Top Types of Blinds for South African Homes
Every window asks a different question. Some need shade from a noon sun that heats a room in minutes. Others need privacy without losing the view. A few need to block every scrap of light so a shift worker can sleep at midday. The answer is never one type of blind — it is the right type for that window, that room, that life.
What are the top types of blinds for South African homes?
- Roller blinds are the most popular indoor blind in South Africa, valued for clean lines, easy operation and a wide fabric range from sheer to full blockout
- Venetian blinds (wood, aluminium or PVC) give adjustable slat control for precise light and airflow management
- Honeycomb or cellular blinds provide the best insulation of any blind type, reducing heat loss by up to 40 percent
- Vertical blinds suit large sliding doors and wide windows where other types cannot span the opening
- Double roller and zebra blinds combine sheer and blockout fabrics in one bracket for day-to-night flexibility
- Outdoor blinds and screens protect patios, braai areas and balconies from wind, rain and harsh UV
- Custom Blinds manufactures and installs all types across the Garden Route with free on-site consultation
Need expert advice? Call Duncan on 079 523 5407
TLDR
South African homes need blinds that handle intense sun, coastal humidity and wide temperature swings. Roller blinds suit most rooms. Honeycomb blinds win on insulation. Venetians give the finest light control. Verticals cover large openings. This guide compares every type head to head so you can choose with confidence — and skip the guesswork.
How life feels with the right blinds
Morning light filtered to a soft glow. A bedroom dark enough for deep sleep. A patio shielded from the southeaster while you braai. The right blind does not demand attention — it quietly makes every room work the way it should.
Cool Rooms. Honeycomb cells trap air and cut solar heat gain. Your aircon works less, your energy bill drops.
Quiet Privacy. Venetian slats angle light in while keeping neighbours out. No compromise between brightness and seclusion.
Total Darkness. Blockout rollers seal the window from top rail to sill. Shift workers, nurseries and media rooms get the black they need.
Wind-Proof Outdoor Living. Zip-track screens and drop-down blinds turn a patio into an all-weather room. Rain stays outside, you stay comfortable.
“People always ask which blind is best. I ask them what annoys them most about their window right now. The answer tells me exactly which type to fit.”
Duncan, Custom Blinds — 15 years installing across the Garden Route
Every Blind Type Compared
This is the table most guides leave out. Six categories, scored honestly. Use it to shortlist the types that match your priorities, then read the detailed sections below.
| Blind Type | Light Control | Insulation | Moisture Safe | Wide Spans | Best Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roller | Good — sheer to blockout | Moderate | ✓ With right fabric | Up to 3 m | Kitchen, bedroom, study |
| Venetian (aluminium) | Excellent — adjustable slats | Low | ✓ Aluminium & PVC | Up to 2.4 m | Bathroom, office, kitchen |
| Venetian (wood / aluwood) | Excellent | Moderate | ✗ Solid wood warps | Up to 2.4 m | Lounge, dining, bedroom |
| Honeycomb / Cellular | Good — translucent or blockout | ✓ Best of any blind | Moderate | Up to 2.7 m | Bedroom, study, nursery |
| Vertical | Good — rotate or draw open | Low | ✓ PVC & fabric | ✓ Up to 6 m+ | Sliding doors, wide windows |
| Double Roller / Zebra | Excellent — sheer + blockout | Moderate | ✓ | Up to 3 m | Lounge, open-plan, bedroom |
| Outdoor / Screens | Variable — mesh to solid PVC | Creates sheltered zone | ✓ Built for it | ✓ Up to 6 m+ | Patio, braai, balcony |
Roller Blinds — The Everyday Workhorse
A roller blind is the most frequently installed blind in South African homes. The mechanism is simple: fabric wraps around a tube, controlled by a chain, spring or motor. That simplicity is the point. Fewer moving parts mean fewer failures, lower cost and a clean profile that suits almost any interior style.
Fabric choice determines performance. A sheer roller filters light while keeping a view. A blockout roller creates near-total darkness. A sunscreen mesh cuts glare and UV while preserving sightlines. Custom Blinds supplies Somfy and Hunter Douglas roller fabrics rated for coastal UV exposure — tested against the conditions you actually live with on the Garden Route.
Where rollers fall short: they do not offer the fine-tuned slat adjustment of a Venetian, and a single roller cannot switch between privacy modes without being raised or lowered. That is where double rollers and zebra blinds step in, combining two fabrics on one bracket.
Best for
Kitchens, bathrooms, rental properties, modern open-plan homes, and any room where you want a neat, low-maintenance solution. Shop blockout rollers online or browse sheer rollers.
Venetian Blinds — Precision Light Control
No other blind type gives you the same degree of adjustment. Tilt the slats up to bounce light onto the ceiling. Tilt them down to redirect glare away from a screen. Close them flat for privacy. Open them fully for an unobstructed view. That flexibility makes Venetians the default choice for home offices, bathrooms and kitchens where conditions change throughout the day.
Material matters. Aluminium Venetians handle moisture, clean easily and resist coastal salt. Aluwood Venetians look like timber but use an aluminium core that will not warp in humidity. Solid basswood Venetians add warmth and texture to dry, inland rooms but are not suited to bathrooms or coastal-facing windows where moisture accumulates.
Plaswood Venetians are the practical middle ground: fully waterproof, UV resistant and available in timber-look finishes. Custom Blinds fits these regularly in Garden Route holiday homes where no one is there to manage humidity between visits.
Best for
Home offices, kitchens, bathrooms (aluminium or plaswood), bedrooms where you want precise morning-light control, and Airbnb properties needing a polished, durable finish.
Honeycomb Blinds — The Insulation Leader
If energy efficiency is the priority, honeycomb blinds outperform every other type. The cellular structure traps air in pockets between the window and the room. That trapped air acts as insulation — reducing heat loss in winter and blocking solar heat gain in summer. Research shows well-fitted cellular shades can reduce winter heat loss by up to 40 percent.
Custom Blinds supplies Luxaflex Duette honeycomb blinds, the original and still the benchmark. Available in single-cell and double-cell configurations, translucent or blockout, with top-down / bottom-up operation that lets you control exactly which part of the window is covered.
The trade-off: honeycomb blinds do not give you the angle-adjusted light control of a Venetian. They are either open or closed (or partially raised). They also collect dust inside the cells, so they suit dry bedrooms and studies better than greasy kitchens.
Best for
Bedrooms, nurseries, studies, and any room where temperature management and quiet are more important than view adjustment. Shop honeycomb blockout online.
“I have fitted honeycomb blinds in homes where the owner saw a measurable drop on their electricity bill within the first winter. That is not marketing — that is physics.”
Duncan, Custom Blinds — installed across George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay since 2010
Vertical Blinds — Built for Wide Openings
Sliding doors, stacker doors and floor-to-ceiling windows need a blind that can span the full width without sagging, buckling or requiring a centre bracket. Vertical blinds are engineered for exactly this. Individual vanes hang from a headrail, rotate for light control and draw to one or both sides for access.
In South Africa, verticals are the go-to solution for patio sliders — the most common large opening in residential construction. They handle widths well beyond 3 metres, which is where roller and Venetian blinds reach their limits. Fabric, PVC and aluminium vane options cover everything from a coastal holiday flat to a Johannesburg office.
For more detail on where verticals work (and where they do not), read our patio door blind guide.
Best for
Sliding doors, wide window walls, open-plan living areas, commercial offices and any opening wider than 2.4 metres. Shop vertical blinds online.
Double Roller and Zebra Blinds — Day-to-Night Flexibility
A double roller blind pairs two fabrics on a single bracket: typically a sheer for daytime and a blockout for night. You pull down one or the other depending on what the room needs. Zebra blinds take the same idea further — alternating bands of sheer and opaque fabric on one sheet, adjusted by a simple chain to align the bands for light or privacy.
The advantage is versatility without complexity. One fitting, one bracket, two performance modes. That makes double rollers popular in open-plan living areas, bedrooms with afternoon sun and guest rooms in holiday rentals where users need an obvious, intuitive control.
Best for
Living rooms, bedrooms, Airbnb properties and any room where lighting conditions change significantly between morning and evening. Shop zebra blinds online or browse duo rollers.
Outdoor Blinds and Screens — Extending Your Living Space
South Africans live outdoors. Braais, morning coffee, evening wine — all happen on patios, verandas and decks. But wind, rain and UV cut those moments short. Outdoor blinds solve this by enclosing an open area without permanent walls.
Options range from clear PVC drop-down blinds (full weather protection, full view) to mesh screens (wind reduction, UV filtering, partial privacy) to zip-track systems that seal the edges against driving rain. Custom Blinds manufactures outdoor blinds in-house at our Knysna factory, engineered for Garden Route wind loads and salt exposure.
For a deeper comparison of outdoor shade options, read our outdoor blinds guide or compare outdoor blinds vs awnings.
Best for
Patios, braai areas, balconies, restaurant terraces and any outdoor space you want to use in all weather. Shop outdoor blinds online.
Which Blind for Which Room
Choosing becomes simpler when you match the blind to the problem the room presents. Here is what we recommend after fitting over 8,000 installations across the Garden Route.
| Room | Primary Need | First Choice | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main bedroom | Darkness, quiet, insulation | Honeycomb blockout | Blockout roller |
| Kitchen | Moisture resistance, easy clean | Aluminium Venetian | Roller (wipe-clean fabric) |
| Bathroom | Privacy, waterproof | Plaswood Venetian | PVC Venetian |
| Home office | Glare control, adjustability | Wood / aluwood Venetian | Sunscreen roller |
| Open-plan lounge | Day-to-night flexibility | Double roller / zebra | Sheer + blockout roller pair |
| Sliding / patio door | Wide span, access | Vertical blind | Motorised roller |
| Nursery | Total blockout, safe cords | Motorised blockout roller | Honeycomb (cordless) |
| Patio / braai area | Wind, rain, UV protection | Zip-track outdoor blind | Drop-down PVC blind |
Not sure which type suits your windows? Use our AI product advisor Melvin for a quick recommendation based on your room, or book a free consultation with the team.
Any blind type can be motorised. Somfy and Motion Blinds automation adds remote, timer and smart-home control — ideal for hard-to-reach windows, nurseries and holiday homes managed remotely.
Specialty Options Worth Knowing
No-drill blinds
Renting? Living in a sectional-title unit where you cannot drill into window frames? No-drill blinds mount with tension brackets or adhesive clips. If you prefer a damage-free option, check out our no-drill blinds. They are one of our most popular online orders — full performance without modifying the building. Shop no-drill blinds online.
Bamboo blinds
Natural bamboo rollers and bamboo Venetians introduce organic texture and warmth. They filter light beautifully and suit eco-conscious interiors. Read the full bamboo blinds guide for material comparisons.
Shutters vs blinds
Shutters offer a permanent architectural finish with exceptional louvre control. They cost more upfront but add measurable property value. Read our detailed shutters vs blinds comparison or explore the shutter range.
Why homeowners trust Custom Blinds
Built Here, Fitted Here, Guaranteed Here
Installations
Across George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and the wider Garden Route since 2010.
Company, Full Service
Online shop, on-site consultation, in-house manufacturing and professional installation — no subcontractors.
Custom Fit Guarantee
Too big? Free trim. Too small? 5% off the replacement. Every blind is made to your exact measurements.
How to Get Started
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Garden Route customers get free on-site measurement and consultation. Online customers across South Africa get free delivery, a detailed measuring guide and access to our AR measurement tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular types of blinds in South Africa?
Roller blinds are the most widely installed, followed by aluminium Venetians, vertical blinds and honeycomb blinds. Demand for double roller and zebra blinds has grown significantly as homeowners discover the sheer-plus-blockout convenience.
Which blind type is best for insulation in South African winters?
Honeycomb or cellular blinds deliver the highest insulation rating of any blind. The trapped air pockets reduce conducted heat loss by up to 40 percent. They are particularly effective in bedrooms and south-facing rooms where heat escapes fastest.
Can I buy blinds online in South Africa and install them myself?
Yes. Custom Blinds ships made-to-measure blinds nationwide with free delivery. Each order includes fitting instructions and bracket hardware. For precise results, use the measuring guide or AR measurement tool before ordering.
What blinds work best in coastal Garden Route homes?
Aluminium Venetians, PVC Venetians, roller blinds with marine-grade fabric and outdoor zip-track screens all perform well in salt air and humidity. Solid timber Venetians are not recommended for sea-facing rooms. Custom Blinds fits all coastal-grade options from our Knysna base.
How much do blinds cost in South Africa?
Prices vary by type, size and fabric. Aluminium Venetians start from approximately R185 per square metre. Roller blinds and honeycomb options range higher depending on fabric grade. Use the online quote tool for an instant estimate based on your window measurements.
Are motorised blinds worth the extra cost?
For hard-to-reach windows, nurseries with child-safety concerns and holiday homes managed remotely, motorised blinds pay for themselves in convenience and safety. Somfy and Motion Blinds systems integrate with smart-home platforms and can be scheduled to follow the sun path automatically.
What is the difference between a roller blind and a Venetian blind?
A roller blind uses a single sheet of fabric that rolls up or down. A Venetian blind uses horizontal slats that tilt for angle-adjustable light control. Rollers are simpler and cheaper. Venetians offer finer control over light direction and airflow. Read the full roller vs Venetian comparison.
Find the Right Blind for Every Window
Free consultation on the Garden Route. Free delivery nationwide. Made to your exact measurements.
Published by Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings, Knysna. Content reviewed February 2026. Specifications may vary by product and configuration. Prices are estimates — request a formal quote for your specific requirements. Custom Blinds is an independent South African manufacturer and is not affiliated with franchise blind retailers.
