If you’re in the market for cheap blinds (and by cheap, it goes without saying that we don’t mean poor quality!) it’s likely you’re looking to get as much from your blinds that you can.

Cue the very clever and innovative concept of the dual roller blind.

Also sometimes referred to as double roller blinds or double view blinds, dual roller blinds have the great advantage of doing two jobs for the price of one! Typically dual rollers entail one blind in a sunscreen or translucent fabric, hung together with another in a blockout fabric.They are the ultimate double blinds for bringing privacy and extra insulation to your home. Given the solar glare that is a hazard unique to the Australian market, particularly in the summer months, dual rollers’ ability to protect occupants and interior furnishings and accessories is undoubtedly a bonus. In winter, they also provide a very useful extra insulating layer.

In short, the dual roller is a highly functional product that also provides a clean, stylish look. They are not always the first window covering that homeowners consider, but once persuaded of their multiple functionality and clear value for money, they frequently end up considering them a favourite. Those clients who have installed these nifty window coverings in their homes often report that the mix of a sheer translucent fabric and a blockout in the same colour has a pleasing visual effect; but many also like to combine two co-ordinating colours cherry-picked from their interior décor palette. Double view blinds can be installed neatly into window recesses or onto the face of windows and are typically chain operated.

And while you may be tempted to think ‘two’s company, but three’s a crowd’, don’t be surprised to learn that dual roller blinds are so neat and unobtrusive that they can also be successfully combined with curtains of all descriptions, from sheers to linens to heavier silken fabrics. Far from creating ‘overkill’, the curtains can have a wonderfully softening effect on the whole window treatment, making double rollers adaptable to ‘softer’ zones of the home such as bedrooms and lounges.

To sum up, dual roller blinds, allow you to switch between blockout blinds for total privacy and darkness, to transparent sunscreens for letting in daylight into your interior, while also enjoying outside views. They are a good way to optimise light levels in any room of the house, and with so many sunscreen and blockout fabrics to choose from, as well as a wide range of colours, double rollers are a great variety of cheap blinds that will optimise the functionality and style of your home.

To care for your dual roller blinds, vacuum them with a brush attachment or wash with a clean damp cloth and mild detergent. Most fabrics used for this style of blind are sanitised and mould resistant while many are fire retardant. This makes dual roller blinds an ideal choice for wet or ‘hot’ areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.

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 blinds will 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 blinds and 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 blinds will 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.

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.