What Are The Best Blinds For Your Conservatory?

When decorating your conservatory, one of the most important factors is choosing the right blinds.

Not only do they add to the overall look of your conservatory, but they provide a necessary function.

As your conservatory is likely to be the brightest room in the house, you’ll need blinds that adequately cut out enough sunlight to ensure the room is habitable in summer and on those blindingly sunny winter days too.

The problem is – there are a lot of things to consider when shopping for your conservatory blinds and there are so many styles, colours and materials to choose from.

So where do you start?

Things To Consider When Choosing Your Conservatory Blinds

Size– be sure to measure the length and width of all of your window panes so you know what size to look out for. The last thing you want is to buy a set of blinds that end up an inch too short or a foot too long as they won’t do the job and your conservatory will look unfinished.

Thickness – you’ll also have to consider the thickness of your conservatory blinds, as thicker materials tend to be heavier and your conservatory may not be able to take the weight when the blinds are mounted.

Colour – colour is important too. Conservatory blinds may look one shade in the shop but may turn out to be an entirely different hue when mounted, with light streaming through. We recommend taking home a sample before purchasing, if possible and this will give you a better idea of how the blinds will look in your conservatory.

Kinds Of Blinds With Pros And Cons

If you’ve ever gone blinds shopping before, you’ll know that there’s an abundance of different styles. Although you’ll instinctively know which style you like best from an aesthetic point of view, you’ll need to consider the functional pros and cons too.

Roman Blinds

Roman blinds consist of a headrail with a fabric section that’s manually drawn down, with stiffening rods behind the fabric to ensure they fold neatly. As they come in many different fabrics, patterns and colours, they are often the best choice when it comes to styling. They can also be lined with blackout fabric.

They are especially great if you have a lean-to or gable end style conservatory with square window frames which lend to a minimalist look.

However, roman blinds can be difficult to clean and can act as a magnet for dust. If you have problems with condensation in your conservatory, they may also become mouldy. If fitted with blackout lining they can be heavy and they can also be pretty costly.

Venetian Blinds When it comes to Venetian style blinds, you will need to choose aluminium ones, as PVC or wooden blinds will not be able to withstand the more demanding temperature conditions of a conservatory.

Aluminium blinds and offer a better sense of privacy as you can control the tilt and the amount of visibility through them.

They are easy to clean and the aluminium won’t discolour. In addition, they are also quite light so won’t put any strain on your conservatory structure.

Venetian blinds are relatively inexpensive and are good in terms of insulation.

However, many people do not like the look of Venetian blinds and they can sometimes juxtapose with the styling over your conservatory.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds offer many similar benefits to venetian blinds, in terms of privacy and light control. Again they are not heavy and should not cause any structural problems within your conservatory.

Like roman blinds, however, being made from fabric can make vertical blinds more susceptible to dust and insects. But most vertical blinds will be washable and easier to clean than roman ones. It’s also worth mentioning that vertical blinds do fade over time and, although the fading will be consistent throughout, it’s important to note if you have chosen them for aesthetic reasons.

Roller Blinds

Roller blinds are a good choice for a conservatory as they look good and are easy to clean as they retract fully. Like roman blinds, they can come in many colours and patterns, giving you more opportunity to find a style that perfectly complements your conservatory.

Problems do arise when it’s extremely sunny as you may have to draw down the blinds fully to block out the light. And, due to the sunlight, patchy fading may occur meaning that roller blinds would have to be replaced more frequently than venetian or vertical blinds.

So which is best?

The type of blinds you choose for your conservatory will largely depend on your own style preference. In terms of practicality in light control, insulation and privacy, venetian or vertical blinds tend to come out on top.

Got a question about conservatory blinds?

If you have any questions about conservatory blinds, or want recommendations of shops and providers, you can contact us.

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