Six ways to use old roller blinds

How to reuse and recycle old roller blinds.

Roller blinds are a household item that you use each day to darken rooms, add privacy or filter the sunlight. Exposed constantly to the harsh Australian sunlight, it’s only natural that roller blinds will slowly deteriorate over a long period of time, particularly if they are not of good quality.

Are your old roller blinds due for a refresh? We have high-quality, durable custom roller blinds that you can DIY install and save money in the process.

When you replace your old roller blinds with a newer, more effective window treatment, your old roller blinds may not need to go to hard rubbish. There are lots of ways you can up-cycle or recycle unwanted roller blinds.

Here are some ways you can give old roller blinds a second life.

1. Give away blinds that are in good condition

If your old roller blinds are still useable and you are upgrading to achieve a particular look, someone else may benefit from your unwanted blinds.

Research nearby charitable organisations, op shops or housing providers to find out where old binds are accepted. A trip to the op shop could also be an opportunity to clear out any other items you aren’t using.

You may already know someone who could use the blinds. Be sure to remove the old blinds and transport them carefully to the new location.

2. Start a craft project

Roller blinds come in a variety of versatile fabrics that are suitable for other purposes. Depending on the fabric type, you can use old roller blind fabric in many craft applications. The only limit is your imagination!

If you aren’t crafty yourself, the local primary school may be able to use your old roller blinds for a class project. Roller blind fabric is sturdy, making it perfect as an art canvas, cut up to make decorative bookmarks, or to use in other designs.

3. Make a mat from old roller blinds

One practical and creative use for roller blind fabric is to make it into a durable rag rug for indoors or outdoors. Roller blinds are often neutral colours, so the rug or mat you make will complement any decor.

Here’s a quick guide to the steps:

• Remove the fabric from the rods and opening mechanisms.
• Cut fabric into strips.
• Sew the strips together to create several long strips of fabric. You can roll this into a ball to store it.
• Braid the joined strips of fabric together.
• Sew the braid into a circle or another shape to suit your needs!

Rather than braiding the fabric, you could try weaving it instead. Weaving may be easier if the material is quite stiff, and the final result will look great as a doormat. You might you may need a double layer for a finished mat.

Weaving or braiding a mat or rug is just one option for using old roller blind fabric. It’s a much better solution than putting the blinds into hard waste and a rewarding project too.

You can browse craft ideas online for more inspiration on re-using unwanted fabric.

4. Create labels for storage

For items stored in the shed, such as gardening tools, DIY tools or ski gear packed in boxes, paper labels may not last. It can be frustrating to look into every single box to find what you need.

For storage in a carport or shed, using roller blind fabric for the labels can ensure your items are easy to find, even after time has passed. Roller blind fabrics are generally durable, making them suitable for use in both outdoor and indoor applications.

The durable polyester and acrylic fabric of your old roller blinds is ideal for labelling storage boxes. With labels in place, you can find what you need right away.

5. Mark plants in the garden

While it can be fun to try to remember what you’ve planted in the garden, sometimes you want to know which plants are where. Old roller blind material can be cut up and used to label your plants or seeds.

You’ll need a permanent marker to write the name of each plant on the strip and some small stakes to attach the material to as well.

6. Make reusable shopping bags

Do you find that you never have enough bags at the supermarket? Old roller blinds can be shaped into handy carry bags and decorated to suit your style.

Cut the fabric to the correct size and shape that will form the bag. You could use a shopping bag you already have as a guide.

To add a pop of colour, you might want to cover the roller blind with fabric. You might cut a piece of fabric to size and sew the edges with a hem that creates a neat finish.

Then sew the sides of the bag into the shape you want, and don’t forget to add handles!

What next?

If you’re in need of some new roller blinds, visit our gallery or Instagram page for ideas and real-life photos from our customers.  Once you’ve decided which product you prefer, make use of our free fabric samples. They will allow you to see and feel the fabrics before selecting the one you like best.

So, if you’ve got a home that could benefit from a refresh, let us help you! The DIY process is easy to follow, and it will make a world of difference to your home, we promise.

Need some help? You can either Contact our customer service team or book in a free design consultation with me.

Thanks for reading!
Cheers, 

Mike Gubby. 

Combining sheer curtains and roller blinds is easy with our range of Bali fabric combinations.

Sheer curtains and roller blinds are a match made in heaven and will provide you with the ultimate in flexibility. Not only does this combination allow you to control light levels with ease, but it also provides you the privacy and insulation benefits you require during the day and night. 

But sometimes trying to match the perfect blind and sheer curtain fabric can be tricky. So, to make things easier, we’ve introduced our Bali blends range of coordinated fabrics.  We’ve taken the guesswork out of choosing your roller blind and sheer curtain fabrics by developing combinations that complement each other.  Not only will they provide you with a beautiful window covering solution, but one that is functional and affordable too. 

Follow our tips below to make the most out of combining sheer curtains with roller blinds in your home using our Bali blends range.

Install a blockout roller blind 

Identifying the needs of the space is the common sense first-step as it will guide you in your decorating choices. For example:

• Bedrooms need full light blockout for a great sleep (especially important if you have a shift-worker in the house) so installing a blockout roller blind is a great option. Outside mounting your blockout roller blind and back-rolling the fabric will enable the blind to sit nice and close to the architrave, eliminating any light gaps and offering the best blockout and room darkening result. Learn more about mounting your blinds here. 
• Living rooms can be a little more flexible with light levels, so roller blinds can be inside mounted if you have the depth in your window reveals, giving you a more streamlined and subtle finish.

Sheer curtains can then be installed over the top of both inside and outside-mounted roller blinds.

Go high and wide with your sheer curtains

Where and how you mount your sheer curtains can really change the perception of the scale of your windows and your room. If you have standard or low ceilings, elongate the height of the space by opting for a ceiling mount on your curtains and running the track past the edge of your architraves by at least 100mm on each side. Better still, if you can run your sheer curtains across the length of the wall you’ll achieve a stunning, designer-style finish that will make a real difference to your space. This will make your windows look larger than they are. 

Think about your fabrics

There are a few things to think about in addition to the basic “Which colour?” question. Privacy, insulation properties and ease of cleaning should all be considered when making your choices. Let’s break it down.

Blockout roller blind fabric considerations

A full blockout fabric is great for light control and insulation all year round, and our Bali Thermal blockout is a stand-out choice. Its thermal properties will help keep your rooms cooler in summer and warmer in winter, and it’s also easy to maintain and clean, making it ideal for use in any room or any climate.

Bali Thermal blockout blind fabric is PVC, VOC and Lead-free as well as being fade resistant and fire retardant, making it a perfect choice and safe for your family too.

Sheer Curtain fabrics

Sheer curtain fabrics are not just decorative. They provide daytime privacy, filter the light entering your room and help insulate against heat and cold too.

Our Bali sheer curtain is a beautiful, lightweight fabric. It is effortlessly elegant and its linen-like texture will add a gentle, soft floatiness to any room. Colour fade resistant and flame retardant, it’s a perfect option for your home.

The importance of colour choice

Colour choice is not just about what you like or what matches your room’s furnishings. Believe it or not, colour also plays a big part in the insulation stakes.

Consider the orientation of the room in relation to the sun. Are you facing north or west, and copping a whole lot of heat during summer? Light colours will reflect the light and heat, keeping a room cooler than darker colours will, as darker colours will absorb the heat. This is especially relevant for blockout roller blinds.  

Choosing your colour

When placing a roller blind behind a sheer curtain, you’ll achieve the best outcome if your roller blind fabric is a tonal match. The sheer curtain should be the star of the show, so installing a complementary roller behind it means it will stand out and there will be nothing to distract you from its beauty.  

And that’s exactly what our Bali blends range offers you! The perfect combinations are already decided to make your choice easy. All you need to do is choose which colour works best for you and your interior (the colour names are the same in both the blind and the sheer curtain to make it really easy!).

• Whites: Snow, Chalk and Pearl
• Warm neutrals: Blush, Driftwood and Smoke
• Greys: Cloud, Ash and Thunder
• Dark tones: Storm and Black

Check out the combinations on our handy download chart. Once you’ve made your choice – you can order your free samples on our website. 

Tip: Choose a range that blends with your walls for a seamless, contemporary result. 

There you have it! Layering sheer curtains over your blockout roller blinds is the ultimate window covering solution. The combination offers you various privacy options for both day and night and the ultimate in light control too. It’s also super easy to achieve and won’t break the bank either. Especially when you use our Bali blends fabric range.

What next?

If you’re in need of some inspiration, visit our gallery or Instagram page for ideas and real-life photos from our customers.  Once you’ve decided which product you prefer, make use of our free fabric samples. They will allow you to see and feel the fabrics before selecting the one you like best.

So, if you’ve got a home that could benefit from a refresh, let us help you! The DIY process is easy to follow, and it will make a world of difference to your home, we promise.

Need some help? You can either Contact our customer service team or book in a free design consultation with me.

Thanks for reading!
Cheers, 

Mike Gubby.