Buying roller blinds? Then you might be looking for expert guidance. after all, when decorating a room, your mind is probably firmly focussed on choosing the perfect furniture, arguing over the wall colour or deciding which flooring is going to look amazing. And while these all may be very important decisions, we think deciding how to dress your windows should also be up there on your decorating to do list.
It’s time to focus on minimal, modern and budget-friendly roller blinds. See our favourite roller blind finds – and find out how to measure up for your roller blinds. Find more guidance on choosing window blinds in our guide.
We’ve also put together more handy guides on how to choose window treatments. We’ve covered how to choose Venetian blinds, Roman blinds and loft blinds.
Save space with roller blinds
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If your working with a smaller living room, kitchen, home office or bedroom, roller blinds are a wise choice. Their simple, space-enhancing design fits closely to windows and (if you opt for a neutral colour) they tend to visually disappear, whether rolled up or down. They also won’t get caught on window sills, radiators or furniture as curtains tend to do.
Blackout or sheer roller blinds?
When choosing your blind’s fabric, first think about whether you want to completely block out light or opt for something that filters light instead. If you are going for a blackout fabric, make sure they cover the window snuggly for total darkness or fit them outside your window frames.
We love how the tile print of this blackout blind from Hillarys instantly gives a simple, contemporary bathroom an on trend Moroccan vibe.
Looking for blackout curtains, too? Find the best in our buyer's guide.
Pick waterproof blinds in kitchens and bathrooms
Kitchens can be a bit of a disaster zone at times, sauces flying everywhere, grease splatters magically appearing on every surface (or is that just us?), so curtains clearly aren’t going to be the best choose for your space. Instead opt for waterproof rollers that will repel moisture and can be wiped down.
Find more window treatments for kitchens and window dressings for bathrooms in our design galleries.
Moisture-resistant roller blinds are also your best bet for bathrooms as they won’t rot or go mouldy. English Blinds have hundreds of waterproof roller blinds in gorgeous fabrics; we are particularly in love with this Luxury Grey shade (below).
Choose roller blinds for roof windows
Unsure how to dress your roof or loft windows? Roller blinds are a fail-safe option and can be useful to soften the light and prevent glare. These roller blinds from Velux are ideal for bedrooms as they offer total darkness, plus they come in 42 different colours so you can find one to suit your style.
Use our design guide to choosing blinds for roof or loft windows.
Save energy with thermal blinds
Thermal blinds, or energy efficient blinds (they are essentially the same thing), keep heat in your house during the winter and out during the summer. They are ideal if you if you live in a period property with older windows that don’t provide the best insulation.
The energy efficient blinds from Duette have a unique honeycomb design keeps 46 per cent more heat in your home, plus they come in loads of different colours and finishes.
Find ideas for conservatory blinds in our design gallery.
Combine roller blinds with other window treatments
Due to their compact nature, rollers can easily be combined with other window treatments. If you want the softness of sheer curtains in a bedroom but aren’t willing to sacrifice a good night's sleep, then installing a blackout roller blind is a great solution. Go for something in a neutral colour and we promise you won’t even notice it.
Find more smart bedroom window treatments in our design gallery.
Window dressings, Ikea
Use patterned blinds for a quick update
Want to give your kitchen a quick refresh on a budget? Or any room a refresh for that matter? Switching up your blinds is a super easy way to give a room a new look. Dunelm have an amazing selection of printed designs like this Emmott Seafoam Floral roller blind that look stylish but are really inexpensive.
Read more about designing a stylish kitchen on a budget.
Adjust light levels with ease
Zebra roller blinds have movable fabric bands in an alternating translucent and transparent material allowing you to choose how best to allow light to enter your room by fine tuning the light levels as the bands match up.
Fit motorised blinds
While a manual roller blind will generally do, for floor to ceiling windows it might be worth investing in a motorised blind that can raise or lower them all at the touch of a button.
The new Reflection roller blind range from Luxaflex features subtle patterns and textures, perfect for adding a tactile quality to large rooms. Suitable for humid rooms, it can be wiped clean with a sponge. There’s a wide choice of colours: shown here is Unico Bo; prices start from £89. Luxaflex also offer PowerView: motorised blinds that can be controlled from your phone or tablet.
Want a softer look? Try Swedish blinds
Roller blinds may be suited to more modern spaces, but that's not to say that they can't work in a more traditional home. Swedish roller blinds have more of a relaxed style than traditional roller blinds, but just be aware you are best fitting them to windows where you can reach the top as you will need to roll the fabric up by hand.
Window dressings, Ikea
How to measure for roller blinds
Before you measure up, decide which fitting option you'd prefer: inside or outside the recess. If you are going with blackout blinds we recommend choosing a blind that sits outside of the recess to block out the most light.
If you’d prefer your blinds to sit inside the window recess, measure the width at the top, middle and bottom of the recess. Measure in centimetres and round down rather than up to ensure that your blinds fit within the recess space and don't snag.
For a blind that hangs outside the window recess, measure the width at the top of the recess, then add at least 4cm on each side, so that the blind overlaps the window symmetrically.
Looking for more window treatment advice?