Types of Blinds in Australia

If you’re looking for blinds for your home, or how to clean your current blinds, then this article is for you! We cover the 11 types of blinds and tips on how to clean each of them.

If you’re looking for blinds to suit your windows, look no further, as we’ve got the top types of blinds in Australia listed here. 

Besides the style of blind, you can also choose different materials, colours, patterns and light control settings. By the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll be a blind-pro. Keep reading to find our blinding tips…

Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash.

9 Types of Blinds in Australia & How to Clean Them

There are so many blinds to choose from, so we thought we’d narrow it down for you. From classic venetian blinds to exquisite honeycomb blinds, there are options for any home. 

It’s also important to note that blinds need to be cleaned regularly, as they collect dust, which can be harmful when too much is breathed in. By dusting blinds weekly, you can avoid dust build up and also reduce the need for deep cleaning.

1. Roller blinds.

Roller blinds are one of the more modern blind solutions for Australian households. They tend to attract less dust and are less invasive than more traditional types of blinds. 

The blinds roll up or down using the relevant chains located on one side of the window and can be bought in various transparency options for precise sun control. These lightweight blinds come in almost any colour or pattern to suit your home’s colour scheme. 

The best part about roller blinds is they are discreet and low maintenance. Suiting both small and large window frames, you can’t go wrong installing these in your home. The only downside to them is the price, setting you back $60 on average per small blind, but can cost more if you need custom blinds. However, if you’re after something even more luxurious, you can get a motorised roller blind, which can be adjusted with remote controls. 

You can buy single or double roller blinds (day and night blinds), which is great to use for options for lighting. Having a more transparent blind to let light in, in addition to a blockout roller blind to use when you want far less light, is a great way to get any lighting option you want.

How to clean roller blinds:

Cleaning roller blinds is a breeze. 

  1. Simply wipe the extended blind with a damp cloth, or a sudsy towel when stubborn stains are present. 
  2. Leave the blinds extended until fully dry. 
  3. Where this does not sufficiently remove stains or marks, remove the blinds as per manufacturer instructions and soak material in a warm soapy water.
  4. Rinse with warm water.
  5. Hang to dry.
  6. Reinstall.

2. Vertical blinds.

Vertical blinds are commonly used for sliding doors, offices and patio doors. However, they can also be customised to suit any space and can be tilted open and closed using the track system they are attached to. 

Commonly found in offices, vertical blinds are typically made from fabric and can be easily used to control the light levels in your chosen space. Ideal for adding privacy control to your home in a matter of seconds.

Vertical blinds, also called vertical shades, can be bought with weights sewn in to keep them from blowing in the wind. These blinds are durable and single planks can be easily replaced if damaged. On average, vertical blinds cost $49 per window, which varies depending on labour, etc.

How to clean vertical blinds:

To remove dust from vertical blinds, simply wipe with a damp cloth or household duster. Be careful not to place too much pressure on the blinds as they may snap depending on the material. If you have stubborn stains to remove, get a microfibre cloth and some soapy water and pat out the mark.

3. Roman blinds.

Roman blinds are an elegant style that allow your window to be a feature. With their lightweight fabric and horizontal panels sectioned by sewn-in metal or exposed wooden battens, they are customisable to any window space. This design allows the fabric to elegantly fold itself when the blinds are raised. 

Your sleep-in dreams can be real life with Roman blinds available in various colours with either blockout or light filtering fabrics. In general, Roman blinds are roughly $66 per window, but remember it can double as décor!

How to clean Roman blinds:

To keep your Roman blinds in presentable shape, you’ll want to:

  • Dust them weekly
  • Vacuum lightly, only if the blinds are made of a tougher material and have acquired lots of dust. While it depends on the fabric type, it’s best to dust rather than vacuum Roman blinds, as vacuuming can cause damage. 

4. Venetian blinds.

When you think of blinds, these are probably the ones you think of first. Venetian blinds are one of the most common types of blinds, consisting of horizontal slats joined together by tapes (the strings you see) which can be raised and lowered with a wand or cord. You can get your Venetian blinds in a variety of materials, including aluminium and wood.

How to clean Venetian blinds:

You can dust or lightly vacuum venetian blinds to remove the dirt, but it may take more time and effort if they need a deep clean. You can remove the slats by turning them upwards and delicately pulling them out one side of the straps. Once all are removed, you can soak them in a bathtub and slightly scrub each slat with warm soapy water. Rinse them with warm water and let them dry before placing them back.

5. Zebra blinds.

Zebra roller blinds, also known as day and night blinds, feature horizontal strips alternating between sheer and solid fabric sections. They’re newer blinds with a higher price of $90 per blind. Adjusting the blinds to let more or less light in is the perfect way to make sure you’re getting the amount of light you want. 

This type of blind allows you to always have control of the amount of light coming in and gives you the privacy you need at night.

How to clean zebra blinds:

To deep clean zebra blinds, you can:

  • Remove the blinds from the window
  • Soak them in warm soapy water for an hour
  • After rinsing the blinds with warm water, wipe away any dirt or dust that’s still visible
  • Let them dry before hanging them back up in the window

6. Blackout blinds.

You’ll be thankful for blackout blinds when you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep. The thickness of this blind type doesn’t let light into your room, which is why they’re most common in bedrooms or multimedia rooms. 

These blinds are great to be the second blind of a double-layered roller blind, giving you the option to have no light, some light or full light. Since they are roller blinds, they’ll cost the same at a $66 per blind average.

How to clean blackout blinds:

Blackout blinds can be easily cleaned by dusting them or using a damp towel to wipe them down. If the blind hasn’t been cleaned in a while, you can:

  1. Soak the blinds in warm soapy water for a couple hours.
  2. Next, gently scrub them and rinse them with warm water.
  3. Ensure they’re fully dry before hanging them back up!

7. Planation shutters.

Plantation shutters are a great touch to rooms with large windows. With thick, wooden (it can be made from other materials too) shutters that can be easily opened or closed, these blinds are a great way to control light with a stylish look. 

However, since plantation shutters require wooden materials, the price ranges from $200 to $500 per square metre.

How to clean plantation shutters:

As plantation shutters are made from solid materials, they can be dusted or wiped down with a damp cloth to clean them.

8. Conservatory blinds.

Known as energy-saving blinds, conservatory blinds are made from special thermal fabrics. Thus, they help keep heat in during winter and heat out during summer. They keep your garden cool and protect your plants from the harsh conditions that come with the seasons. Conservatories can get too hot or too cold and harm the plants, which is why conservatory blinds are essential.

If you’re using your conservatory as a home office or other space, conservatory blinds are still recommended as it will still help manage the room’s temperature and prevent glare.

How to clean conservatory blinds:

  • Dust weekly
  • Give them a light vacuuming using a soft brush attachment

9. Skylight blinds.

Wherever your window is located, there’s a blind for it. Skylight blinds are specially designed for windows that are anything but vertical, allowing you to have more control over the amount of light coming in through your skylight windows. 

Skylight blinds are also effective in reducing glare and UV light, and reduce heat in summer and help insulate your home during winter. However, because they are hung slightly or fully horizontally, they collect more dust and sometimes small insects like flies or moths, which is why they should be cleaned frequently.

How to clean skylight blinds:

Like most blinds, skylight blinds also require regular cleaning. 

  • Dust blinds weekly, or
  • Lightly vacuum weekly
  • Deep cleaning the blinds can help to keep your blinds clean and fresh 

Depending where your skylight blind is, you will probably need a ladder to clean it, or you can find professional blind cleaners on localsearch.com.au.

10. Honeycomb blinds.

Honeycomb blinds, also known as cellular shades, are made of one consecutive piece of fabric, which has pleats the blind folds up along. Available in single, double or triple-layered blinds, this type of blind provides great insulation by trapping air in the ‘honeycomb’, or the cell created by the layers of pleats. 

This lightweight and decorative blind comes in a variety of materials, colours, pleat sizes and light control options to suit any room. Honeycomb blinds cost about $180 on average.

How to clean honeycomb blinds:

  • Light, regular dusting and vacuuming is all honeycomb blinds need to keep them clean.
  • Their cells may collect dust or small insects, which is why they should be dusted regularly.

11. Electric blinds.

Electric blinds use a small motor to open or close blinds with the push of a button. They come in a variety of blind types and cost about $150 – $350 for an electric roller blind for a small window. 

You can sometimes even program them to wake you up by opening at a selected time, in addition to closing later in the day when you’re after more privacy or less light. Electric blinds can be battery-operated and some can connect to your smartphone to control.

How to clean electric blinds:

Electric blinds are cleaned in certain ways depending on the material and style of the blind. Motorised blinds should be cleaned by dusting them, lightly vacuuming or using a damp cloth. If they need a deep clean, it’s best to contact a professional as it’s important to not damage the motor and it can be expensive to replace. Dusting them weekly helps prevent build-up and can reduce the need for professional cleaning.

If you need new blinds, or need to clean your current blinds, then you can find blinds and professional blind cleaners on localsearch.com.au!

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      Chloe Thistle

      Junior Marketing Administrator

      Chloe Thistle is a Junior Marketing Administrator at Localsearch, bringing her talents and background in digital and social media marketing to her role. She has sharpened her marketing skills across many different industries, including entertainment, fashion and in the B2B field. In her spare time, Chloe can be found either lounging at the beach or five coffees deep at one of her favourite local cafés. No stranger to adventures, she’s trekked to Mt. Everest Base Camp — fueled by coffee of course — has completed the Kokoda Challenge and is always looking for the next mountain to climb! Chloe loves looking for ways to combine her passions for adventure, sustainability and marketing, always chasing the latest trends in both marketing and fashion. Now, she’s utilising her vast life and digital marketing experience to blog and assist in the content with the Localsearch Marketing Team.