Blinds for Coastal Homes on the Garden Route
Salt air corrodes cheap hardware. Humidity warps the wrong materials. UV bleaches inferior fabrics. The Garden Route tests every window covering you install — and the ones that survive are the ones specified for these conditions from the start.
Which blinds last in coastal conditions on the Garden Route?
- Aluminium venetian blinds with corrosion-resistant rails are the most reliable choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and sea-facing rooms on the Garden Route
- Roller blinds with UV-stabilised screen or blockout fabric control glare and heat without degrading in salt air — Custom Blinds uses BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas fabrics as standard
- Honeycomb blinds provide insulation in bedrooms and maintain their cellular structure in humid conditions when specified with moisture-resistant materials
- PVC indoor shutters outperform timber in coastal humidity — they will not warp, swell, or require repainting
- Outdoor blinds and awnings need marine-grade fixings and UV-rated fabrics to survive direct coastal exposure
- Generic blinds from national chains often use inland-spec hardware that corrodes within 12 months at the coast — Custom Blinds specifies corrosion-resistant components as standard
- The right blind depends on the window’s exposure, the room’s purpose, and the local microclimate — a site assessment determines the correct specification
Every window is different. Call Duncan on 079 523 5407 for a free assessment across the Garden Route.
The Garden Route punishes generic blinds. Salt corrodes cheap hardware, humidity warps the wrong materials, and UV bleaches inferior fabrics. Custom Blinds specifies corrosion-resistant fixings, moisture-ready materials, and BlindQuip/Hunter Douglas fabrics as standard — then measures, manufactures, and installs with one local team across Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, and Mossel Bay.
When the right blind meets the coast
The afternoon sun hits your west-facing window. Instead of squinting or closing curtains, you tilt the slats and the room softens. Glare controlled. View preserved. Heat reduced. The blind operates smoothly — no seized mechanism, no corroded chain, no fabric that looks tired after one summer.
That is what a correctly specified coastal blind gives you. Not just a window covering, but a room that works the way you want it to, year after year, without thinking about it.
The wrong blind gives you something else entirely. Seized chains. Rusty brackets. Fabric that fades to nothing. A mechanism that jams because salt air got into the track. These are not rare problems — they are what happens when inland-spec products meet coastal conditions.
What the coast does to blinds
Salt air
Salt is invisible and persistent. It corrodes steel and aluminium components, stains painted surfaces, and eventually seizes mechanisms. Standard blind hardware — the kind sold by national chains and online retailers — uses mild steel or uncoated aluminium that begins corroding within months of coastal installation. Custom Blinds specifies corrosion-resistant rails, brackets, and chain mechanisms as standard for every Garden Route installation.
Humidity
Sustained humidity causes timber to swell, fabric to develop mildew, and adhesive-bonded components to separate. Knysna, Sedgefield, and Wilderness sit in particularly humid microclimates where morning condensation is routine. Materials need to be inherently moisture-resistant, not just surface-treated. PVC shutters, aluminium venetians, and moisture-rated roller fabrics handle this without degradation.
UV exposure
The Garden Route receives significant UV year-round. Inferior roller fabrics lose their colour, stiffness, and UV-blocking properties within two to three summers. Quality fabrics from BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas are tested and certified for UV stability — they hold their colour and performance for the rated lifetime. There is a measurable difference between tested fabric and generic imports.
Best blinds for each room in a coastal home
| Room | Best blind type | Why it works here |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | Aluminium venetians | Waterproof, no rust, wipe clean. Precise privacy control between slats |
| Kitchen | Aluminium venetians or roller blinds | Resistant to steam and grease. Easy to clean. No fabric to absorb cooking smells |
| Bedroom | Honeycomb blinds or blockout rollers | Insulation keeps temperature steady. Blockout fabric for complete darkness. Quieter room |
| Lounge | Screen rollers or double rollers | Screen fabric reduces glare while preserving the view. Double rollers give day/night flexibility |
| Sea-facing windows | Aluminium venetians or PVC shutters | Direct salt exposure. Metal and PVC resist corrosion. Timber and fabric struggle |
| Sliding doors | Vertical blinds or Vertishades | Stack neatly for full access. Side-draw operation suits wide openings |
| Home office | Screen rollers | Reduce screen glare without blocking natural light. UV protection for furniture |
| Feature windows | PVC indoor shutters | Permanent, architectural look. Strong heat and light control. Zero maintenance |
| Holiday home | PVC shutters or aluminium venetians | Low maintenance between visits. No mildew risk from closed-up humidity |
BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas — the manufacturer difference
Custom Blinds is an authorised BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas representative. This is not a marketing label — it is a direct supply relationship with South Africa’s benchmark window covering manufacturer.
Hunter Douglas is the world’s largest manufacturer of window coverings. BlindQuip is their South African subsidiary. When you buy through Custom Blinds, your roller fabric, venetian slat, honeycomb cell, or shutter component comes from tested, certified manufacturing — not a generic import container.
What that means in practice: UV-tested fabrics with certified colour fastness. Corrosion-rated hardware designed for SA conditions. Engineered cord-safety mechanisms. Warranty backing from the manufacturer, not just the installer.
No other independent blind company on the Garden Route holds this authorisation. National chains resell catalogue stock. Online retailers ship generic imports. Custom Blinds specifies from the source, measures on site, and installs with our own team.
The Luxaflex range — Hunter Douglas’s premium residential brand — is available exclusively through authorised dealers like Custom Blinds.
Outdoor blinds and awnings for coastal conditions
Outdoor window coverings face the full force of the Garden Route’s weather. Wind, rain, UV, and salt — unfiltered. The materials and fixings need to be a step above indoor specifications.
Outdoor blinds from Custom Blinds use marine-grade stainless steel fixings and UV-rated fabrics. Channel-guided drop-down blinds resist wind uplift. Gear-operated or motorised systems provide smooth control even at wide spans.
Retractable awnings and louvre awnings provide shade without enclosing the space. Custom Blinds manufactures Custom Lifestyle Awnings™ — a proprietary range designed for Garden Route conditions.
For a comparison of outdoor options, see our guide: outdoor blinds vs awnings.
Garden Route towns we cover
Knysna. Lagoon-facing properties take sustained salt and moisture. Leisure Isle and Thesen Island need corrosion-resistant hardware as standard. Best blinds in Knysna.
George. Higher UV than most Garden Route towns. North-facing windows take sustained sun exposure. PVC shutters and UV-stabilised roller fabrics handle the heat. Berg wind events stress timber and painted surfaces.
Plettenberg Bay. Direct ocean exposure along Robberg and Beacon Isle. Marine-grade fixings essential. Large glass facades in new builds suit motorised roller systems.
Sedgefield. Mix of established homes and new estates. Holiday homes need low-maintenance options that survive between visits. PVC shutters and aluminium venetians.
Mossel Bay. Wind is the dominant factor. Channel-guided outdoor blinds and wind-rated awnings. Indoor blinds benefit from corrosion-resistant hardware along the coastal strip.
Questions
Which blinds last longest in coastal conditions?
Aluminium venetians and PVC shutters have the longest lifespan at the coast — both are inherently moisture and corrosion resistant. Roller blinds with BlindQuip/Hunter Douglas UV-certified fabrics also perform well long-term. The key is specifying corrosion-resistant hardware, which Custom Blinds does as standard.
Why do cheap blinds fail on the Garden Route?
Generic blinds use mild steel brackets, uncoated aluminium rails, and untested fabrics. Salt air corrodes the steel within months. Humidity causes mechanisms to seize. UV bleaches the fabric. Custom Blinds specifies components rated for coastal exposure — it costs marginally more upfront but eliminates the replacement cycle.
Are roller blinds good for coastal homes?
Yes, when specified correctly. The fabric must be UV-stabilised and the hardware corrosion-resistant. Roller blinds with screen fabric are ideal for large panes — they reduce glare and heat while preserving the view. Blockout rollers suit bedrooms.
Do I need different blinds for different rooms?
Usually, yes. Bathrooms need moisture-proof options (aluminium venetians). Bedrooms benefit from insulating or blockout blinds (honeycomb, blockout rollers). Living areas need glare control (screen rollers, double rollers). A site assessment determines the right blind for each room based on its specific conditions.
What makes Custom Blinds different from national chains?
Custom Blinds is independent and holds direct authorisation from BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas — SA’s benchmark manufacturer. National chains are franchises reselling catalogue stock with generic hardware. Custom Blinds specifies coastal-rated components, measures on site, and installs with our own team. Same people from first call to final fit.
Do you install across the whole Garden Route?
Yes. Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Mossel Bay, Wilderness, and surrounding areas. Duncan conducts all site assessments. One visit covers all window coverings — blinds, shutters, awnings, screens.
Can I order blinds online for delivery?
Yes. The Custom Blinds online shop ships nationally. Measure, order, and receive custom-made blinds at your door. For Garden Route customers, on-site measurement and installation is available.
Which blind suits your coastal home?
Every window is different. Duncan will assess the exposure, the room, and the conditions — then recommend the right blind and the right material. Free, no obligation.
See also: Outdoor Blinds Garden Route — drop-down, sidetrack, and clear PVC systems for coastal patios from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay.
About Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings on the Garden Route
Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings is an independent, owner-managed business based in Knysna on the Garden Route. Founded in 2010 by Duncan Kane, the company has completed over 8,000 installations across Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Mossel Bay, and surrounding areas.
The company is an authorised BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas representative — South Africa’s benchmark window covering manufacturer. This partnership provides direct access to the Luxaflex premium residential range, Somfy and Motion motorisation systems, and the full BlindQuip commercial and residential catalogue.
Custom Blinds supplies and installs indoor blinds (roller, venetian, honeycomb, vertical, double roller), outdoor blinds, PVC and aluminium shutters, retractable and louvre awnings, shade sails, shadeports, fly screens, security screens, and LockLatch safety latches. The company manufactures Custom Lifestyle Shutters™ and Custom Lifestyle Awnings™ as proprietary ranges designed specifically for Garden Route coastal conditions.
All installations are measured, supplied, and fitted by the same in-house team. No subcontractors. Installations are covered by Sanlam and Garden Route Insurance Brokers. The company is rated 5 stars on Google.
For blind, shutter, and awning enquiries, contact Duncan on 079 523 5407 or WhatsApp. Site visits are free and without obligation. Online orders ship nationally via shop.customblinds.co.za.
Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings is a registered trademark. Custom Lifestyle Shutters™ and Custom Lifestyle Awnings™ are proprietary ranges. All products are custom manufactured and quoted individually.
