What Should I Know Before Buying Roller Blinds?

Fitting your windows with roller blinds can be a great way to keep out excess light and maintain privacy. But before making a decision to purchase them, you should consider some key questions about suitability and whether they are the best option for your room.

This time of year is when many people will consider roller blinds, especially those that offer a blackout effect.

Lingering daylight on summer evenings can make getting to sleep harder for anyone getting an early night, or for children. Early sunrises can cause people to wake up much earlier than they planned. Moreover, in a heatwave, they can reduce the heat coming into your home.

Stylish roller blinds can also add to the aesthetic of the room when they are pulled down, so it is important to consider this aspect as well when considering them.

How Long Have Roller Blinds Been Around?

Blinds have been around for thousands of years, with their origins dating back to civilisations like the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. By contrast, Roller blinds are relatively new, emerging in the 18th century in America and Europe.

These were initially quite rare, but, as with so many things, the Industrial Revolution made it possible for them to be manufactured in large quantities.

With urbanisation making them more desirable for privacy, plus technological advances and better aesthetics, they became commonplace in the 20th century.

Needless to say, the early versions have been somewhat refined and the types we sell are light, easy to use and made from fine materials.

How Can You Tell If Roller Blinds Are Suitable?

While they may be popular, they may not always be the right thing for your window. Before getting them, you should ask the following questions:

• Do I need some flexibility when restricting the light, or is an all-or-nothing approach more suitable for my needs?
• Do I have good insulation in the room?
• Do I have unusually shaped windows?
• Do I like to keep the windows open on occasion?
• Would alternatives such as Roman blinds or curtains be a better option?

The first of these issues is important because, by their nature, roller blinds are all-or-nothing. Either they blot out almost all the light when down (apart from small but unavoidable gaps at the sides) or allow it all in when they are up.

What this means is that they are not the best option for situations in which you want to subtly limit the light, such as during the daytime when you might be looking at a screen and want to avoid glare while not plunging the whole room into gloom.

Insulation is another issue, as roller blinds are not as good for this as curtains or even wooden shutters. Also, being of light material, they can flap around a lot and cannot be left down if you keep the window open at night.

Window shape is an issue because the roller at the top will only fit with a straight-edged window. That rules out anything with a curve or arch. The fabric used is also limited in how wide it can be, so it is unsuitable for very wide windows.

Some of these considerations are matters of choice and weighing up the pros and cons, while the issue of window size and shape can be decisive in ruling out roller blinds.

Are Roller Blinds A Better Option Than Roman Blinds?

Alternatives to roller blinds include Roman blinds, which come in a pleated pattern. When comparing these with roller blinds, there are various pros and cons:

• Roman blinds are better insulators
• Unlike Roman blinds, roller blinds can be rolled up fully, letting in more light
• Roller blinds are still the best for blocking out the light
• Roman blinds tend to be more decorative and can be used inside and outside the recess, whereas roller blinds can be fitted onto the frame or the walls 
• However, roller blinds are well suited to modern, minimalist decor
• Roller blinds tend to cost less

Similar comparisons can be made to other alternatives, like shutters and curtains. The key point in each instance is to recognise what the qualities of roller blinds are and to weigh up the pros and cons against the alternatives.

Ultimately, the thing to note is that the choice is usually down to personal preference depending on your tastes and lifestyle priorities.

The only exception to this is the window type. But as long as you don’t have a curved window and are able to take advantage of straight lines and orthodox shapes, roller blinds are a great option that can help you to keep almost all the light out when you need to.