Why We Love Vertical Blinds (And You Should Too)
You have a wide sliding door. Or a full-length window that catches the afternoon sun. You need something that covers it properly, moves out of the way when you want it to, and still looks good doing it. That is exactly what vertical blinds were designed for.
Why are vertical blinds making a comeback in 2026?
- Vertical blinds are the most practical window covering for wide openings, sliding doors, and full-length windows found in modern South African homes.
- New fabric options including textured linens, blockout weaves, and neutral tones have replaced the dated PVC look of the 1980s.
- Slimline aluminium headrails and S-curve slat profiles give vertical blinds a clean, contemporary finish.
- Individual slats rotate 180 degrees for precise light and privacy control throughout the day.
- Vertical blinds suit coastal conditions along the Garden Route, resisting warping and moisture damage better than timber alternatives.
- They remain one of the most affordable window treatments per square metre, with single damaged slats replaceable without removing the entire blind.
- Motorised and smart-home-compatible vertical blinds are now available from suppliers including Somfy and Coulisse.
Need help choosing? Call Duncan on 079 523 5407 or request a free measure and quote.
TLDR
Vertical blinds are back. New fabrics, slimline tracks, and modern colour palettes have turned a product people wrote off into one of the smartest choices for wide windows and sliding doors in South African homes. They are affordable, easy to maintain, and built for the kind of light control coastal living demands.
The Feeling
The Sliding Door Problem Nobody Talks About
Here is what actually happens. You move into a home with beautiful wide sliding doors. The light pours in. The view is wonderful. Then summer arrives and by 2pm the lounge is an oven. The TV screen is a mirror. The furniture starts to fade.
You try curtains. They bunch up when you slide the door open. They collect dust. They block the doorway. You try a roller blind but it only goes up or down, so you either cook in the sun or sit in the dark.
Vertical blinds solve this quietly. Pull them across when you need shade. Stack them to one side when you want the view. Angle the slats to let light in from above while blocking the direct glare. It is not complicated. It just works.
That is why people who actually live with vertical blinds tend to keep them. The design makes sense for how South African homes are built — wide openings, strong light, indoor-outdoor living.
We fit vertical blinds in homes from Mossel Bay to Plett every week. People are always surprised by how different the new fabrics look. Once you see a textured blockout vertical in a modern lounge, you forget every beige office blind you have ever walked past.— Duncan Kane, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings, Knysna
The Comeback
What Changed: Why Vertical Blinds Look Different Now
The vertical blind you remember from your aunt’s office in 1995 was a rigid PVC slat on a clunky plastic headrail. It yellowed. It clattered. It looked like it belonged in a government building.
The vertical blind being fitted in Garden Route homes today is a different product. Here is what actually changed.
New Fabrics and Textures
Modern vertical slats come in woven textures, linen blends, and dense blockout fabrics that look and feel like quality curtain material. The Custom Blinds vertical blockout range includes neutrals like alabaster, stone, and biscuit alongside deeper tones like charcoal, navy, and blueberry. These are fabrics you would choose for how they look, not just for what they do.
Slimline Headrails
The old headrails were bulky and difficult to conceal. Current aluminium headrails are narrow enough to sit inside a standard reveal or behind a simple pelmet. Paired with a matching fascia, the mechanism practically disappears.
S-Curve Profiles
Traditional flat slats left light gaps between each vane. S-curve profiles overlap slightly when closed, reducing light leakage and creating a smoother, more finished appearance from both inside and outside the room.
Wider Slat Options
Standard 90mm slats suit narrower reveals and smaller windows. The 127mm slat width is now the most popular choice for sliding and patio doors, giving a more contemporary scale that suits larger openings.
The Practical Bit
Why Vertical Blinds Work Better Than You Think
People tend to underestimate vertical blinds because they look simple. That simplicity is exactly what makes them practical.
Light Control That Actually Works
Each slat rotates independently through 180 degrees. That means you can angle light upward to brighten a room without direct glare, or close the slats completely for full blockout. No other blind type gives you this level of adjustment across a wide opening.
Space-Efficient Design
Vertical blinds stack neatly to one side (or split to both sides on wider installations). Unlike curtains, they don’t billow into the room. Unlike roller blinds, they don’t require full retraction to clear the doorway. You keep the opening usable.
Lower Dust and Allergen Build-Up
Horizontal slats collect dust on every surface. Vertical slats hang, so dust sheds naturally. A quick wipe with a damp cloth or a light vacuum with a brush attachment keeps them clean. For holiday homes along the Garden Route, this means less cleaning on arrival and less worry about moisture and mildew.
Easy Repairs
If a single slat gets damaged — a pet scratch, a child’s experiment, a braai mishap — you replace that one slat. Not the entire blind. This makes vertical blinds one of the lowest lifetime-cost options available.
Vertical Blinds vs Other Options: Honest Comparison
Choosing window coverings for wide openings usually comes down to three options. Here is how they compare on the things that actually matter.
| Feature | Vertical Blinds | Roller Blinds | Panel Track Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best suited for | Sliding doors, wide windows, patio openings | Standard windows, single openings | Very wide windows, room dividers |
| Light control | 180° slat rotation — precise angling | Up or down only | Open or closed only |
| Access to doorway | Stack to one side, walk through freely | Must fully retract to clear | Panels slide to stack |
| Dust accumulation | Low — vertical hang sheds dust | Moderate — collects in rolled fabric | Low — flat panels wipe clean |
| Repair cost | Replace single slat only | Replace entire blind | Replace single panel |
| Price per m² | Most affordable | Moderate | Higher — track system costs more |
| Motorisation | Available (Somfy, Coulisse) | Widely available | Available |
| Coastal durability | Fabric and PVC options resist moisture | Fabric options available | Depends on material |
| Modern aesthetic | Strong — with new fabrics and S-curve | Clean and minimal | Contemporary panel look |
For most sliding doors and wide windows in South African homes, vertical blinds offer the best balance of function, value, and style. Read our full guide to blind types in South Africa for a deeper comparison.
Where They Work Best
Rooms That Suit Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds are not a one-room product. They work across the house, and they work particularly well in spaces that other blinds struggle with.
Living Areas With Sliding Doors
This is the classic use case and still the best one. A 3-metre sliding door needs a window treatment that covers it fully, controls light at different angles, and stacks out of the way for braai traffic. Vertical blinds do all three.
Bedrooms Needing Full Blockout
Pair vertical blinds with blockout fabric and you get a room that goes properly dark. The S-curve profile minimises light gaps between slats, and the full-length drop means no light creeping in at the bottom. Ideal for shift workers, nurseries, or anyone who values sleep.
Home Offices
Glare on a computer screen is a daily frustration in sun-facing rooms. Vertical blinds let you angle the light precisely — enough to see your screen clearly while still keeping the room bright. Shutters offer similar control but at a higher price point.
Holiday Homes and Rentals
Along the Knysna coast and through to Plettenberg Bay, holiday properties need window treatments that handle salt air, intermittent use, and different guests. Vertical blinds are low maintenance, easy to operate, and durable enough for rental turnover.
Custom Blinds is the only South African company offering online ordering, on-site consultation, in-house manufacturing, and professional installation under one roof. We have been doing this since 2010, with over 8,000 installations across the Garden Route.
Getting It Right
How to Choose the Right Vertical Blind
Not all vertical blinds are the same. A few decisions make the difference between a product that works beautifully for years and one that disappoints.
Slat Width: 90mm or 127mm
The 90mm slat fits neatly inside narrower window reveals and works well on standard windows. For sliding doors and wider openings, the 127mm slat gives better scale, better light closure, and a more contemporary look. Most of our Garden Route installations use the wider option.
Fabric Weight and Function
Blockout fabrics are essential for bedrooms. Translucent fabrics soften light beautifully in living areas while still providing privacy from the street. The fabric weight also affects how the slats hang — heavier fabrics sit straighter and resist draughts better, which matters in coastal homes.
Inside or Outside Mount
Inside mount gives a cleaner finish when your reveal is deep enough and perfectly square. Outside mount covers the full window frame and works better on older homes where reveals may not be true. Custom Blinds measures both options and recommends the best fit for your specific opening. If the blind arrives too large, our Custom Fit Guarantee covers a free trim. Too small? 5% off the replacement.
Motorised or Manual
For high or hard-to-reach windows, or for anyone who values convenience, motorised vertical blinds integrate with Somfy and Coulisse smart home systems. Control them from a remote, a wall switch, or your phone. Manual chain-and-wand operation remains the most popular and most affordable option for standard installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are vertical blinds still in style in South Africa in 2026?
Yes. Vertical blinds have moved well past the dated office look. New textured fabrics, neutral colour palettes, slimline aluminium headrails, and S-curve slat profiles have made them a popular choice in modern South African homes. They are especially common in open-plan living areas with wide sliding doors.
Can I get vertical blinds fitted in Knysna, George, or Plettenberg Bay?
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings offers free on-site measurement and professional installation across the entire Garden Route, including Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, and Mossel Bay. Call Duncan on 079 523 5407 to book.
What is the difference between 90mm and 127mm vertical blind slats?
The 90mm slat is suited to smaller windows and narrower reveals. The 127mm slat is the preferred width for sliding doors and large openings — it provides better light closure, a more modern scale, and a cleaner overall appearance. Most installations along the Garden Route use the 127mm width.
How do I clean vertical blinds?
Wipe each slat with a damp cloth or use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment. Because the slats hang vertically, they accumulate far less dust than horizontal blinds. For a deeper clean, some fabric slats can be removed from the headrail and gently hand-washed. See our full cleaning guide for step-by-step instructions.
Are vertical blinds a good option for sliding doors?
Vertical blinds are one of the best options for sliding doors. They stack neatly to one side to keep the doorway clear, cover the full width without bunching, and give you precise light control by angling the slats. They are more practical than curtains and more flexible than roller blinds for this specific use case.
How much do vertical blinds cost in South Africa?
Vertical blinds are one of the most affordable window treatments available in South Africa. Exact pricing depends on the opening size, fabric choice, and whether you select manual or motorised operation. Browse the Custom Blinds vertical range online for current pricing, or request a free measure and quote for a precise figure.
Do vertical blinds work in coastal holiday homes?
They are one of the better choices for coastal properties. Fabric and PVC slats resist moisture and salt air better than timber. They require minimal maintenance between visits, and if a single slat is damaged it can be replaced individually without refitting the entire blind. Many holiday homeowners along the Garden Route choose vertical blinds for exactly these reasons.
Ready to See What Vertical Blinds Can Do?
Browse the range online or book a free on-site consultation anywhere along the Garden Route.
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings • Knysna, Garden Route • Since 2010 • 8,000+ installations
