Best blinds for living rooms

Jun 10, 2023

WHEN it comes to making the most of your windows, the best blinds for living rooms will tick a variety of boxes, including looks, light and longevity.

What blinds you buy will depend on factors such as personal taste, window size and how you use your room, as well as the position of the window itself.

For example, you may decide on no or minimal window dressing for French doors that lead onto your garden, but if people constantly walk past your house, looking in as they do so, or your home is on a busy road with buses passing by regularly, then you want something that ensures privacy while letting in daylight at the same time.

A further factor to take into consideration, especially with rising prices, is insulation. Blinds with good thermal properties help keep heat in the room, so you can lower the thermostat and stay warm, without worrying about heat escaping through your windows.

If your living room gets the sun all day then the opposite might be true for you. Closing the blinds will of course stop the sun from getting in and keep the room cool to a certain extent, but you might want to consider window coverings with solar reflective backing to reduce the heat levels even more.

For many of us, the most important consideration when buying blinds is how they look and how they add to the overall décor. The best living room blinds enhance your room, so choose a type that matches the vibe – traditional or contemporary, then within that, choose a style that complements your way of living.

Vertical blinds will be no good for your if you like to display lots of knick-knacks on your window sill, as every time you open or close them you risk knocking them over. For minimalist layouts, Venetian or roller blinds offer a fuss-free aesthetic.

If you’re a total tech head and you already run your lights, music, TV and heating via your smartphone then electric blinds are obviously going to appeal. They also add an extra security dimension when you’re away from home as you can open and close them remotely. Finally, they make for an ideal solution for difficult-to-reach and very large windows, as you can adjust them with ease at the touch of a button.

These double blinds are a great idea. They have two layers – one is made from a lightweight voile, which lets in daylight and allows you to see through them, but also gives you some privacy from prying eyes. The second layer is a blackout blind that keeps out light at night, as well as retaining warmth.

They’re available in a variety of colours and as they’re made to measure they’ll fit any window, no matter what the size.

Comes with a five-year guarantee.

Material: polyester (both layers), size: made to measure, colours: white, teal, blue, beige, grey, brown and black, with soft-grey or white voile.

The honeycomb or cellular construction of this blind helps hold heat in your room for longer.

The honeycomb shape – little pockets or cells all separate but linked together – hold in warm air, reducing heat lost at night and helping stop drafts. This is great during the winter when you want to keep your house warm without having to whack up the central heating thermostat.

In summer they have the opposite effect: when closed they help keep the space cool, stopping the sun from overheating your room.

Comes with a five-year guarantee. Free fabric sample available.

Material: 100% polyester, size: made to measure

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If you’re the kind of person who loves controlling your lights, heating, music, and even washing machine via your smart device, then you’re going to love motorised blinds. They offer complete control at the touch of a button.

However, they’re not just for tech heads and minimalist modern décor – roller, Roman, and even Venetian blinds can be motorised, with styles to fit traditional as well as contemporary looks. This blind for example would work in a country cottage layout, while this motorised Roman blind would work for a traditional English home feel.

Motorised blinds enhance security, as you can open and close them from wherever you are via smart apps, and practically speaking, they’re ideal for older people who may struggle with manual fastenings.

As well as your blind, you will also need to buy a charger and a Somy connectivity hub (from £85).

Material: cotton, size: made to measure

This stylish wooden blind comes in white, which reflects the sun and helps lighten up any room. Adjust the slats to suit your mood – totally closed for privacy, fully open to let in maximum light, or somewhere between the two so you can see out, but passers-by can't see in.

Wooden blinds complement a traditional county look, where the emphasis is placed on natural materials for furniture, fabrics such as cotton and linen, wool throws, neutral colours, and finishing features such as plants or stone lamps. Perfect for Scandi décor.

Material: wood, size: from 60cm W x 160cm drop

Ah this takes us back to the early ‘90s when bamboo blinds were everywhere!

This stylish example from Argos won't put a dent in your wallet and it still looks good. It lets light in and does give privacy when closed – at least during the day. At night, with lights on inside, it can be a different matter, but with this type of blind, it's more about the look.

You could pair it with curtains to make sure nobody can see into your living room at night – this gives a layering effect which looks fab when you go for complementary or contrasting colours, as well as increased insulation, keeping your room warmer.

It's also available in contemporary grey and white.

Material: bamboo, size: 60cm, 90cm, 120cm and 180cm W x 160cm drop, colours: natural, white and grey

This roller blind is an excellent budget option and as it's a blackout blind, it's made to keep out the light too, so would be great to dress bedroom as well as living room windows.

The solid colour means it works with any kind of décor, no matter what the style – and there's a good selection of shades to choose from so you can pair it with complementary or contrasting colours in your walls and floors, or even to pick out highlights from your furnishings.

Material: 100% polyester, size: 60, 90, 120 and 180cm wide x 160cm drop, colours: duck egg blue, pink, grey, cream, taupe, black, white, ochre, basil and navy

If you have full-length windows or French doors then shutters add a lovely touch of luxury. However, they can be expensive so we were thrilled to find these in faux wood (heat-shrinkable polyvinyl chloride). The material doesn't crack or warp, which can happen with wood, so though they’re manmade they do have certain advantages over the real thing.

For those of us not lucky enough to have full-height windows, these shutters are also available to fit smaller windows – and they still look fab.

Comes with a three-year guarantee.

Material: faux wood, size: made to measure, colours: various shades of white, cream and grey

Vertical blinds are available in masses of designs, textures and shades, including plain and patterned, so you’ll find the ideal vertical blind for your colour scheme and décor.

They offer a stylish way to dress your windows, whether we’re talking large, small, French doors, or even bay windows – and bay windows can be a nightmare.

This Atom Copper design is fitted to a flexible track that follows the curves of the bay window, positioned neatly within it, so no jarring edges or separate sections. The metallic detail in this design adds a delightful shimmer.

Material: 100% polyester, size: made to measure, colours: copper and silver

This blind is made up of two layers – one you can see through, one you can't – giving the impression of horizontal slats, like those seen in Venetian blinds.

During the day, light comes through the voile layer and you can see out, but the thicker layer serves to add privacy, so passers-by can't easily see in.

However, unlike Venetian blinds, where you open and close the slats, this is a roller blind, so when you adjust the cord the layers of material move and the blackout part covers the voile, shutting out the light. Ingenious!

Comes with a five-year guarantee.

Material: 100% polyester, size: made to measure

Roman blinds are perfect for bay windows with distinct and separate sections. You have complete control over adjustment, so you can have the blind on one pane fully open and the others closed, or all open at different heights to suit.

Texture also adds interest as can be seen with these Melton Pumice Roman blinds, which have a rustic look and are fully lined. The hints of grey and cream coming through the mushroom brown background add an organic feel to the fabric, making them ideal for country and traditional room styles.

Available with a free blackout lining if required.

Material: 87% polyester, 13% viscose, size: made to measure

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