Internal Blinds and External Blinds: Pros and Cons

We help you decide if indoor or outdoor blinds are best for your home

Blinds can help your house feel like a home. Internal blinds and external blinds can be used in different ways—maybe you’d like your home to feel warmer for longer during winter or you’d like to increase the level of privacy in your home during the day. The right type of blind can help do just that, and more. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between indoor and outdoor blinds, and how they can work for you.

PROS AND CONS OF INTERNAL BLINDS

The advantages of internal window blinds include:

Light and glare control:

Blinds made from blockout, sunscreen or translucent fabrics help control the amount of light that enters your home, they can also help prevent glare on TV and computer screens. By adjusting the blinds during the day you can use natural light to brighten up your indoors.

Insulation:

A lot of heat escapes through your windows, which doesn’t help during cold weather. Internal blinds can be made from fabric that gives extra insulation, helping to prevent heat from escaping. It’s most effective when blinds are installed with pelmets that are the correct size for your windows. Blinds also provide insulation from summer heat, keeping your blinds down on hot summer days, especially on north and west facing windows, is an easy efficient way to help keep your home cooler.

Energy efficiency:

Your blinds can help you use less energy at home. Blinds that insulate help keep your home warm, reducing the need to use supplementary heating. In the same way, controlling how much light to let in with internal blinds means you may not need to switch lights on as often. You tend to use less power, which improves your home’s energy efficiency. Having your blinds or other internal window furnishings closed on hot days will also help to minimise the amount spent on mechanical air conditioning to keep your home comfortable.

Motorisation and automation:

Indoor blinds can be motorised and operated through a remote control, saving effort and time as you won’t need to manually open and close them all individually. Automation lets you control your blinds even when you’re not there, through preset operating times and other useful settings. Heat and sun sensors can also be used to automate your internal blinds to help minimise energy consumption even when you’re not at home.

Durability:

Our SOM 60 motorised blind system made and developed in-house here at SOM Blinds is built to last. The hardware is guaranteed for life. When redecorating, the blind fabric can be replaced and the existing hardware and motors can be reused. Reusing hardware and motors instead of getting new ones makes our internal blinds more sustainable and offers excellent value for money. Motors will eventually need replacing, but we have some motors still out there working after 18 years. Motor life can vary due to how often the blind is used and how heavy the blind is. We are finding hard-wired motors have a longer lifespan than battery operated motors.

Protect interiors from sun damage:

Blinds made from UV-resistant fabrics help protect your flooring, furnishings, artworks and clothing from sun damage, premature ageing and fading. Internal window blinds such as skylight blinds are popular in homes with walk-in wardrobes that have skylights and large windows, as they can protect clothing fabric from fading in the sun. We’ll never forget one of our lovely clients whose husband’s suits all had one arm significantly faded from thinking they didn’t need a blind in their walk-in robe because there were no privacy issues. A costly mistake longer term.

Here’s how to fix the three main disadvantages of indoor blinds:

Light bleed:

Light leakage or light bleed refers to the light that seeps from the sides of the blinds, and is one of the biggest disadvantages of indoor blinds. The good news is that this issue can be minimised or prevented when the blinds are properly measured and installed by experienced professionals. Please make sure you raise this whenever you are getting advice, especially if you are seeking complete light block from your blinds. There are pelmets and side channels we can use with some products that can achieve complete light block. This might be most relevant for shift workers needing to sleep through the day or families with young children requiring daytime sleep.

Light block at night:

People who need complete darkness to fall asleep at night may struggle with indoor blinds alone. Light can be completely blocked out by adding pelmets with curtains or drapes alongside your indoor blinds to help block out the light bleed. We can help you choose the right product and fabric combinations for your indoor blinds and curtains or drapes. If complete blockout is important to you, make sure you discuss this with our designers before choosing your window furnishings.

Safety hazard:

Manual indoor blinds are operated using chains or cords, which are a potential choking hazard for young children and pets. Motorising your indoor blinds is an excellent solution because with motorised blinds there are no chains and cords to open and close. If you are considering battery motors for your window furnishings, we also recommend thinking about how easy it will be for you to reach the motors to recharge them. If they are hard to reach or you don’t like ladders, we always recommend hard-wired motors which require no recharging.

Where to use internal blinds

Because they are so versatile, internal blinds can be used in any room throughout your home, including:

Kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and bedrooms
Home offices, studies and walk-in wardrobes
High-reaching and tall windows
Patio, glass and French doors

Internal blinds can be custom-made to fit perfectly.

What is an outdoor blind?

Outdoor blinds are fitted on the outside of the windows. They are also called external or exterior blinds and can be operated either manually, or automated with electric or battery-operated motors. Outdoor blinds come in many sizes, shapes, colours and different materials.

External Venetians and motorised external roller blinds are two types of outdoor shades that SOM Blinds specialise in. Retractable awnings such as folding arm awnings can also be referred to as external blinds.

PROS AND CONS OF EXTERNAL BLINDS

There are a lot of good reasons to use outdoor blinds, and a few of them are similar to the benefits of having indoor blinds. Listed below are six reasons why they work well for your home:

Light and privacy control:

Outdoor blinds can be adjusted to control the amount of sunlight you let into your home. Tilt, raise or lower the blinds at different angles during the day to let the natural light brighten up the inside of your home. Exterior blinds can offer more privacy for balconies, patios and verandahs, while still allowing access to your view if you choose a sunscreen fabric. External blinds can be a good solution for windows where you want to have complete light block but don’t have room or like the look required to achieve this using internal window furnishings.

Insulation:

Our window glazing is where we lose and gain most warmth in the home due to heat transfer into and out of our homes. Motorised external blinds offer you more temperature control than internal blinds during summer. The air gap between the building and the window blind helps to better insulate the inside of your home minimising the need to use an air conditioner or heater. In cold weather, your home can stay warmer and in hot weather, your home will remain cooler.

Energy efficiency:

Similar to the advantages of internal blinds, external blinds can also play a role in an energy-efficient home design. The less you use a heater or air conditioning and electrical lighting, the less power you use. Over the long term, this will help you save on your utility bills too.

Automation:

Motorised external blinds can be automated and work together with sensors to detect sun, wind and rain. This allows your blinds to be automatically retracted when the weather changes, even when you are not at home—ideal for areas like Melbourne where the weather can be unpredictable. When your external blinds are automated, you don’t need to go outside to physically adjust them.

Maximise space:

Having your outside areas double up for more than one use is another benefit of outdoor blinds. They can provide a comfortable and safe extension of your living areas, allowing you to spend more quality time outside while staying protected from harmful UV rays.

Protection from sun damage:

Much like internal blinds, external blinds also protect the inside of your home from sun damage. Your furniture, artwork, clothing in your walk-in wardrobe and flooring will last longer without fading and ageing prematurely.

Here are some disadvantages and how to prevent them:

Installation challenges:

Mounting outdoor blinds can be difficult, especially when installing them on the second storey of a home. They sometimes require a scaffold or scissor lift, which can add to the overall cost. It’s a good idea to let us know if scaffolding is already available on site, and for how long, so we can coordinate your project and get your products ready to install while access is still available. We can help reduce extra costs by working together with your builder.

Minimise window headroom:

Headroom refers to the overall height of a window’s opening. Sometimes external blinds can decrease the headroom of a window. This can be prevented if they are considered during the design phase of your project and then measured and installed to minimise any loss of headroom. This is why we like to get involved with a project as early as possible to help you avoid any potential problems. Creating recessed pelmets in your facade for external blinds, especially external venetians, can minimise any reduction to the headroom of your windows and protect your blinds from damage when retracted.

Getting electrical wiring to hard to reach places:

If you’re currently building or renovating and think maybe in the future you might consider installing external blinds or folding-arm awnings then talk to your electrician and get them to install the wiring now, it will save you money and effort down the track. We call it future proofing. You may not be ready for external blinds or awnings just yet, but if you get the power installed during construction it will be so much easier for you when you are ready.

Increased wear and tear:

Because outdoor blinds are mounted on an external surface, they are directly exposed to the elements and changing weather conditions. The general wear and tear on outdoor blinds is usually more when compared to indoor blinds, especially in coastal areas. If you have retractable awnings or patio blinds we highly recommend that you keep them folded away when not in use so that they are protected and remain in good working condition for longer.

Where to use outdoor blinds?

External blinds can be used in a variety of different places around the home, including:

All external windows in the home, especially those windows facing north or west.
Large glazed surfaces
Conservatories and sunrooms
Enclosed patios, verandahs, balconies and courtyards

When you work with a professional, your outdoor blinds can be tailored to fit perfectly.

Outdoor vs indoor blinds: Which option is the best one?

Deciding between internal and external blinds really depends on your needs and preferences. To help you choose, think about what you are trying to achieve at home and where. It’s often worth investing in a combination of indoor and outdoor blinds to cater to your home and lifestyle needs.

Consult with an expert in internal and external window treatments

If you’re looking for an expert opinion, our team can help you. We have many years of experience in manufacturing, supplying and installing internal and external blinds in Melbourne, as well as motorising and automating them. Contact us today on 03 9808 1807 so we can discuss the best options for your home, or visit us at our showroom in Burwood. It is always best to call ahead to make sure we are available for a consultation.

Lisa Unsworth

20. March, 2024

The team at SOM blinds are fantastic, from planning and material selection to installation, they were a delight to deal with. The blinds that were installed in our home are of the highest quality and look great. The guys even came back to remove and replace an exterior blind for us when we had a window replaced - free of charge! We highly recommend SOM Blinds.

Vicky Theodore

8. March, 2024

The team at SOM blinds are the best!! Professional, fun, experts and deliver exceptional service and products. Fabulous experience years ago when Bernie installed my holland blinds and they still look amazing. Contacted them again recently and not only did they remember me but also helped me fix the winder with a smile. Of course they were a referral from another happy customer. Visiting their showroom you meet the friendly team and a great vibe. Not enough stars for this business!!

Elizabeth Chatham

7. March, 2024

We delighted with the expert advise and end product. The impact the blinds and curtains made to the rooms was amazing and well worth the cost. A special shout out to Amanda Thanks SOM blinds.

Avril Minifie

18. February, 2024

Wonderful outcome ! We searched for someone to motorise our large and heavy Roman blinds which were still in good condition after more than 30 years. We thought our task was impossible until we discovered Som Blinds. The system works perfectly and was installed efficiently and cheerfully.

Thianna Nguyen

14. February, 2024

Loving our new awnings. Bernie and his team are a delight to work with.

Vickie Sweeney

24. January, 2024

Thank you Frank and the SOM Blinds Team. We absolutely love our blinds. Thank you for making the blind experience easy from the start to the finish. We are very HAPPY!!!

Daniel Howlett

17. January, 2024

We've had Bernie, Frank and the team at SOM Blinds back a few times for different rooms in our house. Their work is of the highest quality and they have a great range of blinds. We've continuously found the entire team a pleasure to deal with and will definitely use them again in the future.

Simon Nichols

15. January, 2024

SOM blinds supplied and installed automated blinds to our new house. Can highly recommend them as their service and attention to detail is second to none. Only too happy to pick up the phone to help with any questions .

Kevin Pattison

2. January, 2024

Bernie answered our call for help on a public holiday and helped us work through the re-setting of our Somfy awning motor. All done without asking for anything. That's great old fashioned 'service'

Sam Minio

30. December, 2023

We recently engaged SOM blinds to fit automated blinds and curtains to our newly renovated home. Bernie and the team were flawless to deal with from advising on our options right through to installation. Thanks Bernie, we are extremely happy with your service.