Mastering Elegance and Comfort: The Ultimate Conservatory Blinds buying guide

Inspiration

BY Abi Clewley

Published: 13 October 2023 Updated: 25 March 2024

Inspiration
Tags: Blinds, Buying guides

A conservatory is a sanctuary of light, seamlessly blending the beauty of the outdoors with the comfort of indoor living. To optimise this entrancing space, choosing the right conservatory blinds is crucial. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the world of conservatory blinds, addressing key considerations, blind types, operation, and maintenance, ensuring that your conservatory remains a haven of style and functionality all year round.

What are conservatory blinds?

Conservatory blinds are specially designed window coverings tailored to suit the distinct features of conservatories. They serve multiple purposes, such as providing temperature control, light regulation, privacy, and aesthetic enhancement. Unlike traditional blinds, conservatory blinds are crafted to accommodate the large glass surfaces and unique shapes that are typical of many conservatory designs.

TS 2023 Distant Hills Duette Conservatory

Challenges of conservatory blinds

Conservatory windows can present challenges when it comes to finding suitable window coverings. Common issues include:

• Light bleed: Choose blinds with features that minimise light bleed, such as blackout fabrics or blackout linings, ensuring a cosy ambiance for night time use.
• Different types of fittings: Explore blinds that don't require drilling into UPVC, preserving the integrity of your conservatory structure.
• Conservatory size: Larger conservatories may benefit from electric blinds for convenience, while smaller spaces might prioritise slimline and space-saving designs.

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Key considerations when choosing conservatory blinds

Temperature control
Conservatories are susceptible to temperature fluctuations more so than most other areas in a home. Opt for blinds with insulating properties, such as cellular or honeycomb blinds, to regulate temperature and keep the space comfortable year-round.

Light control
Consider the orientation of your conservatory and the intensity of sunlight it receives. Light-filtering blinds, sheer fabrics, or adjustable slats can help you control the amount of light entering the space.

Noise reduction
If your conservatory is in a noisy area, choose blinds with thicker materials or fabric options that absorb sound, creating a more quiet and serene environment.

Durability or fading
Conservatory blinds are exposed to intense sunlight by the very nature of the room. Select materials with UV-resistant properties or specialist treatments to prevent fading and ensure longevity, saving you money on frequent replacements.

Privacy
Balancing openness with privacy is essential for a conservatory. Blinds that allow you to adjust the level of visibility easily and quickly are a much more practical option.

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How do conservatory blinds work?

Conservatory blinds should operate with precision to provide optimal functionality with ease. The mechanisms vary based on the type of blinds used, but here's a quick run-through of some of them.

Roller blinds
Roller blinds can be lowered or rolled up, either electronically or manually, offering a simple and streamlined operation.

Venetian blinds
Adjustable slats are a distinguishing feature of venetian blinds and they allow you to control the angle of the blinds, managing light and privacy and can also be fully raised or lowered. Aluminium venetian blinds are available but we wouldn't recommend them for conservatories.

Vertical blinds
Narrow fabric panels that hang vertically, allowing you to adjust them to control light and maintain privacy. They can also be moved sideways along the window. Vertical and venetian blinds both offer a range of different blind types within these groups.

Frame fit blinds
Tailored to fit seamlessly within the window and door frames without the need for drilling, ensuring a practical option for opening that will always be a perfect fit and give an unobtrusive look.

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The best blinds for conservatories

Common convention says there's no best window treatment for a specific room, but only the best one for you as an individual, but when it comes to conservatory blinds this adage is much less true. While no two conservatories or glass extensions, are identical they do share more of the same challenges than any two rooms of the same function as there's less variables. Let's take a look at the possibilities.

Cellular or Honeycomb Blinds

Ideal for temperature control, these blinds have a honeycomb structure that traps air, providing insulation and energy efficiency. Our Duette® blinds are the original unique cellular design, that can be operated manually or electronically. They're available in a wide range of colours and there's also a lot of choice in the fabrics, including sheer, light reducing, textured and more. Holding heat at the window, they can keep the conservatory cool in summer and retaining heat in winter.

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Pleated Blinds

Compact and stylish, pleated blinds offer versatility and a modern aesthetic, making them suitable for conservatories with smaller windows or narrow casement windows that are frequently opened, as they can be installed into the frame rebate and move with the window. The can also be utilised for roof blinds for a conservatory, for a co-ordinated look.

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Roman Blinds

Fabric Roman blinds tend to be ignored when it comes to use in conservatories but with their arrival in the world of electronic blinds there's no reason to ignore them, especially if you utilise them in other rooms in your home and want to continue that co-ordinated look. Opt for an interlining and you'll enjoy the benefit of a reduction in heat loss during those cold winter months too.

Roller blinds

Roller blinds are often under-appreciated but modern styles really elevate it as a viable option for conservatory blinds. The choice of colours and patterns are impressive, with fabrics that can aid blackout, reduce glare and even recycled fabrics. They can also be motorised for ease of use.

Motorised blinds

Embrace the convenience of motorisation for hard-to-reach or large conservatories with many multiple windows with electric blinds. Control them with a remote or integrate them into your smart home system and you can use a simple app, or even Google or Amazon voice control systems for a hands-free operation. They're also a great choice if you're away from home as you can set timers to open and close at set times, giving the appearance of still being at home for added security.

Conservatory roof blinds

Conservatory roof blinds play a crucial role in managing light and temperature. Most conservatory roofs are either glass or polycarbonate, which allow enormous amounts of light and, in the warmer months, heat, into the room for a longer period throughout the day than a window that's only on one side of a room. Consider options such as these for optimum light and temperature control.

Duette® Roof Blinds

Perfect for angled or sloping roofs, Duette® roof blinds offer precise light control and insulation, with a motorised option for ease of use.

Pleated Roof Blinds

Elegant and versatile, pleated roof blinds can be tailored to fit conservatory roofs seamlessly. Choose a specialist coating to reduce heat gain for optimum benefits.

Maintaining Your Conservatory Blinds

Cleaning all the blinds in a conservatory is no different to any other room, and different blind types have different requirements so always follow the guidance given at purchase. The one difference with conservatory blinds is the room itself is more susceptible to mould than interior rooms, as they can potentially suffer more with condensation which raises the humidity in the air, causing mould to form. Prevention is always better than cure so ensuring you ventilate your conservatory and heating it adequately is always the best defence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the choice of conservatory blinds goes beyond mere aesthetics; it's about creating a harmonious space that seamlessly integrates with the unique features of your conservatory. By considering temperature control, operation, style, and expert fittings, you can transform your conservatory into a haven of comfort and elegance. Whether you opt for cellular blinds, electric blinds, or any of the other solutions above, the right conservatory blind will elevate your conservatory experience to new heights.