Conservatory blind ideas – 19 ways to shield your conservatory from extreme heat and sunlight in style

Who doesn’t love a conservatory?! An extension of your home that exists on the border between the inside and your garden. As conservatories are largely made of glass, they are sunny, bright and airy spaces – but that also means they can get hot, too bright and exposed to neighbours very easily. That’s where conservatory blind ideas come in.

Incorporating blinds into the decor is a smart conservatory idea that will keep your conservatory cool but will also add to the overall aesthetic of the space. Depending on the style and design you end up going for, blinds can bring everything from texture to colour and even pattern into your conservatory.

Blinds are also an excellent tool in protecting your conservatory furniture from sun damage. ‘Not only do blinds add to the decor of the conservatory, they most importantly help regulate the temperature of the room, protect the furniture and flooring from fading and provide extra privacy,’ says Helen O’Connor, product manager at 247 Blinds. ‘Choosing the right blinds can feel overwhelming as you want something that looks elegant but has a dual purpose when it comes to weather changes, blocking out sufficient light in the summer to keep the place cool.’

And that’s where our guide to the best conservatory blind ideas comes in handy…

Conservatory blind ideas

‘Back in the 1980s, conservatories experienced wide popularity, meaning many homes throughout the UK still have the bright, open extension. While some find the room unattractive, when decorated right and given the attention they deserve, conservatories have the potential to become a loved and cherished room,’ Helen at 247 Blinds says.

That’s why you should think carefully about your conservatory interior ideas and choices and decorate it with consideration just like you would any other room in your home – and that includes your blinds.

‘There is a great selection of blinds that can maximise the style of any conservatory, whether yours is a traditional conservatory, an orangery, a sloped roof sunroom or a glass extension,’ says Ana Zuravliova, trends specialist at Blinds Direct.

1. Go for classic Roman blinds

Roman blinds are not only an excellent bedroom and living room blind idea, they also work really well dressing your conservatory windows.

‘Roman blinds are a popular way to dress conservatory windows. Their soft textures, easy application and neat appearance makes for a window furnishing that is both smart and stylish. Roman blinds can be effectively lowered to the right position, allowing you to let daylight in without being disturbed or overlooked. Romans are also available with a thermal blackout lining upgrade, so you can further boost the functionality of your window dressing depending on the season,’ Ana at Blinds Direct says.

2. Save money with roller blinds

We love roller blinds for our kitchen windows just as much as we love them dressing our conservatory as this is another classic blind style that looks stylish in this space. And they’re easy to use and affordable on top of that, which comes in handy if you’re working with a tighter budget.

‘Roller blinds offer a sleek, budget-friendly solution for conservatories, providing effective light control and privacy, all while blending seamlessly with modern or traditional decor styles. They are a celebrated classic that can be enjoyed throughout the home including conservatories,’ Ana at Blinds Direct says.

3. Opt for light colours

When choosing your conservatory blind colours, it’s best to stick to light colours due to the room’s high exposure to the sun. Darker blinds would not only fade over time, but they would attract and trap the heat from the sun, making your conservatory even hotter, which is the exact opposite of what conservatory blinds are meant to do.

‘Lighter colours are generally more popular for conservatories due to their light reflecting properties,’ says Chloe Dacosta, design manager at Blinds 2go. ‘Conservatories boast the unique property of being the lightest and airiest rooms in your home; so you’ll want to compliment this with neutral, brighter tones.’

Ana at Blinds Direct adds, ‘Dark colours such as black, purple, or deep navy tend to absorb heat, making the space slightly warmer.’

4. Consider thermal blinds

Thermal blinds bring an extra layer of protection and temperature regulation as they will keep your conservatory cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

‘Any blinds with thermal or light reflective properties will be most suitable, but you might also want to consider light filtration too. Some window dressings can become more expensive when you add blackout and thermal options, but most of our conservatory blinds already come with these properties included. So you’re saving whilst also furnishing your conservatory with the very best,’ Chloe at Blinds 2go says.

5. Welcome privacy with Venetian blinds

Classic Venetian blinds offer aluminium slats which provide more than sufficient privacy when in place, blocking the view into your glass garden room. The tilt functionality allows you to open and close the slats to control the amount of visibility.

'Venetian blinds are particularly well suited to orangeries, offering optimum light control across each section of glazing. The neat slats will also tie in well with the rest of your conservatory decor, especially if you’ve opted for a more traditional interior scheme,' Ana at Blinds Direct says.

If your garden is overlooked you will benefit from a touch of privacy provided by this traditional blind design.

6. Control the light on all levels

Given a classic conservatory design features 75 per cent windows, it can be hard to decide where is best to place the blinds. These Duoshade Easifit Grey Weave conservatory blinds from Blinds2Go are made to measure, giving you precise coverage for your space.

Choose to restrict the view on the bottom windows for privacy and on the top windows to control the heat. Set on easy to install brackets, which simply click into place. This option of blinds requires no tools to fix them in place.

7. Go electric

If you’re looking for convenience above all else, you might want to consider installing electric blinds. ‘Choosing electric blinds with a thermal lining and setting up a timer for them to lower when your conservatory gets the most direct sunlight will help to keep your space cool,’ explains Leah Aspinall, head of design at Blinds 2go.

An electric upgrade is also a great idea for any windows that are hard to reach, whether they are higher up or are blocked by furniture or other design elements.

8. Install sail blinds

If your conservatory can get a little hot and stuffy, particularly over the warmer months or it can feel too bright at times, sail blinds could offer the perfect solution. Not only do ‘they create dappled shading and diffused light,’ as Andrew Chalk, operations director at the British Blinds & Shutters Association, affirms but they can also help to reflect heat as MyJobQuote.co.uk’s interior design expert, Ryan McDonough, concurs.

‘With its energy-efficient fabric, a roof sail can reflect more than 70% of the sun’s heat while still flooding your conservatory with diffused natural light,’ he adds.

9. Insulate and reduce noise pollution with honeycomb

'We would usually recommend our Duette product range, partly due to the fact that it helps control temperature,' notes Chris Lapthorne at Luxaflex.

If you're wondering how to make a conservatory warmer, Chris has the answer. 'Duette has a unique honeycomb design and as you’ll know conservatories can become incredibly hot during the summer months. Duette stops heat from entering a room in the warmer months. And is also able to lock in heat during the cooler months.'

'Not only does it control temperature, but it can also absorb sound, reducing noise pollution and creating the perfect space to relax and unwind.'

10. Opt for a nature inspired design

Many of our conservatories will look out into nature or at the very least some greenery in our back gardens, so why not use this inspiration for your conservatory blinds and invest in something like this whimsical wisteria-print roller blind from Dunelm? ‘Incorporating nature into our indoor environment can create a calming space through this visual connection to nature,’ Leah at Blinds 2go says. ‘Opt for blinds in earthy tones, with botanical patterns, or even natural materials to create a serene interior.’

You’ll want to ‘consider designs like lush botanical prints featuring leaves and flowers, which seamlessly bring the outdoors in,’ admits ILIV’s design manager, Debbie Leigh. ‘Floral patterns, whether bold or delicate, can add a touch of elegance and femininity too. While foliage patterns, bird and butterfly prints also add depth and vitality to the botanical narrative.'

11. Try transition blinds

‘The option to have two fabrics within one blind can make transition blinds the perfect choice for your conservatory windows,’ Ryan at Myjobquote.co.uk argues. ‘They consist of two pleated blinds inside one unit with a dividing bar in the middle. By sliding the bar up and down you can reveal the fabric at the top or the bottom as you wish, allowing you to control the light, heat and privacy levels in your conservatory.’

Having two designs in one also gives you more scope to include different colours or patterns, allowing you to add some more personality to your conservatory space.

12. Balance privacy with light levels

An open-plan kitchen dining space can double as a small conservatory thanks to the roof lights and large sliding doors.

'Naturally, vertical and Venetian blinds can have their slats angled to allow that perfect level of light to enter the space while keeping prying eyes out,' advises Ana at Blinds Direct.

'Moreover, with many colours and finishes available to consider, both can easily add a sophisticated and elegant aesthetic to any part of the home.'

13. Add subtle coverage and colour

Create a happy compromise between covering windows and enjoying the view beyond. English Blinds have a solution that is ideal to add subtle layers of privacy and colour, with a smart Vision Day & Night design.

The conservatory blinds offer an innovative two layered half voile, half opaque fabric design, to transform the way you enjoy sun, privacy and shade in your garden room.

The hybrid of fabrics provides a subtle blind solution for your home while this large corner sofa is the perfect piece of conservatory furniture. They operate in the same way as regular roller blinds – featuring a control chain running in a loop at one side of the blind to move them up or down.

14. Welcome an accent colour

Use your blind choice to inject an accent colour into your conservatory interior idea. An accent colour can prevent the space from feeling flat, dull and a little sterile. But it's best to stick with nature-inspired shades that are not too dark, such as greens and blues.

Whether using a plain blind, as shown above, or a pattern, ensure the colour is used throughout the rest of the decor to unify the look. Generally it's best to stick to one dominant accent colour. Pair it with a maximum of two other less dramatic shades on soft furnishings tableware and accessories.

15. Cover bi-fold conservatory doors

An increasing number of conservatories now have bi-fold doors leading outside but these can be a little trickier to cover with window dressings or blinds than a traditional door.

However, you can actually get blinds that are designed to fit directly onto the glass of each door thanks to brackets that slip between the rubber beading and glass. This means they won’t protrude from the door frames and will ensure that you can still operate your doors as normal.

16. Block direct overhead sunlight

Go for the most practical blind solution to suit your space. If you're on a budget and looking for the most effective blinds to make a multipurpose conservatory more useable, at any time of day simply block the sunlight overhead. Only covering one area makes dressing the space with blinds more affordable.

Blocking the light overhead can help to prevent the conservatory from becoming too hot throughout the day. It also means the room is still just as bright and welcoming because the remaining windows are not covered.

17. Co-ordinate with decorative designs

Look to a window blind idea to tie the decor scheme together. Choose a coordinating colour scheme to flow throughout, from the blind fabric to the floor rug and cushions. Don't let your conservatory blinds be an afterthought.

18. Ensure privacy with shutters

As with blinds, shutters can help to control the light, welcome privacy and keep a conservatory cool.

'Installing shutters in your conservatory can have a range of aesthetic as well as practical benefits,' says Sam Tamlyn at Shutterly Fabulous. 'One of the most functional benefits is the ability they have to insulate the room. Adding an extra layer of insulation to windows, they act as a form of double glazing which in turn can help to reduce heating bills.'

'During the summer, some conservatories – particularly south-facing ones – become uncomfortably hot because of the hot light that streams through all day. Shutters can block this (at times harmful) sunlight, allowing the room to stay cool.'

'In addition to the benefit of temperature control, shutters are also the ideal solution for balancing light and privacy in rooms where comfort and well-being are a must. Both of these features work well to transform the conservatory to a room that is appreciated year round, rather than just in the summer months'.

19. Look for a perfect fit

'Since many conservatories use uPVC windows, Perfect Fit blinds are an excellent choice,' advises Ana from Blinds Direct. 'Perfect Fit blinds feature a special frame that allows them to clip easily into a uPVC window frame, without the need for drills or screws.'

'What’s more, by fitting one to your conservatory’s door frame, the blind will move as a part of it, helping you enjoy your space without worrying about your blind getting in the way.'

FAQs

Do I need blinds in my conservatory?

Determining whether you need blinds in your conservatory depends on how you use the extra living space. Are you looking to use the space to host mealtimes where you might benefit from blocking the glaring sunshine overhead?

If looking to use the extra room as a small home office idea you will benefit from blinds that restrict the sunshine from the sides, to avoid glare on a screen.

Or perhaps you wish your conservatory idea simply to be a relaxing garden room, where you spend leisurely downtime. Being less restricted by the amount of direct light, means you can afford to use blinds as more of a decorative window treatment. A simple decorative blind that needs to be more pretty than practical is perfect.

'There are many excellent blinds to consider when decorating any conservatory,' says Ana Zuravliova, trend specialist at Blinds Direct. 'Since conservatories are by definition light, open spaces, it's important to find a window furnishing that gives flexible light control without compromising on privacy.'

Should I put roller or vertical blinds in a conservatory?

This may come down to personal preference but each has their own pros and cons. ‘Vertical Blinds offer greater light control than roller blinds thanks to the tilt of the slats. As you can change the angle of the fabric, there’s much more customisation over how much light you let into the space and maintain a large degree of privacy,’ Leah Aspinall, head of design at Blinds 2go, affirms.

‘Roller Blinds are the better solution if you’re after something that will keep your space darker, as they’re made from one continuous piece of material rather than individual slats,’ Leah adds. This means that the amount of light that can seep in is greatly reduced.

‘Larger expanses of glazing can be more effectively covered with a vertical blind, with options for floor-to-ceiling windows readily available. While vertical blinds are relatively affordable so even if you have lots of windows to cover it shouldn’t cost a fortune,’ Ryan continues.

There are so many benefits you’ll get from installing blinds in your conservatory. So which blinds are you going to get for your conservatory?