Blinds Guide 2025: How to Choose the Best Blinds for Your Home

Blinds are one of the most versatile window furnishings, they provide privacy, control light and add a tailored finish to your interiors.

Whether you prefer the clean simplicity of a roller blind or the soft folds of a Roman blind, the right choice will not only enhance your room’s look but also improve its comfort and functionality.

In this buyer’s guide to blinds for 2025, No Chintz founder Chrissie Jeffery shares expert insights on choosing the best blinds for each room, comparing styles, and understanding the pros and cons of different options. If you’re considering custom blinds in Sydney, this guide will help you make a confident, informed decision.
 

What to Consider When Buying Blinds

Before choosing blinds, think about:

• Light Control: Do you want to block out light completely, filter it softly, or allow flexibility with day/night options?
• Privacy: Some rooms, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, demand complete privacy, while others only need soft screening.
• Insulation: Blinds can help keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer when paired with the right fabric and lining.
• Style: Roller blinds offer a minimal look while Roman blinds introduce softness, texture, and depth.
   

Types of Blinds: Roller & Roman Explained

Blinds come in many different styles, each offering a unique balance of function and aesthetics. Chrissie explains the most popular options available at No Chintz:

Roller Blinds

• Mesh Sunscreen Rollers: The most common and practical blind. These reduce glare and heat, making them especially effective on north- or west-facing windows that receive strong sunlight. Lower them during daylight hours to protect furnishings from fading and sun damage.

• Stiffened Fabric Rollers: Made from fine muslins and cottons, these blinds are decorative and provide privacy, though they’re not as effective for complete sun block. They add softness and texture while keeping a space light and airy.

• Bonded Roller Blinds: Created using fine cottons, lawns, or poplins, bonded rollers are versatile and can be paired with a bonded pelmet for a tailored look. They provide a neat, fabric-driven alternative to standard sunscreen rollers.

Roman Blinds

• Classic Deluxe Roman: Folding into flat panels, this blind adds colour and structure to a room. Always blockout lined, they offer excellent light and sun protection, making them a reliable and stylish choice. Operated by a cord system, they suit both contemporary and classic interiors.

• Unconstructed Roman: A softer, unlined version, often made in linen for a relaxed, informal look. Perfect for beach houses, playrooms, or casual spaces. Pair with a blockout roller blind behind for extra privacy and sun control.

• Swag Roman: A more decorative style, ideal for bedrooms or formal spaces. With its draped shape, blockout lining, and often an interlining for an elegant finish, the swag Roman blind offers superior light control. The shape also lends itself to embellishment with trims, tapes, or fringes for a luxurious touch.

 

Which Blinds Are Best for Each Room?

Every room has different needs, and the right blind can make all the difference.

• Bedroom Blinds: Blockout blinds are a must for restful sleep. A Roman blind with blockout lining feels luxurious and cocooning, while a roller blockout blind is practical and sleek.
   
• Living Room Blinds: The lounge room is about both comfort and style. Roman blinds add softness and elegance, while double rollers (a sheer blind paired with a blockout blind) give you flexibility - light during the day and privacy at night.
   
• Dining Room Blinds: Dining rooms suit a touch of formality. Roman blinds in linen or cotton blends create warmth and sophistication, while roller blinds provide a pared-back, modern finish.
   
• Kitchen Blinds: Practicality is key in kitchens. Roller blinds in easy-clean fabrics are ideal, and moisture-resistant options are essential near sinks or cooktops.
   
• Bathroom Blinds: Bathrooms need moisture-resistant blinds. Synthetic roller blinds or shutters work best, ensuring durability without sacrificing style.
   

What Are the Best Blinds for Privacy?

For maximum privacy, opt for:

• Double roller blinds with a sheer blind for daytime and a blockout blind for night-time.
• Roman blinds with lining for a more decorative, fabric-driven option that still provides complete coverage.
   

How Do You Stop Light Coming Through the Edges of Blinds?

One of the most common frustrations with blinds is light seeping in around the edges. Chrissie recommends a few simple tricks to minimise this:

• Mount the blind close to the wall: The tighter the fit, the less space there is for light to escape.

• Make it generous in size: Choose a blind that is wider and longer than the window frame to ensure complete coverage.

• Add a pelmet: A pelmet above the blind not only finishes the look but also properly controls light seepage at the top.

By considering these details, you can achieve a much darker, more restful room, especially important in bedrooms or spaces where privacy and light control are essential.

Are Roller or Roman Blinds Better?

Both roller and Roman blinds have their strengths:

• Roller Blinds
  • Sleek, modern look.
  • Affordable and easy to operate.
  • Great for kitchens, bathrooms, and contemporary interiors.
     
• Roman Blinds
  • Soft folds add texture and character.
  • Excellent for bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms.
  • Provide stronger insulation and light-blocking when lined.
     

The choice comes down to style, budget, and function. Many Sydney homes combine both rollers for practical spaces and Romans for rooms that need a touch of luxury.
 

What Are the Disadvantages of Roller Blinds?

While roller blinds are popular, it’s important to consider their limitations:

• They don’t insulate as well as lined Roman blinds.
• Fabric options are typically lighter-weight.
• Mechanisms can wear with heavy use.
• They don’t add the softness or depth of curtains or Romans blinds.
   

Expert Design Tips for Blinds

Chrissie’s insider tips for elevating your blinds:

• Mount blinds higher than the window to create the illusion of taller ceilings.
• Recess tracks into the ceiling where possible for a seamless finish.
• Layer blinds with curtains for both practicality and luxury.
• Match fabric to the scale of the space, small rooms suit simple textures, while large rooms can carry bold patterns or stripes.
   

Why Choose Custom Blinds in Sydney?

Ready-made blinds may be quick, but custom-made blinds ensure a perfect fit and a professional finish. With No Chintz custom blinds, you can:

• Select from hundreds of designer fabrics.
• Tailor blinds to your room’s dimensions and purpose.
• Achieve a seamless, built-in look that elevates interiors.
• Enjoy quality workmanship that lasts for years.

The No Chintz Blinds Experience

At No Chintz, we’ve been designing window furnishings for over 30 years. When you visit our Sydney showrooms, you’ll find:

• Exclusive fabrics on the roll to purchase by the metre or use for custom blinds.
• Expert advice from trained consultants who guide you through fabric choice, functionality and installation.
• Fabric Swatches allow you to try the fabrics at home before purchasing.
• Professional service from design to installation.
   

Blinds are more than just practical, they shape the comfort, privacy and personality of your home. By understanding the strengths of roller and Roman blinds and tailoring them to each room, you can create interiors that feel both stylish and functional.

Ready to explore blinds for your home? Visit a No Chintz Sydney store in Mosman, Willoughby or Woollahra, complete the online enquiry form below or book a design consultation with our expert team.