How to Buy Blinds Online in South Africa

Six Things That Separate a Good Blinds Platform from a Risky One

Not all online blinds stores work the same way. Some are marketplace-style operations that ship generic products from overseas. Others are specialist manufacturers with proper quality control. The difference matters more than most people realise — because a blind is not a t-shirt. It has to fit a specific opening in your specific wall, and if it does not, you cannot simply return it.

Here is what to check before you hand over your credit card.

1. Made-to-measure, not standard sizes

Standard-size blinds come in fixed widths: 600mm, 900mm, 1200mm. Your window is almost certainly none of those. The gap between the blind and the frame lets in light, heat, and prying eyes. A proper platform lets you specify your blind down to the exact millimetre and builds it to that measurement. That is the difference between a blind that works and one that just hangs there.

2. Transparent pricing

You should see the price change as you adjust your specifications — width, drop, fabric, operating mechanism. If the price only appears at checkout, or worse, after you have submitted an enquiry, the platform is not built for online buying. It is built for lead generation. There is a difference. The Custom Blinds online shop shows you the exact price as you build your blind, with delivery included.

3. Real product knowledge, not just a catalogue

Can you phone someone and ask whether a roller blind in sheerweave fabric will handle the afternoon sun on a west-facing window in Johannesburg? Or whether no-drill blinds work on aluminium window frames? If the answer is “submit a ticket and we will get back to you,” you are dealing with a reseller, not a specialist. The people answering your questions should be the same people who know how blinds are made.

4. A fit guarantee

This is the big one. Made-to-measure means the blind is built for your windows. If you measure correctly and the blind does not fit, what happens? With most online stores: nothing. You measured, you ordered, you own it. A trustworthy platform stands behind the product. Custom Blinds offers a Custom Fit Guarantee on all shop orders — if your blind arrives too wide, it gets trimmed for free. Too narrow? You get 5% off the replacement.

5. South African manufacturing

Imported blinds can take four to eight weeks. If something goes wrong, after-sales support means international shipping, time zones, and language barriers. Blinds manufactured in South Africa arrive faster, can be remade locally if needed, and the supplier is accountable under South African consumer law. Custom Blinds is a supplier of Somfy, Hunter Douglas, and Coulisse products — all assembled to order in South Africa.

6. Delivery clarity

Free delivery sounds good until your blind takes six weeks because “free” means consolidated shipping. Understand the delivery timeline before you order. On the Garden Route, Custom Blinds delivers and installs directly. Nationally, orders ship with tracking and arrive within the stated window.

How to Buy Blinds Online: Step by Step

Once you have found a platform you trust, the buying process itself should be straightforward. Here is the order that works.

Step 1: Measure properly

This is where most online blind purchases go wrong. Measure the recess width at three points (top, middle, bottom) and use the narrowest measurement. Do the same for the drop. Steel tape measure, not a fabric one. Our measuring guide walks through every scenario — recess mount, face mount, and bay windows.

Step 2: Choose your blind type

Start with the problem, not the product. Afternoon glare? Roller blinds in a light-filtering fabric. Full bedroom darkness? Blockout rollers. Want adjustable light control? Venetian blinds let you angle the slats. Not sure? Our types guide covers every option side by side.

Step 3: Build to size online

On a good platform, you enter your measurements and watch the blind build in front of you. Width, drop, fabric, colour, chain side, mounting type. The price updates live. No waiting for quotes. No back-and-forth emails. Build yours now.

Step 4: Check out and track

Secure payment, order confirmation, and a tracking number when it ships. If anything looks off when the blind arrives, contact the supplier immediately — a good one will resolve it the same day.

Five Mistakes People Make When Buying Blinds Online

After 15 years of fielding calls from people who ordered elsewhere and got it wrong, our team has seen every mistake. Here are the five most common — and how to avoid them.

Measuring once. Walls are not perfectly square. Windows shift over time. Measure each dimension at three points and use the smallest. If you measure once and the blind is 3mm too wide, it will not fit inside the recess.

Choosing by price alone. The cheapest blind online is often a standard-size import. It will leave gaps, the components wear out faster, and there is no local support when the chain snaps in two years. Understanding what drives the cost of blinds helps you compare fairly.

Ignoring the operating mechanism. Chain drive, spring assist, motorised. The mechanism matters as much as the fabric. If the blind is in a child’s room, motorised blinds eliminate dangling cords entirely. If it is a high window, spring assist saves you reaching for a chain every morning.

Skipping the sample. Screen colours lie. A fabric that looks warm grey on your laptop may arrive as cool silver. Good platforms ship free samples — use them. Hold the fabric against your wall in natural light before you commit.

Not checking the guarantee. “Custom orders are non-refundable” is standard for most blinds websites. That is technically fair — the blind is made to your measurements. But a platform that stands behind its product will offer a fit guarantee, adjustment service, or remake policy. If they will not, ask yourself why.