Which Blind for Which Window?

Different Blind Types For Different Windows

Faced with our huge choice of blinds and no idea where to start, I’d be daunted too. Trying to figure out which kind of blind you like can be hard enough, let alone trying to decide which window to put it in.

A big predicament people have when it comes to blinds is deciding which window and window type their blind would suit. We find people are concerned that the blind would look odd in a particular sized window, or fail to function correctly. They worry that they don’t know enough about the workings of each blind and therefore feel hesitant to place an order and commit.

Well, if you’re that person, today’s your lucky day! We’re going to take a look at each window type you’re likely to encounter and discuss the types of blinds that would best suit it.

Just a note before we get stuck into this subject. This list isn’t definitive, it is mainly a manufacturer’s suggestions and recommendations learned from previous customers to help utilise a blind to the best of its capabilities. So, if you’ve fallen in love with a particular blind in your home, but your dream placement goes against with some advice in this blog post, don’t stop on our accord. Just go for it.

The best thing about interior design (the real sort for real homes, not the kind of glossy nonsense you see in magazines) is that you can have fun and enjoy the freedom of decorating your home. There are too many dictatorial, judgemental interior design blogs and books and Instagram influencers out there calling the shots when really, you just need to do what you want and fall in love with the home you’ve got. Ignore the nonsense and follow your heart (this got cheesy way too quickly, but I’m feeling sassy so I’m not deleting it #SorryNotSorry).

Right, should we get on with it then?

The Standard Window

A nice and easy start to the list, the standard window is the Mr Average of the window world. Perfectly proportioned, and requiring nothing too demanding, any blind will go into this sized window, so just take your pick. In fact, if you’ve got one of these windows and you’re looking for a blind, why on earth are you even reading this blog post? Get shopping for your blind here!

The Bay Window

Erring on the slightly trickier side of blind installations, bay windows do require some thought when you come to choose a blind. Any blind is possible to go into these types of windows, but it isn’t always possible to butt the ends of the blinds up close to each other on every window. It mainly depends on the angle of the bay windows, but sometimes you will find that the brackets on the end of the blinds make it hard to get the fabric to meet up. It’s not a big issue but probably not ideal if you’re looking for total blackout, consider a curtain track instead.

Measuring and installation isn’t any more difficult than a standard window, as you can see from our measuring and installation guides – just pay attention and follow them.

Tiles-Halfway-Down-The-Recess Window

Oh, this one is interesting – not really a window as such but worth pointing out all the same. In rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms, tiles are used as a kind of splash-back backing around cookers and sinks and such. This will most likely continue on into the recess of a window, but heed this warning: take three measurements to ensure the tiles don’t catch you out. It might look subtle but we build our blinds with pin-point accuracy and that extra millimetre or so that the tiles add to the recess half way down will cause your blind to catch on the tiles when you lower it.

We’ve known customers to cut the ends off of metal venetian blind slats to make them fit, but it’s a lot easier if you give us the width measurement taken from the tiled part and not the top of the blind. Heed our measuring motto: ‘Measure Thrice or Pay the Price When You Order Twice’. (Ok, it’s a work in progress but you get the point!)

The Enormous Window

We’re talking windows wider than two metres here – the big boys, the kind that leaves you wondering whether you're looking at a tapestry for a split second after entering a room. You’re in good hands when buying roller blinds from DotcomBlinds for large windows. This is because we automatically change the barrel size depending on the width of the blind we’re building.

You’ve probably never thought about it before but for wide windows you want a barrel that’s robust enough to hold the weight of all that fabric spanning that distance. If the barrel is too weak it’ll bend in the middle which isn’t a good look for any blind! You needn’t do anything when it comes to ordering and there’s no hidden costs, it’s all taken care of in the process.

So, with that in mind it is worth considering a roller blind because it will be capable of providing the level of shade you need, the mechanisms to raise and lower the blind are strong enough to hold the fabric in place down the window and the barrel wont bend.

However, some people would prefer something that looks a little more ‘broken up’ instead of a solid block of colour, which can be the case with roller blinds. So, consider wooden blinds – real wood is lighter than faux wood so your recess fares better when it comes to supporting the weight of a blind, or even a vertical blinds. The horizontal slats and vertical louvres aren’t presenting a solid colour in the window, instead providing a gentler suggestion of tone, which is a bit easier to handle.

Alternatively, consider multiple blinds in one window space, breaking it down into three or four separate blinds.

The Patio Door

This brings us on to another window space that requires special consideration. Ok, whilst it’s technically a door, a patio door often comprises of large glazed areas letting in lots of light and views – making it something that needs to be shaded and basically a window in our book.

The considerations here are that a patio door can be a high-traffic area and therefore you don’t want to do battle with a roller blind every time you let your pet outside or in the summer when it’s barbecue time. This is where a vertical blind comes into its own.

You can pull a vertical blind across so that there is still space to get through the door without leaving the whole of the window exposed – you can still shade the parts you don’t use! We offer a wand control option which allows you to simply drag the blind into position and twist the wand to adjust the louvres – it really is that simple.

But hang on a minute, who’s that over there? It’s the new kids on the block, the pleated blinds.

These blinds are probably the simplest blinds we have ever seen when it comes to installation. They have a tab at each end of the headrail and the bottom bar and the simply slot into the gasket around the window pane. You slide them into place and hey presto – you’ve got a fully functioning blind but with none of the bother of it getting in the way when you want to get out of the door – it will open with the door.

Yep, these blinds are the future and definitely worth your consideration – browse the range here.

The Smaller-Than-Average Window

If you’ve got a teeny-tiny window, perhaps you live in a medieval castle or on a cruise ship, then trying to find the right kind of window treatment for it can seem a bit of a chore. Some manufacturers won’t make blinds small enough, some others look as though you’ve just robbed a dolls’ house of its blinds.

We provide blinds for very small windows all the time. Despite what you may think – that these blinds are an unusual size and therefore probably very expensive – you’re wrong. Blinds are costed up partly on size, so the smaller the blind, the less it’ll cost. Some blinds will see you get change out of a tenner!

Different types of blinds have different minimum widths and drops so it’s best to browse our entire range to get a feel for what’s on offer. Likewise, if you can’t get a blind small enough, get in touch with us and we’ll see if there’s anything we can do because we’re positive go-getters and we like to help you achieve your dreams.



Hopefully you’re feeling inspired to go and find your window’s perfect blind, and we can’t wait to help you along the way! Take a look at our range of roller blinds, vertical blinds, venetian blinds, wooden venetian blind and pleated blinds today.