New Year, New Blinds: Signs You Need New Window Treatments

The start of a new year often inspires grand ambitions: eat healthier, hit the gym, finally organise the pantry... But what about your home? Specifically, your window treatments. If you’re like most people, chances are you haven’t given much thought to your blinds. They’re there, doing their job (kind of), but are they really living up to their potential? Are they still adding to your space, or have they quietly transitioned into “liability” territory? 

Today, Total Look Blinds is pulling back the curtains to reveal the top signs your window treatments are overdue for an upgrade—because even blinds deserve a fresh start.

 

1. Visible Damage

Blinds have a quiet dignity about them—they rarely make a fuss, even when they’re long overdue for replacement. But if you know what to look for, the signs of wear and tear become hard to ignore:

  • Frayed fabric edges: Often caused by frequent adjustments or prolonged exposure to UV rays, frayed edges make even the most well-decorated room feel unkempt.
  • Discolouration or fading: Harsh sunlight can bleach fabrics and warp materials, leaving blinds that no longer match their original colour—or your current décor.
  • Bent or broken slats: Particularly common with aluminium Venetian blinds, warped slats are not just unsightly but also compromise light control and privacy.

We recommend standing back and taking a photo of your window treatments. Often, we overlook details in real life that become glaringly obvious in a picture. If your blinds look shabby in the photo, it’s time to start thinking about a replacement.

Modern blinds, like roller blinds and timber Venetians, are made from durable materials designed to withstand the elements while maintaining their sleek appearance for years.

 

2. Outdated Style

It’s not just avocado kitchens or floral sofas that can date a home—your blinds can, too. Window treatments are a major visual element in any space, and if they’re stuck in the design trends of yesteryear, they can bring down your entire room.

Some style red flags include:

  • Obvious patterns from the past: Heavy floral prints or garish stripes that scream “retro” rather than “vintage chic.”
  • Old-school materials: Remember those stiff plastic blinds that always seemed to tangle? They’ve long been replaced by softer fabrics and modern finishes.
  • Clunky designs: Bulky blinds that dominate your windows can feel out of place in today’s minimalist interiors.

Looking for inspiration? Consider how sheer roller blinds in a neutral tone can blend effortlessly into your walls, letting your furniture and décor take centre stage. The key is to choose window treatments that enhance your home rather than hold it back.

 

3. Difficult Operation

There’s a certain irony in window treatments that are harder to operate than a manual transmission. If adjusting your blinds feels like a chore—or worse, a workout—it’s time to reconsider. Here’s what you might be dealing with:

  • Stiff cords or chains: Over time, the mechanisms in blinds can wear down, making them sticky or outright jammed.
  • Uneven operation: Ever had one side of your blinds shoot up while the other stays stubbornly in place? That’s a sign of a misaligned mechanism or a broken cord.
  • Tangled or frayed cords: Not only are they frustrating, but they’re also a potential safety hazard.

Modern blinds, like motorised options, eliminate these issues entirely. With a touch of a button (or even a voice command if integrated with smart home systems), you can control your blinds effortlessly. And if you’re not ready to go fully motorised, newer manual designs feature smooth, high-quality mechanisms that work seamlessly every time.

 

4. Energy Inefficiency 

Did you know that poorly fitted or old blinds can significantly impact your home’s energy efficiency? Windows are a notorious weak spot when it comes to heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, and outdated blinds do little to help.

Signs your blinds are working against you:

  • Gaps at the edges: These allow draughts to sneak in during the winter months, making your home colder than it needs to be.
  • Thin or poorly insulating materials: Lightweight or worn-out blinds fail to block sunlight effectively, turning your living spaces into a greenhouse during summer.
  • Excessive reliance on heating and cooling: If you’re running the heat pump non-stop, your blinds might be part of the problem.

Upgrading to blockout roller blinds or timber shutters can make a noticeable difference. Blockout blinds are perfect for bedrooms and living areas where you want to maintain a consistent temperature, while timber shutters add a layer of insulation without compromising style.

 Bonus tip: Make sure your new blinds are custom-fitted to your windows for maximum energy efficiency.

 

5. Safety Concerns

Blinds may seem harmless, but if you’ve got dangling cords, they could pose a serious risk—particularly if you have young children or pets. Loose cords can tangle easily, leading to dangerous situations.

Modern blinds prioritise safety without sacrificing style. Consider:

  • Cordless options: These eliminate the risk entirely while offering a cleaner, more streamlined look.
  • Motorised blinds: A step further in convenience and safety, these can be adjusted remotely with no cords in sight.
  • Compliance with safety standards: High-quality blinds from companies like Total Look Blinds are designed with the latest safety regulations in mind, giving you peace of mind.

Here’s a practical test: Look around your home and check if any blinds have cords within easy reach of little hands or playful pets. If they do, it’s time to prioritise a safer option. Motorised blinds are an excellent choice that combines functionality with safety.

 

Ready for an Upgrade?

If your blinds are ticking these boxes, it’s time to let go of the old and embrace something that truly works for your home. Outdated, damaged, or inefficient blinds can drag down the style and comfort of your space, but the right window treatments can completely change the way you live in your home.

At Total Look Blinds, we specialise in creating custom solutions that fit your needs—not just your windows. From sleek roller blinds that offer seamless light control to classic timber Venetians and stunning shutters that add a statement to any room, our range combines style, durability, and practicality. Every product we offer is made with care, precision, and your lifestyle in mind.

Top Quality Custom Blinds and Shutters

Total Look Blinds has the best and most experienced people in the industry with a combined experience of greater than 180 years within the industry. If we can’t help you nobody can. We offer free help and advice when you ask us to meet with you.
Contact us Today

What Our Customers Say

Excellent
4.8
Vaughan Ludlam
Excellent product, pricing and service from Total Look Blinds – thanks David, Lauren, Carl & the rest of the team.
Leila El-yassir
I cannot recommend Total Look Blinds enough. From start to finish, their professionalism, expertise, and attention to detail were truly commendable. The quality of their blinds is exceptional.The customer service provided was second to none. Brent and David were knowledgeable, friendly, and always ready to assist. They patiently answered all my questions and helped me make informed decisions that perfectly matched my style and requirements.They went above and beyond to ensure that I was completely happy with my blinds. Any concerns or issues I had were promptly addressed and resolved to my utmost satisfaction.I highly recommend Total Look Blinds to anyone in need of high-quality blinds and outstanding service. I am extremely pleased with my blinds and the overall experience. Five stars all the way!
Vicki Landon
Cannot fault Caroline and the team from Total Look Blinds. Very professional and accommodating. Friendly people from the measuring, advice on product and installation. We have used them in several houses and will continue to do so. Highly recommend Total Look Blinds.
Alisha Dodds
This is the second time we have used total look blinds and they are amazing! So simple to get a quote, easy ordering process and arrived much sooner than we thought! The installer was super lovely and I will be getting my blinds through this company again!
Eve O-R
A five star company to deal with, accurate, quick, professional and reasonably priced. Definitely will return. Highly recommended!
Sally Clegg
First class service, products and support from Total Look Blinds. We have asked these guys to come three times as we add more blinds to our home. They look so good and work brilliantly. Really pleased!
Tracy-Ann Willcock
Thank you Jo and Roger at Total Look Blinds. Your service and after service and products are absolutely fantastic. From 3 years ago when Roger installed the Blinds to the fantastic after sale service today, absolutely brilliant. Jo and Roger are just such nice people. Thank you!
Lanice McMillan
Thank you for your awesome service and flexibility to get quotes on very short notice. Love the roller blinds
Trudi Stevenson
Total Look blinds were an outstanding company to work with. They installed both shutters and blinds in our home at competitive prices and using high quality materials. Timing and installation were faultless. We are thrilled with the service and the result.
Reema Prasad
Total blinds highly recommended good service excellent job very happy using them from 10yrs .
K R
TLB was recommended by a friend in Auckland who had used them twice. I had blinds installed at my new house in Raglan, excellent quality, service and communication. Highly recommended.
David Lim
Vertical and horizontal blinds completed on time. Reliable and great people to deal. Over the years, I have engaged the services of Total Look Blinds a few times and I have always been pleased with the results. I would do it again in the future with any hesitation. Highly recommended.
Jayne Steele
Loving my new blinds, awesome service, great advice with colour selection , soooooo glad went for the motorised option, so simple and at the end of the day not really that much more for convenience, no cords and fun
Melissa Slater
Awesome consultation gave really good ideas and pointers. Quick to manufacture and install. End result is beautiful.
Kambiz Radman
Could not be happier with my new sun screens and blinds, look awesome. The material seems nice and hopefully durable (I'll update you on that later)."Terry" is a positive Rep who speaks clearly. He measured well but didn't explain some installation details, which confused me afterward. However, "Carolyn" came to the site and explained everything very well. Roger is a professional installer who did a quick and clean job. Thanks "Jo" for admin updates and following up. 101% recommended.
James B
Lovely blinds with professional service.Sincere thanks to Laren for your helpful advice and Carl for excellent installation…..much appreciated
Katie Duffy
Have used this service for my own home and a rental. Quick efficient professional service. Highly RecommendKerry Watt
Paula Reason
Total Look Blinds are amazing ! Fantastic fast service , top quality product, friendly, and best of all , installed early !
Tina Smith
Have used Total Look Blinds for a number of years and always outstanding service. Jo had my blind repair turned around in less than 3 hours. Highly recommend them.
Niall Robertson
Excellent service quality product from this company who consistently delivers a great personal experience to its customers.Comes highly recommended. Thank you Team!
Mark Jeus Buenavista
Great company to deal with. Terry is very knowledgeable. Happy with the outcome of our kitchen windows with shutters. Next project would be shutters in our living room windows. Thanks Total Look Blinds team!
Stephen Ball
Very happy with result, beautiful appearance. High quality, efficient and effective at a good price.
Peter Glass
Great service from quote to install. Deliver on their promises. Multiple repeat customer. Excellent team to deal with.
Nerissa Attewell
Excellent service, quick turnaround the whole team were informative and helpful! We love our blinds so much :)
WYNN RIECHELMANN
Absolutely love our TotalBlinds shutters! They have transformed our bedroom. Service from measure up and quote was excellent and communication with the TotalBlinds team was a pleasure! They took half the time than was quoted by another supplier and although they were a bit cheaper, the shutters are very good quality. Plus they are NZ made! Highly recommend!
Jackson Whitham
Outstanding service from everyone at Total Look Blinds. Jo was incredibly helpful in quoting a sun screen blind over the phone including looking up previous work done at home to match measurements, ordered over the phone and installed in less than 2 weeks - well ahead of schedule - high quality, friendly installer. Definitely recommend using this company!
Anwar Sadat
Excellent piece of work and commitment from the team to get the blinds delivered and installed on time.
John Trotman
We had Total Look Blinds install blinds in our House they were very professional and efficient,from when Terry first measured and Quoted until the blinds were installed,would recommend them for all your blinds and curtains you may need,Thanks again for a great service.
Heidi Reid
Great service and wonderful blinds, thanksJo in the office was helpful and available Roger was superb with his installation and communication thanks
Gaye Heywood
Total -Look BlindsWould recommend them they are organised, friendly, great communication, quick installation. Nothing is a problem. Very happy with their service from start to finish.
Lia Wongsohardjo
I love my roller blinds from Total Look Blinds, the products are great. They have excellent customer service, the sales, the admin and the installer are amazing. I have bought from them twice for my house in Oteha and now in Orewa where I moved recently. Terry is very expert, kind and helpful, he is a talented salesman.
Ant MacLean
Had an old vertical blind that was manufactured by them, that was broken. Excellent cheery and quick repair service and great value too.Support kiwi jobs stay local. If you buy something NZ made you can get spares.
Grant McFlinn
From first contact with Sales Consultant Lauren to Jo in the office and installer Carl, the entire process was nothing short of exceptional. As for the blinds themselves, thanks to Lauren's invaluable input, they look amazing and are undoubtedly high quality. Thoroughly recommend and will most definitely use again.
Bhavika n Divesh Kumar
We used Total Look Blinds in 2005 for our family home. After 19 years of wear and tear we needed some parts and couple of vertical blinds track needed fixing. Took a drive to Takanini and was greeted by the office lady Jo who was very helpful and was amazed when she pulled out our 19 years old invoice from their record. The team manage to fix the track within a day and got the parts i needed at a fair price. Highly recommend them if you want quality products and a fantastic after sales service. Great company to deal with 😊
Antoinette Cooney
Happy to recommend the service and products provided by Total Look Blinds recently.Terry did the initial measuring with helpful suggestions. Roger the installer was great and a perfect tradesman to help us ‘oldies’ - no rushing through the job or explanations. Pleased with our vertical and roll up blinds👏
hong he
Love the company and the products they provided and installed. We are very grateful for their wonderful support and help!
Parvaneh Karimi Fishani
We had double roller blinds installed in our new house. The price was much more reasonable compared to other shops, and their service was reasonably fast. The staff were friendly and helpful!I can't say much about the quality of the material since the blinds haven't been installed for long, but we hope they will be as good as the service we received!
Jim Richardson
Total blinds were Totally Professional. Excellent service from measurements to advice given through to the final fitting and the blinds look great! The price was also very reasonable and far better than competitor's. I totally recommended Total Blinds. Thanks! Jim
Marley Brady
We had stunning shutters installed throughout the house. The staff were great and we love the final look! 5 stars
Lisa Fong
Could not be happier with my new shutters - big shout out to Total Look Blinds who did a fantastic job with the measure, manufacture and installation! All done in NZ so would highly recommend!
Peter McLeod
I enquired about a blind repair. Response was quick and friendly and when I took the blind into the factory to get it fixed, it was done immediately, with a smile and finished within 10min. Very impressive and much appreciated
nicola taylor
Amazing company, amazing team and amazing service. Totally recommend Total Look Blinds.
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