The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Window Blinds

Stylish blinds on French-style windows

High-quality blinds can provide privacy, style, UV-protection, and other benefits – they can even boost the value of your home. But choosing which window treatment is right for you can be a daunting task. The team at Total Look Blinds Auckland, New Zealand understands how hard it can be, so we’ve created this guide to help you weigh your options and make the best choice possible.

 

Follow our ideas for inspiring window treatments.

Measure First

Before you even start looking at different options for your blinds, you need to know the exact size of each window you want to cover. This will help you decide on the most appropriate blind type for each window and get better estimates of prices.

 

You should measure exactly where you want the blind or shade to be. For interior blinds, usually you will be measuring to the edge of the window pane, not the edge of the frame, whereas for exterior blinds you’ll generally want to include the frame in measurements. If you really want to be sure, consider getting a free measure and quote by professionals for the most accurate results.

 

What Are Your Needs?

The most important thing when choosing blinds (or really any product) is not to try and find out from other people what the ‘best’ option is – there is no blanket best option for everyone. Deciding what’s best means considering your needs and then finding the blind that perfectly meets them.

 

Think About Light and Privacy

For each room’s windows, think about how you want to balance privacy and natural light in that space.

  • Do you want the room to be bright and airy or shady and private? Roller blinds allow you to open the windows up, completely letting in light. You can choose more translucent materials to maintain a light feel even when closed, or you can opt for darker shades or blockout blinds.
  • Or, maybe the option to have either at different times? Blinds with rotating horizontal shutters or Venetian blinds give you a lot of flexibility.
  • Need to make a small room feel less cramped? Light-coloured, horizontal shutters will help create the impression of space and keep the room from seeming gloomy and cramped.

 

Make a Budget and Stick to It

Know exactly how much you have to spend and stick to your budget. This will make decisions about fabric types, extra features, and custom sizes much simpler.

 

Maintenance Needs

Different types of blinds require different levels of time and effort to clean and maintain. Think realistically about how much of your life you’re willing to devote to these activities.

 

What's Your Style?

Blinds are functional, aesthetic features. Think about your own style and the look of your home – Casual or formal? Traditional or modern?  Choose blinds that complement your own tastes and home.

 

Safety Concerns

Finally, if you have young children in your home blinds with loose cords are not a good idea unless you have a reliable way to keep them out of reach. Try opting for window coverings that are adjusted with tassels rather than looped cords. You could even consider home automation – no one was ever strangled by a remote control... that we know of. We also offer free cord safes to keep the roller cords safely attached to the wall.


Speak to the Professionals Today

For help measuring and choosing the right window coverings for you, or custom blinds get in touch with the team at Total Look Blinds. Call us on 0800 449 966!

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
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!
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👏
Lanice McMillan
Thank you for your awesome service and flexibility to get quotes on very short notice. Love the roller blinds
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!
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!
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.
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.
Heidi Reid
Great service and wonderful blinds, thanksJo in the office was helpful and available Roger was superb with his installation and communication thanks
hong he
Love the company and the products they provided and installed. We are very grateful for their wonderful support and help!
James B
Lovely blinds with professional service.Sincere thanks to Laren for your helpful advice and Carl for excellent installation…..much appreciated
Diane Andrew
Recommend this company highly. Efficient and quality service. Very happy with my blinds. Very reasonably priced
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.
Eve O-R
A five star company to deal with, accurate, quick, professional and reasonably priced. Definitely will return. Highly recommended!
Emily Anderson
Love my new shutters - they have transformed our guest room and bathrooms! From the sales visit to the installation, so easy to work with the great people of Total Look Blinds! Love that they are made here in NZ too! Thanks!
Marley Brady
We had stunning shutters installed throughout the house. The staff were great and we love the final look! 5 stars
Katie Duffy
Have used this service for my own home and a rental. Quick efficient professional service. Highly RecommendKerry Watt
Peter Glass
Great service from quote to install. Deliver on their promises. Multiple repeat customer. Excellent team to deal with.
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!
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.
nicola taylor
Amazing company, amazing team and amazing service. Totally recommend Total Look Blinds.
Stephen Ball
Very happy with result, beautiful appearance. High quality, efficient and effective at a good price.
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 😊
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
Vaughan Ludlam
Excellent product, pricing and service from Total Look Blinds – thanks David, Lauren, Carl & the rest of the team.
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!
Anwar Sadat
Excellent piece of work and commitment from the team to get the blinds delivered and installed on time.
Melissa Slater
Awesome consultation gave really good ideas and pointers. Quick to manufacture and install. End result is beautiful.
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.
Paula Reason
Total Look Blinds are amazing ! Fantastic fast service , top quality product, friendly, and best of all , installed early !
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!
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!
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
Alisha McDougall
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!
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.
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.
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
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