Safety and energy

Window coverings affect your family's safety, your home's comfort and your energy use. The guides in this section explain the national cord safety rules, how coverings help with heat loss and gain, and how to care for them.

The guides in this section

• Blind cord safety The national standards and practical steps.
• Blinds and energy efficiency Keeping heat in during winter and out in summer.
• Cleaning and care Dusting, spot cleaning, moisture and checks.

Safety first

• Secure every loose or looped cord and chain.
• Fix cleats at least 1,600 mm above the floor.
• Fix tension devices to the wall or frame.
• Move cots, beds and climbable furniture away from windows.
• Choose cordless or motorised options in children's rooms.

Homes with young children

If young children live in or visit your home, cord safety should shape your choices. The ACCC warns that some young children have been strangled playing near or using blind and curtain cords. Choose cordless, spring-operated or motorised systems where you can. Make sure any cords or chains are secured with devices fixed to the wall or frame, and move cots, beds, high chairs and climbable furniture away from windows. Check every window, including in rooms children rarely use.

Motorised options

Motorised blinds and curtains are operated by a remote, wall switch, app or timer. They remove cords and chains altogether, which many households with young children value, and they make large or hard-to-reach windows easier to use. They can be scheduled to open and close with the sun to help with comfort. Ask suppliers about power options (battery, rechargeable or hard-wired), how they are charged, what happens in a power outage, and the warranty on the motor. Hard-wired motors involve electrical work, which must be done by a licensed electrician.

Moisture and wet areas

Bathrooms, laundries and kitchens produce steam and splashes. Choose materials that suppliers recommend for wet areas, and ventilate with exhaust fans or open windows so coverings can dry. Damp fabrics and timber can develop mould or warp over time. Wipe up splashes promptly and follow the care instructions.

Sun, fading and orientation

Windows facing north and west in Melbourne typically get stronger sun, and fabrics exposed to strong sunlight can fade over time. Linings, lighter backings and sunscreen fabrics can help protect furniture and floors as well as the coverings themselves. Think about orientation when choosing fabrics and colours, and ask suppliers about fabric performance in sunny positions.

Noise and comfort

Soft furnishings can help make rooms feel quieter and more comfortable by reducing echo. Heavier lined curtains and fabric blinds may help more than hard materials, though window coverings alone won't block outside noise like better glazing can. If noise is a major concern, ask a glazing specialist about options and treat coverings as one part of the solution.

Keep good records

Keep a simple record for each room: product, fabric or material and colour, supplier, date installed, care instructions and warranty. Photograph the labels or swing tags before you remove them, and keep the cord safety warning labels and instructions. These records help if you need a repair, a matching replacement, or to make a warranty claim, and they're useful if you sell the home.

Getting help from suppliers

Good suppliers will explain options clearly, bring samples, measure carefully and put everything in writing. Don't be afraid to ask questions, including why they recommend a particular product, what alternatives exist, and how the covering will be fixed and operated. Ask to see examples of similar installations. If a supplier can't answer clearly, or pressures you to sign on the spot, take your time and get another quote. A clear, unhurried conversation is usually a good sign that the rest of the process will go smoothly too.

Living with your choice

Once coverings are installed, give yourself a few weeks to see how they work through different weather and light. Notice whether rooms feel warmer, darker or more private, and whether coverings are easy to use. If something isn't operating properly, contact the supplier early rather than waiting. Small adjustments, such as tension on a chain or alignment of a shutter panel, are often simple to fix soon after installation. Make a note of anything you'd do differently for the next room.

Accessibility and ease of use

Think about who will be operating each covering. Heavy blinds, high windows and stiff controls can be hard for some people to use, including older people and people with limited reach or grip. Motorised controls, wands, lighter fabrics and splitting wide windows into smaller coverings can make daily use easier. Ask suppliers to demonstrate controls before you order, and consider where switches or remotes will be kept.

Five habits for better window coverings

1. Know what each covering must do: privacy, darkness, glare, warmth or style.
2. Measure carefully: steel tape, millimetres, three measurements, smallest figure.
3. Compare like with like: the same specification in every written quote.
4. Secure every cord: loose cords must not form a loop of 220 mm or more below 1,600 mm.
5. Fit snugly and use them well: close coverings when heating is on, especially at night.

About these guides

Custom Design Blinds is an independent information site. We aren't a blinds retailer, manufacturer or installer, and no business pays to appear in our guides. We don't publish prices or rank suppliers or products. We write every guide in our own words and list the official sources we used, such as ACCC Product Safety Australia, the Federal Register of Legislation, YourHome, Sustainability Victoria, energy.gov.au and Consumer Affairs Victoria. Requirements change, so check current details with the relevant agency.

How we keep these guides current

We review each guide against official sources and show the date it was last checked. If you notice something out of date, please tell us through our contact page, and we'll check and correct it.