Honeycomb Blinds Buyer’s Guide South Africa
You have decided honeycomb blinds are right for your home. Now comes the part where most people stall: which fabric, which opacity, which size, which supplier. This guide answers every buying question so you can order with confidence.
How do I choose and buy honeycomb blinds in South Africa?
- Choose between light-filtering fabric for living areas and blockout fabric for bedrooms — each cell type traps air for insulation regardless of opacity
- Measure your window recess width and drop to the nearest millimetre — a snug fit is essential for insulation performance
- Select a cordless lift system for child-safe homes or motorised for hard-to-reach windows and smart home integration
- Single-cell construction is the practical choice for South African conditions — lighter, neater and better suited to wide windows than double-cell
- Custom Blinds supplies honeycomb blinds online across South Africa, with on-site measurement and installation along the Garden Route
- Expect to pay R4,500 to R10,000 per window depending on size, fabric and operating system
Need expert advice? Call Duncan on 079 523 5407
TLDR
Pick light-filtering for living spaces, blockout for bedrooms. Measure your recess precisely. Go cordless for safety, motorised for convenience. Single-cell fabrics from established manufacturers handle South African conditions better than heavy double-cell imports. Order online or book a Garden Route consultation for on-site measurement.
The Right Choice
Buying blinds should not feel like a gamble. The right honeycomb blind matched to the right room, measured properly and fitted well, changes the way you experience that space every single day.
Right Fabric
Light-filtering for rooms you live in. Blockout for rooms you sleep in. Duotone for a uniform street view.
Right Fit
Measured to the millimetre, fitted snug to the frame. A tight fit is where the insulation happens.
Right System
Cordless for families. Motorised for tall windows. Corded where budget matters most.
Right Supplier
Fabrics engineered for South African UV and heat. Not generic imports repackaged for the local market.
“The most common mistake I see is people ordering honeycomb blinds that are slightly too narrow. Light gaps around the edges kill the insulation. Measure the recess, not the glass. If you are unsure, let us measure — it takes fifteen minutes.”
Duncan, Custom Blinds — 15 years installing across the Garden Route
Step 1: Choose Your Fabric Opacity
Every honeycomb blind decision starts here. The fabric determines how much light enters, how much heat is blocked and how private the room feels. For a deeper explanation of what honeycomb blinds are and how the cellular structure works, see our complete honeycomb blinds guide.
| Fabric Type | Light Level | Privacy | Best Rooms | Custom Blinds Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Filtering | Soft, diffused daylight | Daytime privacy — silhouettes visible at night | Living rooms, kitchens, studies, home offices | Order online |
| Blockout | Complete darkness when closed | Full privacy 24 hours | Bedrooms, nurseries, media rooms | Order online |
| Duotone (blockout) | Complete darkness when closed | Full privacy + white street-facing side | Bedrooms in estates or sectional title with exterior rules | Order duotone |
Not sure which opacity you need? Our opacity guide covers every option across all blind types.
Step 2: Measure Your Windows
Honeycomb blinds perform best when fitted snug inside the window recess. A loose fit allows air to circulate around the edges, which defeats the insulation advantage.
Recess fit (recommended)
Measure the width at three points — top, middle and bottom — and use the narrowest measurement. Measure the drop from the top of the recess to the sill. Record to the nearest millimetre. Custom Blinds will make the manufacturing deductions for a clean fit inside the recess.
Face fix (alternative)
When the recess is too shallow (less than 30 mm depth) or you want to cover the full window surround, face-fix brackets mount outside the frame. Add 50–100 mm overlap on each side of the window opening for light block and insulation coverage.
For step-by-step measuring instructions with diagrams, see our measuring guide. Garden Route customers can skip this entirely — Duncan measures on site as part of the consultation.
Step 3: Select Your Operating System
How you raise and lower the blind matters for safety, convenience and daily usability.
| System | How It Works | Best For | Child Safe | Price Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corded lift | Thin cord along one side | Budget-focused installations, no children | ✗ Cord loop hazard | Base price |
| Cordless lift | Push/pull on bottom rail | Family homes, nurseries, bedrooms | ✓ No cords | Small premium |
| Motorised | Remote, app or voice control | Tall windows, skylights, smart homes | ✓ No cords | Significant premium |
Custom Blinds works with Somfy and MotionBlinds for motorised honeycomb installations. Both integrate with Google Home, Apple HomeKit and Alexa.
Step 4: Understand Colour and Design Choices
Honeycomb blinds are available in a wide range of neutral tones — from chalk white and cool greys through warm stone, linen and sand. The colour you see from the room side is the colour you choose. Duotone options give you a coloured room side with a white street-facing side, keeping the exterior look uniform.
Colour guidance for South African homes
White and off-white fabrics reflect the most heat and are the most effective at reducing heat gain. Darker colours absorb more heat into the fabric but still insulate thanks to the air pocket. If maximum cooling is the priority, lighter colours perform better. For coastal homes on the Garden Route, lighter neutrals also resist UV fading better over time.
For broader colour advice across all blind types, see our colour selection guide.
Step 5: Pricing and What Affects Cost
Honeycomb blinds sit between quality roller blinds and shutters in the pricing spectrum. The factors that move the price are window size, fabric density, opacity level and operating system.
| Window Size | Blockout Corded | Blockout Cordless | Motorised |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 × 1500 mm | From ~R4,800 | From ~R5,500 | From ~R8,000 |
| 1500 × 1500 mm | From ~R5,700 | From ~R6,500 | From ~R9,500 |
| 1800 × 2100 mm | From ~R9,500 | From ~R10,500 | From ~R14,000 |
These are indicative prices — use our online shop for exact, size-based pricing. For a comprehensive pricing guide across all blind types, see how much blinds cost in South Africa.
The long-term value of honeycomb blinds lies in energy savings that typically pay back the investment within 18 months.
“People always ask me which honeycomb blind is best. I ask them what annoys them most about the room. If it is heat, light-filtering honeycomb. If it is sleep, blockout. If it is noise, blockout again — the denser fabric absorbs more sound. The room tells you what it needs.”
Duncan, Custom Blinds — on-site consultation across the Garden Route
Rooms That Should Not Have Honeycomb Blinds
Honeycomb blinds are not universal. Knowing where they do not belong saves you money and frustration.
Bathrooms and wet areas: The pleated fabric traps moisture and is difficult to dry. Mould can develop inside the cells. Use aluminium venetian blinds or PVC shutters for any room with direct water exposure.
Kitchen splash zones: Cooking grease and steam cling to pleated fabric. Honeycomb blinds are fine in a kitchen if positioned away from the stove and sink, but not directly above cooking or washing areas. A roller blind in a wipe-clean fabric is easier to maintain in these spots.
Very wide unsupported spans: Honeycomb blinds wider than about 2,400 mm can sag in the middle over time. For large sliding doors or wide picture windows, consider splitting into two blinds on a shared headrail, or look at roller blinds which handle wider spans better.
How to Order Honeycomb Blinds from Custom Blinds
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Online orders (nationwide): Measure your windows using our measuring guide, enter dimensions in the online shop, choose your fabric and operating system, and check out. Custom-made blinds are delivered to your door.
Garden Route consultation: Book a consultation and Duncan will measure on site, recommend fabrics based on your windows and orientation, and handle the full installation. Available in Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Wilderness and surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do honeycomb blinds last in South Africa?
Quality honeycomb blinds with UV-stabilised fabrics typically last 8 to 12 years with normal use. South African UV levels are high, so fabrics from established manufacturers with fade-resistant treatments last significantly longer than budget imports. Custom Blinds sources from suppliers who engineer specifically for these conditions.
Can I install honeycomb blinds myself?
Yes. Online orders include brackets, screws and installation instructions. Recess-fit installation requires a drill, a spirit level and about 15 minutes per blind. If you are on the Garden Route, professional installation is available as part of the consultation service.
Are honeycomb blinds worth the price compared to roller blinds?
Honeycomb blinds cost more upfront than roller blinds but offer thermal insulation, sound absorption and UV protection that roller blinds cannot match. The energy savings alone typically pay back the difference within 18 months. For rooms where temperature and noise matter, they are worth the premium.
What honeycomb blind colours are available at Custom Blinds?
Honeycomb blinds are available in white, off-white, cool greys, warm neutrals, stone and sand tones. Duotone options offer a coloured room side with a white exterior. Lighter colours reflect more heat and are recommended for north-facing windows. Browse the full range at shop.customblinds.co.za.
How do I clean honeycomb blinds?
Dust regularly with a soft brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner at low suction. For marks, spot-clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent, then air dry fully before raising the blind. Never submerge honeycomb blinds in water. For more detail, see our complete blind cleaning guide.
Can honeycomb blinds be motorised?
Yes. Custom Blinds offers motorised honeycomb blinds using Somfy and MotionBlinds systems, controlled by remote, smartphone app or voice assistant. Motorisation is ideal for skylights, tall windows and smart home setups. See our motorised blinds guide for a full comparison.
Where can I buy honeycomb blinds on the Garden Route?
Custom Blinds is the Garden Route’s leading independent specialist, serving Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Wilderness and Mossel Bay. Book a consultation for on-site measurement, fabric selection and professional installation. Online ordering is also available with nationwide delivery.
Ready to Order Honeycomb Blinds?
Custom-made, delivered nationwide. Or let Duncan measure and install along the Garden Route.
Pricing is indicative and valid at time of publishing. Use the online shop for exact, size-based quotes. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings® | Knysna, Garden Route | customblinds.co.za
