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Which blinds, shutters, louvres or awnings are best for your home?

When thinking of buying a window covering or outdoor shade, consider the following:

  • Colour: often a key consideration when seeking to enhance the aesthetic appeal of a room. It plays an important role in determining how effective the window covering or outdoor shade will be at helping control the temperature in a room and save energy.  Lighter colours reflect heat and light, darker colours absorb heat and may reflect that inwards.  Your location will help you determine if a lighter or darker colour suits best.
  • Light control: would you like to darken the room, reduce glare or allow natural light in?  Window coverings and outdoor shades can filter or deflect sunlight and provide different degrees of opacity:  blockout, filtered light or see-through.
  • Insulation & energy efficiency: one of the greatest benefits of window coverings and outdoor shades is their ability to control the temperature inside your home.  Selecting the right blind, shutter, louvre or awning will help better insulate your home and save energy.  A well-insulated window can reduce energy consumption as it relies less on air-conditioning/heating to control the temperature of a room.  Combine internal blinds and shutters with external blinds, louvres, shutters and awnings for the best year-round results.
  • Privacy: maintaining privacy day and night may be an important consideration, particularly for bedrooms and bathrooms.  Fortunately, you don’t need to give up a beautiful view or block out daylight to achieve an adequate level of privacy.  Various types of window coverings can help you achieve the required level of privacy.
  • Easy maintenance: a key consideration for those who are time poor or have a young family is the ease of maintenance.   Consider the material being used, the anti-static dust-repelling qualities, and how easy they are to clean.

Child safety:  window coverings and outdoor shades sold in Australia by members of the BMAA comply with the latest ACCC Child Safety Regulations to ensure they are safe for children.  Automation helps make your blinds and awnings child-safe.

Cellular Blinds

Cellular Blinds are made of two or more layers of pleated fabric that are folded to create “cells” and can be raised and lowered.  The cells of these blinds trap air and heat that can enhance insulation at the window.  Available in single-, double- and cell-within-a-cell formats, cellular blinds fold up like an accordion to control daylight, filter glare, and offer privacy.

While cellular blinds deliver all the benefits of conventional window coverings, they offer better thermal performance. Cellular blinds provide extra insulation by trapping air within each cell, as well as between the blind and the window, which is particularly beneficial in colder climates.

The automation of cellular blinds may enhance their energy saving potential and increase occupancy comfort.

Key Benefits

  • Greater privacy
  • Enhanced comfort
  • Reduce night time heat loss through windows
  • Minimise cold drafts near windows
  • Reduce unwanted solar heat gain through windows
  • Control daylight and glare

Roller Blinds

Internal Roller blinds, also known as holland blinds, are fitted on the inside of a window and are available in a wide variety of fabrics and weaves.   Roller blinds can also be fitted on the outside of a window, and these are commonly known as straight-drop awnings.  They effectively reduce solar heat gain, darken rooms, offer privacy, and enhance visual comfort by filtering sunlight to reduce eye strain caused by reflections and glare. Automated roller blinds and straight drop awnings have been shown to block solar heat gain effectively and reduce HVAC cooling loads.

Key Benefits

  • Low-cost
  • Increased privacy
  • Reduce unwanted solar heat gain through windows
  • Control daylight and glare

Fixed Screens

Fixed screens (also commonly known as fly screens) are fixed to a window frame on the outside.  Not only are they great at keeping mozzies and flies out, but solar screens help reduce solar heat gain, UV damage, and glare.

Key Benefits

  • An economical solution for reducing solar heat gain through windows
  • Reduce glare
  • UV protection

Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds feature stacked horizontal slats that can be tilted, raised or lowered.  The slats are made of metal, plastic, or wood and are typically connected with cloth tape or with cords.  This allows them to be tilted as well as raised and lowered for effective daylight control.  Indoor venetian blinds come in a variety of sizes.  Larger width slats of weather proof materials are used in external venetian blinds.

Key Benefits

  • Cost effective
  • Improve comfort
  • Reduce unwanted solar heat gain through windows
  • Increase privacy
  • Can be useful on any window type
  • Easily adjustable control of daylight and glare

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds are made of stackable vertical blades and are commonly used on terrace or sliding-glass doors.  They come in a variety of fabrics and colours and can be opened and closed with pull cords.  Vertical blinds are for indoor use only, and are effective at providing privacy and controlling the amount of daylight entering a room.

Key Benefits

  • Cost effective
  • Improve comfort
  • Reduce unwanted solar heat gain through windows
  • Increase privacy
  • Control daylight and glare

Pleated Blinds

Pleated blinds are made of accordion-like folded fabrics and are available in an extensive range of colours and textures.  For indoor use only, they are effective for privacy and light control and offer good thermal control.

Key Benefits

  • Easy to install
  • Widely available
  • Good thermal control

Louvred Shutters

Also known as plantation shutters, louvred shutters are a popular choice for indoor or outdoor use.  They are made of wood, poly-resin or metal, and include articulated panels that can be swung open or slid sideways .  An important characteristic of louvred shutters are the adjustable louvres in each panel that allow users to control privacy and the amount of light entering a room.

Key Benefits

  • Attractive design
  • Improve comfort
  • Reduce unwanted solar heat gain through windows
  • Increase privacy
  • Can be useful on any window type
  • Control daylight and glare

Roller Shutters

Window roller shutters are installed on the outside of a window or patio door.  Most are made of metal and provide high levels of privacy and enhanced security.  They are also effective at controlling the amount of heat and light entering a room.   Roller Shutters come in a variety of colours; darker colours will absorb heat whilst lighter colours will reflect heat away.

Key Benefits

  • Provide privacy
  • Effective control of daylight and glare
  • Effective control of summer heat entering a room
  • Enhanced security

Louvred Panels

Installed on the outside of a window, louvred panel are made of metal and have blades that may be fixed or operable.  Louvred panels are an ideal solution where year-round shading is required as they are effective at controlling the amount of sunlight entering a room.

Key Benefits

  • Effective sunlight control
  • Low maintenance
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