You’ve decided the perfect finish for your home would be to have some Indoor Blinds. But where do you start when it comes to choosing the ones that will be best for you. Getting the right mix of style, light and even insulation are all things that you can look at as part of your decision-making process. We’ve summarised four of the most popular choices of blind styles. You can see in more detail which one might better meet your needs whilst also having a killer visual impact.

Roman blinds

Named Roman blinds because the basic principle of their design dates back to Roman times when huge rocky constructions were being built. Their primary purpose was to keep dust out, but they had the added bonus of keeping a room cool. Although modernised to today’s design which has a drawstring that runs on the outside of the blind with a stiffener rod at the bottom of the material. Fold or pleats are created as the blind is opened and smaller rods are often placed in the material to aid the folding of the material as it opens. The basic principle of a roman design is much what it was back then. Despite their age and history, Roman binds continue to be incredibly popular due to their lightweight, simple and easy to use effective design.

Above: Standard Roman Blinds

Venetian blinds

Venetian blinds are made up of multiple horizontal slats. Unlike roman blinds, their name doesn’t describe where they came from. The Venetian blind has been described in various historical settings. It was slats or lengths of materials such as bamboo or grass which would have been tied together. They became incredibly popular in Venice and the name was taken on as they’re popularity grew in Europe. Today’s Venetian design usually consists of wood, metal, or plastic. They are made up of slats that can be pivoted to control the amount of light that they let through.

Above: Uniline Aluminium Venetian Blinds

Vertical blinds

Like the name suggests theses blinds run vertically. They are said to have been invented in the 1950’s in order to solve some of the other issues with other blind designs. One of these was the collection of dust on the more traditional Venetian blind. They also draw to the side meaning they are quick and easy to use. They can be made from various materials including plastic, material, metal or wood.  Vertical blinds are often a good choice for wide window expanses that might otherwise be difficult to cover.

Above: Vertical Blinds

Roller blinds

A simple explanation is that these blinds are on a roller. They are made of a stiffened fabric that is attached to a roller. The roller has either a spring, pulley or motorised mechanism to wind up the fabric. With initial designs dating back to the 1700’s, traditionally Roller blinds were made to provide a blackout effect. Now there are more options depending on the effect that you want to achieve, such as to filter light or act as a sunscreen by blocking out harmful UV rays.

Above: Blockout Roller Blinds

If you’re still struggling to decide which blinds will best suit your home or business feel free to contact us or give us a call on 9440 5017 and one of our friendly team members will be more than happy to assist.

As soon as young children become part of your life, you start to realise just how much of a risk everyday household items, fittings and equipment can be. Things you never even noticed before suddenly present a danger and the thought of your little one getting hurt by something commonplace in your home can be overwhelming. It’s terrifying to think that your blinds and curtains are a hazard to babies, toddlers and children if they’re not installed correctly, which is why it’s absolutely essential that all window fittings must be installed to Australia child safe standards.

Abbey Blinds & Curtains custom install all our blinds and curtain products to the highest safety standards possible. We understand how important it is that window furnishings are correctly installed so they don’t present a danger to your children, and we are here to eliminate these concerns. You can rest assured that Warren, our experienced installer and business owner, will install all Abbey Blinds and Curtains to Australian safety standards. He has over 28 years’ experience in the industry and knows exactly what it takes to install blinds and curtains safely and securely.

Things to look out for when installing curtains and blinds

When purchasing blinds or curtains, make sure labels warn of any risks to children, that they provide secured cords and chains matching Australian safety standards, and that the blinds or curtains can operate without exposed cords or chains.
The most important factor you need to watch out for when installing curtains and blinds is how the cords ties are fitted and how the rails are fixed to the walls.

The Australia Commerce website outlines the strict rules to installing blinds and curtains in Australia – you can find more information about the risks and safety features here: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumer-protection/blind-and-curtain-cord-safety

According to this website, the two main safety recommendations to look out for are:

1. No cords are loose or unsecure

All blinds and curtains, no matter how they are operated, must have their cords or chains fixed to a wall so they are never loose. Loose cords and chains are a major risk that can lead to strangulation – a potentially deadly risk which must be eliminated at all costs.

2. All fixtures are installed safety

When installing blinds or curtains, all rails, brackets and pelmets must be fitted correctly so there is no risk of danger. One of the biggest risks you need to be aware of is that in some older homes, walls can become weak, which creates the risk of rails, brackets and pelmets becoming unsteady and can lead to danger.

The safest way to install your blinds and curtains is to get a professional to do it for you. Cutting costs is not something you should be thinking about when the safety of your children is at risk.

Contact Abbey Blinds and Curtains today for cost effective curtain and blind installation and enjoy the peace of mind in having your blinds and curtain installation completed by experts where optimal safety is ensured.