New Home Guide
Window coverings for every room in your new home
When you move into a new home, every window needs a decision at once. This guide helps you get it right across every room: what each space needs, what ships to you nationally, and when a site visit makes sense.
What window coverings do I need for a new home in South Africa?
- Bedrooms need blockout roller blinds or solid shutters to control light, heat, and privacy. Blockout fabrics eliminate light gaps that standard rollers leave open.
- Living areas suit zebra or sheer roller blinds for glare control without losing natural light. Shutters work where a permanent architectural finish is preferred.
- Bathrooms and kitchens need moisture-resistant products: PVC shutters, aluminium venetians, or roller blinds with waterproof fabric.
- Patios and outdoor areas need outdoor blinds or awnings. These require a site visit on the Garden Route and cannot be ordered online.
- Roller blinds, honeycomb blinds, zebra blinds, and no-drill blinds are made to measure and ship nationally. Shutters, awnings, and outdoor blinds require an on-site consultation.
Custom Blinds® Shutters & Awnings: order online for indoor blinds, or book a consultation with Duncan for Garden Route homes.
When every window needs a decision at once
Fitting out a new home is different from replacing a single blind. You are making window covering decisions for a bedroom that catches the morning sun, a bathroom that steams up in winter, a west-facing lounge that blinds you at sunset, and a patio that sits exposed to whatever the weather delivers. The decisions compound. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings has fitted out hundreds of new South African homes this way since 2010, and the process starts with one simple principle: plan room by room, concern by concern, before anything is ordered. A mismatch in one room is easy to fix. A mismatch across twelve windows is expensive.
The advantage of planning at the start is that you can design for cohesion. The same fabric in different opacities across a living area. Shutters that carry through from the bedroom to a study. Outdoor blinds that match the awning canvas on the patio. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings has fitted out hundreds of new South African homes this way since 2010, and the homes that get it right share one thing: the decisions were made room by room, concern by concern, before anything was ordered.
This guide works through each room, then covers the five concerns that run through every space, and ends with the clearest possible answer to the question most new homeowners ask last: what can I order online, and what needs someone to come and look?
Room by room
What each space in your new home actually needs
Bedroom
Blockout, privacy, heat
Bedrooms need darkness. Not dimness: genuine darkness for sleep quality, especially in summer when the sun rises before most households are awake. Blockout roller blinds use a PVC-backed or foam-backed fabric that seals the weave gaps standard fabrics leave open. For rooms where complete light control matters alongside a designed finish, shutters with solid panels deliver both. West-facing bedrooms also need UV and heat control in the afternoon: blockout fabrics reflect heat before it enters. See: blockout roller blinds and shutters.
Living areas
Glare, light quality, design identity
Living areas rarely need blackout. They need light that is controllable: soft during the day, private at night, and comfortable when the television is on. Zebra blinds (also called double roller or day-night blinds) use alternating sheer and solid bands on one fabric to move between filtered light and privacy without switching between two products. Sheer roller blinds diffuse glare while keeping rooms bright. For north and west-facing rooms, a screen roller with 3% or 5% openness blocks heat and UV while preserving an outward view. See: indoor blinds and shop online.
Bathroom
Moisture, privacy, hygiene
Steam and humidity damage fabric blinds over time. Bathrooms need products that withstand condensation without warping, moulding, or degrading the operating mechanism. PVC shutters are the most durable bathroom option: wipe-clean, moisture-proof, and visually indistinguishable from timber at a distance. Aluminium venetian blinds are the practical alternative: fully washable, resistant to humidity, and available in narrow slat widths for smaller bathroom windows. Avoid fabric roller blinds in steam-heavy bathrooms unless a moisture-resistant lining is specified. See: Custom Lifestyle Shutters and aluminium venetians.
Kitchen
Easy clean, heat, grease resistance
Kitchens need blinds that can be wiped. Fabrics that absorb cooking smells or trap grease particles become difficult to maintain and age prematurely. Roller blinds with a wipe-clean PVC fabric handle kitchen conditions well and are available in light-filtering and blockout weights. Aluminium venetians are fully washable and resist heat near hobs. Above-sink windows present a moisture challenge: PVC shutters or aluminium blinds perform better here than fabric products. The practical test: if you cannot clean it with a damp cloth, it is the wrong blind for a kitchen. See: shop online for roller and venetian options.
Patio and outdoor areas
Weather defence, climate control, lifestyle extension
Outdoor areas require a completely different product category. Outdoor blinds drop down from a pelmet to enclose a patio against wind, rain, and sun. Awnings extend overhead to provide shade and keep rain off the patio surface. Neither product can be accurately specified without seeing the space: the direction it faces, the wind exposure, the overhang, the anchoring points, and what the homeowner wants to do in the space determines which product: and which hardware specification: will work. Garden Route patios in particular face coastal wind that standard outdoor products do not survive without the correct fabric weight, stainless-steel hardware, and installation method. For all outdoor products, a site consultation with Duncan is the right starting point. See: outdoor blinds and awnings.
The five concerns that run through every room in your new home
Window covering decisions in South Africa are not primarily about aesthetics. They are about solving real problems that affect how comfortable your home feels to live in. Five concerns recur across every room in every new home we fit out. Plan for each one before you order anything.
Privacy
Street-facing windows, overlooked bedrooms, and ground-floor living areas all need privacy without sacrificing the light you moved here for. Sheer and screen fabrics provide outward privacy during the day. Blockout and solid shutters deliver privacy at night.
Privacy solutionsShade and heat
South African UV is intense. West-facing windows heat rooms to a point where air conditioning runs all afternoon. The right fabric: screen roller, honeycomb, or blockout: reduces heat gain before it enters the glass. Honeycomb blinds trap air in their cellular structure, providing thermal insulation in both directions.
Shade solutionsWeather protection
Outdoor areas need products that survive what the weather delivers. Outdoor blinds seal a patio against wind and rain. Awnings protect the outdoor surface from direct sun and light rain. In coastal areas, fabric weight, UV stabilisation, and hardware corrosion resistance all require specification.
Weather protectionSecurity
Aluminium security shutters add a physical barrier at window level that provides adjustable light and airflow control alongside forced-entry resistance. Many Garden Route homeowners remove curtains entirely once security shutters are fitted, as they handle privacy, light, insulation, and security in one product.
Security solutionsAutomation
Motorised blinds and awnings are easiest to install in a new home before furniture and finishes are in place. Somfy and Coulisse motors are available across most of the CB range, operated by remote, app, or home automation system. Wind sensors on awnings retract automatically in gusts above the set threshold.
Automation optionsPlan concerns before products
Most homeowners choose a product first and discover the concern it doesn't solve later. Identify the problem each room has, then match the product. The room-by-room section above maps each space to its primary concerns.
Duncan Kane Founder, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings South Africa. 18 years experience."I always ask new homeowners the same three questions: which room bothers you most, which direction does it face, and what time of day is it worst? The answers tell me everything I need to recommend the right product. The blind comes last."
How to order
What ships to you. What needs a site visit.
Order online: ships anywhere in South Africa
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings makes indoor blinds to your exact dimensions. Measure your windows, choose your product and fabric on the online shop, and your blinds are made to your exact dimensions and shipped with free delivery to any address in South Africa. The Custom Fit Guarantee covers small measurement errors: too wide and we trim and reship at our cost, too small and we remake with a 5% discount.
Products available online Roller blinds (blockout, sheer, screen) · Zebra blinds (double roller, day-night) · Honeycomb blinds (cellular shades) · Aluminium venetian blinds · Wooden venetian blinds · No-drill blinds (tension-mount, no screws required) · Vertical blinds
Shop onlineBook a consultation: Garden Route and surrounds
Shutters, awnings, outdoor blinds, shade ports, and security screens require a site visit. Duncan measures every opening, assesses the exposure and wind conditions, and recommends the correct product, fabric, and hardware for the specific space. No subcontractors. One team from the first visit to the final installation.
Products requiring a site visit Custom Lifestyle Shutters (PVC and aluminium) · Canvas awnings (folding arm, retractable patio) · Outdoor blinds (Ziptrak side-guide, drop-down) · Shade ports · Security screens · Louvre awnings
Book with DuncanHow to order window coverings before you move in
The best time to order made-to-measure blinds is before furniture is in the rooms. Measuring is easier, installation is faster, and there is no risk of scratching floors or walls while fitting. Most new homeowners underestimate how long manufacturing takes: standard roller and venetian blinds are manufactured and shipped within five to ten working days. Shutters and awnings typically require three to four weeks.
For homeowners who are unsure about sizing before moving in: order a guesstimate measurement through the shop, and Custom Blinds will send a tape measure and Duncan will schedule a video call to confirm dimensions before production begins. The blind is not manufactured until measurements are confirmed.
For Garden Route buyers: the process is simpler. Book a consultation and Duncan comes to the property, measures every opening, and handles the order. Many Garden Route clients book the consultation while still in occupation and have blinds installed within days of moving in.
For the installation checklist covering what to check before, during, and after fitting, read the complete installation guide.
Product comparison
Which blind suits which room in your new home
| Product | Best rooms | Key benefit | Ships nationally | Moisture safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blockout roller blind | Bedroom, nursery, media room | Complete light elimination, heat reflection | Yes | Specify waterproof fabric |
| Zebra blind (double roller) | Living room, study, dining room | Day-night light control on one fabric | Yes | Not recommended for wet areas |
| Honeycomb blind (cellular) | Any room needing insulation | Thermal insulation, heat and cold buffer | Yes | Not for steam-heavy bathrooms |
| Sheer roller blind | Living room, kitchen, entrance | Soft diffused light, daytime privacy | Yes | Specify waterproof fabric |
| Aluminium venetian | Bathroom, kitchen, office | Adjustable louvres, fully washable | Yes | Yes |
| No-drill blind | Rental, tiled bathrooms, heritage windows | Spring tension mount, no screws required | Yes | Specify waterproof fabric |
| PVC shutter | Bathroom, bedroom, any room | Permanent finish, light control, moisture proof | Site visit required | Yes |
| Aluminium security shutter | Ground floor, feature windows | Forced-entry resistance, light and airflow control | Site visit required | Yes |
| Outdoor blind | Patio, stoep, entertainment area | Wind and rain enclosure, UV block | Site visit required | Yes |
| Awning (canvas or louvre) | Patio, deck, pool area | Overhead shade, rain deflection | Site visit required | Yes |
Garden Route new homes: how the Custom Blinds South Africa consultation works
For new homes on the Garden Route, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings provides an on-site consultation that covers every window, door, and outdoor area in a single visit. Duncan Kane has been specifying and installing window coverings across Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Wilderness, and Mossel Bay since 2010. Coastal conditions: salt air, UV intensity, and wind exposure: require product and hardware specifications that a standard national order cannot account for.
The consultation process is straightforward. You contact the team by phone or WhatsApp, describe the property and what you are trying to achieve, and Duncan schedules a visit. He measures every opening, assesses exposure, discusses the budget, and produces a written specification before anything is ordered. There is no obligation to proceed. For new builds where finishes are not yet complete, a pre-completion walkthrough can be done to plan the specification, with a return visit for final measurements before production.
Products manufactured locally for Garden Route homes include canvas awnings (folding arm and retractable patio styles, manufactured in Knysna), Custom Lifestyle Shutters (PVC and aluminium, manufactured in Cape Town), and outdoor blind systems with coastal-grade stainless-steel hardware. Roller blinds and honeycomb blinds are supplied from Somfy, Hunter Douglas, and Coulisse and specified to Garden Route UV and humidity standards.
Frequently asked questions about window coverings for a new home in South Africa
What is the difference between roller blinds and shutters for a new home?
Roller blinds are fabric panels that roll up into a headrail. They are available in blockout, sheer, and screen weights, ship nationally, and are the most cost-effective made-to-measure option. Shutters are fixed louvred panels that become part of the architecture of the room. They are more permanent, more expensive, require a site visit to measure and install, and are the correct choice where a long-term architectural finish is preferred over a fabric product.
Can I order made-to-measure blinds before I move in?
Yes. Measure the window openings as accurately as possible, place the order, and production begins. If you are uncertain about sizing, the Custom Fit Guarantee covers small errors: blinds that are too wide are trimmed and reshipped at Custom Blinds' cost, blinds that are too small are remade with a 5% discount. If you are completely unsure, order a rough size, confirm measurements on a video call with Duncan, and production begins once dimensions are agreed.
Are custom blinds worth the extra cost over off-the-shelf options?
For South African homes, made-to-measure is the practical choice in most cases. SA windows are rarely standard sizes, and off-the-shelf blinds that do not fit properly leave light gaps at the edges that defeat their purpose. Made-to-measure products fit the opening precisely, perform correctly, and last longer. The price difference between a well-specified custom blind and a poorly fitting ready-made is typically small, and the performance difference is significant.
Which blinds are best for a moisture-prone bathroom?
PVC shutters are the most durable bathroom option: completely moisture-proof, wipe-clean, and available in white and off-white tones that suit most bathroom finishes. Aluminium venetian blinds are the best alternative: fully washable, corrosion-resistant, and available in narrow slat widths for smaller windows. Avoid fabric roller blinds in steam-heavy bathrooms unless a waterproof fabric is specified, as standard fabrics degrade under sustained humidity.
What window coverings reduce heat in a west-facing room?
West-facing rooms receive direct afternoon sun that heats rooms significantly. Screen roller blinds with 3% or 5% openness block UV and heat while preserving an outward view. Honeycomb (cellular) blinds trap heat in their air pockets before it transfers into the room. Blockout roller blinds reflect heat entirely but darken the room. For west-facing living areas, a screen roller is usually the best balance of heat control and light quality.
Do I need professional installation for my new home blinds?
Roller, venetian, zebra, and honeycomb blinds from the online shop can be self-installed with basic tools. Each order includes fixing instructions and the measuring guide covers both inside and outside mount. For shutters, outdoor blinds, and awnings, professional installation is required: these products involve wall and ceiling anchoring, precise alignment, and in the case of awnings, structural attachment. Garden Route clients: installation is included as part of the Duncan consultation process.
How long does it take to manufacture made-to-measure blinds for a new home?
Roller blinds, zebra blinds, honeycomb blinds, and venetian blinds are typically manufactured and dispatched within five to ten working days. Shutters require three to four weeks. Awnings require two to four weeks depending on fabric availability. If you are working to a move-in date, order indoor blinds first and schedule the shutter or awning consultation for after occupation.
What outdoor blinds work best for a coastal patio on the Garden Route?
Outdoor blinds on the Garden Route need UV-stabilised fabric, stainless-steel or marine-grade polymer hardware, and a fixing method appropriate to the wall type and wind exposure of the specific property. Ziptrak side-guide systems provide the most secure enclosure in exposed positions. No outdoor blind is wind-proof under sustained gusts: Custom Blinds advises lifting outdoor blinds when winds are forecast above 50 km/h. A site consultation is required to specify the correct product and hardware for each outdoor application. See the outdoor blinds range and Ziptrak guide.
Certainty across every room in your new home
Custom Blinds South Africa: national delivery on indoor blinds, on-site consultation for Garden Route homes.
Custom Blinds® is a Garden Route window covering specialist established in 2010, serving Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, Sedgefield, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, and surrounding areas. We manufacture Custom Lifestyle Shutters™, Custom Lifestyle Awnings™, and outdoor shading systems locally, and supply roller blinds, honeycomb blinds, venetian blinds, zebra blinds, and no-drill blinds nationally via shop.customblinds.co.za. Our Custom Fit Guarantee covers every order. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings South Africa.
