Not only can they transform the look and feel of a room, but blinds are also a practical addition to your home, offering privacy, temperature control and the ability to regulate the light to ensure you sleep soundly, work from home without sun glares or watch your favourite TV shows minus a reflection.
If you’re unsure where to start when picking blinds, we chatted with Oliver Hudson, a blinds expert at BlindsbyPost, to get the lowdown on choosing the best blinds for your home.
Can you tell us about BlindsbyPost?
BlindsbyPost is one of the UK’s leading made-to-measure online blind retailers. Since 2008 we have been designing and manufacturing window blinds in our factory in Bradford, West Yorkshire. We are one of the only retailers in the UK to have our own factory where every blind is handcrafted by 33 skilled employees.
Our aim is to provide the best quality blinds at the best price for homes and offices across the UK and Ireland.
What different types of blinds do you offer?
BlindsbyPost Bella Noir motorised roller blind
We offer a huge range of blinds including; roman, Venetian, roller, perfect fit, wooden, vertical, day & night, pleated, roof, motorised, and metal. Our blinds are also available in blackout and thermal fabrics which are a cost-effective way to insulate homes and increase privacy.
In 2022, we launched more than 150 new prints for the roller and motorised roller blind collections. The new prints featured floral designs, stripes, geometric patterns and more, and our on-trend colour palettes include smoky tones, cool grey, and greens. We focused on refreshing our collections and ensuring that we’re keeping up-to-date with how people use their homes in the age of flexi- working.
Are certain styles better for different rooms?
There are a variety of types of blinds to choose from and certain blinds work better for specific rooms. For example, sometimes it’s about practicality, particularly in rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms where PVC blinds prevent dampness.
There are also perfect-fit blinds which are great for rental properties and blackout blinds which are perfect for adding privacy to bedrooms or large windows and doors.
What are the most important things to consider when choosing blinds?
When considering the room that a blind will be fitted in, the most important thing to consider is a blind’s functionality.
Blackout blinds are great for increased privacy over large windows or doors or are perfect for bedrooms, blocking out all light and improving sleep quality.
Thermal blinds can be useful in older houses where insulation and glazing might not be as efficient and perfect fit are great for high-traffic areas or rental properties, as you simply slot the bracket into the window beading and the blind clicks into place.
No tools are required for installation and there’s no damage to surrounding walls or doors. When choosing a blind, remember to always think, ‘will this work in this space?’.
What tips can you offer if people are nervous about measuring windows themselves?
Blinds are simple to measure, however, before you start you will need to see which blinds are suitable for your window or door. It is important to check around the window or door area for any obstructions such as window handles.
For the measurements, you will need to measure in three places for both the glass width and drop and always use the smallest measurement.
BlindsbyPost has helpful measuring videos for each type of blind. We always advise customers to use a steel tape measure on digital measurement devices to ensure the most accurate measurements.
How easy are the blinds to install?
All our blinds come with a unique fitting guide, these can be simply installed in three steps by anyone competent in basic DIY. Our useful guides ensure that installation is stress-free.
Are some blinds better for energy efficiency?
The most energy-efficient blinds are our thermal blinds. These blinds are specially designed to keep the heat in during the winter months, while also providing an easy way of upgrading home decor.
Thermal blinds offer a cost-effective solution for reducing heat loss from windows, which means reducing your energy bills. With energy prices increasing, you can make huge savings by installing thermal blinds as windows can be responsible for up to 30%¹ of a home’s heating energy loss.
Which colours or patterns are your best sellers?
BlindsbyPost Hudson burgundy perfect fit pleated blackout blind.
Following Pantone’s announcement of Viva Magenta as the 2023 Colour of the Year, we have noticed a surge in customers searching for pink and red hues in recent weeks, indicating that the news has triggered a homewares trend. Sales of these products have increased year-on-year and in the last few weeks alone there’s been a 26% increase in sales of products in the shade Lava.
Welcoming and cosy colours are expected to be a huge trend for 2023 as we see a return of consumers searching for colours that make them feel good.
Have you noticed any key trends that are popular with customers?
We have noticed an increased interest in environmentally friendly and raw materials such as wooden blinds growing in popularity. Wooden blinds offer a natural and organic look and feel to a space, as well as acting as a natural insulator. They are a great choice for those wanting to live a more sustainable life and reduce energy consumption.
The use of smart technology in homes is also increasing and is set to grow a further 16.7% by 2023². Smart home technology can be expensive but motorised roller blinds are a cost-effective way to create a tech-savvy home for ultimate ease when opening and closing your blinds.
We have also seen increased demand for more sustainable blinds, in line with shoppers wanting to make more eco-conscious choices. Our eco blinds named ‘Arona’, are made of at least 80% recycled, post-consumer polyester processed from plastic bottles which extend the life cycle of raw materials and minimises the demand for virgin resources.
The range is available in a variety of colours and styles, including a motorised option, so you can tailor your choice to suit your space and colourway.
Are there any styles that go well with natural oak furniture?
BlindsbyPost True White eco-wood wooden blinds with cotton tapes
We have a range of wooden blinds available in cream and natural, medium wood, dark wood and light wood which would look great paired with natural oak furniture. Wooden blinds are a great addition to any home as they offer a timeless look and are incredibly practical.
We offer real wood, faux wood and a range of different stains to match any home to create a natural, rustic or contemporary interior. We also have a range of wooden Venetian blinds which allows the amount of light entering a room to be controlled, allowing for that bit more privacy and helping retain heat when installed within a window recess.
A contrasting and bright colour roller blind would also work well with oak furniture to brighten a room and add personality. Our roller blinds are available in a range of colours and patterns are available in motorised to create a smart home or in thermal fabrics to help insulate windows. Motorised blinds are perfect for tech-savvy homes and are a real talking point. They can be raised and closed at the touch of a button on a remote, or voice-activated through a home assistant, including Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
For more information visit BlindsbyPost to discover their complete collection of blinds. We’d love to see how you dress your windows at home. Make sure to tag us at #OakFurnitureland on Instagram to share your real home snaps.
