One way of providing shade to your property is by installing window blinds. Aside from the shade it provides, it can as well provide privacy and adds design to the overall appearance of your home. If you are living in Australia, having blinds install on your window will give significant help in providing relief from the heat of the Australian sun.

However, just like in any other decors or add-ons on your property, buying blinds that will suit your home can be tricky. To make your blinds shopping easier, you can follow these tips provided below and serve them as a guide to ensure that you will only pick the right blinds for your home.

Choose the Right Style

There are various styles of blinds that are available in the market which is why it can be hard for you to decide which one to choose. As the first part of our buying guide, let us go through the types of blinds that you will encounter during your blinds shopping spree.

Roller Blinds

One type of blinds that you might encounter is roller blinds. This is the type of blinds that is the go-to for people who are on a budget but wanted to install quality blinds on their doors or windows. Despite being budget-friendly, roller blinds are stylish and versatile.

Roller blinds are the best choice if you are planning to install the blinds on your kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms especially if you choose the proper materials. For bedroom use, it is best to opt for roller blinds that have a blackout material for maximum privacy.

If you are installing it in the bathroom or kitchen, it is best to opt for a moisture-resistant material to ensure that it fits the environment where it will be installed.

Roman Blinds

The roman blinds option is the best alternative for curtains. This type of blinds is made with the same fabrics used in curtains. Due to its fine and luxurious finish, the roman blinds are best installed in the living room as well as the bedroom.

This is the best alternative for curtains if you have small or limited space around your window or you wanted to have a more streamlined appearance of your interior space. Moreover, the interlining of the roman blinds provides a fuller and more luxurious finish on your window.

The blackout lining of the roman blinds will give you great light and privacy control which you can manage via a cord or chain that is attached to a child safety cleat.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds are your next option and are best for full-length windows. The blinds are made with individual fabric louvres that are held together using a chain or weights. These louvres can be completely closed to blackout all the sunlight but you can as well tilt it a little bit to let a little sunlight in without compromising your privacy.

Vertical blinds are the cost-effective option for large windows and can fit perfectly on curved bays and sloping windows. You can also choose the vertical blinds if you want to cover your sliding doors or patio doors for instance.

Horizontal Blinds

The next type of blinds we will be talking about is the horizontal blinds. Horizontal blinds are commonly known to many as Venetian blinds. It is made with slats that are placed horizontally and being held in place on a metal headrail using a cord.

The headrail is where the mechanism of the Venetian blinds located to which controls the opening and closing of the blinds. The horizontal blinds can have two cords. One is for tilting the slats and the other one is for raising the slats.

The same with the vertical blinds, the slats of the horizontal blinds can be tilted slightly to let some natural light in while ensuring you still get the privacy you need. Additionally, it can as well closed completely for a complete light blocking feature or it can be raised for a more open approach.

Perfect Fit Blinds

Last but not least is the perfect fit blinds. This kind is available on different types of blinds that were previously mentioned. It means that you can have a perfect fit blind on vertical, or horizontal, or even roman type blinds.

The only difference it gives is that a perfect fit blind is not attached to your window frames. Instead, it is attached directly to your window or door. This means that the blinds will still lay flat against the glass of your windows or doors even if you open and close them.

This is the best option for windows and doors that are not sliding and will tilt open as they won’t hang or bang around if you open or close them. It will remain flat as if it was a part of the door or the window.

Consider the Materials

Now that you are familiar with the different blinds that are available for you, it now comes down to the materials. Blinds are made with different materials and just like their style, you might as well find it hard to choose what materials are best for your home.

Following are the materials that you might stumble upon during your window and door blinds shopping:

Wood and Faux Wood Materials

If you are into a more natural approach, then the wooden blinds can capture your interest. You can opt for real wood or faux wood depending on your preference. However, real wood blinds are not to be used in places where they can be exposed to moisture like the bathroom or kitchen.

The moisture will damage the natural wooden materials making their lifespan short. You can instead choose to install faux wood blinds on these areas if you wanted your entire home to have the same natural woody vibe. Faux woods are made with a mixture of PVC and wood components and are moisture-safe.

Metal Materials

Metal window blinds are more likely made out of aluminium despite its name. This material is known for its sturdiness. The material will not rust easily because it is made out of aluminium and can as well be very affordable.

This kind of material is usually be found on Venetian blinds where you can see the aluminium slats run across the window horizontally with the cord attached. Because horizontal blinds are commonly raised and put down by their users, it can help with the longevity if you opt for the aluminium materials.

Plastic Materials

Another affordable material used in window blinds is plastic or vinyl. This material is strong and can withstand the harsh elements it can be exposed to such as the extreme weather of Australia. Choosing a plastic material for your blinds will give you an additional benefit which is the variety of colours it offers.

You can easily mix and match the blinds with the interior design of your home with the different colours available. If you have a specific colour theme in mind, it is best to go with blinds made with plastic materials to ensure that you can choose the colour that you want.

Synthetic Fabric Materials

More and more people are opting to install blinds that are made with synthetic fabric material. The reason behind this is that synthetic fabric helps with energy efficiency by controlling the temperature inside the house while making it still possible to see outside.

These materials are what most modern houses use on their blinds as they can as well provide a sleeker and more modern design. Furthermore, choosing blinds made with synthetic fabric means that you have a wider colour option that will give sophistication and will add style to your home’s interior decoration and theme.

Your Window or Door Measurements

When shopping for blinds for your home, you must consider the measurement of the window or the door where you are planning to install the blinds. A larger or smaller blind will be useless as it will not function appropriately.

You must take the proper measurements of the windows or doors where you are planning to install the blinds before you go on a buying spree. It is best to let the professionals take the measurements to ensure that it is accurate and that you will purchase the right blinds accordingly.

Safety

This tip should not be overlooked especially if you have small children. To ensure safety inside your home, you can opt for cordless blinds and blinds that have safety mechanisms. If you do not have small children and not planning to have one sooner, you can skip this tip but make sure that you will replace your blinds whenever you plan of starting a family so that you will not put your future children at risk of strangulation from the blind cords.

Purpose

Figure out the main purpose of the blinds and know why you are installing them in the first place. Are you considering blinds for aesthetic purposes only or you wanted to have maximum privacy inside your home that curtains could not provide? Or are you installing blinds to protect your home from the heat of the sun?

These are common reasons why many people opt for blinds instead of curtains. when purchasing blinds, you should choose a style and material according to your main purpose. This way, it would be easy for you to pick the right style and material. Furthermore, choosing according to its purpose will increase its functionality.

Budget

Of course, why would you buy the type of blinds and kind of materials that you can not afford? Before even considering using blinds as door or window coverings, you must create a budget beforehand and see how much you can afford to spend on replacing your old door and window coverings with blinds.

When you already figured out the amount that you can spend on blinds, you can use this data in choosing what material your blinds must-have. Remember, there are materials that even though it is affordable, it can still provide great functions.

Who Manufacture The Blinds

The next thing to consider is the manufacturer of the blinds. There are so many blinds for sale in the market today. All of those blinds are made by different manufacturers and most of the time, you will know the quality of the product based on the manufacturer.

In addition to quality control, if you choose to purchase from a reputable manufacturer chances are you will get a warranty for two or more years on the product that you purchase. This means that you will be guaranteed that either the product will not break easily or that if it does break, you will be given a replacement or a free service in fixing the damaged blinds.

Most reputable blind brands ensure the quality of their products before offering them to the public which is why they do not hesitate in offering product warranty because they are very much confident with their product.

Decors

Are your home decors more of naturalist pieces? Then the wooden or faux wood blinds can be the best option for you. If you have a contemporary interior design, you should opt for synthetic fabric materials as they can be the best choice that will complement the entire design of the space.

Always consider the interior design of your home when picking blinds. Remember, the blinds will be part of the entire design which is why it must suit the existing concept of your home to make it look good.

Maintenance

Maintenance is also important in making your blinds look good and functioning for a long time. You must know how to care and maintain for each type of blinds and the kinds of materials to ensure that you will provide the proper care it needs.

For instance, wooden blinds are easy to clean but it is not advisable to place them in your bathroom as moisture will make the wood rot. Additionally, synthetic fibres can easily get stained and dusty which means that they will need more extensive cleaning and maintenance.

These factors are just some of the things you will need to consider when it comes to blinds maintenance. It is best to ask the experts when it comes to blinds maintenance and pick the one that fits your lifestyle and availability.

To Sum it Up

A door and window blinds are essential in providing shades, light control, and privacy inside the home. This is the reason why you need to choose the right type of blinds and the correct materials to ensure the effectiveness and longevity of the blinds that you are buying. With the tips provided it will be easier for you to do the blinds shopping anytime and making sure that you will pick the best blinds for your home.