When it comes to a conservatory, you might not realise just how crucial blinds can be. Not only do they add privacy but they also help to regulate the temperature and the amount of light that is able to get through.
Blinds offer shade to cool down the space in the summer and insulation to stay warm in the winter. And even though they’re a practical purchase, that doesn’t mean that you can’t add some style and personality to your conservatory with your choice of blinds.
There are also lots of different blind ideas that can completely update your conservatory ideas. So, if you’re looking for ways to give your indoor-outdoor space an update, we have a feeling you’ll find at least one which takes your fancy below.
Conservatory blind ideas
Whether you’re in the process of adding a conservatory to your home and wondering how to plan a conservatory, or if you’re looking for ways to breathe some fresh life into an existing space, we’ve got you covered.
1. Welcome privacy with venetian blinds
Classic venetian blinds offer aluminium slats which provide more than sufficient privacy when in place, blocking the view into your glass garden room. The tilt functionality allows you to open and close the slats to control the amount of visibility.
If your garden is overlooked you will benefit from a touch of privacy provided by this traditional blind design.
2. Control the light on all levels
Given a classic conservatory design features 75 per cent windows, it can be hard to decide where is best to place blinds. These Duoshade Easifit Grey Weave conservatory blinds from Blinds2Go are made to measure, giving you precise coverage for your space.
Choose to restrict the view on the bottom windows for privacy and on the top windows to control the heat. Set on easy to install brackets, which simply click into place. This option of blinds requires no tools to fix them in place.
3. Go electric
If you’re looking for convenience above all else, you might want to consider installing electric blinds. ‘Choosing electric blinds with a thermal lining and setting up a timer for them to lower when your conservatory gets the most direct sunlight will help to keep your space cool,’ explains Leah Aspinall, Head of Design at Blinds 2go.
An electric upgrade is also a great idea for any windows that are hard to reach, whether they are higher up or are blocked by furniture or other design elements.
4. Install sail blinds
If your conservatory can get a little hot and stuffy, particularly over the warmer months or it can feel too bright at times, sail blinds could offer the perfect solution. Not only do ‘they create dappled shading and diffused light,’ as Andrew Chalk, Operations Director at the British Blinds & Shutters Association, affirms but they can also help to reflect heat as MyJobQuote.co.uk’s Interior Design Expert, Ryan McDonough, concurs.
‘With its energy-efficient fabric, a roof sail can reflect more than 70% of the sun’s heat while still flooding your conservatory with diffused natural light,’ he adds.
5. Insulate and reduce noise pollution with honeycomb
'We would usually recommend our Duette product range, partly due to the fact that it helps control temperature,' notes Chris Lapthorne at Luxaflex.
If you're wondering how to make a conservatory warmer, Chris has the answer. 'Duette has a unique honeycomb design and as you’ll know conservatories can become incredibly hot during the summer months. Duette stops heat from entering a room in the warmer months. And is also able to lock in heat during the cooler months.'
'Not only does it control temperature, but it can also absorb sound, reducing noise pollution and creating the perfect space to relax and unwind.'
6. Opt for a nature inspired design
Many of our conservatories will look out into nature or at the very least some greenery in our back gardens, so why not use this inspiration for your conservatory blinds. ‘Incorporating nature into our indoor environment can create a calming space through this visual connection to nature,’ Leah says. ‘Opt for blinds in earthy tones, with botanical patterns, or even natural materials to create a serene interior.’
You’ll want to ‘consider designs like lush botanical prints featuring leaves and flowers, which seamlessly bring the outdoors in,’ admits ILIV’s Design Manager, Debbie Leigh. ‘Floral patterns, whether bold or delicate, can add a touch of elegance and femininity too. While foliage patterns, bird and butterfly prints also add depth and vitality to the botanical narrative.’
7. Try transition blinds
‘The option to have two fabrics within one blind can make transition blinds the perfect choice for your conservatory windows,’ Ryan argues. ‘They consist of two pleated blinds inside one unit with a dividing bar in the middle. By sliding the bar up and down you can reveal the fabric at the top or the bottom as you wish, allowing you to control the light, heat and privacy levels in your conservatory.’
Having two designs in one also gives you more scope to include different colours or patterns, allowing you to add some more personality to your conservatory space.
8. Balance privacy with light levels
An open-plan kitchen diner can double as a small conservatory thanks to the roof lights and large sliding doors.
'Naturally, vertical and Venetian blinds can have their slats angled to allow that perfect level of light to enter the space while keeping prying eyes out,' advises Ana Zuravliova, Trend Specialist at Blinds Direct.
'Moreover, with many colours and finishes available to consider, both can easily add a sophisticated and elegant aesthetic to any part of the home.'
9. Co-ordinate all window coverings
This large conservatory has blinds on every pane of glass – a trick that works well if you're looking for window treatments for your orangery idea too.
'We are able to produce Duette Shades in different apex shapes too, so they can be used for the roof and help to create a uniformed look with the side blind,' says Chris from Luxaflex.
'If teamed with our TruFit solution you can create a seamless look, without the need for drilling or screwing. These shades are cord free. They can also be integrated with our home automation system PowerView so that the blinds can be moved at the touch of a button, through your handheld device or tablet.'
10. Add subtle coverage and colour
Create a happy compromise between covering windows and enjoying the view beyond. English Blinds have a solution that is ideal to add subtle layers of privacy and colour, with a smart Vision Day & Night design.
The conservatory blinds offer an innovative two layered half voile, half opaque fabric design, to transform the way you enjoy sun, privacy and shade in your garden room.
The hybrid of fabrics provides a subtle blind solution for your home while this large corner sofa is the perfect piece of conservatory furniture. They operate in the same way as regular roller blinds – featuring a control chain running in a loop at one side of the blind to move them up or down.
11. Layer different materials
Layering a variety of textures and ‘combining opposing materials, like sheer fabrics and bamboo, can add visual depth and interest to the space while controlling the light and privacy of your conservatory,’ affirms John Davis, Owner and Operational Director at Springfield Steel Buildings.
This also gives you the opportunity to experiment with the different layers to create a cosy and inviting space.
12. Welcome an accent colour
Use your blind choice to inject an accent colour into your conservatory interior idea. Be unapologetic about using a bold accent colour to enliven an all-white conservatory. A bold accent colour can prevent the space from feeling flat, dull and a little sterile.
Whether using a plain blind, as shown above, or a pattern, ensure the colour is used throughout the rest of the decor to unify the look. Generally it's best to stick to one dominant accent colour. Pair it with a maximum of two other less dramatic shades on soft furnishings tableware and accessories.
13. Cover bi-fold conservatory doors
An increasing number of conservatories now have bi-fold doors leading outside but these can be a little trickier to cover with window dressings or blinds than a traditional door.
However, you can actually get blinds that are designed to fit directly onto the glass of each door thanks to brackets that slip between the rubber beading and glass. This means they won’t protrude from the door frames and will ensure that you can still operate your doors as normal.
14. Enhance the decor
Make your practical window treatment understatedly attractive to enhance the decor. Choose a neutral blind solution to add a stylish touch, without overpowering with pattern and colour – sometimes less is more.
Use natural tones with warmth to lift the white aesthetic of a conservatory space. Add subtle rustic touches such as this industrial conservatory lighting ideas and metallic chairs.
15. Block direct overhead sunlight
Go for the most practical blind solution to suit your space. If you're on a budget and looking for the most effective blinds to make a multipurpose conservatory more useable, at any time of day simply block the sunlight overhead. Only covering one area makes dressing the space with blinds more affordable.
Blocking the light overhead can help to prevent the conservatory from becoming too hot throughout the day. It also means the room is still just as bright and welcoming because the remaining windows are not covered.
16. Dress the side windows
In some conservatory spaces you might not need to use blinds in a practical sense. For a space that acts as more of a walk-through space or side extension to a kitchen you may be looking for more practical conservatory flooring ideas as shown above and blinds that are purely decorative. In this case you can use a simple fabric design that adds a pelmet of decoration to the top of the side windows.
There's no rule that says the blinds have to be functional first. You might only use them once in a blue moon – but their presence invites a stylish touch to the decor. Be sure to dust blinds you aren't using frequently, because it will build up overtime if they are not in use.
17. Co-ordinate with decorative designs
Look to a window blind idea to tie the decor scheme together. Choose a coordinating colour scheme to flow throughout, from the blind fabric to the floor rug and cushions.
18. Ensure privacy with shutters
As with blinds, shutters can help to control the light, welcome privacy and keep a conservatory cool.
'Installing shutters in your conservatory can have a range of aesthetic as well as practical benefits,' says Sam Tamlyn at Shutterly Fabulous. 'One of the most functional benefits is the ability they have to insulate the room. Adding an extra layer of insulation to windows, they act as a form of double glazing which in turn can help to reduce heating bills.'
'During the summer, some conservatories – particularly south-facing ones – become uncomfortably hot because of the hot light that streams through all day. Shutters can block this (at times harmful) sunlight, allowing the room to stay cool.'
'In addition to the benefit of temperature control, shutters are also the ideal solution for balancing light and privacy in rooms where comfort and well-being are a must. Both of these features work well to transform the conservatory to a room that is appreciated year round, rather than just in the summer months'.
19. Look for a perfect fit
'Since many conservatories use uPVC windows, Perfect Fit blinds are an excellent choice,' advises Ana from Blinds Direct. 'Perfect Fit blinds feature a special frame that allows them to clip easily into a uPVC window frame, without the need for drills or screws.'
'What’s more, by fitting one to your conservatory’s door frame, the blind will move as a part of it, helping you enjoy your space without worrying about your blind getting in the way.'
20. Choose a drop down design with pattern
If you're looking for more of a decorative conservatory blind idea, rather than purely functional, a drop down fabric blind is a stylish solution.
A seamstress is the best option to fashion a simple blind for each drop, meaning you can pick the exact fabric of your choosing. Adding a lining will ensure the fabric is less likely to fade, and also offer a better level of shade.
FAQs
Do I need blinds in my conservatory?
Determining whether you need blinds in your conservatory depends on how you use the extra living space. Are you looking to use the space to host mealtimes where you might benefit from blocking the glaring sunshine overhead?
If looking to use the extra room as a small home office idea you will benefit from blinds that restrict the sunshine from the sides, to avoid glare on a screen.
Or perhaps you wish your conservatory idea simply to be a relaxing garden room, where you spend leisurely downtime. Being less restricted by the amount of direct light, means you can afford to use blinds as more of a decorative window treatment. A simple decorative blind that needs to be more pretty than practical is perfect.
'There are many excellent blinds to consider when decorating any conservatory,' says Ana Zuravliova, Trend Specialist at Blinds Direct. 'Since conservatories are by definition light, open spaces, it's important to find a window furnishing that gives flexible light control without compromising on privacy.'
How much do conservatory blinds cost, on average, in 2024?
As you might expect, the final price will depend on the style, size, material and number of blinds required, as well as the size of your conservatory space. But the experts agree that the average price for window blinds for a conservatory is around £2,500. So, expect to pay in this region if you’re looking to add blinds anytime soon.
‘For roof blinds, you can expect to pay about £4,500 while electric roof blinds cost approximately £50 each, without the price for fitting,’ Ryan admits. ‘Accessibility may increase the fitting price and where you live can also have a bearing on labour costs for installing conservatory blinds.’
Should I put roller or vertical blinds in a conservatory?
This may come down to personal preference but each has their own pros and cons. ‘Vertical Blinds offer greater light control than roller blinds thanks to the tilt of the slats. As you can change the angle of the fabric, there’s much more customisation over how much light you let into the space and maintain a large degree of privacy,’ Leah affirms.
‘Roller Blinds are the better solution if you’re after something that will keep your space darker, as they’re made from one continuous piece of material rather than individual slats,’ Leah adds. This means that the amount of light that can seep in is greatly reduced.
‘Larger expanses of glazing can be more effectively covered with a vertical blind, with options for floor-to-ceiling windows readily available. While vertical blinds are relatively affordable so even if you have lots of windows to cover it shouldn’t cost a fortune,’ Ryan continues.
What type of blinds are best for conservatories?
The best blinds for a conservatory will depend on what function you’re looking for them to serve. For example, providing privacy, controlling the temperature or adjusting the amount of light coming into the room. ‘Vertical, roller and Venetian blinds are effective at allowing you to alter how much sunlight comes through the window. This also helps to manage solar gain and its associated heat,’ Ryan asserts.
Whereas ‘thermal blinds also help to control the temperature in the conservatory, keeping the temperature cooler in summer and warmer in winter,’ he concludes. So, you’ll want to think about what type of blind will serve you and your conservatory best, when you go to buy.
