How to choose blinds for bedrooms

By the Blindworks Auckland team · 10 November 2026

A bedroom has different needs to a lounge or kitchen. You want it dark when you sleep, private when you get changed, and bright and fresh during the day. Night shift workers, light sleepers, babies and teenagers all ask a bit more from their blinds. This guide walks through the main choices so you can decide what will work best in your home.

Start with how dark you want the room

Light control is usually the biggest question. A blockout roller blind uses a fabric designed to stop light passing through it, which makes it the most popular choice for bedrooms. It is a good fit if you sleep during the day, have a street light outside, or simply like a dark room.

If you want softer light, a sunscreen roller blind cuts glare and gives daytime privacy while still letting you see out. Sunscreen fabric is not designed for a dark room at night, so it suits spare rooms and studies better than main bedrooms.

Many homes like the best of both. A day/night dual roller blind pairs a blockout blind with a sunscreen blind on the same window, so you can use the sunscreen during the day and pull down the blockout at night.

Think about warmth

Bedrooms can get cold, especially on the shady side of the house. A thermal roller blind or a honeycomb blind adds a layer between you and the glass. Honeycomb blinds have a cell shape that traps air, which is why many people choose them for bedrooms and nurseries. If you are torn between the two, our guide on honeycomb vs roller blinds compares them side by side.

Privacy and style options

Venetian blinds let you tilt the slats to let light in while keeping people from seeing in. They come in PVC or wooden finishes. Shutters, in PVC or wood, give a smart permanent look and very good privacy control, and they suit both modern and character homes. Vertical blinds work well on wide windows and sliding doors that open onto a deck.

Motorised blinds for comfort

Motorised blinds let you open and close the blinds with a remote or your voice through Alexa or Siri. In a bedroom this means you can close every blind from bed, or set them to open in the morning. They are also handy for high windows and skylights that are hard to reach.

Child safety in kids' rooms

Corded blinds can be a hazard for young children. At Blindworks, child safety locks are always fitted to our blinds, so you do not need to ask for them. If you want no cords at all, motorised blinds are another option for children's bedrooms.

Quick bedroom checklist

• Main bedroom or day sleeper: blockout roller or day/night dual roller.
• Cold room: thermal roller or honeycomb blind.
• Street-facing window: venetians or shutters for adjustable privacy.
• Kids' rooms and nurseries: blockout with child safety locks, or motorised.
• Hard-to-reach or skylight windows: motorised or a skylight blind.

Getting a quote

In Auckland we offer a free measure and quote, so we can look at your bedroom windows and show you fabrics in your own light. In Tauranga, Mt Maunganui and Papamoa, send us your window sizes or a floor plan for a rough quote. Once you pay a deposit, we come out for a precise measure and fabric selection. We also deliver across New Zealand (courier charges apply).

See our roller blinds, venetian blinds and shutters, or request a free quote.

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