This year, many of us are looking for practical and stylish ways to dress our windows without breaking the bank. In light of the UK’s turbulent cost of living crisis, homeowners are becoming increasingly concerned about finding ways to keep the heat in to reduce energy bill costs. This is where investing in blinds for your home can be a great choice - offering your windows a brand new look whilst improving your property’s energy efficiency. But with so many types and styles to choose from, you might be wondering what’s popular in the world of blinds and shutters right now. Fortunately, we’ve put together this guide to help catch you up to speed on all of the biggest trends you can expect to find on the market this year to help you find the perfect solution for your home.
Popular Blinds for Windows in 2023
Over the past few years, the blinds and shutters market has seen some significant trend shifts. As people’s priorities change, different kinds of window blinds with unique features and functions are becoming more important. It’s also interesting to note that certain classic blind styles are being reinvented to meet modern tastes, breathing new life into blind trends of the past. Without further ado, here are some of the blinds that have been the top choices for homeowners in 2023.
Energy-Efficient Blinds
As mentioned above, with energy costs continually on the rise, it’s clear that winter 2023 is going to be another season of energy conservation. Because windows and doors tend to be the biggest cause of heat loss in homes, investing in the right type of blinds can be a massive help. Whether you’re trying to save money on your bills or even reduce your carbon footprint, it’s always a good idea to consider the sustainable properties of the blinds you’re intending to purchase.
One style that is considered to be highly energy efficient are honeycomb, or honeycomb blinds. This is down to the fact that the built-in air pocket provides an additional layer of insulation - much like how double glazed windows function. Blackout blinds are also handy for insulation purposes, as they work to keep out bright sunlight through the inclusion of a thick layer of blackout fabric, making it much more difficult for heat to escape.
External Blinds
Outdoor blinds have seen a rise in popularity as of recent, not only because they add a touch of luxury to the exterior of your home, but also because they are super eco-friendly. The ultimate addition to a smart home, they can be operated by switch, remote or even sensors which alter the shading based on the temperature. An increasingly common feature of newly built homes, it’s highly likely that outdoor blinds will become more of a staple as more developments get underway.
By preventing light from even reaching the panes of your windows, external blinds are much more effective at keeping the sunshine at bay. As they’re made from durable, windproof fabric, they can also be good for insulating your home during the winter months.
Allusion Blinds
Allusion blinds are without question the fastest growing trend on the window dressing market this year thanks to their versatility, light control, the level of privacy they offer and their subtle elegance. Alongside windows, allusion blinds are also commonly used on patio doors as they are much easier to manoeuvre than traditional vertical blinds. This is because their vertical panels aren’t connected by chains, allowing you to simply walk straight through the blinds. If you have sliding glass doors, the simple fact that you don’t have to retract the blinds everytime you want to open the doors makes allusion blinds a great choice.
Allusion blinds are also a fantastic choice if you want to double up on your window shading, as the light, opaque fabric offers plenty of privacy and softens any light coming through your window without completely blocking it out. For this reason, they’re often used to sit behind curtains or even roman or roller blinds.
Acoustic Blinds
Acoustic blinds, otherwise known as soundproofing blinds, have been rising in popularity over the last few years, and this isn’t set to change anytime soon. You might be surprised to learn that certain blind types are adept at reducing the volume of outdoor noise coming into your home - a change that can make all the difference if you live on a busy road with noisy traffic, or even just prefer a little more peace and quiet.
The best type of blinds for achieving through noise reduction are, once again, honeycomb blinds. Alongside the sustainable properties we mentioned earlier, the pockets of air within the blind also acts as a soundproofing layer to help diminish any sound. As a result, honeycomb blinds are very popular amongst homeowners who live in built-up areas, particularly those with young families. Installing a honeycomb blind in your child’s bedroom or nursery can be a welcome addition if you’re struggling with loud disturbances from outside!
Faux Wood Venetian Blinds
As a whole, venetian blinds have been a consistently in demand blind style thanks to their durability and the fact that they’re so easy to clean. With their rotating slats, you can also easily control how much light they allow into your home, which makes them a great choice if you like to maintain some privacy without having to shut out the light altogether.
However, last year saw a sharp spike in popularity of a specific type of venetian blinds - faux wood - and in 2023 this trend is really dominating the market. Venetian blinds with a wood effect are a really cost-effective alternative to real or faux wood shutters, offering an uncannily similar style for a fraction of the price. For those who are looking for that elegant, shutter-style finish but are also trying to be conscious of their budget, faux wood venetian blinds can be the perfect solution.
Remote Control & Smart Blinds
Naturally, we couldn’t discuss trending blind styles of this year without mentioning motorised options. While remote-controlled blinds have been in circulation for quite some time now, smart shading is taking motorised blinds to the next level.
Remote controlled blinds do exactly what they say on the tin - they’re operated by a small remote control device - meaning that they can be raised or lowered anywhere. This can be extremely useful if you have velux blinds or a conservatory - or even just windows that are difficult to reach! On top of this, they’re great for older people or those with mobility issues, as you don’t need to access the blinds themselves in order to change the shading in a room.
While smart blinds operate on a similar principle, unlike standard remote controlled blinds they are connected to the internet and can be operated via an app on your smartphone or tablet. This means that you can operate your blinds whether you’re near or far - even if you’re halfway around the world! As smart homes become increasingly integrated, we predict that smart blinds will become more of a norm in the near future.
Reimagined Roller Blinds
Of course, there are certain blind types that are evergreen in their popularity, but even these blinds are undergoing transformations to meet the needs of homeowners in 2023, with many of them making use of some of the features we’ve already discussed. One such blind type is the roller blind.
Ever a versatile and affordable option, the trusty roller blind has been a classic choice for many years. However, because of this, there are more options under the roller blind umbrella than ever. Some of the most popular ways that roller blinds have been updated for 2023 include a motorised alternative which can be controlled via remote; perfect fit roller blinds which are fastened to your window frame without any need for drilling and even customised screens with your own pattern or photo printed onto it. You can even have all of the above if you like!
Blind Installations Performed By the Professionals
As you’ve probably gathered from this blog, there’s a lot to be excited about in the world of blinds right now. But with so many types, styles and variations of blinds and shutters to choose from, it can be difficult to work out what the best option for you and your home is. If you require advice on selecting the best blinds or shutters, or want to have your selection installed by a reliable professional, The Blind Guy can help. Our extensive experience with blind installations across Scotland means that we have established a reputation for excellence, and as a result have many returning domestic and commercial customers. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is on hand to provide expert and impartial guidance to help you achieve the perfect look and finish on your blinds for windows, no matter which product you chose. Contact us to book a free consultation today!
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