Choosing the right blinds for your conservatory isn’t always an easy task. From Roman to roller and thermal to transition blinds, there are so many different options that making your final decision can feel a bit daunting. How do you know which is going to feel right in your space?
We’ve teamed up with Hillarys, the UK’s window dressing experts, to put together this guide to help you get started. Explore your options and learn the mistakes to avoid so that you can choose conservatory blinds with confidence.
Window Dressing Mishaps to Avoid
When choosing blinds for a conservatory, it’s definitely possible to make mistakes. By knowing what these are before you dive in, you can steer clear of them and ensure you’re picking the best blinds for your conservatory.
- Ignoring the direction your conservatory faces: a south-facing conservatory is going to receive a lot more direct sunlight during the day than a north-facing space. You’ll need thicker fabrics to block the light and help keep the room cooler in summer, while lighter fabrics may be sufficient for conservatories that receive less direct sunlight.
- Mixing too many styles: Avoid combining multiple different blind styles if you don’t want your conservatory to look cluttered. Our advice? Find a style you like and stick to it.
- Forgetting about conservatory door blinds: Don’t become so focused on your windows that you forget about your doors! They’re easy to overlook in the decision-making process but are super important for total light control and a cohesive aesthetic.
- Choosing the wrong fabric: Sheer fabrics can create a bright, airy feel, but they may not provide enough privacy or light control. Likewise, blackout materials can be too heavy if you still want plenty of natural daylight.
What Blinds Are Best for Conservatory Windows?
Made-to-measure conservatory blinds are always the best option. These ensure your blinds fit perfectly within your window frames for a sleek look and easier installation (trying to install blinds that don’t fit rarely turns out well).
Victoria Robinson, Product Management specialist at Hillarys, explains, “If you’d like your blinds to sit tightly within your uPVC frames, without the overlap of standard window dressings, choose Perfect Fit conservatory blinds. These slot perfectly within your window frames for a minimal, space-saving solution that’s well suited to contemporary interiors. As a bonus, they also don’t need any drilling for a secure fit.”
Different Styles of Conservatory Blinds
In terms of style options, you’re spoilt for choice. Conservatory blinds are an incredibly versatile window dressing, with a huge range of designs that suit different aesthetics and light control needs.
To help you make the right choice for your space, we’ve put together everything you need to know about the blinds for conservatory windows.
Pleated Blinds
For soft light filtering and a little touch of texture, opt for pleated blinds. These bring privacy and light control to your space, enabling you to block out the full glare of the sun without plunging your conservatory into darkness.
Typically, pleated blinds are crafted from a single layer of fabric, which achieves that softer light-filtering effect. You can, however, choose blackout fabrics if you love the look of pleated blinds but want more oomph from your light control.
Roller Blinds
Roller blinds in conservatory windows are a staple of modern interiors. They’re sleek, with no pleats or folds, for a more minimal aesthetic that’s easy to blend into your existing room.
At the same time, you can definitely make a statement with roller blinds. Thanks to the huge variety of colours and patterns, they’re the ideal choice for showing off a bold interior and bringing plenty of personality to your conservatory.
In terms of light control, roller blinds are here to perform. They don’t have the gaps that some other options do and are an ideal candidate for thick blackout materials. That being said, you can also opt for a sheer fabric for softer light filtering.
Venetian Blinds
For precise control of light and privacy, consider Venetian blinds for your conservatory doors and windows. These blinds are made of horizontal slats, which you can easily tilt to adjust the amount of sunlight entering your space throughout the day.
One of the major perks of venetian blinds is that, unlike conservatory curtains, you can create shade without completely blocking your view. Just tilt the slats slightly to reduce light and maintain a view out into your garden.
Most Venetian blinds can also be completely raised or lowered, just like roller blinds. It’s a versatile choice that gives you lots of control over natural light and privacy.
Duette® Blinds
Conservatories can get very hot on sunny summer days. The best conservatory blinds to keep you cool are Duette® blinds (or honeycomb blinds, if you’re looking for unbranded options).
The unique honeycomb structure traps air to reduce heat circulation in your space, keeping your conservatory cooler on hot days and warmer on cold days. In fact, these blinds can cut down on heat loss by up to 55%, which is great news if you’re struggling with a cold conservatory.
In terms of aesthetics, honeycomb blinds look modern and chic. Choose sheer fabrics for a more minimal, light-infusing look, or blackout fabrics for superb light and heat blocking.
Transition Blinds
When exploring current blind trends, we need to talk about transition blinds. This innovative and modern design incorporates two blinds into one system, allowing you to switch between them seamlessly.
There are two ways this can be used. The first is to switch up your aesthetic and have fun with two different colours, bringing plenty of personality to your conservatory.
The second is to enhance your light control. Choose one blind in a sheer fabric and the other in a blackout fabric, enabling you to alternate between a little bit of shade and (almost) complete darkness. It’s a versatile choice that’s perfect if you can’t make a decision between the two.
Are Electric Blinds Worth It?
Electric (or motorised) blinds allow you to control your blinds at the tap of a button, often via remote control and voice control. Many can also be connected to your smart home hub, helping you control your blinds through an app, set schedules or automate them alongside other smart devices. These are a great option if you struggle to reach your blinds, such as when they’re too high up, or you have accessibility concerns, and they bring a touch of modern convenience to your conservatory.
You can set your blinds to raise and lower throughout the day to follow the sun’s path around your conservatory, or schedule them while you’re away from home to help create the impression that the property is occupied.
Unsurprisingly, they are pricier than manual options. Whether it’s worth the extra cost depends on just how useful they’d be to you.
Picking the right blinds for your conservatory
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for the right blinds for your conservatory. By considering your options, clarifying the sort of light control you’re looking for, and matching function to aesthetics, you can find blinds that are perfectly tailored to your interior design vision.