Conservatory Blinds

Conservatory blinds are probably the most important decorating choice you will make once you have bought your conservatory. They don’t only make a fashion statement, they serve a distinctly practical purpose.

A good set of blinds is vital for your conservatory, because they are the only thing protecting your conservatory, and what’s inside it, from the heat of the sun. Conservatories are a great sun trap, and make it possible to sit in the sun even on cool days, but on hotter days, the suns rays will heat your conservatory windows, and the temperature in the room will quickly rise to an intolerable level. For those sitting in a conservatory, the harsh light of the sun may also become difficult to bear on a sunny day, making it uncomfortable to use your expensive conservatories for large parts of the year.

The best blinds will not just look protect you from the sun though – don’t forget that it gets cold in the winter, and glass is not an effective insulator. A good set of conservatory blinds will also do a great job of helping to keep your conservatory warm in the winter.

This article lists each main type of conservatory blind, and gives you a few pointers as to what to consider when making your choice.

Roman conservatory blinds

Simple, traditional and minimalist, roman blinds have been around for millennia. First invented in the Mediterranean (not actually by the Romans, as is commonly thought, but close enough), they are made of a single sheet of pleated fabric, that is raised and lowered by a simple cord.

Although you can use any fabric for a roman blind, it’s generally best to go for something reasonably durable and thick, and where possible use material that has been treated on the reverse side, to reflect additional sunlight and to block UV rays.

Roman Blinds make a great DIY project, as they are relatively easy to make. Not too easy that they don’t present a challenge, but not too difficult to overwhelm either. There are plenty of instructions on the net, both in written form (with diagrams) or in video form.

Conservatory Roller Blinds

If roman blinds are too complex, and you value simplicity above everything, then roller blinds may be a better option. Nothing more than a sheet of fabric rolled around a dowel, they are the ultimate in minimalist blinds. Again, you want to make sure that they have been treated to reflect sunlight. These can be used as conservatory roof blinds, but only with the addition of a frame for them to glide down, or guiding wires alongside the sides of the blind.