Blinds

How to choose blinds

Blinds are the right choice when light is the problem and curtains are the wrong tool. They block sun more reliably, take up no fabric depth, sit closer to the glass, and can be tuned room by room. The decision is mostly about three things: type, fit, and operation.

Blind type drives everything else.

• Roller blinds: a single rolled-up panel of fabric. Cheapest, simplest, available in blackout. Best for bedrooms and kitchens. Around £20 to £80 ready-made.
• Venetian blinds: horizontal slats in wood, faux-wood or aluminium. Lets you angle the light without losing the view. Best for living rooms and home offices.
• Roman blinds: fabric that folds up into pleats when raised. The most curtain-like option, suits softer interiors. Sits in the £40 to £120 ready-made bracket.
• Vertical blinds: long vertical slats that draw to one side. Best for big windows and patio doors where horizontal blinds would be unmanageable.
• Day-and-night (zebra) blinds: alternating opaque and sheer stripes that slide against each other. Useful in rooms where you want privacy but not darkness.

Fit changes the look and the price. Inside-recess fit sits inside the window frame, leaves the architrave visible, and looks tidier on a deep recessed window. Outside-recess fit sits across the front of the architrave, gives the best blackout because there's less light leak around the edges, and is the only sensible option on shallow windows.

Operation is worth a thought before you click buy. Cord-pull is the cheapest and the most fiddly to keep tidy. Spring-loaded pull is the friendliest for daily use. Wand-operated venetians are easier on small hands than cord-tilters. Motorised blinds with battery or hardwired motors run from around £150 a unit and are worth it on awkward window heights.

One safety note: if you have small children, look for cord-free or breakaway-cord designs. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents publishes guidance on safe blind cords.

The brands and retailers we list

We pull around 6,300 blinds from across the UK retailers we cover.

Robert Dyas is the dominant retailer in this category, with around 4,000 blinds spanning roller, roman, venetian and vertical styles. Their New Edge Blinds and Caecus supplier ranges cover most common sizes and finishes under £100.

The Range covers around 2,200 blinds, leaning into ready-made roller and roman styles in the £20 to £60 bracket. Strong on patterned fabrics and seasonal stock.

Filter the grid above by colour, material or price to narrow things down, or browse the full blind range without filters to see everything in stock. Prices update daily.