Five ways to reduce your household energy use.

Here’s how you can save money – and the environment – by reducing your household energy use and carbon footprint.

When winter hits, staying warm and heating our homes is something we all like to do. Whether we have ducted heating, split systems or wood fires—keeping our homes and our families warm is of utmost importance during these chilly months. But heating our homes can be an expensive exercise, especially if we don’t have good insulation or the resources to ensure we are being as energy efficient as possible. So how do we keep your home energy costs down?

While there are many options for enhancing the warmth of your home, such as double-glazed windows and insulation, the perfect solution can be as simple as investing in some quality window furnishings. Plus, they are an attractive addition and add also value to your home. But how do these additions help to keep your energy costs down?

Here’s how window coverings can help you save money

Energy Efficiency

One of the primary benefits of window coverings is their ability to improve energy efficiency. In Australia, it is widely reported that up to 40% of a home’s heating energy can be lost, and up to 87% of its heat gained, through windows. It’s a scary thought, isn’t it? So unless you already have double glazing or some kind of insulating film on your windows, there will likely be a fair bit of heat transfer taking place through the glass. What this means is that plenty of the warmth within your home will be lost as it comes into contact with the chill of the outside via your windows. 
Well-insulated window coverings, such as thermal or blockout curtains, double curtains, thermal blinds, blockout blinds or double roller blinds, can help prevent heat loss during winter, and heat gain during summer. By effectively controlling the transfer of heat through your windows, these coverings can reduce the load on your heating and cooling systems. Consequently, you can save on your energy bills by relying less on artificial heating or cooling. But remember, the efficacy of your window coverings will be gauged by how well they fit your windows. Custom-made window coverings will give you the best results, and we can help you with that. See our online how-to-measure guides and tips below for more information. 

Sunlight Control

Window coverings also allow you to control the amount of sunlight entering your home. Direct sunlight can increase the temperature inside, which is ideal in the winter months as your heaters won’t have to work as hard to heat your home. By using coverings like blinds, shades, or curtains, you can adjust the amount of sunlight entering your rooms. This can prevent overheating in summer, and reduce the need for excessive heating in winter, ultimately saving on your energy costs.

Privacy and Security

Window coverings offer privacy by reducing the view from the outside in. This can eliminate the need for exterior window treatments or privacy films, saving you money. Additionally, coverings such as roller blinds or plantation shutters can act as an additional layer of security by preventing potential intruders from peering into your home and deterring them from attempting a break-in.

Protection for Furnishings

During the warmer months, UV rays from sunlight can cause fading and damage to your furniture, carpets, and other interior decor. Window coverings like roller blinds, plantation shutters or curtains with UV-blocking capabilities can help protect your furnishings from harmful rays, thereby extending their lifespan. By reducing the need for premature replacements or repairs, you can save money in the long run.

Insulation and Noise Reduction

Some window coverings, such as heavy drapes or layered curtains, can provide additional insulation from the cold and help dampen external noises. Improved insulation helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reducing the workload on your heating systems and lowering energy expenses. Moreover, reducing noise infiltration can enhance your comfort, making it unnecessary to invest in soundproofing solutions.

Remember, choosing the right window coverings and utilising them effectively based on your climate and preferences can maximise their cost-saving benefits. So what options can iSeekBlinds offer you? 

Layering curtains for warmth retention

An option for customers who are looking for added insulation is to layer their window furnishings in their homes. For example, you may already have sheer curtains, but you might consider adding a blockout curtain or blockout roller blind for extra insulation. Doubling up on your window furnishings is great for insulation, as even a thin layer of fabric can enhance the insulating capacity within your home.  

• Our Double curtains allow you to enjoy the daytime sunshine with your sheer curtains and then trap in the heat of the day with blackout curtains which can be pulled shut at night.
• You can also layer curtains with roller blinds, to give you the ultimate in practicality, flexibility and insulation benefits. This is a favourite with iSeekBlinds customers! And the combination is up to you. You can choose blockout roller blinds with sheer curtains, or sunscreen roller blinds with blockout curtains. Both are effective and will really help you keep your energy costs down. 

Sometimes trying to match the perfect blind and curtain fabric can be tricky. So, to make things easier, we have developed fabric combinations that complement each other.  Not only do they provide you with a beautiful layered window covering solution, but one that is functional and affordable too. 

• Bali Blends range: This best-seller consists of coordinating thermal blockout roller blind and sheer curtain fabrics in a variety of colours, suitable for any interior style or space.
• Linesque range: An iSeekBlinds customer favourite, Linesque offers a unique linen-look and soft, textural finish on both the blockout roller blind and sheer curtain range.
• Australian Made fabrics by Wilson Fabrics: Coordinate our Australian-made sheer curtain fabric, Whitsundays, with your choice of six blockout roller blind styles ranging from versatile plains to sophisticated textures and weaves. With a wide selection of colours inspired by the Australian landscape, you’ll be sure to find a combination that suits your home perfectly. Only available online exclusively through iSeekBlinds.

Tips for the best fitting window furnishings

When you are looking to enhance the insulating properties of your home, it helps to ensure that your curtains and blinds fit your windows well. Take measurements of your windows and ensure that you have got the size of your windows just right.

Explore our range of instructional videos to find out more about how to correctly measure your windows for your curtains, roller blinds or plantation shutters. Take a look at our installation instructions and download your free guide for how to get the perfect fit.

What next?

Decide on your product

If you need some inspiration, visit our gallery or Instagram page for ideas and real-life photos from our customers.  

Order your free fabric samples
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. Not only are our samples FREE, but we also Express Post them to you so you get them super fast.

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

Place your order
Simply jump on our website and place your order via our easy online ordering system.
Need some help? You can either Contact our customer service team or book a free design consultation with me.

Thanks for reading!

Cheers, 
Mike Gubby. 

Here’s how you can use automation at home to help save the environment and reduce your household energy use.

Motorising and automating your blinds and curtains is something you can do that will help to promote energy efficiency, reduce resource consumption, and minimise your environmental impact.

In recent years, climate change has become an increasingly pressing issue that threatens the well-being of our planet. As individuals, we have the power to make positive changes in our daily habits that can help combat the effects of climate change. By making conscious choices to reduce our carbon footprint, such as reducing waste, recycling and upcycling, and switching to renewable energy, we can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Conserving energy within your home is another valuable change that can be made, and one that is achievable by making a few conscious decisions around your window furnishings.

Motorising and automating your blinds and curtains is something you can do that will help to promote energy efficiency, reduce resource consumption, and minimise your environmental impact. And it’s not only new blinds and curtains that can be automated either. Our easy retrofit system will enable you to convert your current chain-driven roller blinds to motorisation, thereby reducing waste and utilising existing resources. Find out more about retrofitting below.

So how can automating your window furnishing help the environment, combat climate change and save the planet? Here are five key ways in which it can help:

Energy Conservation

Automated blinds and curtains can be programmed to adjust based on time, sunlight intensity, or temperature. By automatically opening or closing your blinds and curtains at optimal times, you can make the most of the natural light and heat gain from the sun. This reduces reliance on artificial lighting and heating or cooling systems, which helps to conserve energy. Over time, the cumulative energy savings can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production, and reduce your expenditure at the same time.

Smart Scheduling

Automation systems for blinds can be integrated with smart home technology and environmental sensors. By leveraging data on sunlight levels, room occupancy, and outdoor conditions, your blinds can be scheduled to optimise energy efficiency. For example, during winter, your blinds can be opened to let the sunlight in and naturally warm up your space, reducing heating requirements. Similarly, during summer, your blinds can automatically close during the warmest part of the day, reducing heat gain and your need for air conditioning. It’s a win-win, no matter the season!

Load Reduction

Automated blinds can be part of a larger home automation system that manages your overall energy load. By coordinating with other devices like thermostats, lighting systems, or energy management systems, your blinds and curtains can contribute to load reduction strategies. For instance, if the system detects high energy demand, it can automatically adjust your window furnishings to minimise heat gain or loss, reducing the strain on the HVAC* system and optimising energy consumption.
*HVAC = Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

Environmental Awareness

Automating your blinds and curtains can also enhance your awareness of energy consumption and encourage more sustainable habits. By seeing the real-time energy savings and the positive changes in your carbon footprint, you may become more conscious of your own environmental impact in other areas. This increased mindfulness can extend to other aspects of your lifestyle, leading to further eco-friendly choices and behaviours.

How to motorise your existing blinds

Our Type A and Type B retrofit programs enable you to upgrade your existing blinds to motorised blinds using market-leading technology. We have extensive how-to guides and videos on our website that take you step-by-step through the retrofit process, making it easy for you to do it yourself in the comfort of your own home.

• Retrofitting your blinds offers you many benefits on top of energy savings, such as:
• Added convenience and luxury at the touch of a button
• Saving money and reducing waste by upgrading rather than replacing your existing roller blinds
• Less risk for children with the removal of unwanted chains
• The ability to create settings and moods with smart home integration*
• Privacy and security features* to keep your home and family safe

What next?

Decide on your product.
If you need some inspiration, visit our gallery or Instagram page for ideas and real-life photos from our customers.  

Order your free fabric samples.
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. Not only are our samples FREE, but we also Express Post them to you so you get them super fast.

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

Place your order.
Simply jump on our website and place your order via our easy online ordering system.
 
Need some help? You can either contact our customer service team or book a free design consultation with me.
 
Thanks for reading!

Cheers, 
Mike Gubby. 

Whether you choose blinds or plantation shutters, bathroom window coverings need careful consideration. 

Bathroom and laundry windows don’t have to be bare or boring!  These hard-working spaces are all about functionality, and the window coverings should be practical and easy to look after as well. But whatever window treatment you choose, it will need to stand up to humidity and dampness.

Our top choices for laundry and bathroom windows would have to be PVC Plantation Shutters and Roller Blinds.  Let’s explore both of these further, and see what will work best in your home.   

Bathroom Roller Blinds

Roller blinds in a bathroom provide privacy, control the amount of light and also look great.  With many colours and designs to choose between, you can decorate your laundry and bathroom windows to suit your taste and style. 

We recommend choosing mould and mildew-resistant fabrics for these wet areas to minimise the risk of your blinds deteriorating from exposure to humidity. Visit our fabrics page to view the mould-resistant options within our ranges. 

For homes where privacy isn’t a huge requirement, you could consider a sunscreen blind that allows you to retain your view. Alternatively, light filter blinds are the perfect in-between solution – gently diffusing the light yet offering privacy too.

In the image below, our customer opted for a blockout roller blind in a colour that coordinates with his bathroom tiles and fixtures.  

Bathroom Plantation Shutters

Plantation Shutters are a customer favourite for bathrooms and other wet areas such as the laundry, and our PVC Shutters are resistant to moisture, making them the ideal solution for bathrooms and laundries. Providing privacy while still letting in the light, our easy-to-install plantation shutters are a practical and stylish choice.

Resistant to moisture and humidity, they are perfect for wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries as well as warmer, tropical climates. Our PVC shutters have an aluminium core within each blade to provide additional strength and durability, ensuring they won’t warp or crack. And with a 5-year warranty, you can’t go wrong.

Are you worried about losing your view? Don’t be. Our clearview shutter design enables maximum visibility between the blades , so you’ll retain the optimal view from your window. With split-tilt flexibility, you can open the upper section to let in light, keeping the lower shutters closed for privacy. You’ll need to specify this when designing and ordering your plantation shutters on our website. 

Curtains for bathrooms

Many modern bathroom windows have frosted glass, making a window treatment a personal choice rather than a necessity. If you’re looking to improve your bathroom or ensuite windows, you may want to keep your bedroom curtain style flowing through the interior. You may have seen this around as a popular new option, especially in larger bathrooms or those that are open to the bedroom. They can also be used in conjunction with roller blinds or plantation shutters to soften the look. 

Curtains should only be used in bathrooms that have excellent ventilation, so that mould or mildew growth on the fabric won’t become an issue. Aim to keep curtains away from wet areas too, as in this photo below. Our customer installed them on a window near the doorway, well away from the functional areas of the bathroom. 

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 bathroom or laundry 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. 

*Cover image: Courtesy of Katrina Chambers (customer, DIY expert & blogger) . Visit her Instagram & website for more great content & DIY tips!

You don’t need architraves to install roller blinds. Just pretend you do.

So, you need new roller blinds, and to maximise the blockout result you want to outside-mount them. But wait! You have square-set windows with no architraves. Whatever will you do? 

The trick to measuring for an outside-mounted roller blind when you have no architraves is to pretend you do. It’s that simple. Let me explain 

Measuring the width

A single roller blind bracket needs at least 20mm of flat surface to be mounted safely,  so what we like to do is place a piece of masking tape on the plaster at least 20mm from where the window starts on each side. Stand back and take a look. “Hmmmm” you say, “I’d like it to be further out.” That’s ok, just move the tape. 

When you order with us, the width you provide is the bracket-to-bracket measurement and the fabric always starts anywhere from 15mm to 18mm inside the brackets on each side. 

So knowing this, you could for example measure the window opening, and add an extra 30mm to each side. Then come installation time, you will have approximately 15mm of fabric overlapping the window on each side. 

However – there is one critical piece of advice to remember here …

When measuring your width, choosing 30mm on either side is all well and good, but you need to ensure that there are timber studs at this location. Your blind brackets must be installed into timber studs for support—not just screwed into the plasterboard. Therefore, when calculating your blind width, locate your studs with a stud finder prior to taking your measurements.  This will give you the best, and safest, end result once you come to install it. 

Measuring the drop 

Your drop (the height of your blind) is simply the distance between where you want the roller blind to start, to where you want the bottom rail to sit when the blind is down. Keep in mind you can add a little more to the drop if you want to be safe but you cannot make a blind longer after it has been manufactured.

Choosing the roll direction

An outside-mounted roller blind is always best made in the back-rolled position. Not sure what this means? A back-roll will roll towards the wall or window and drop down from underneath, close to the wall or window surface. If it’s front rolled, it will roll from the top over the front (find info on this in our Product Specifications here).  

The reason we use a back-roll position for an outside-mounted roller blind is to bring the fabric closer to the window opening, reducing the light gaps and increasing the insulation benefits. This does leave the roll visible though and not everyone likes that look. Not to worry, you can add a Pelmet 95 and this will hide the visible roll. The pelmet works particularly well with square set windows as it frames the window where the architrave normally would.

Motorise your roller blinds

Motorisation is the cherry on top of your gorgeous clean-lined windows! There will be no chains hanging down, keeping your square-set windows nice and neat. At the touch of a button, all of your blinds can raise up or come down, or you can connect them to your home automation system and operate them via voice control.

Find out more about our Automation options here. 

My 5 top measuring tips

Remembering these top tips will make measuring and installing your blinds that much easier:

• Always use a steel tape measurer for accuracy. Make sure the tape measure is straight and tight when you take your measurements.  
• Always measure in millimetres (mm).
• Remember to locate your studs, and measure from their location for a secure installation.
• All blinds over 1800 mm wide should be ordered with a spring assist (for chain-driven operation).  This will ensure your blinds glide smoothly up and down with minimal effort and will limit wear and tear on the components.
• Consider finishing off your blind with a Pelmet 95.  Not only will it look great, but it will also hide the tube, and stop dust from collecting on top of the blind. 

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. 

What are the best blinds for wide windows, sliding doors, bi-fold and stacking doors?

Have you got wide windows, sliding doors or bi-fold doors and you’re just not sure what the best window covering solution is? It can be tricky to work out what will work best over these openings, yet still give you the ease of access that you require. 

Sliding, bi-fold and stacking doors allow you to enjoy the best of the outdoors without compromise. You can open doors up and enjoy seamless access to a verandah or outdoor area, but also close them to enjoy protection from the elements with an unobstructed view.

• The style of blinds that you choose will depend on the size and access to your doors and windows and what type of opening you have.
• A popular choice for many homeowners is to invest in a fixed single roller blind in a blackout fabric, as it allows you to adjust the level of light that you allow in.
• Linked roller blinds are our favourite choice and can be adapted to fit practically any style of door or window configuration. Linked roller blinds are especially suited to wide windows, sliding doors, bi-fold doors or stacking doors. 

New Single Roller Blind options now available for windows wider than 3000mm

Mike has come up with a perfect solution for those wider windows, particularly in bedrooms, that would be more suitable for a single blind than a linked blind format to ensure 100% light block capability.  Using a special sun bloc fabric, you can now order blinds wider than 3000mm.  The roller blind featuring in this video is 3360mm in width.

It is recommended to operate these blinds with a Motor control due to their weight, and make it an effortless solution for your windows.  Our battery operated motors are easy to install and an affordable motorised option for everyone.  

And how gorgeous is the result when a blockout roller blind is paired with a ceiling mounted Sheer Curtain, giving the room an elevated sense of height and a soft and gentle finish.

Not currently available to order on the website, if this is an option you might be considering, book a FREE 30 minute video consultation with Mike to discuss your requirements.

How do Linked Roller Blinds work?

Linked Blinds allow you to follow the flow of your sliding doors, bi-fold and stacking doors, or wide windows whilst offering multiple options for functionality over an exit door. These roller blinds enable you to place blinds side by side, keep control chains clear of the centre and reduce the gap between the blinds with easy-link linking brackets. The Easy-Link system has been designed to allow for individual or multiple blinds to be controlled using a single motor or chain control operation. The intermediate brackets reduce the gap between blinds from 35 mm to just 19 mm, ideal for greater light control & privacy. 

What kind of fabric should I choose for my blinds?

You can choose from any of our fabrics when designing blinds for sliding doors, bi-fold doors and stacking doors.

• Blockout roller blinds offer the best thermal and privacy control (think keeping out the hot sun in summer and prying eyes at night time). 
• Light Filter roller blinds will gently diffuse the natural light and reduce glare, whilst providing a good level of privacy.
• Sunscreen blinds are ideal for filtering bright daylight, retaining your view of the outside yet also offering daytime privacy. 

Layout options for wide windows and sliding door blinds.

Our linked layouts give you the option to link up to 2 blinds, depending upon your requirements. These blinds are placed alongside each other across the window up to a maximum width of 6,000 mm.  If you require more than 2 blinds in a link Layout, book a FREE video call with Mike to discuss your options to link up to 4 blinds across your windows.

Add the finishing touch to your sliding door blinds.

Want to install outside-mounted roller blinds, but you don’t want to see the tube and reverse side of the fabric? Our Pelmet 95 is the perfect solution. 

Sleek, subtle yet distinguished, this roller blind pelmet offers a contemporary look and sits over the top of the roll tube, protecting your roller blinds from dust whilst hiding the roll tube. This blind pelmet is the ideal finishing touch to outside-mounted, back-rolled blinds (please note: it can’t be added to front-rolled blinds). 

Available in lengths up to 4.8 meters long (4800 mm), your blind pelmet can be butt joined together for wider widths if required. This means you can use a “common pelmet” to cover several blinds, making it a fantastic choice for sliding doors and large windows. Available in three colours, you’re sure to find the right match for your blinds and your interior.

How do I order a roller blind pelmet?

Simply add the pelmet to your roller blinds as you proceed through the order process online. You will be given the option to add a pelmet if your blinds meet the correct specifications (outside mounted and back-rolled). 

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.