Talk to me about curtains/blinds

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So I just priced up two rather plain Roman blinds from laura Ashley for the children's bedrooms and nearly fell off my seat when it totted up to £500. That was with 30% off too!!

Slightly freaked out now as we need new curtains for 2 sitting rooms downstairs too.

Please tell me there are cheaper options?!

We looked in Dunelm this morning and thought the quality was poor. I know we'll have to pay but £500!!! They're only 118 x 118!!

I've just done blinds/curtains for my whole house and used web-blinds.com who were really reasonable and wallpaperdirect who have beautiful fabrics and similarly priced to Laura Ashley.

Thanks. That's the kind of thing I'm after.

Both do online quotes but as an example I got this in 180cm width with black out for around £200

I had a really positive experience with blinds 2 go and very well priced for made to measure. Also my sister had blinds made in laura Ashley fabric by a local seamstress who specialises in blinds. I know other people who’ve done this too- check your local pages to see if you can find someone similar. Bet you’ll save tons.

What's wrong with using a local independent shop? It's good to try to keep your high street alive.

My DP has a curtains and blinds shop in the North and has been kept going for over 30 years because he provides a first class service at a good price. Because he's excellent at his job he gets repeat business and he's now fitting blinds for children and grandchildren of his first customers.

One day there won't be anything left locally, you'll be limited to buying online and the majority of web-based sellers are Hillary's by another name (have a google and see their very mixed reviews, including lots of complaints on Mumsnet).

Unfortunately when I went to my local blind/curtains shop they were hideously expensive. I appreciate that the craftsmanship is superior but it was double the price. I used blinds 2 go as well for my spare bedroom roman blind dand it's fantastic. It folds up easier and better than my specially made Next one that always needs straightening out argh

We have looked at our local shop and it was extortionate. Fabrics at £100 a meter and not much less. I'd love to have used them.

Yep the only blind shop on the "high street" quote over £1000 for the size I was interested in. Same harlequin fabric as wallpaper direct 20% more.

Went to the next town overs independent today and they were far more reasonable. £18 a meter fabrics and total blind cost £130.

I was surprised to see some good options on eBay the other day. I wish I'd known about them before I spent a fortune on a bay window curtain from John Lewis.

We used Curtain Wizard and were really pleased - I'm pretty sure they do blinds as well as curtains.