such as lights) to offer a seamless home integration. These home hubs even allow for voice activation via google home of Alexa! How cool is it to wake up and say “OK Google, Open bedroom blinds! For more information head to our Motorised Roller Blinds page.
External Roller Blinds | Wire Guide Roller Blind | Roller Blind Guide Rail
External Roller Blinds with a Guide Rail, often referred to as Side Channel awnings. Roller Blind Guide Rail awnings are a perfect way to insulate your home while being unassuming and not standing out against the features on your home’s exterior. Unlike exterior auto awnings, external roller blinds sit neatly within your window or onto the wall outside the recess. When using guide rails that sit in the recess of your window, the blind is held securely in place and wont blow around in the wind. This guide rail mechanism ensures there are minimal gaps and prevents the majority of the sunlight streaming through when a block out fabric is used and the blinds are closed. Using a blockout or Screen fabric externally will stop up to 80% of the heat before it even gets inside! By far the best way to shade your home!
How To Choose Roller Blind Fabrics
Block Out Roller Blinds
Block Out blinds were first introduced during the 2nd World War. They were used to stop light streaming out to the streets at night to prevent their neighbourhoods becoming a target of enemy bombers.
Over the years, the focus of block out blinds has shifted towards preventing heat and light and heat from coming inside the home rather than blocking internal light, while also insulating the homes in the cooler months. Combine the Block Out fabric with Roller Blinds minimal gaps and it is a brilliant choice for anyone looking for superior privacy and black out abilities. Most Block Out fabrics have a white backing to increase their effectiveness at reflecting the heat and light.
Block out Roller Blind fabric can assist with a sound night’s sleep due to the thicker fabric dampening external noise and blocking out street lights. Therefore, it is a popular choice for bedrooms.
In addition to this, block out Roller Blind fabric can act as a great insulator, preventing heat from escaping and keeping the draft in Winter from seeping into the room. During the Summer, the white backing material can also help reflect the harsh Australian sun back through the window.
Block out Roller Blinds can come in an array of fabric colours, patterns and textures – they don’t’ have to be in a dark shade to block out the light!
Sunscreen Roller Blinds
Screen fabrics harness hardy material loosely woven together, making them strong and durable but allow the sunlight to delicately filter into the home.
Screen fabric is a loose weave fabric and allows a partial view. It is made from hardy materials often used for outdoor products, such as PVC fiberglass or polyester making it easy to clean, and a very practical choice.
This is a great shading fabric, often used in exterior Roller Blinds or backyard facing internal Roller Blinds so you can still see the kids playing outside whilst keeping the house shaded from harsh UV rays. It is also an option for front facades depending on the level of privacy you want. As you will always see from where it’s darkest to lightest, during evenings and night times there will be some visibility into the home while the lights are on inside. Choose lighter colours for the best heat reflection or choose darker colours to minimise glare and maximise your view.
Sunscreen Roller Blinds are perfect for rooms that are heavily exposed to the sun as the technologically advanced fabric provides 80 – 97% UV protection, assisting with preventing sun damage to your interiors and home furnishing. Constant sunlight streaming into your home can cause carpets, furniture, floorboards and soft furnishings to fade over time.
Although sunscreen fabrics do not initially appear to be insulating, they do have some fantastic insulating properties during the hot Summer months here in Australia. However, they don’t just work hard during the Summer, they can also help retain the heat inside during the chilly Winter months. For the best results, use a sunscreen fabric combined with a block out fabric in a Dual Roller Blind.
Translucent Roller Blinds | Light Filtering Roller Blinds
Translucent fabric has a “frosted” look, meaning it allows filtered light in but entirely blocks the view out. The fabric is tightly woven so you can maintain privacy in the home while still retaining a glow of natural light. It is less serviceable than hardy screen fabrics, but is an excellent way to maintain privacy during both daytime and night time – which no other fabric can offer (except in a Dual Roller Blind scenario). Lighter fabrics will let in more natural light, so may satisfy living spaces or rooms you want to keep as bright as possible. Whereas darker colours will absorb more light making them more suited to theatre rooms and/or bedrooms.
Translucent blinds may be a less popular choice as there is a more limited range of fabrics, but they are outstanding for maintaining around the clock privacy without sacrificing natural light. As they can be harder to clean, this type of fabric should be kept in well ventilated areas (where mould and mildew is less of an issue). Consider this if you are thinking of putting them in the bathroom. Translucent blinds will protect you from onlookers or a not-so-perfect view while diffusing the light in your own home beautifully. We generally see translucent blinds in living and dining rooms where privacy from neighbours is required but you don’t want to use a blockout fabric that will cut out the natural light.
How to Choose Blinds Colours
It can be quite a daunting task working through how to choose blinds colours as there are many factors to consider. So, here are a few quick tips on choosing the best colours for your Roller Blinds.
Need More Light – Choose White!
In an area that requires more light, like kitchens or living rooms, white can be a great choice as it lets more light enter the room. White or cream blinds also give your home a softer look. White blinds can also assist if you are looking to keep a more simple canvas and will be utilising splashes of colour in your home decor. White is also a great colour to choose if you are thinking about resale value. It is the least likely colour to turn off potential buyers. Just remember, there are many different shades of white and cream, so be sure to order your FREE fabric samples.
Align with your Decor
It is important to consider the style and theme of your decor. A homestyle country themed decor may give rise to blinds in natural hues whereas a more contemporary home may allow for the use of vibrant colours. Alternatively, you may want to create a more moody feel with darker coloured blinds.
The Bold and The Beautiful
No, we are not talking about the famous daytime sitcom. If you do opt for a more modern and contemporary decor, you may find making a bold decision to go with a few different colours or a patterned blind to accent your windows or one single bold colour to compliment your home furnishings or feature home decor pieces. For example, black and white alternating roller blinds or a red blind that matches your red feature pieces.
Three is a Crowd
The one thing you want to avoid with your Roller Blinds is having too many colours in one room. You may want to alternate colours of your blinds to create an interesting feature to your room but adding any more than 2 different coloured roller blinds may create a messy, cluttered feel and be polarising for future home buyers if you are considering selling your home in the future.