Choosing Your Made To Measure Blinds

Here’s everything you need to know about window blinds.

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What are blinds and what are the different types of blinds?

Selecting the right blind can transform any room instantly and create a whole new look. When deciding what type of blind to choose it’s worth considering what functionality you would like it to perform. Take a look at our guide below to make sure you select your perfect window blind.

Each blind is specially manufactured to your specific requirements to ensure they fit your window perfectly. Hardware may differ slightly from product to product depending on the size of the blind required and may be subject to change without prior notification. All our blinds come fitted with child safety devices as standard. If you require further information, tips or advice, visit our Child Safety page. If you would like to purchase child safety devices for your existing blinds, visit our Blind Accessories and Parts page.

The benefit of choosing made to measure window blinds instead of ready-made?

Instead of buying blinds off the shelf ready-made, made to measure blinds are bespoke to you. When you buy ready-made blinds, you’re likely to have to compromise on some aspect of the design. Windows aren’t all one size, and so you might find you can only buy something which is way too long, or not wide enough for your particular window frame. For example in venetians this can lead to a gathering of slats at the bottom which will obscure your view. In roller or vertical blinds huge gaps at the sides or just not quite long enough to reach the window sill. You may have a window that is an unusual size, made to measure blinds fit perfect every time.

By buying blinds made just for you, you won’t have to make any adjustments, they are made and fitted to your exact window size. Everything will look just right and you’ll be able to pick specific colours, styles or patterns to suit you rather than just having to go with what is available on the shelf.

Recess or exact size blinds, which is best?

If you want blinds that fit close to the window (a recess blind), you’ll need to measure the window itself. On roller blinds the fabric will be 35mm (3.5cm) narrower than the overall width of the exact blind size, which will allow some light through. This is because the overall width of the blind includes the end sets and the brackets.

If you want blinds that fit outside the recess, which will give the impression of a larger window when closed, you’ll need to measure for the size you’d like, and therefore slightly bigger than the window itself. To minimise light leakage we recommend the blind overlaps by at least 50mm (5cm) each side

In order to decide what would work best, look at the window. If the recess is fairly shallow, and the window has large handles, you may be unable to operate the blind properly if it is placed too close. For this type of window, it may be better to choose exact size instead.

Find out more on the benefits of using window blinds.

Find out how window blinds can help you save money on your heating bills by watching this short video.

Now select which type of blind you want & what functionality you want it to perform?

Roller Blinds

Roller blinds can not only transform your room, they are incredibly versatile and can provide a stunning window dressing. When open, roller blinds allow you to take in the view. When drawn, a beautiful backdrop to enhance your interior. Our roller blinds are made using high quality fabrics and hardware, available in a huge range of fabrics, colours and patterns. Why not try our digitally printed roller blinds and upload your favourite picture to your blinds or select one of ours stunning high quality images.

Normal fabrics allow some light through in a room.
Blackout fabrics are great for bedrooms or TV rooms.
Sheer fabrics allow light to softy filter through, while still giving you a level of privacy.
PVC Waterproof fabrics are very practical, a must have in any bathroom or kitchen.
Supplied with heavy duty metal brackets which are easy to face fix, top fix or side.
Supplied with a front covered bottom bar, which is lightweight but helps to keep the blind taut.
Supplied with a white lightweight plastic chain operated side winder and heavy duty aluminium roller tube.
Available to order with a range of accessories including additional child safety devices, shaped scallops and fancy decorative pulls to create that extra special look.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds consist of vertical slats that can be tilted to vary the amount of light you choose to have in your room. They provide a certain amount of privacy into the room itself. You can also draw open the slats fully to allow you to see the view. Our vertical blinds are made using high quality fabrics and hardware, available in a huge range fabrics, colours and patterns.

Normal fabrics allow some light through in a room.
Blackout fabrics are great for bedrooms or TV rooms.
Sheer fabrics allow light to softy filter through, while still giving you privacy.
PVC Waterproof fabrics are very practical, a must have in any bathroom or kitchen.
Supplied with either top fix or face fix heavy duty metal brackets which are easy to fit.
Supplied with bottom weights and white stabilising chain.
Supplied with heavy duty white aluminium headrail.
Supplied with a child safety wand to tilt and draw the blind.

Wooden and Fauxwood Venetian Blinds

Wooden and fauxwood venetian blinds consist of horizontal slats that can be lowered, raised or most important, tilted. They not only allow you to control the amount of light that comes into your room, they also provide privacy. Wooden venetian blinds allow you to co-ordinate your window dressing with your wooden interior furnishings. We have a great selection of wood colour tones for you to choose from, including modern gloss wooden venetian blinds.

Our Wooden Venetian blinds are made using the finest Basswood and hardware.
They come in three different slat sizes 25mm, 35mm, and the most popular 50mm.
Our fauxwoods are crafted using high quality PVC and are the perfect solution for areas of high moisture, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
These cheaper alternatives not only look like real wood, they are practical too.
They come in two different sizes 35mm and 50mm.
Venetian Blinds can be raised to gain a full window view, lowered for full privacy and tilted to allow you to control the light.
Supplied with heavy duty brackets.
Supplied with colour co-ordinated cords, valance and bottom bar.
Supplied with cords on the right hand side to raise and lower the blind and cords on the left hand side to tilt the blind. Both with colour co-ordinated wooden acorns.
Also available to order with coloured tapes to not only cover the cords, but to totally change the look of your blind.

Aluminium Venetian Blinds

Aluminium venetian blinds consist of horizontal slats that can be lowered, raised or most important, tilted. They not only allow you to control the amount of light that comes into your room, they also provide privacy. Our Aluminium Venetian blinds are made from durable Aluminium and high quality hardware, available in a great selection of colours. Finished in matt, gloss, brushed, perforated, hammered, wood effect, metallic and even patterned.

Aluminium Venetian blinds are a modern practical solution to the Venetian blind, being waterproof and wipe clean.
You’ll be surprised to know our aluminium blinds come in a huge range of colours from red to yellow and even patterned.
Venetian Blinds can be raised to gain a full window view, lowered for full privacy and tilted to allow you to control the light.
Supplied with heavy duty top fixed brackets.
Supplied with colour co-ordinated cords, head rail and bottom bar.
Supplied with cords on the right hand side to raise and lower the blind and a clear wand on the left hand side to tilt the blind.

Roman Blinds

Roman blinds consist of soft folds of fabric when raised, straight when lowered. They operate by cords attached to the fabric drawing the blind upwards. They create a sophisticated, luxury feel, while softening the window.

Dresses the window in folds of fabric creating a softer feel to the room.
Can be fully raised to allow a full window view or lower for privacy
Supplied fully lined as standard or you can select blackout lined for your bedrooms.
Comes with heavy duty universal bracket that can be top fixed or face fixed.

PVC Waterproof Blinds

Our range of PVC waterproof blinds come in a roller or vertical option for you to choose from. PVC by nature is waterproof, so it’s perfect for the bathroom next to the shower. In addition they are blackout fabrics which gives you total privacy.

Waterproof, moisture resistant, wipe clean, mould proof and blackout.
Perfect Home use – bathrooms, kitchens, toilets, wash rooms, utilities or any other room susceptible to moisture or dirt.
Perfect for commercial use – restaurants, factories, offices, kitchens, schools or any other work environment that is susceptible to moisture or dirt.

Blackout Blinds

Blackout fabric roller and vertical blinds will not only help you get a great night’s sleep, they provide the ultimate level of privacy.

Ideal for bedrooms, children’s rooms, nurseries, home office, TV rooms and any other room you want to help block out the light. Please note, standard window blinds with blackout fabrics will still allow some light to seep in through the sides of the blinds. For a full blackout experience, we also sell fully cassetted blinds.
Available in roller, vertical or blackout lined Roman blinds.

Children’s and Nursery Bedroom Blinds

Our children’s and nursery room blinds have been especially selected with children in mind. Bright, fun colours and funky themes make them the ideal blind for your children. All our blinds come with child safety devices as standard for your piece of mind.

Available in blackout fabrics to help your children get a great night’s sleep. We have also listed other types of blinds including non blackout fabrics to give you more choice.
All our blinds come with child safety devices as standard, but additional devices are available when ordering.
For advice and tips on how to keep you home safe, visit our ‘Make It Safe’ Child Safety page. If you would like to purchase child safety device for your existing blinds, visit our Accessories and Parts page.
TIP – As well as keeping your home safe, please consider other homes your child might be in, as well as grandparents, childminders, aunts, uncles and friends.

Digitally Printed Photo Blinds

All of our digitally printed photo blinds are available in a standard fabric or a PVC fabric which is blackout and waterproof, ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms. Digitally printed roller blinds are a fantastic way to personalise your home.

Personalise your blind and get your favourite image, family photo or company logo printed onto the blind.
Personalise your blind with your children’s name by selecting one of our NAME images.
Or you can select one of our stunning high resolution images.

Replacement Vertical Slats / Louvres

Replacement vertical slats / louvers are a huge money and time saver, with no drilling required. Simply replace your slats and transform you room instantly without any hassle. Why not change your bedroom slats for our stunning blackout fabrics or your bathroom / kitchen for our practical PVC waterproof fabric. The great advantage of replacing your vertical blind slats is that you can create any look you require by mixing and matching colours and patterns.

No drilling required, just count your slats, measure one slat length and order.
Create a fun modern look by mixing colours and patterns.
All our replacement vertical blind slats come in 89mm (3.5″) widths only.
Supplied with new hangers, bottom weights and stabilising chain.

If your still unsure and need further advice, please get touch and we will be happy to help

UC Blinds

0800 0269394

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