Different rooms have different requirements for window coverings. A bathroom needs moisture resistance, a bedroom needs light blocking, and a home office needs glare control. Choosing the wrong blind for a room's specific needs leads to frustration and premature replacement.
This comprehensive guide walks through each room in the typical Australian home, explaining the key considerations and recommending the best blind options for each space.
Living Room
The living room is often the heart of the home—where you relax, entertain, and spend time with family. Window coverings here need to balance aesthetics, functionality, and comfort.
Key Considerations
- Light control: Ability to adjust natural light throughout the day
- Glare management: Reducing glare on TV screens while maintaining brightness
- Aesthetics: Creating a welcoming, stylish atmosphere
- Privacy: Especially for street-facing windows in the evening
Best Options
Dual roller blinds (sunscreen + blockout) offer maximum flexibility. Use the sunscreen layer during the day to reduce glare while maintaining views, then switch to blockout for movie nights or when you want privacy.
Timber or faux wood venetians add warmth and elegance while providing excellent light control. Tilting the slats allows fine-tuned adjustment of light levels.
Day/night blinds (zebra blinds) offer a modern look with the ability to shift between light-filtering and room-darkening modes.
TV Glare Solution
For living rooms with TVs facing windows, sunscreen blinds with 3-5% openness factor dramatically reduce glare while maintaining natural light and views. Position seating to minimize direct reflections, and use darker sunscreen fabrics for the most effective glare reduction.
Bedrooms
Quality sleep requires a dark, comfortable environment. Bedrooms are where light-blocking ability matters most.
Key Considerations
- Light blocking: Complete darkness for quality sleep
- Privacy: Essential, especially for ground-floor rooms
- Temperature control: Insulation for comfortable sleeping temperature
- Safety: Cordless options for children's rooms
Best Options
Blockout roller blinds are the most popular choice for bedrooms. Choose quality fabrics with foam backing and light-coloured reverse sides for best light blocking and heat reflection.
Cellular blockout blinds combine complete light blocking with excellent insulation—ideal for bedrooms in extreme climates.
Roman blinds with blockout lining offer a softer, more textured look while providing effective light blocking.
For children's rooms, always choose cordless operation or motorised blinds. See our child safety guide for detailed information.
Key Takeaway
For bedrooms, prioritise light blocking over aesthetics. Even small light gaps can disrupt sleep. Consider outside mounting with a pelmet for maximum darkness.
Kitchen
Kitchens present unique challenges: moisture from cooking, grease and food splashes, and the need for easy cleaning.
Key Considerations
- Moisture resistance: Able to handle steam and humidity
- Easy cleaning: Wipeable surfaces for grease and food splashes
- Fire safety: Keep away from stovetops
- Natural light: Kitchens benefit from bright, natural light
Best Options
Aluminium venetian blinds are the kitchen workhorse. They're moisture-proof, easy to wipe clean, and provide excellent light control. Choose a wipeable finish and clean regularly to prevent grease buildup.
PVC roller blinds can be wiped clean and handle humidity well. They're available in various colours and are a budget-friendly option for kitchen windows.
Faux wood venetians offer the look of timber without the moisture sensitivity of real wood.
Avoid in Kitchens
- Fabric blinds (absorb odours and stains)
- Real timber (warps with moisture)
- Any blinds directly above cooking surfaces
Bathroom
Bathrooms need blinds that handle daily exposure to high humidity, steam, and water splashes.
Key Considerations
- Water resistance: Must handle direct water exposure
- Humidity tolerance: Won't warp, mould, or mildew
- Privacy: Essential—frosted glass isn't always enough
- Ventilation compatibility: Allowing steam to escape
Best Options
Aluminium venetian blinds are ideal for bathrooms. Completely waterproof and resistant to humidity, they're easy to clean and adjust for privacy and ventilation.
PVC vertical blinds work well for bathroom windows and are especially practical for shower enclosures or bath areas.
Café-style blinds or shutters (covering only the lower half of the window) provide privacy while allowing light and ventilation from the top.
Bathroom Ventilation Tip
After showering, open the blind or tilt slats to allow steam to escape. Leaving blinds closed traps moisture, which can lead to mould on walls and ceilings even if the blinds themselves are water-resistant.
Home Office
With more Australians working from home, the home office has become a critical space. Window coverings need to support productivity while managing screen glare and video call lighting.
Key Considerations
- Glare control: Reducing screen glare without eliminating natural light
- Video call lighting: Flattering, even lighting for face-to-face calls
- Temperature comfort: Managing heat without heavy air conditioning
- Focus: Minimising distractions from outside
Best Options
Sunscreen roller blinds are ideal for home offices. They reduce glare and UV while maintaining natural light and views. Choose 3-5% openness for balanced visibility and glare reduction.
Venetian blinds allow you to angle slats to deflect direct sun while maintaining light levels—useful when the sun moves across your workspace during the day.
Dual roller blinds provide flexibility—sunscreen for daytime work, blockout for presentations or when you need to focus without distractions.
Video Call Lighting
Position your desk so natural light comes from the front or side, not behind you. Sunscreen blinds diffuse light beautifully for flattering video call lighting. Avoid having a bright window directly behind your monitor—it creates harsh contrast and silhouettes you on camera.
Dining Room
Dining rooms balance entertaining, daily meals, and often homework or project space. Window coverings should complement the room's versatile nature.
Key Considerations
- Ambiance: Creating atmosphere for dinners and entertaining
- Natural light: Bright and welcoming for everyday meals
- Easy maintenance: Dining areas see food spills
Best Options
Sheer or light-filtering roller blinds create a soft, elegant atmosphere while maintaining natural light.
Roman blinds add texture and sophistication, perfect for more formal dining rooms.
Venetian blinds (timber or faux wood) complement dining room furniture and allow flexible light control.
Laundry
Laundries are functional spaces with moisture and limited natural light. Practical considerations outweigh aesthetics.
Best Options
- Aluminium venetians: Moisture-proof and easy to clean
- PVC roller blinds: Budget-friendly and humidity-resistant
- Café-style blinds: Privacy on lower portion, light from above
If your laundry doubles as a mud room or pet washing area, choose blinds that can handle splashes and are easy to wipe down.
Nursery and Children's Rooms
Children's rooms have unique requirements centring on safety and sleep quality.
Key Considerations
- Safety: Cordless operation is essential
- Blockout: Dark rooms promote better sleep and naps
- Durability: Children are hard on furnishings
- Easy cleaning: Sticky fingers happen
Best Options
Cordless blockout roller blinds combine safety with effective light blocking. Choose durable fabrics that can be wiped clean.
Motorised blinds eliminate cords entirely and can be programmed for consistent sleep schedules.
Choose neutral colours that won't look dated as children grow, or accept that you may replace themed blinds as interests change.
Hallways and Entryways
These transitional spaces are often overlooked but contribute to your home's overall appearance and energy efficiency.
Best Options
- Sheer or sunscreen blinds: Maintain natural light while providing privacy
- Venetians: Classic look that suits most entry styles
- Cellular blinds: Good insulation for external doors with glass panels
Match the style of hallway blinds to adjacent rooms for visual continuity.
Creating a Cohesive Look
While each room has specific requirements, aim for some consistency throughout your home:
- Hardware colour: Use the same bracket and chain/wand colour throughout
- Style family: If using roller blinds in most rooms, stick with roller blinds rather than mixing with venetians
- Colour palette: Choose complementary colours that work with your overall décor
- Quality level: Similar quality across rooms creates a cohesive feel
That said, functional requirements should always come first. It's better to have an appropriate aluminium venetian in the bathroom than to match the fabric blinds in the bedroom.
Budget Priorities
If budget is limited, prioritise quality blinds for:
- Bedrooms (sleep quality impact)
- Living areas (most visible)
- Home office (productivity impact)
Use budget-friendly options for:
- Laundries and utility areas
- Guest rooms (less frequent use)
- Garages or sheds
By matching blind choices to each room's specific requirements, you'll create a comfortable, functional home where every space works exactly as it should.