If you’ve been considering whether to get ready-made or custom roller blinds, then you are definitely going to want to read this first.
Gone are the days when roller blinds were just there to cover your windows and block out the sun. With so many advances in fabric and technology, we are now in the age of ‘window furnishings’, and not merely ‘window coverings’.
What is the difference you ask?
Window furnishings now come in patterns and textures never seen before, and can be perfectly matched to your existing décor to enhance the overall look and feel of your living spaces. They have the ability to inject personality within any room.
Choose from soft, elegantly textured fabrics for your living room, fruit pastels for the kitchen and glow-in-the-dark stars in the kids’ rooms. The range is as wide as your imagination.
But that is not all they are good for. There is so much more than meets the eye because window furnishings today are not just about serving good looks.
Most people are unaware that glass windows by themselves are poor insulators. Without a proper window furnishing, you could be paying 30% more on your energy bills and your home will still be freezing in Winter and boiling hot in Summer.
Which means it is important that your custom design roller blinds serve a bigger purpose.
Our extensive and exclusive range of fabrics in luxurious textures and patterns, are all designed to withstand Australia’s harsh weather conditions. No matter your choice, you will get the resilience and beauty of roller blinds in one go.
Perhaps two of the most important factors in terms of functionality are transparency and insulation. Get to know the difference between blockout and sunscreen fabrics or moisture-resistant prints for the bathroom, and how to choose the best fabric for your needs.
Your blinds should also ideally help keep your space well-insulated for comfort. It is always best to start by identifying the purpose you wish the blind to serve first.
Step 1: Choosing The Right Transparency With Custom Made Roller Blinds
Why is choosing the right transparency important?
Ever been woken up at the crack of dawn by that painful streak of light piercing through the gap between the blind and window? No matter how you adjust the blind, it just will not go away…so you resort to putting your head under the blanket and trying to fall back asleep, but that makes you feel like you are going to suffocate.
What gives?
Choosing a ready-made bind that does not fit perfectly or getting the wrong fabric transparency, is what tends to lead to this type of situation. So we have compiled a list of the main types of roller blind fabrics, along with each of their features. This should make it easy for you to easily compare and make the right decision.
Blockout Roller Blinds
- Provide ultimate light control
- Blockout light for a perfect sleep
- Great for ensuring full privacy
- Recommended for bedrooms or sun facing windows
- Motorised option for added convenience
- Enhanced insulation
Sunscreen
- Softly disperses sunlight
- Enjoy one-way views during the day while maintaining privacy from the outside world
- Reduces heat entering the room
- Great for kitchens/ dining areas/ living spaces
- Motorised option for added convenience
Light Filter
- In between full blockout and screen fabric transparency
- Filters sunlight for a pleasant, living atmosphere
- Provides solid UV protection
- Gives you privacy in the daytime – you can see out, but nobody can see in
- Popular choice for windows in common areas
- Motorised option for added convenience
Double Roller Blinds
- Best of both worlds in one simple mechanism
- Two different blind systems running on the same bracket; switch between blockout for better insulation or or screen for privacy and one way views to the outside
- Motorised option for added convenience
If you are after more choice and flexibility with your custom day / night roller blinds, we highly recommend double-roller blinds. As noted above, they combine blockout and sunscreen fabrics to help you alter between your needs throughout the day. This makes them incredibly versatile for any space.
Step 2: Insulation
Did you know that 60% of the cold/ heat you’re feeling in your home right now is from air seeping through your windows?
That would not be the case if you had the right blinds that offered proper coverage so none of that unwanted air sneaks in. As an added bonus, you get to block-out all of that unnecessary light peeking through when you are trying to get some well-earned rest.
Such blinds can help keep the cold air out in Winter and the hot air at bay during Summer too, so your home stays nice and cosy year-round. You want to be sure that they cover any and all gaps and cracks, so your room temperature is regulated and maintained.
But insulation does not only pertain to temperature. For instance, if you live in a high-traffic area that sees vehicles travelling all the live-long day, chances are it is very noisy. So you stuff your ears with cotton, put a pillow over your head and resist the urge to get out there and give everyone a piece of your mind. Blinds can help minimise such exterior noise too, and your blood pressure can return to normal as a result:)
Feeling overwhelmed by products and choices? We understand. Our expert consultants are on hand to help you find a style that matches your individual taste and enhances your existing décor.
Step 3: How to Install Roller Blinds
For custom size roller blinds, it is very important to get your measurements right. And we understand that not everyone is well-versed with DIY. That is why we have put together simple measuring guides that anyone can easily follow!
When you are dealing with multiple blinds including different-sized doors and windows in particular, things get a little trickier. While we have specific measuring guides for the various blinds we offer, here we will cover how to measure for roller blinds.
Remember, measuring correctly is half the battle won, as you will find a much smoother installation process as a result. The whole point of getting custom roller blinds is to get that perfect fit, which limits light gaps while looking great too.
Here are two step-by-step videos of how to measure for custom cut roller blinds accurately.
OUTSIDE WINDOW FRAME
INSIDE WINDOW FRAME
Note: Always measure in millimetres only.
WIDTH
a) Measure the exact width you would like the blind to cover.
b) Measure to the outside of the architrave or at least 50mm past the window opening.
HEIGHT
a) Measure the exact height you would like the blind to cover.
b) Measure outside of the architrave or at least 50mm past the window opening.
NOTE: The blind will be supplied at the sizes provided (we won’t make any deductions).
Note: Always measure in millimetres only.
DEPTH
Measure the depth of the window frame to ensure you have enough space for the blind to operate.
WIDTH
a) Measure the width inside the window frame in 3 places from left to right.
b) Make a note of the smallest measurement.
HEIGHT
a) Measure the height inside the window frame in 3 places from top to bottom.
b) Make a note of the smallest measurement.
NOTE: We’ll make slight deductions to ensure the blind fits your window.
You will find that if you follow this accordingly, the end result will give you custom fit roller blinds for your intended space.
Step 4: Automation
In a world dominated by smart homes, smartphones and smart cars, of course there is a place for smart blinds.
So if you have had enough of multiple trips to and from your blinds raising and lowering them, automating your blinds provides the ultimate convenience.
Your roller blinds can either be chain-operated or motorised. Both are 100% child-safe as our blinds are always designed with child-safety in mind.
We offer an innovative range of motorised blind options that can be connected to your smart home and controlled by your voice or mobile phone. You can stay right where you are and enjoy uninterrupted Netflix marathons by banishing glare at the touch of a button.
Step 5: Patterns For Every Room
Now the fun begins. You have a plethora of options when it comes to selecting the right patterns, prints and textures for your custom fabric roller blinds. Yes, even for the little ones!
From rugged/ single-colour blockouts to bright and bubbly shades, there is a seemingly endless range on offer. Perhaps you want to consider something with floral or abstract prints, while our fruit prints for the kitchen are only too appetising.
There are also more subdued tones you can opt for, along with fun choices like dinosaur prints for the kiddies room to make bedtime somewhat easier!
You have all the freedom to decorate your home in a way that brings your vision to life with DIY custom roller blinds.
‘But how much should custom blinds cost?’ We hear you ask.
The best custom fit roller blinds no longer need to cost an arm and a leg. With just a little bit of DIY on your part, you can now get the very best in locally made window blinds at a fraction of the cost. The way we see it, opting for custom design roller blinds should not be something that is out of reach.
