Roller blinds
Roller Blinds or Holland Blinds are available in a great range of stylish fabrics in varying degrees of light control, block out, translucent and screen fabrics. These can be mixed and matched to suit your home décor and control the amount of light you wish to filter.
Block out roller blinds can be used effectively to control heat and glare whilst adding a stylish and sleek appearance to your home. Whilst Translucent or Light Filtering Fabrics as the name suggests, are fabrics used to achieve some degree of light filtration or translucency.
Sun Screen roller blinds are made from screen fabric which is created or woven differently than either block out or translucent blinds. They enable you to see through the blind during the day to the view outside, whilst cutting the glare and providing light filtering at the same time.
During the daytime you cannot see through them from outside to inside - therefore creating privacy.
Screen fabrics come in a huge range of colours and textures - and can be used very effectively when used in conjunction with a block out blind - creating dual blinds.
Advantages of roller blinds
Economical
Good for wet/damp areas (kitchen, bathroom, laundry as fabric can be wiped down easily)
Healthy option for allergy sufferers (asthma)
Contemporary streamlined look, minimalist
If there are many blinds in one area then motorisation is a good option as the blinds can opened and closed easily
Disadvantages of roller blinds
Strips of light either side if reveal fitted inside window frame
Width restraints
Most fabrics are only 3 mts wide
Not good on long skinny windows as the fabric tends to roll off
͟Be aware when comparing prices!
Roller blinds can vary greatly in price so it's important that you understand why.
Wide blinds need heavy duty 45mm base bar & spring assist - this is more expensive but if not used then the tube will bow. Really big blinds may need 60 mm tube.
Fabric should not be turned on its side in order to make a wide blind as it will cup.
͟If you have a wide space to cover then use more than one blind and consider linking them.
Always specify stainless steel control chain in coastal salt water areas to avoid corrosion. Stainless steel is more expensive than other metal chains; plastic chains look cheap and break easily.
Many blinds in the one room can be tedious to operate if not motorised.
Several blinds at one big window will look messy with all those individual control chains - consider linking blinds together that operate together, or motorise.
Great ideas to consider when using roller blinds:
Good option for behind a sheer curtain (use a block out blind). Mount the blind in the window reveal for a neat look that hides the controls.
Dual rollers option - one blind is block out, the other screen or translucent.
Some fabric manufacturers offer roller blind fabrics in same patterns and colours as drapery fabrics so can marry blinds and curtains in same room for a coordinated look.
Fabric covered base bars look good when the fabric used is the same fabric as the curtains in the same room.
By Coleen Radford
Roller Blinds or Holland Blinds are available in a great range of stylish fabrics in varying degrees of light control, block out, translucent and screen fabrics. These can be mixed and matched to suit your home décor and control the amount of light you wish to filter.
Block out roller blinds can be used effectively to control heat and glare whilst adding a stylish and sleek appearance to your home. Whilst Translucent or Light Filtering Fabrics as the name suggests, are fabrics used to achieve some degree of light filtration or translucency.
Sun Screen roller blinds are made from screen fabric which is created or woven differently than either block out or translucent blinds. They enable you to see through the blind during the day to the view outside, whilst cutting the glare and providing light filtering at the same time.
During the daytime you cannot see through them from outside to inside - therefore creating privacy.
Screen fabrics come in a huge range of colours and textures - and can be used very effectively when used in conjunction with a block out blind - creating dual blinds.
Advantages of roller blinds
Economical
Good for wet/damp areas (kitchen, bathroom, laundry as fabric can be wiped down easily)
Healthy option for allergy sufferers (asthma)
Contemporary streamlined look, minimalist
If there are many blinds in one area then motorisation is a good option as the blinds can opened and closed easily
Disadvantages of roller blinds
Strips of light either side if reveal fitted inside window frame
Width restraints
Most fabrics are only 3 mts wide
Not good on long skinny windows as the fabric tends to roll off
͟Be aware when comparing prices!
Roller blinds can vary greatly in price so it's important that you understand why.
Wide blinds need heavy duty 45mm base bar & spring assist - this is more expensive but if not used then the tube will bow. Really big blinds may need 60 mm tube.
Fabric should not be turned on its side in order to make a wide blind as it will cup.
͟If you have a wide space to cover then use more than one blind and consider linking them.
Always specify stainless steel control chain in coastal salt water areas to avoid corrosion. Stainless steel is more expensive than other metal chains; plastic chains look cheap and break easily.
Many blinds in the one room can be tedious to operate if not motorised.
Several blinds at one big window will look messy with all those individual control chains - consider linking blinds together that operate together, or motorise.
Great ideas to consider when using roller blinds:
Good option for behind a sheer curtain (use a block out blind). Mount the blind in the window reveal for a neat look that hides the controls.
Dual rollers option - one blind is block out, the other screen or translucent.
Some fabric manufacturers offer roller blind fabrics in same patterns and colours as drapery fabrics so can marry blinds and curtains in same room for a coordinated look.
Fabric covered base bars look good when the fabric used is the same fabric as the curtains in the same room.
By Coleen Radford
RSS Feed