Roller blinds are one of the simplest window treatments available. Fabric is attached to and then wound around a roller. To roll the blind down you simply pull the fabric down to the required length, and hey presto! Roller blinds have become more and more sophisticated in recent years and there are specialist blinds and fittings to suit all sorts of situations.
Chain or spring operation?
Firstly you can choose between a chain operated roller or a spring operation. The advantages of a chain operation are that it is easy to control and allows you to stop the blind easily at any point, there are fewer parts to go wrong and so it has been considered a more reliable method than the spring operation. Nowadays however as technology has improved spring rollers have become much more reliable and can come with gearing which will offer the user a gentle slow, controlled motion when operating. The advantage of these new springs is that they are very child safety friendly. As they do not need chains or looped cords to operate them the risk of a small child becoming entangled is removed.
Practical
A roller blind is a very practical choice, as it can be operated easily and provides shading from the sun, protecting furniture and other expensive furnishings in the room. It also provides light control and can be used to cut out glare when watching television or working on a computer screen for example. For privacy there is nothing as simple as a roller blind to block out the outside world.
Uses
Roller blinds are a popular choice blinds and curtains for bathrooms and kitchens; this is because their composition and special coating makes them ideal for use in rooms where moisture might be an issue. They are very minimalist in style and easy to keep clean, as most fabrics can be “wipe” cleaned with a soft damp cloth.
Blackout roller blinds are a very popular choice nowadays for bedrooms either as a standalone window treatment or used alongside curtains. Blackout blinds can offer a good solution when room darkening is required, such as for a child’s bedroom during the light summer evenings or for shift workers who have to catch up on valuable sleep during the daytime. Blackout blinds often have thermal properties as well so give extra insulation value helping to keep rooms warm in winter and cool in the summer.
They can be used in any room in the house however, and the choice nowadays of the colour and design make them increasingly popular in the main living areas. Some suppliers can even take furnishing fabrics and laminate a backing onto it to enable it to be used as a roller blind. This means that consumers can now choose fabrics to co-ordinate or match their curtains, accessories or upholstery materials used in the home.