There are seemingly endless decisions to make when it comes to home improvements. Not only must you think about how you want a room to look, you also need to balance your vision against costs, practicality, time and more. So when it comes to choosing blinds, how do you decide between ready-made blinds vs custom made blinds?
How important is quality?
Choosing outdoor blinds is a case where you get what you pay for, so consider how long you want the blinds to last before they need to be replaced. While there are decent quality ready made blinds on the market, you will get a higher quality product if you choose custom made blinds. This is because custom made blinds are made by a professional to suit your specific needs, and they tend to be made using higher quality materials. Another bonus to choosing custom made blinds is that if the quality is not as good as you expected, you can speak with your supplier and discuss a resolution.
Getting the right fit
Ready made blinds come in standard sizes, so the blinds you buy may not perfectly fit your window. The size of the blind might be off by a few centimetres, which can look awkward and hinder the blind’s ability to block out light. In this case, you will need to have the blinds resized or adjusted to achieve the right fit. Custom made blinds are guaranteed to fit your windows perfectly because they will be tailor made specifically for each window.
Think about your budget
Ready made blinds tend to be more affordable than custom-made blinds, and they come in a considerable variety of types, colours, textures and finishes. However, the cost of ready made blinds includes only the blinds – you will still need to pay for delivery, installation and any extended warranty – so keep this in mind when you are pricing up your options. The price of custom made blinds normally includes installation and should include a decent warranty period, so you can get a fair sense of the full cost when you make your purchase.
Installation
You can install ready made blinds yourself. However, if you make a mistake – such as drilling into the wrong place, or cutting them to the wrong size – it can be costly to correct and may damage the blinds or your home. If you’re generally handy with home improvements and you’ve done the research, it’s probably safe to install ready made blinds yourself, and it shouldn’t be too hard. For anyone who’s inexperienced, it’s safer to choose custom made blinds and have them professionally installed by an expert blind fitter.
Customising your blinds
It’s probably no surprise that custom made blinds have the advantage when it comes to customisation. You will have an even wider range of options when it comes to style, fabric, texture, colour and finish. If you have a special vision for how you want a room to look, custom made blinds might just be the better route so you can get that perfect ambience in your home.
