The city’s seemingly unstoppable growth of new apartments and rental properties, not to mention increasing focus on saving a dollar amid continuing uncertainty in the economic climate, are just some reasons why, if you’re looking for a strong market for low cost or cheap blinds Melbourne is a great place to start.
Sales of blinds, including venetian blinds, roller blinds, honeycell blinds and panel blinds continue to grow year on year in the Victorian capital, with cheap blinds increasingly sought after as property owners or landlords make the most of offerings from companies keen to offer real value for money; in other words, low cost blinds with a high level of quality and service.
Low overheads, particularly for online retailers, along with high quality offshore manufacture make the possibilities for offering cheap blinds with durable, reliable construction almost endless. Most e-tailers will offer a range of ready-made blinds including Roman Blinds, Roller Blinds, Aluminium Venetian Blinds, Sunscreen Roller blinds and even Dual Roller Blinds. Price sensitive and offering impressive colour ranges and fast delivery, these ready made blinds are typically offered with a cut-down service to ensure they fit the end-consumer’s size requirements.
Commentators from the retail sector note that Melbourne shoppers are particularly savvy when it comes to researching the cheap blinds available before they make their purchase.
“We’re finding that when it comes to cheap blinds Melbourne consumers are pretty cluey in terms of understanding the features and benefits of most window coverings,” said one. “There’s such a wealth of information available on the web, from home improvement sites to consumer reviews and real-time feedback from social media, that shoppers really know how to make the most of their budget. For example, they know that it might be wise to splurge on big ticket items such as plantation shutters and drapes in key areas of their homes, and to really economise by using cheap blinds in less frequented areas of the home.”
“Another thing we’ve noted is that shoppers are also pretty switched on when it comes to saving expenditure on energy. They’ll be aware that in colder rooms or rooms with south facing windows, it makes sense to invest in insulating products such as honeycell blinds, while in hotter rooms or those with north facing windows, reducing glare through the use of blockout fabric is a priority.”
“Given the wealth of colours and materials now available, they can usually find a range of different products that co-ordinate well together.”
With the dramatic fluctuations in Victoria’s climate, it’s no surprise that cheap blinds in Melbourne are offered in a huge range of fabric options; blockout completely eliminates light access and allows total privacy; translucent gives privacy but still allows filtered light. Meanwhile sunscreen fabrics maintain homeowners’ view and allow for partial filtration of light.
With most cheap blinds offered with optional remote controlled motorisation, it’s also easy to operate and control the blinds in your Melbourne home at the simple touch of a button!
Whatever style of blind you decide to purchase, whether holland blinds, venetian blinds, roller blinds, honeycomb blinds or panel blinds, you’ll need to ensure that the blind is properly installed to make the most of its appearance and performance.
If you’re handy, you may well have the confidence to take a DIY approach. If you’re not, it’s worth appointing an installer to do the job for you. Most good retailers should be able to recommend a blind installer and there are a few things you should look for in an installer. As a start, images of previously completed installations and testimonials from satisfied clients are great way to judge an installer’s proficiency.
Good installers often have a background in a trade such as cabinet making and are used to dealing with precise measurements. And a really good one will be able to think creatively to find solutions to common challenges such as windows with no reveals or locks that cause obstructions, skirtings in reveals or out-of-square reveals (common in older buildings).
Whoever is installing your blinds, there are a few tips to bear in mind. Firstly, the most important element of any good installation is accurate measuring. A metal measure should be used and measurements should never be ‘rounded up’ or ‘rounded down’. Measurements should be as accurate as possible, so an installer who talks in terms of millimetres rather than centimetres is clearly the real deal. Measurements should be presented in terms of width x drop. Every window needs to be measured individually, as any variation, however small, will affect the final outcome. It’s also worth noting that measurements on house plans are rarely accurate, so ignore those and re-measure!
How an install is measured and approached will also depend on the type of blind. For example with venetian blinds it’s essential to measure the window cavity before mounting brackets for the blind on either side of the cavity, opening the catches and inserting the blind.
Meanwhile roller blinds can either be face mounted – fitted outside the window frame, or recess mounted – fitted inside the window frame. For face mounting, measure the width from the outer edge of the frame to the opposite edge, then the drop from the top of the frame to where the blind should end. If your windows don’t have frames, measure the opening and add at least 100mm to ensure that the fabric overlaps with the opening on either side of the window. At least 100mm should also be added to the drop to ensure that the blind covers the opening vertically as well as horizontally.
For recess mounted roller blinds, the width from the inside of the window frame from the left side to the right side should be measured, as well as the drop from the top to the bottom of the inside recess. It’s also crucial to make sure there’s enough depth to mount the blind snugly inside the frame so that at no point is it visible outside the profile of the window.
Amid all the discussion around blind types and blind mechanisms from roller blinds to dual roller blinds to motorised or chain operated, it’s important not to forget one of the most essential elements of choosing the right blind; the fabric!
Fabric plays a crucial role in creating blinds that will not only function well but will look right in your interior.
Most retailers and suppliers will offer a range of innovative fabrics, many of them Australian made. There’s a wide variety to choose from, each offering a different aesthetic and function, so it pays to research your options extensively before making your selection.
Block out fabrics are one of the most popular blind fabrics in the Australian market, and are great for blinds in rooms with a lot of exposure to sunlight, while also offering good insulation. They offer complete privacy, day and night. Another good option in rooms where solar glare protection is needed but an outside view is also preferred, sunscreen fabrics allow for the control of heat and light as well as an outside view.
Translucents and sheers are also in high demand for blinds, for both aesthetic and functional reasons. Translucent fabrics provide daytime privacy whilst screening out harsh light and diffusing the light entering the room. Sheer fabrics are lightweight open weave fabrics that create softly filtered light.
When it comes to the appearance and fashion element of your blind, colouris key. Naturals and neutrals remain ongoing favourites, but if you’re after something with more impact, colours and patterns are also very workable for most blinds. And of course, if you opt for a plain colour, remember that plain doesn’t have to mean boring; many plains are available in a variety of textures, with stripes and patterns woven into the fabric.
Patterns are a great way to make a statement with your interior décor and are certainly making a comeback. Botanicals and florals remain classic favourites, while geometrics are currently on trend. Depending on the scale of your blinds and the size of your room, you may want to opt for larger scale patterns or smaller, more detailed ones.
Stripes are another favourite that won’t go out of fashion easily and are also helpful in creating clever illusions. For example,vertical stripes are a great way to give the impression of height to a room, while similarly horizontal stripes will make the windows and the entire interior appear wider.
Aside from their functional and visual benefits, fabrics are should usually be expected to adhere to certain standards. Most good quality blind fabrics are designed to withstand Australia’s harsh climate and can usually be expected to feature; a five year warranty, fire retardant and non-flammable properties; dust resistance, stain resistance, UV and fade resistance, bacteria and mould resistance.
The great thing about the fabric ranges on offer these days is that they’re usually specifically designed to offer matching blind and curtain fabrics, enabling you to coordinate your fabrics throughout your home décor scheme.
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.
