Venetian Blinds in South Africa: Privacy, Materials and What Actually Lasts
Morning light angled across a bedroom floor. Neighbours who cannot see in. Slats that still look sharp after a decade of coastal weather. That is what the right venetian blind gives you — and in South Africa, the material you choose matters more than most people realise.
What are the best venetian blinds for South African homes?
- Plaswood (PVC composite) venetians are the top performer for coastal and high-humidity areas — UV 500+ rated, moisture-proof, and tested to last 15–20 years in Garden Route conditions.
- Aluwood venetians combine a realistic timber look with aluminium durability, making them suited to any room including bathrooms and kitchens.
- Aluminium venetians in 25mm or 50mm slats offer the most affordable option with excellent corrosion resistance for coastal properties.
- Real basswood venetians deliver a premium natural look but are not recommended for high-humidity rooms or coastal bathrooms where warping occurs within two to three years.
- For privacy, tilt slats upward at night (blocks view from outside) and downward during the day (filters light while maintaining privacy).
- Slat width affects both privacy and light control: 25mm gives tighter privacy, 50mm gives bolder light shaping and is the most popular size in South Africa.
- Custom Blinds manufactures and installs venetian blinds across the Garden Route and ships nationwide from shop.customblinds.co.za.
Need expert advice? Call Duncan on 079 523 5407
TLDR
Venetian blinds give you precise control over privacy, light and heat — but in South Africa’s climate, the material matters as much as the tilt. Plaswood and aluwood handle coastal humidity, UV and salt air without warping. Real wood looks beautiful inland but deteriorates fast near the coast. For privacy: tilt up at night, down during the day. For durability: match the material to your region and room.
How it feels
You tilt the slats once. Light enters, neighbours do not. The room settles into exactly the mood you wanted — bright and open, or quiet and private. No guessing. No compromise.
Privacy on demand. One tilt of the wand and the street disappears. Your bedroom stays yours.
Light you control. Angle the slats to shape morning sun, soften afternoon glare or block it entirely.
Built for the coast. Salt air, humidity, UV — the right venetian handles all of it without warping or fading.
Years, not months. We have plaswood installations from 2010 that still look like the day they went in.
“People always ask which blind is best. I ask them what annoys them most about their window right now. Nine times out of ten, it is either privacy or heat — and venetians solve both with a single tilt.”Duncan Kane, Custom Blinds — 15 years installing across the Garden Route
The privacy question
Which Way Should Venetian Blinds Tilt for Privacy?
This is the question that went viral. Duncan covered it on TikTok and the response confirmed what we hear from homeowners every week — most people are tilting their blinds the wrong way.
The rule is straightforward once you understand it.
At night (lights on inside)
Tilt slats upward — the rounded side faces you, the window-facing edge angles down. This blocks the view from street level and from anyone at eye height. If your concern is people looking down into your home from an upper floor, tilt slats down instead.
During the day
Tilt slats downward — this filters natural light gently into the room while deflecting direct sun. You get brightness without glare, and passers-by still cannot see in clearly. As Hunter Douglas recommends, downward tilt during daylight hours also helps regulate room temperature by redirecting heat away from the interior.
For a balance of both
A slight upward tilt — not fully open, not fully closed — creates diffused light while obscuring the view from outside. This works well in living rooms and home offices where you want connection to the outdoors without sacrificing privacy.
Quick rule: tilt up at night, tilt down by day. Adjust the angle to suit how much light you want.
Choosing the right material
Venetian Blind Materials: What Works in South Africa
Privacy is only half the story. A venetian blind that warps, fades or corrodes within a year gives you nothing. South Africa’s climate — intense UV, coastal salt air, humidity swings from the Garden Route to Gauteng — demands materials engineered for real conditions. Not every venetian blind sold in this country is built for this country.
Here is what we install, what we recommend, and what we have learned from 8,000+ installations since 2010.
Aluminium Venetian Blinds
The practical workhorse. Aluminium slats in 16mm, 25mm, 35mm or 50mm widths suit offices, kitchens, bathrooms and any space that needs a clean, modern look. The material is naturally corrosion-resistant, lightweight and easy to wipe clean. With finishes from plain and brushed to hammered and pearl, aluminium venetians are the most affordable option that genuinely performs in coastal conditions.
Aluwood Venetian Blinds
Aluminium core with a realistic wood grain coating. You get the warm timber look without the timber problems. Aluwood handles humidity, salt air and temperature extremes the way aluminium does — because it is aluminium. Available in 25mm, 35mm and 50mm slats, with colours running from white wash through to deep mahogany. Aluwood venetians are the choice when you want a wood aesthetic in a bathroom, kitchen or coastal home.
Plaswood Venetian Blinds
The standout for South African conditions. Plaswood venetians are a UV-stabilised PVC composite engineered specifically for this climate. The UV 500+ rating means they handle north-facing windows and direct Garden Route sun without fading. The non-porous surface is fully washable — shower steam, kitchen grease, nothing penetrates. We stock 50mm slats only because that is the optimal size for South African windows: maximum light when open, minimal stack when raised, and the best balance of privacy and view.
We have plaswood installations from 2010 — Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, direct coastal exposure — that show no colour change. That is 15 years of salt air, UV and humidity without a single replacement.
Basswood (Real Wood) Venetian Blinds
Beautiful. Authentic grain, natural warmth, the feel of real timber in your hands. Basswood venetians come in 35mm, 50mm and 63mm slats with finishes from natural oak through walnut and mahogany to charcoal. They suit living rooms, bedrooms and offices inland. But real wood and high humidity do not mix. We do not recommend basswood for bathrooms, kitchens or any room where moisture accumulates. At the coast, we have seen basswood slats warp within two years.
Bamboo Venetian Blinds
Natural, sustainable and textured. Bamboo venetians in 50mm slats bring an organic warmth that suits casual interiors and eco-conscious homeowners. The same humidity limitations as basswood apply — keep these in dry rooms.
Venetian Blind Material Comparison for South Africa
Every material performs differently under South African conditions. This table reflects what we see on actual installations across the Garden Route, not laboratory claims.
| Feature | Aluminium | Aluwood | Plaswood | Basswood | Bamboo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV resistance | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent (UV 500+) | Moderate | Moderate |
| Humidity / moisture | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Poor — warps | Poor — warps |
| Coastal salt air | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Poor — corrodes fittings | Poor |
| Heat tolerance (40°C+) | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate |
| Slat widths | 16, 25, 35, 50mm | 25, 35, 50mm | 50mm only | 35, 50, 63mm | 50mm |
| Cleaning | Damp cloth | Damp cloth | Wash with soap and water | Specialist wood polish | Dry dust only |
| Coastal lifespan | 10–15+ years | 10–15+ years | 15–20+ years | 2–5 years | 2–5 years |
| Best for | Offices, budget, modern spaces | Any room — wood look + durability | Bathrooms, kitchens, coast | Inland bedrooms, living rooms | Dry rooms, eco choice |
| Price from | R350 (600x600mm) | R550 (600x600mm) | R699 (50mm cut-to-size) | R900+ (size dependent) | R700+ (size dependent) |
“After 8,000 installations across the Garden Route, plaswood and aluwood are the standout performers. Real wood is beautiful, but coastal humidity is unforgiving. We have seen basswood blinds warp within two years in Knysna bathrooms. If your home is anywhere near the coast, go composite.”Duncan Kane, Custom Blinds — Knysna workshop
Which Venetian Blind for Which Room?
The right material depends on the room it goes in, the direction the window faces, and how close you are to the sea. Here is what we recommend based on actual Garden Route installations.
Bedrooms
Privacy is the priority. Wider 50mm slats give you full blackout when closed and beautiful light shaping when tilted. Basswood or aluwood suits inland bedrooms. Near the coast, aluwood or plaswood is the safer choice. Pair with blockout roller blinds behind the venetian if you need total darkness.
Bathrooms and kitchens
Moisture is constant. Steam from showers. Splash from sinks. Grease in the air. Only plaswood, aluwood or aluminium belong here. Real wood and bamboo will absorb moisture and warp — it is not a matter of if, but when. Plaswood’s non-porous surface wipes clean without absorbing a thing.
Living rooms
Aesthetic choice matters most. Basswood delivers genuine timber warmth. Aluwood gives you the look without the risk. Aluminium suits modern, minimal interiors. Choose the slat width that suits the window scale — 25mm for smaller openings, 50mm for larger feature windows.
Home offices
Glare control is critical. Tilt slats downward to keep direct light off screens while maintaining brightness. Aluminium or aluwood in 25mm slats gives precise, modern control. Read our full home office window shades comparison for detailed guidance.
North-facing windows
These take the most UV punishment in South Africa. Plaswood with its UV 500+ rating is the clear choice. We have north-facing plaswood installations across the Garden Route that have held colour for over a decade.
Slat Width: What Size Venetian Blind Slat Works Best?
Slat width is not just aesthetic — it affects privacy, light control and how the blind looks on your window.
| Slat Width | Look | Privacy | Light Control | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16mm | Ultra-modern, tight | Tightest closure | Precise, fine adjustment | Small windows, modern offices (aluminium only) |
| 25mm | Clean, minimal | Excellent — ~42 slats per metre | Very precise | Offices, bedrooms, compact windows |
| 35mm | Balanced | Good | Good all-rounder | Any room, transitional style |
| 50mm | Bold, classic | Good | Best light shaping | Most popular in SA — living rooms, bedrooms, feature windows |
| 63mm | Statement piece | Moderate | Dramatic shaping | Very large windows (basswood only) |
The 50mm slat is the most popular size across South African installations — and for good reason. It gives the best balance of privacy when closed, light shaping when angled, and a clean stack height when the blind is fully raised.
The Engineered Curve: Why Not All Aluminium Slats Are Equal
Pick up a cheap aluminium venetian and a Hunter Douglas or Luxaflex slat. You will feel the difference immediately. The premium slat has a deliberate, engineered curve — a concave profile that serves five distinct purposes.
That curve is not cosmetic. It is doing real work.
Light shaping. A flat slat dumps light straight through or bounces it harshly. The curved profile diffuses incoming light, softens glare, and creates an even daylight wash instead of hot spots. This is why quality aluminium venetians feel calmer in a room.
Heat management. Aluminium reflects radiant heat well, but only when angled correctly. The curved profile improves solar deflection when slats are tilted outward, pushing heat back toward the window glass rather than radiating it into the room. Flat slats trap heat inward. Curved slats manage it.
Structural strength. A curved slat is far stiffer than a flat strip of the same thickness. It resists oil-canning, sagging and edge warping. It holds alignment across wider spans and over time. This is why cheap aluminium blinds look wavy after a year and properly engineered ones do not.
Privacy and closure. The curve improves how slats meet when closed — tighter overlap, fewer light leaks, better sightline blocking. This is especially noticeable on 25mm and 50mm slats where the overlap gap is the difference between privacy and a visible stripe.
Wind and noise. Curved slats rattle less in airflow and settle back into position instead of fluttering. Subtle, but very noticeable in coastal or breezy Garden Route homes where windows stay open.
The bend is doing five jobs at once: light shaping, heat reflection, strength, privacy and stability. This is why we stock manufacturers who engineer the curve — not import flat strip.
Plaswood slats, by contrast, are thicker and flatter by design — their rigidity comes from the composite material itself rather than the profile shape. Both approaches work. The difference matters when you are comparing aluminium products: a properly curved slat from a quality manufacturer will outperform a flat import on every measure.
Regional Guide: Best Venetian Blinds by Location
South Africa’s climate varies dramatically from coast to highveld. The venetian material that thrives in Sandton may deteriorate in Knysna. Here is what we recommend by region.
| Location | Best Material | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal (Knysna, Plett, Mossel Bay, Camps Bay) | Plaswood or aluminium | Corrosion-resistant, humidity-proof, salt-air tested |
| Bathrooms and kitchens (any region) | Plaswood or aluwood | Non-porous surface handles steam and moisture |
| Inland bedrooms and living rooms | Basswood, aluwood or plaswood | Aesthetic choice — all perform well without coastal exposure |
| North-facing windows | Plaswood | UV 500+ rating prevents fading under direct sun |
| Budget-conscious | Aluminium | Most affordable with excellent durability |
| Eco-conscious | Bamboo or basswood | Natural, sustainable materials |
| Large windows | Aluminium or aluwood | Lighter weight for easier daily operation |
Why Custom Blinds
Tested in Real Garden Route Conditions
Installations Since 2010
Every recommendation is backed by what we have seen on actual South African windows — not a spec sheet.
Years on the Garden Route
We know what lasts in Knysna humidity, Plett wind and George heat because we have measured, installed and maintained through all of it.
Company, Full Service
Online ordering, on-site consultation, in-house manufacturing and professional installation. Browse the full indoor range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best venetian blinds for South Africa?
Plaswood (PVC composite) and aluwood venetians are the best performers across most South African conditions. Plaswood is UV 500+ rated and moisture-proof, making it ideal for coastal areas, bathrooms and north-facing windows. Aluwood gives you a timber look with aluminium durability. Aluminium is the best budget option. Custom Blinds stocks all five materials with nationwide delivery.
Should venetian blinds tilt up or down for privacy?
At night with lights on inside, tilt slats upward to block the view from street level. During the day, tilt slats downward to filter light while maintaining privacy. If someone is looking in from above (an upper storey), tilt down. The direction depends on where the observer is relative to your window.
What is the difference between plaswood and basswood venetian blinds?
Plaswood is a synthetic PVC composite that is moisture-proof, UV-resistant and fully washable. Basswood is real hardwood with natural grain and warmth. Plaswood lasts 15–20 years at the coast; basswood can warp within two to three years in humid conditions. Choose plaswood for bathrooms, kitchens and coastal homes. Choose basswood for dry, inland living rooms and bedrooms where the natural timber aesthetic matters.
Are aluminium venetian blinds good for coastal areas in South Africa?
Yes. Aluminium is naturally corrosion-resistant and handles salt air, humidity and UV well. Quality manufacturers use aluminium headrails to prevent the coastal corrosion that affects steel components. Aluminium venetians are the most affordable coastal-grade option available. View the aluminium venetian range.
How much do venetian blinds cost in South Africa?
Aluminium venetians start from around R350 for a 600x600mm window. Aluwood starts from around R550. Plaswood from R699 for a 50mm cut-to-size blind. Basswood ranges from R900 to R6,000+ depending on size and finish. Pricing depends on window size, slat width, material and whether you need professional installation.
Which venetian blind material is best for bathrooms?
Plaswood or aluwood. Both are non-porous and handle shower steam, humidity and splashing without absorbing moisture. Never install basswood or bamboo venetians in a bathroom — the moisture will cause warping and discolouration within months. Aluminium also works in bathrooms but does not offer the timber aesthetic that aluwood provides.
Where can I buy venetian blinds on the Garden Route?
Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings operates from Knysna and services the entire Garden Route from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay. On-site consultations, professional measuring and installation are included. For nationwide orders, visit shop.customblinds.co.za or call Duncan on 079 523 5407.
Do venetian blinds block light completely?
When fully closed, venetian blinds block most light but small gaps between slats can allow slivers through — especially on wider slats. For complete blackout, pair venetians with blockout roller blinds behind them. Narrower 25mm slats and the engineered curve on quality aluminium slats provide tighter closure and fewer light leaks than flat or wide slats.
Ready to Choose Your Venetian Blinds?
Whether you need help picking the right material for your home or want to order online, we are here.
Prices are estimates based on standard sizes and may vary. All recommendations reflect real-world performance observed across 8,000+ Custom Blinds installations since 2010. For precise pricing on your windows, request a free measure and quote.
