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Original poster

Perfect fit blinds

25 replies

pigsinmud · 14/01/2015 09:16

Extension nearly done. Hurrah! Downstairs is finished and we have lovely bifold doors with 5 panels. The wood work around the doors is lovely and I don't want to put curtains up to clutter it.

Has anyone tried the perfect fit blinds which fit in a frame and clip to windows/doors? Money is now a little tight and I don't want to spend £400 on something that turns out to be crap. I'm looking at the pleated perfect fit blinds.

If you do have them I have a couple of questions. How much does space does the frame take up and once open does the squashed up blind take up much room? I don't want to spoil our view of the North Downs!

I have a sample of one of the cheaper blinds and it feels quite thin. Just a bit worried about how long they'll last.

OP posts:
ContentedSidewinder · 14/01/2015 09:54

Is there nowhere close to you that has them on display? We bought ours from an independent shop and had them fit them as the measuring was a little too precise and we didn't want to have to cut the frame of the blind around the handle of the windows ourselves.

We usually buy blinds made to measure (roller, roman and horizontal venetian) and fit them ourselves but didn't want to wing it. Our perfect fit are roller blinds and are on upvc doors so we have white frames and white blinds. As it was a local blind company they came to us to measure up but also brought samples so we could match the blind into our decor.

The only issue I have but I knew it before I bought them is that dust collects in the bottom on the back of the blind and you can't get to them to clean them. You have to remove the frame from the window. ie the material wraps round the plastic bar at the bottom, it is sewn around the bar and then the material is cut. Dust collects on the stitching at the back. I can see mine because we have very light coloured blinds. We wanted them to block out sunlight but not plunge us into darkness.

I have had mine about 3 years maybe 4 and we have replaced the brake on a couple of them (where they don't want to fgo back up) but that might be irrelevant to you if you are going pleated. Pleated blinds will collect far more dust.

Original poster
pigsinmud · 14/01/2015 21:54

Thanks. No-one local seems to sells them. I'll keep looking!

OP posts:
ContentedSidewinder · 14/01/2015 22:20

It is always best to see them in reality. Is there another window you might consider perfect fit for? Bathroom? Landing? That way you wouldn't be laying out the full cost of the blinds before seeing them. Just a thought.

The ones I have are quite plastic IYSWIM but then so is the upvc so they match.

Or instead of curtains you could have curtain panels that stack back behind each other?

ContentedSidewinder · 14/01/2015 22:21

Sorry I meant if you did one small window elsewhere you wouldn't be laying out for your bi-folds and then be disappointed.

hangoninaminute · 15/01/2015 21:24

I've had the metal venician blinds on a upvc door in a kitchen and the kitchen window. They worked really well but the downside is making the window smaller when the blinds are put up. They do gather dust too. The ones on the door got battered from someone not being careful and from the wind which annoyed me so I would be concerned about having something thin. Imo have a rethink as I'm sure there's a nicer alternative.

Original poster
pigsinmud · 15/01/2015 21:44

That was what worried me - how much of the window the frame takes up. I can't think of any other options. I hate vertical blinds (remind me of offices) and I don't want curtains!

OP posts:
NakedFamilyFightClub · 15/01/2015 21:48

My brother and sil have just had them installed, I was really impressed. They've got the frame fitted on white pvc windows and doors and it's barely noticable, maybe about 1cm width?

forago · 15/01/2015 22:31

I've got them on the patio doors in 2 rooms and think they're great. never noticed any issues with dust. They hardly take up any space at the top and the frame is a couple of cm either side.

forago · 15/01/2015 22:36

I've got the white pleated ones, blackout as on south facing windows as we couldn't see the TV. They work really well and makes the room dark and cool (have got shutters on the windows, also hate curtains)

hangoninaminute · 16/01/2015 22:19

I do agree they are much better than a big curtain. That's why we got them. And yes, they weren't noticeable that they were on the window as the White blended in to the white of the window/door. But if it's a big bifold door I'm unsure how they would look. It isn't a cosy look.

kayessbee · 16/01/2015 22:51

Talk to a supplier (even over the phone) and ask how deep the stack will be when raised, based on the height of the window. And also ask them for their advice on having them on bifold doors. Don't try to guess the technical stuff, that's when it goes wrong!

cakebaby · 21/02/2015 22:06

Sorry to crash this thread but can I ask a couple of daft questions re perfect fit blinds please?

I've heard of blinds being fitted upside down, so they lift from bottom upwards. Are these roller or cellular/pleated? How does that work, are they on guide rails? I thought they were free hanging, so just waggled about when hung from top to bottom?

If they do just hang, can you have them down and open the window/door? If there's a breeze, do they just wave about?

I need blackout ones for nursery, but have 3 panels in the window. Can you get ones with guide rails to cut out light leakage, ie like an aeroplane window blind or will there be light leaking in the gaps if they are free hanging?

Any advice gratefully received!

cakebaby · 01/03/2015 12:46

Hopeful bump.....Smile

thatsmadted · 01/03/2015 13:24

We had ours put in about 6 years ago and they are going strong. They open from the bottom up and are pleated and fully fitted in their frames which are supplied with them and clip onto the existing window frames so not free hanging and you can open the doors as normal. We measured and fit them ourselves - it was easy. Ours are quite light porous though although we bought ours before kids and weren't concerned about light.

Admiraltea · 01/03/2015 22:44

Had mine put in 4 weeks ago, cream pleated blackout..very lovely. Minimal into window and when up really not noticeable. Had local company measure, make and fit.

cakebaby · 02/03/2015 20:41

That you for replies Smile

When I asked one company about them, I was told the blinds would be free to flap about if the window was open but from the sounds of things they are more secure than that? That's why I could understand the upside down fitting, I couldn't see how it could work!

OhThisIsJustGrape · 02/03/2015 20:58

How would the blackout blinds work in a nursery in summer though? Surely if it's hot then the window needs to be opened - yet the blind goes with the window so there effectively wouldn't be a blind shutting out the light?

cakebaby · 02/03/2015 21:07

Good point. At the moment I have a roller blind & lined curtains which can stay put. Its the early morning light I'm keen to block out Grin

Last year we had a 0.5 tog sleeping bag & fan which worked a treat keeping ds cool in summer without opening the windows when we lived on a busy road.

Tappie9 · 20/02/2019 14:21

Has anyone replaced just the blind for these. The fittings are fine just the blind is a bit grubby

Harri12876 · 14/04/2019 07:23

Hi everyone - do you mind recommending which companies you used? We’re trying to keep costs to a minimum without compromising too much on quality!

MyNameIsJane · 14/04/2019 12:49

I have my eye on Blinds2go but I haven’t bought them yet.

Harri12876 · 14/04/2019 17:38

I’ve just checked them out too - look the cheapest but have great reviews..!

Kayone · 15/04/2019 08:57

Does anyone have the venitian style perfect fit? I want something that is easy to clean and that won't get dirty easily as they're for patio doors and wondered if they'd be suitable.

Also, can anyone recommend which perfect fit blind would be best for a kitchen and bathroom?

ValeEden · 15/04/2019 19:39

Recently got a perfect fit blind from So Easy Blinds. Few issues but the customer service was good.

fomojo66 · 11/02/2021 09:36

Appreciate this thread is ancient but I just made a video review of perfect fit blackout blinds, installed in advance of a new baby coming, you might find it helpful.

I think the needs (direct sunlight or not) makes a big difference. I found that adding adhesive black felt made a big difference when cloudy at least.

src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/XXqE1HqgCPA?start=59" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen>0​​​

This link above jumps straight to the blackout part of the video. See section one for assembly and other impressions / thoughts.

Jo

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