Cleaning Blinds

Cleaning blinds guide for shutters and blinds

Cleaning blinds can be a pain.

Particularly if you live in an area that is prone to gusty winds, rain and other climatic events. However, if you endeavour to clean your shutters consistently, you’ll find that it’s actually an easy task that adds a nice little improvement to the look of your home. While internal shutters won’t attract the same level of dirt and grime, they present their own specific challenges during cleaning.

Indoor blinds

Cleaning your indoor blinds is pretty straightforward. The worst thing they are going to attract is a bit of dust. So, all you have to do is simply wipe down your blinds with a damp cloth. Like any other piece of furniture. A simple microfibre cloth or glove is your best bet. If your indoor shutters are still dirty after the initial wipe down, use a small amount of detergent when wiping down the PVC surface. Be careful not to let the soapy water drip down onto the floor or mark your walls; be sure to lay down a towel, particularly if you have carpet.

On other hand, wooden shutters need to be cleaned much more carefully. If your wooden shutters get wet, be sure to dry them as quickly as possible. Wooden shutters should be dusted to remove any surface dust only – no water or soap is required. You can even use some furniture polishes or wood cleaner on your wooden blinds if you want to improve their look and quality.

Cleaning Blinds

Outdoor blinds

Naturally, outdoor blinds are subjected to harsher elements. Because of all the dirt and debris, cleaning is a bit tougher. Firstly, sweep away any surface dust on your shutters with a broom or garden brush. Secondly, use a garden hose to rinse away the dirt thoroughly. After this, mix some detergent with some warm water and gently mop onto the surface of your blinds. Finally, hose down your blinds again to remove any remaining dirt.

Venetian blinds

Wooden Venetian blinds are a little trickier to clean, however, they are still very easy to maintain. Using the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner, move your vacuum cleaner over the surface of the blinds. This should occur every few weeks to prevent a massive build-up of dust. Run the vacuum nozzle over every individual slat to maximise efficiency.

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blinds fabric

Blinds fabric explained: How to choose the right blinds fabric

Blinds Fabric

If you’ve ever wondered what the differences are between sunscreen blinds and translucent blinds, you’re certainly not alone! The terminology used for different blinds fabrics can be pretty confusing, especially if you’re buying blinds for the first time.

That’s why I’ve taken it upon myself to break down some of the most popular fabrics in the blinds world. Keeping reading to learn the basic differences between blockout, translucent and sunscreen blinds.

Difference between blinds fabrics

blinds fabric

Blockout blinds

Blockout blinds, also known as blackout blinds, are blinds which are made from thick opaque fabric. As the name suggests, blockout fabric blocks out light and prevents it from passing through the fabric.

We recommend installing these sun blocking blinds in bedrooms, nurseries and any other room where light control is crucial. You can say hello to a good night’s sleep with blockout blinds installed!

Blockout fabric overview

Light control ☆☆

UV protection ☆☆☆

Insulation ☆☆☆

Daytime privacy ☆☆☆

Nighttime privacy ☆☆☆

blinds fabric

Sunscreen blinds

Blinds made from sunscreen fabric are hugely popular here in Australia. This fabric acts as a filter for the sun during the day, flooding your home with light while protecting your skin and soft furnishings from damaging UV rays.

Sunscreen fabric provides a great level of privacy, as you can’t see into the room from outside (when it’s lighter outside). However, keep in mind that sunscreen blinds don’t provide privacy at night when the lights are on, as when it’s lighter inside, you are able to see through the fabric.

Sunscreen fabric overview

Light control ☆☆

UV protection ☆☆☆

Insulation ☆☆

Daytime privacy ☆☆

Nighttime privacy ☆

Mixing and matching

If you simply can’t decide on one fabric, the good news that you don’t have to! Double roller blinds are a great option for rooms which require the combined practicality of different fabrics. These blinds feature two different types of fabric blinds in one single system, offering total light, heat and privacy control.

Blinds and curtains can also be paired together, to create a more finished look and improve the function of your windows. You can find more information on pairing curtains and blinds together here.

Fabric colour

Once you’ve chosen fabric for your new window blinds, you’ll also need to decide on the colour. Rather than just considering your current or planned décor, it’s also important to think about the practicality of your selected shade.

Light colours

If your home lacks natural light, then it’s a good idea to steer clear of dark colours. Light shades like white, cream and grey can help to make any room feel bigger and brighter. Additionally, light colours will reflect light and heat, helping to make your home feel cooler during the warm summer months. The only downside to choosing light coloured fabrics is that they can enhance glare from the sun.

Dark colours

On the other hand, darker colours absorb light. As a result, this reduces glare and softens levels of natural light in the room. It’s for these reasons why darker fabric colours are popular in computer rooms, studies and theatre rooms.

nursery room

Decorating Nursery Room, Do’s and Dont’s

Nursery Room

Decorating a nursery is an incredibly pleasant task, but you need to keep in mind that beauty and safety should come hand in hand for this particular room. Our tips should help you choose the best type of window covers for your little one.

What you should do when decorating nursery windows:

  • Do keep in mind that curtains reduce the width of the window.
 This ‘visual effect’ can be overlooked if the nursery is large, but smaller spaces will look cluttered with curtains.  Blinds will be the best choice in this case.
  • To enhance the window design with a valance.
 A window valance or cornice box can dramatically change the look of the blinds. Installing this piece will allow you to make the interior design as a whole ‘warmer’ and more attractive, without the limitations posed by curtains.

Installation.

  • Do install curtains/shades last.
With the décor completed, it will be easier for you to choose the type of window cover that matches your existing design best. You can use this time studying the dozens of options available so that you can be sure that you really pick the best one.
  • Do double-check whether the window treatments are installed correctly.
 Check everything and test every joint, string, and bolt. Pull-on the curtains a little harder than necessary as kids do this quite often and you need to be sure that the hangers are secured properly.

nursery room

What you shouldn’t do when decorating nursery windows:

  • Don’t use tension rods.
 Children are prone to pulling on everything within their sight, and over-pulling a spring-loaded tension rod can give the little one a nasty bump on the head or worse.
  • Don’t install floor-length curtains.
 They pose a health hazard for a child and can often serve as a hanky for the youngest ones. The rule of thumb for nursery window treatments is to ensure that the curtains/blinds and any of their elements remain safely out of a toddler’s reach.
  • Don’t go too light on the blinds.
 It’s imperative to keep the nursery pleasantly cool during the day, especially for afternoon naps. Achieved by installing the right kind of blinds, for example, Blockout Roman or Venetian options.
  • Don’t forget to install breakaway cords.
 If you choose blinds for your nursery, replace regular cords with a special breakaway variety. This is essential for childproofing the room as cords are the most dangerous part of this system for a toddler. If pulled, these cords break rather easily, so the risk to the little one is minimal. This issue is easy to repair, so your blinds can be up to maximum efficiency within hours.

nursery room

View Our Wide Range Of Blinds that will suite your nursery room.

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Right Blinds

Selecting The Right Blinds For Your Home & Handy Tips

The Right Blinds

Blinds have become exceedingly popular over the last few years, with homeowners opting for easy solutions for their privacy and we understand why. Choose the Right Blinds with stylish designs available to suit any type of room, they’re Interior low maintenance and the long-term savings they bring have proven a worthwhile investment.

However, which do you think is easiest – choosing the right blinds to match your interior or installing them?

When it comes to asking yourself “what are the best blinds?” there are many contributing factors that will lead to your final decision. What kind of colour blinds will complement your interior? Rollers or Zebra Vision or Venetians? It comes down to budget, style and personal preference and we can feel your pain. We’ve prepared a quick, small guide to give you an idea of what blinds work best with particular rooms.

Right Blinds

Brief Blind Guide

Roller blinds are highly practical – especially for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. They have a protective coating which is a bonus.

Zebra Vision Blinds is a stylish fabric that gently filters and softens daylight while also offering you the option of full privacy

Vertical blinds are perfectly ideal for floor to ceiling windows and doors.

Now you have a brief guide to go on, we have mentioned a few important things you should consider when installing blinds for your home, just so you avoid potential problems early on.

What Do You Need to Consider?

Accurate Measurements

Measuring your windows should be the first thing on your list when it comes to having blinds fitted. So, grab the tape measure, it’s got work to do!

You can have your blinds installed on the inside or on the outside. (Don’t worry, we explain the benefits of these later in the article). You start by measuring for an outside mount or an inside mount depending on which one you go for, it’s safe to measure both just in case.

An outside mount – Use the tape measure along the outside edges of the casing which surrounds the window. Accurately measure from the top of the casing to bottom of the window sill or casing.

An inside mount – Place the tape measure inside the casing where the glass of the window meets the casing. Take measurements for the width of the window at the top, middle and bottom.

Once you have accurate measurements and you’ve picked some fabulous, high-quality blinds, fabulous, high-quality blinds, you then have to take on the installation process. Decisions, decisions!

Right Blinds

Installation Options for Your Blinds – Inside or Outside?

Roller blinds, Venetian blinds, and vertical blinds were designed to be fitted inside the recess and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Fitting blinds outside the recesses allow more light into a room and are easier to fit. This method also allows sizes to be more flexible as opposed to them being fitted inside. Outside the recesses, blinds are most often installed for inward opening doors.

Fitting blinds inside the recesses allow its control mechanism to be hidden, most often tucked away to one side of the blind. This method is especially effective when there is a good height, this is because the blind will not interfere when the door or window is being used.

It’s wise to make this decision based on what blinds you have chosen. Some blind designs are more suited to inside recess whereas others benefit more with an outside recess.

Do Your Doors/Windows Open Internally or Externally?

Internally – Many doors open internally, meaning they swing into the house whereas when it comes to windows, it’s the complete opposite. If this is the case, there are potential factors that could harm the blinds and the door in the process. It’s wise to choose a sample blind for either your windows or doors and see how they fit first, it might be that all your blinds need are slight adjustments, so they work more smoothly. Here’s a tip – for doors that open internally, they are ideally suited to outside recess.

Externally – For households with doors that open externally, away from the house, there is a range of installation options available as they are more flexible than doors that open internally. It’s recommended that external open-door blinds are better suited for inside recess.

Now you have some useful knowledge on interior blinds, we hope it helps you with your blind buying and fitting journey!