Honeycomb Blinds Buyer’s Guide South Africa: Fabric, Fit and How to Order
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.
- Expect to pay R4,500 to R10,000 per window depending on size, fabric and operating system.
- Custom Blinds supplies honeycomb blinds online across South Africa, with on-site measurement and installation along the Garden Route.
Order online: Shop Honeycomb Blinds | Garden Route: Call Duncan on 079 523 5407
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.
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 how the cellular structure works, see our complete honeycomb blinds guide.
Which honeycomb fabric suits each room?
| Fabric Type | Light Level | Privacy | Best Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Filtering | Soft, diffused daylight | Daytime privacy | Living rooms, kitchens, studies, home offices |
| Blockout | Complete darkness when closed | Full privacy 24 hours | Bedrooms, nurseries, media rooms |
| Duotone (blockout) | Complete darkness when closed | Full privacy + white street-facing side | Bedrooms in estates or sectional title |
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 to 100 mm overlap on each side.
For step-by-step measuring instructions, 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 do you want to raise and lower the blind?
| System | How It Works | Best For | Child Safe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corded lift | Thin cord along one side | Budget installations, no children | Cord loop hazard |
| Cordless lift | Push/pull on bottom rail | Family homes, nurseries, bedrooms | No cords |
| Motorised | Remote, app or voice control | Tall windows, skylights, smart homes | No cords |
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. Duotone options give you a coloured room side with a white street-facing side, keeping the exterior look uniform.
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.
Honeycomb blind prices by window size
| Window Size | Blockout Corded | Blockout Cordless | Motorised |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 x 1500 mm | From ~R4,800 | From ~R5,500 | From ~R8,000 |
| 1500 x 1500 mm | From ~R5,700 | From ~R6,500 | From ~R9,500 |
| 1800 x 2100 mm | From ~R9,500 | From ~R10,500 | From ~R14,000 |
Indicative prices. Use the online shop for exact, size-based pricing. For a comprehensive pricing guide across all blind types, see how much blinds cost in South Africa.
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.
“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 room tells you what it needs.”
Duncan KaneFounder, Custom Blinds. 20 years experience across the Garden Route
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. Fabrics from established manufacturers with fade-resistant treatments last significantly longer than budget imports.
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. Garden Route customers can add professional installation.
Are honeycomb blinds worth the price compared to roller blinds?
Honeycomb blinds cost more upfront but offer thermal insulation, sound absorption and UV protection that roller blinds cannot match. The energy savings typically pay back the difference within 18 months. For rooms where temperature and noise matter, they are worth the premium.
What colours are available?
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.
How do I clean honeycomb blinds?
Dust regularly with a soft brush attachment on a vacuum at low suction. Spot-clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Never submerge in water. For more detail, see our blind cleaning guide.
Can honeycomb blinds be motorised?
Yes. Custom Blinds offers motorised honeycomb blinds using Somfy and MotionBlinds systems. Both integrate with Google Home, Apple HomeKit and Alexa. See our motorised blinds guide.
Where can I buy honeycomb blinds on the Garden Route?
Custom Blinds serves Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Wilderness and Mossel Bay. Book a consultation for on-site measurement and professional installation, or order online with nationwide delivery.
Ready to order honeycomb blinds?
Custom-made, delivered nationwide. Or let Duncan measure and install along the Garden Route.
Custom Blinds® is a Garden Route window covering specialist established in 2010, serving Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, and surrounding areas. We supply honeycomb blinds, roller blinds, venetian blinds, and no-drill blinds nationally via shop.customblinds.co.za. Our Custom Fit Guarantee covers every order.
