A Step-by-Step Buying Guide to Choosing the Perfect Roller Blind
Interested in buying new roller shades? Unsure how to choose a perfect roll-up window treatment for better light control, privacy, sleekness, safety, and convenience? A top tip for choosing the right color and opacity level for your roller shades is to order your free samples. Order as many free fabric samples as you like to see how they actually look and work in your room.
If you are on budget, search for a high-quality, affordable product. Roller blinds are affordable, versatile, and functionally versatile window treatments that come with a child-safe (cordless) lift option. A 100% custom roller shade with light filtering option typically costs between $39 (£30.63) and $317 (£248.97) for windows ranging from 15” (1.5 ft) W x 24” (2 ft) H to 96” (8 ft) W x 120” (10 ft) H.
For a perfect fit, functionality, and curb appeal, you need to consider different factors like size, type, style, pattern, fabric quality, and lift options.
Make sure to accurately measure the window frame, following specific procedures for inside and outside mounts.
There are additional factors that will affect the overall cost of roller window coverings, such as professional installation charges, warranty, and shipping fees.
What Are Roller Blinds?
Roller blinds consist of a single piece of fabric that smoothly rolls up and down to control light and privacy and enhance the aesthetics of your room.
With a wide range of sizes, materials, fabrics, and colors to choose from, roller window coverings can be fully customized to suit any interior decor style.
They are easy to operate and maintain and can be fitted inside or outside the window frame. Whether you’re looking for blackout blinds for your bedroom, sun-blocking roller blinds for a living room, or sheer shades for a soft and elegant touch, roller blinds provide a practical and stylish solution for any space.
A Step-by-Step Process to Buy Roller Blinds
Here is an easy step-by-step process to buy a roller blind that offers a perfect balance of quality, functionality, and affordability.
Step 1: Define Your Needs
When it comes to purchasing roller blind for your home, office, or other building, it’s crucial to understand and define your specific needs and requirements.
You can consider the following factors:
Assess the Purpose
Determine the primary purpose of buying and installing roller blinds in your space.
Are you looking to control light, maintain privacy, block UV rays, achieve energy efficiency, or enhance the overall aesthetics of your room? Identifying the purpose will help you to shop for the most suitable type of roller blind.
Accurately Measure Window Dimensions
Accurate measurements of your window size are essential for a proper fit.
Measure the width and height (w x h) of your window frame, both inside and outside the recess, to determine the size of the roller blind you will need.
Consider Your Existing Home Decor & Style
Take into account the interior design and style of your room.
Consider the pattern, color scheme, and overall ambiance to select a roller blind that seamlessly complements your existing interior design.
Step 2: Select a Suitable Functional Design for Your Roller Blind
Roller blinds come in different types, each designed to serve specific functional and aesthetic requirements. Understanding the different style variants will help you make an informed and futuristic choice:
Light Filtering Roller Blinds
These window blinds are versatile and offer a creative balance of light control, privacy, and style. Light filtering roller blinds are available in a wide range of colors, sizes, and fabrics, making them suitable for various room settings.
Blackout Roller Blinds to Block out 100% Light
If you require complete darkness in your room, blackout roller shades are the ideal choice. They effectively block out external light, so they are perfect for your bedrooms, home theaters, or rooms where light control is crucial.
Solar Roller Blinds for Sun Protection
Solar blinds provide adjustable sun protection with different openness levels while maintaining a view of the outside.
They reduce glare and protect your furniture, flooring, and other furnishings from fading, cracking, and warping due to sun exposure. Sunscreen blinds are popular for living rooms, offices, and rooms with large windows.
Step 3: Select Materials and Colors
The choice of materials, fabrics, and colors can significantly impact the aesthetics and performance of your roller blinds. Consider the following:
Materials
Roller blinds are available in various materials, such as cotton, polyester, linen, or a blend of these.
Fabric selection
Each material has its own benefits, such as durability, ease of maintenance, and light filtering capabilities. Select a fabric material that suits your preferences and requirements.
Colors
Roller blinds come in a wide range of colors to coordinate with your room’s interior decor theme or make a bold statement. Consider the color scheme and the mood you want to create in your space.
Color selection
Neutral tones provide a timeless and versatile appearance, while bolder colors can add vibrancy and personality.
Step 4: Consider the Price Factor
The normal cost of roller blinds or shades varies from $200 (£78.54) to over $600 (£471.23) per window, including product price ($39 to $317), shipping fees ($30 to $80) and professional installation charges ($50 to $100). However, at online stores like Affordableblinds.com, you can avail yourself of huge price discounts of up to 70%!
The discounted price range will be from around $39 to around $200! However, these prices are for small-sized products.
As you go on increasing the size, the price will keep adding up. For example, the discounted price of a motorized light-filtering roller shade would be over $350.
Step 5: Think About Installation Type and Additional Features
In this section, we will discuss the installation process and other important considerations when buying a roller blind:
Installation
Decide whether you will opt for an inside mount or an outside mount for your roller blind. The inside mount offers a sleek, streamlined look and is suitable when you have sufficient window frame depth.
- An outside mount installation is ideal when you need to cover the entire window frame and some area around it.
- Consider whether you will install the blinds yourself through DIY tips or hire a professional installer for assistance.
Additional Features
- Explore additional features that can boost the functionality of your roller blinds Motorization allows you to control the blinds with ease, and cordless (top-down/bottom-up) operation provides a clean and child-safe option.
- A smart lift can be integrated into your existing smart home automation system. Assess your needs and available budget to determine if these features are necessary.
Budget
- Roller blinds for windows are available at various price points. Set your budget and compare prices from different sources.
Consider the quality, durability, warranty, and other free features offered by different manufacturers or online retailers to ensure you are getting the best value for your investment.
Where to Buy Roller Blinds at Best Prices and Discounts
Buy your new roller blinds from reputed and reliable online retailers that offer big discounts and free offers, such as free samples and free shipping.
If you buy new cellular or honeycomb shades at Affordableblinds.com, you’ll get:
- Up to 70% discounts
- Free Shipping throughout the contiguous United States at no cost to you
- 110% best price guarantee.
- 100% Worry-Free Fit: We’ll take up part of the cost to get your problem resolved, if you miss-measure your window.
- A Free Lifetime Guarantee
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee with 5-star customer care
- Free Consultancy (Measuring, Installing, Choosing Right Product)
Conclusion
Summing up, buying a roller blind involves careful consideration of your needs, accurate window frame measurements, type of blind, materials, colors, installation, and your budget.
By following the guidelines provided in this buying guide, you can confidently choose the right roller blind that not only meets your requirements but also fits well for better light control and to enhance the decorative appeal of your space.
FAQs
How do I know what size roller blinds to get?
To know the size of roller blinds for a perfect fit, you need to accurately measure the window dimensions. There will be different measurement procedures for inside and outside mounts. In each case, make sure to use a steel measuring tape and measure to the nearest 1/8th of an inch. If the size is on the 1/16” mark, round it down to the next ⅛”.
Measuring Window for Outside or Inside Mount Roller Blinds
Outside mount roller blinds are mounted on the window molding or wall above your window. Inside mount roller shades are installed inside the window frame or casing, so they’ll provide a sleeker, cleaner look.
Here is our DIY step-by-step guide on how to measure windows for outside mount and inside mount roller shades.
- Measure Width: Measure the width of the windows at top, middle, and bottom. Record the narrowest value.
- Measure Height: Measure the height of the top of the window or other space from the top to bottom in the left, middle, and right. Record the shortest measurement. For example, if the measurements are 60”, 60 ¾”, and 60 ¾”, order blinds measuring 60 inches (5 ft) in length.
- Measure Depth (for Inside Mount): Measure the depth of your window frame, from the front of the opening to the glass. Make sure your window’s recess meets the minimum depth requirements for an inside mount.
How do I choose Roller Blinds?
When choosing roller blinds for your home, office, or other space, consider the room’s function, your interior decor settings, and the direction of the windows. Also, access the fabric quality, color, size, ease of installation, operation, and cleaning before making your selection.
- Choose sheer roller blinds, if you want to let in lots of light while maintaining privacy during the day.
- Select light filtering roller blinds for living room, dining room, or study room where you want to let in light while maintaining privacy during the day and night.
- Go with a room darkening roller blind for your media room or home theater.
- We recommend a blackout roller blind for your bedroom or kid’s room where you’ll need to block out 100% light.
- Buy solar roller shades for your porch, pergola, or swimming pool.
Should roller blinds be wider than windows?
It depends. If you are going to install new roller blinds on the window molding or on the wall above, they need to be slightly wider and taller than the window opening. We recommend going at least 3” to 4” wider than the opening on either side, so 6” to 8” in total. These extra inches will provide extra light coverage and ensure better privacy and insulation.
How should roller blinds fit?
To perfectly fit roller blinds, align them edge to edge to prevent light leakage. Also, the spring roller should not be too tight to ensure smooth operation. When the shade won’t stay down, the spring roller is too tight. When it won’t roll up, the spring is too loose.
Need Further Assistance?
Still unsure how to buy a perfect roller blind for your windows for better functionality, decorative appeal, safety, and convenience? Contact our professionals using 24/7 live chat or give us a ring at (800) 863-6109 for expert advice and custom roller blind solutions.