New Zealand homes are often flooded with sunlight — beautiful, yes, but also hard on interiors. Fading, overheating, and glare are real issues, especially in north- and west-facing rooms. If you’re choosing window coverings for your home, you might be asking:
Should I choose curtains or blinds?
Here’s how to decide what’s best — especially for our sunny NZ conditions.
🌞 1. Managing Sun & Heat
Blinds are great for controlling light and heat in real time. Blockout roller blinds or double roller blinds (with both blockout and sunscreen layers) are ideal for:
-
Bedrooms or media rooms
-
Street-facing windows needing privacy
-
Homes where sun comes in strong and hot
Curtains, especially when lined, provide excellent insulation and light control — and when combined with blinds, can give you the best of both worlds.
🪟 2. Insulation & Energy Efficiency
In winter, NZ homes often lose heat through windows. Curtains with thermal or triple-layer linings are excellent insulators.
For maximum energy savings:
-
Use floor-length, lined curtains that sit close to the window
-
Combine with blockout blinds for double-layer protection
🛋️ 3. Style & Softness
Curtains add softness and luxury to a room — ideal for living rooms and bedrooms. They also come in a wider range of fabrics, textures and patterns, which can complement your furniture and décor.
Blinds, on the other hand, offer a sleek, minimal look and work well in:
-
Kitchens
-
Bathrooms
-
Small rooms or apartments
🧼 4. Maintenance & Durability
-
Roller blinds are easy to clean and ideal for homes with kids or pets
-
Curtains can be dry-cleaned or, in some cases, machine-washed (depending on fabric)
Both options can be made to last — especially when measured, supplied, and installed professionally.
✅ The Best Option? Often Both.
Many NZ homeowners now choose roller blinds for light control + curtains for insulation and design. This gives you:
-
Privacy during the day
-
Blockout at night
-
Improved energy efficiency
-
A polished, layered look
🪡 Need Help Choosing?
At Blanchetts, we help homeowners across the Lower North Island choose the right combination of curtains, blinds and fabrics for their space and lifestyle.
📍 Visit us in Palmerston North to view samples
📧 Book a free measure and quote: info@blanchetts.com
🌐 www.blanchetts.com