Interior Design Colours Spring 2013

It doesn't seem two minutes ago since we brought you news on 2012 colour predictions and now here we are again reporting on 2013 interior design colours. 

As you can see from the photograph originally produced by the Pantone 2013 fashion report, there are no startling newcomers this year, and if anything the colours for 2013 will be more of a pastel hue.

Lime green from last year has given way to an emerald and jade green whilst the violet that we had in Spring and Autumn of 2012 is now muted in 2013.

The pink of last season has now fell out of favour whilst the vibrant rosy red has become more of a poppy red. Yellow is still a firm favourite although with more zest than last season, Blues are again muted as is orange which last year was Tangerine Tango whilst this year we'll see a calmer and less citrus mandarin.

For relief colours expect to see linen make an appearance in 2013. Last year we didn't see a set base  colour but with linen making an appearance in 2013 as a base you can experiment with accent colours till your heart's content.

Expect to see accessories on the market shortly in the predicted colours, everything from lampshades and cushion covers to vertical blinds, replacement blind slats and rugs. Interior design often follows catwalk fashion and this can usually be seen in the colours of things like nail polish and accessories.

Vertical Blinds Out Of Alignment

Are your vertical blinds out of line? Do you have one blind slat or vane that is not lining up with the others when you close the blinds? It's a very simple fix to realign them.

Out of line vertical blinds

Simply get hold of the control chain that controls the tilt function of your vertical blind and pull it gently but firmly to close the blinds. Once the blinds are closed continue to pull the chain and you will hear a series of clicks, keep pulling slow but firm on the control chain until the clicking noise stops. 

Once you have done this, pull the chain in the opposite direction so that the blind slats tilt the other way, again keep pulling until the blind is closed and the clicks stop. Your vertical blind should now be realigned. See the video below for an example

How to repair out of line vertical blinds

Vertical blinds from Just Blinds

Blackout Vertical Blinds

When choosing vertical blinds it's often a good idea to consider the benefit of a blackout blind fabric. Other than the more obvious benefits that a blackout vertical blind offers such as light blocking properties which make them ideal for children's bedrooms, and for those who work shifts, Black out vertical blinds also have other uses.

Conservatories are popular in the UK however in the extremes of Summer and Winter they often suffer from either the heat and glare from the sun in Summer whilst being difficult to keep warm in the winter.

Why Blackout Vertical Blinds?

Blackout vertical blinds can help with both these problems. During the Summer months they offer more light control options than any other type of window blind. Not only can they be opened fully to give an uninterrupted view but they can also be drawn and then tilted at any angle to control the glare of the sun and to offer privacy. When fully closed they can block out the majority of the suns glare and therefore enable you to regulate the temperature of the room. This feature also makes vertical blackouts ideal office blinds.

During winter, the blackout coating acts as an insulator when the blinds are closed helping to keep the heat in and to reduce heating bills. This makes blackout vertical blinds the ideal choice not just for conservatories but for any room in the house.

Choosing Blackout Vertical Blinds

Blackout vertical blinds are available in many different colours and types of fabric ranging from PVC to plain and even patterned meaning that you can find a blackout fabric that will suit any room in the home or office.

If you already have vertical blinds then you can convert them to blackout blinds simply by changing the slats. You can order blackout vertical blinds and replacement blackout blind slats here.

So as you can see, blackout blinds aren't just for the summer months, they are useful all year round.

Cheap Vertical Blinds

Vertical Blinds were traditionally expensive when they were first introduced into the UK however over time they have become more affordable.

If you are prepared to fit your own vertical blinds then you'll save a whole lot more, What should you look for when ordering vertical blinds online?

Made to Measure or Ready Made?

This isn't a difficult question to answer, Ready made vertical blinds are made to one size and you cut them down yourself. Many people buy these blinds thinking that they are cheaper and not realising just how much work is involved in cutting them to size. Ready made blinds are available from department stores such as Argos but be prepared to spend a few hours on each blind. 

If however, you spend a little time looking you can find some high quality and yet cheap vertical blinds with all the features you'd get from a high street name such as Hilarys. Buying blinds that are made to measure takes out all the hassle of adjusting the size and simply allows you to hang your window blinds when they are delivered. 

Wand Control or Cord and Chain?

Wand controls were always the lesser option as cord and chain controls are more desirable and offer more style options. For instance, you can't have a split opening with wand controls as when the blinds are drawn closed you would see two wands in the centre of the blind slats. A cord and chain system is far better in this situation.

In the past, the only benefit offered by a wand control is that they were child safe however these days most blind companies provide a simple child safe device on request for chain and cord controlled blinds. As wand controls are now back in vogue because of child safety concerns, the systems used are far superior to the wand systems of old. 

Choosing Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds come in many different types of fabrics, Blackout blinds are ideal for bedrooms and nurseries whilst pvc blinds are ideal for humid environments such as bathrooms. If you need blinds for more than one window then you will find some online blind sellers offering bulk buy vertical blind deals to save you even more money. These deals are ideal if you have recently moved house or need a lot of blinds for a conservatory.

Vertical blinds come in many different colours and the fabric manufacturers are very good at introducing the latest shades to match or compliment modern paint and wallpaper and home furnishings.

Just Blinds are manufacturers of vertical blinds and offer a complete made to measure and delivery service at the lowest prices.

Measuring & Fitting Vertical Blinds

Measuring and fitting vertical blinds can sound daunting but it really isn't. As long as you follow simple instructions then you'll find the whole process simple. Even measuring a bay window or conservatory is straight forward when you know how. Take a look at this vertical blind measuring guide that includes lots of short videos and see for yourself.

So to summarise, buying cheap vertical blinds doesn't necessarily mean compromising on quality.

Interior Design Colours Autumn 2012

Now that Autumn is upon us we thought we'd put together some ideas for decorating your home with the latest colour trends. Following on from our Interior design colour report earlier this year it seems that orange and pink are still popular colours along with some more reserved hues normally associated with Autumn and Winter.

The Pantone fashion colour report gives us the ten colours that you can see in the photo that is predicted will be popular for Autumn 2012.

To get that "look" you don't have to go wild! A simple change of accessories such as a new lampshade or some coloured candles will give a great effect. If your walls are a neutral colour then try adding a feature wall in one of the seasons colours. A new lampshade or replacement vertical blind slats in a one of the colours can have a dramatic effect and can transform any room. Great for if you're on a budget.

Go on a hunt and see if you can find some great interior design accessories in these colours. Post any pictures that you find here. Happy shopping!

Blinds for Caravans

What blinds can you fit in a caravan or mobile home?

Depending on the type of caravan that you have you are able to fit a wide range of blinds. Touring caravans tend to be more difficult as due to the shape and often the raked angle of the windows they require slimline cassette type blinds that are usually only available from the caravan manufacturer. Static  caravans and mobile homes however offer much more flexibility and can be fitted with most types of blinds.

Blinds for Static Caravans

You can fit many types of window blinds into static caravans and mobile homes. Any blind that you would fit into a home can be fitted to a caravan. 

Normally a caravan wont have a recess around the window, this isn't a problem as you can fit the blinds  using face fix brackets. 

Vertical Blinds for Caravans

Vertical blinds work great in mobile homes and static caravans especially in the lounge area as these tend to have french doors or large bay windows. There isn't a special requirement for the blinds other than you need to use face fix brackets. Choosing blackout blinds will help to control the temperature of the caravan during summer and will also provide extra privacy in the evening. 

Venetian Blinds for Caravans

Venetian blinds are ideal for the areas in the caravan where space may be at a premium such as in a bedroom or kitchen. Aluminium venetian blinds are particularly suitable for caravan bathrooms and shower rooms as they are resistant to mould. Venetian blinds can also be face fixed and are very slim so as to not take up precious space. 

Replacing your caravan blinds couldn't be easier. Follow the measuring guide for blind size (no recess) and order as normal. When fitting ensure that you use a screw no bigger than your wall thickness, check on your manufacturers website or forum. Alternatively, if you're in North Wales or on the Blackpool coast, we can fit your caravan blinds for you. 

Caravan Blinds North Wales

See the full range of venetian blinds for caravans here

See the full range of vertical blinds for caravans here.

Cheapest Venetian Blinds in the UK - EXPOSED

Venetian blinds from just £2.99 - What does that tell you? Look at the picture, it tells it's own story. Plastic venetian blinds are not structural. Unlike PVC windows or roof line products that have varying wall thicknesses of between 4mm and 25mm cheap plastic venetian blinds have a wall thickness thinner than you'll find on a yoghurt carton. In fact, they are made from recycled plastic that perhaps includes yoghurt cartons. At best they will fade in the sunlight, they may even warp slightly. At worst they will simply give up and melt like the ones shown in the photo.

The old saying "penny wise, pound foolish" certainly applies when speaking of the cheapest venetian blinds in the UK. If you are looking for cheap venetian blinds that are actually fit for the purpose then you really need to be buying aluminium venetian blinds. Not only will they not discolour from exposure to the sun they will not melt either thereby saving you from looking slightly foolish and also maintaining your privacy! You can buy aluminium venetian blinds here (for not much more than plastic ones!).

Vertical Blinds for the Bedroom

When choosing bedroom blinds you'll need to consider the following:

• Are the occupants adult or children
• Does the occupants sleep patterns mean that you require blackout fabric?

Vertical Blinds for Childrens Bedrooms

It's often tempting to go for a blind that is age related, Maybe a pink vertical blind or blue vertical blind depending on if it's a girls room or a boys room. Very often however we overlook the function of the blind.  If you are looking for a vertical blind for the nursery or the bedroom of a young child then it's often wise to consider a blackout fabric. Even better to consider a blackout fabric that can be easily cleaned! A perfect vertical blind for a childs bedroom  is a pvc blackout blind. Not only will this filter out most of the light which in the summer months you'll be thankful for at bedtime but also its a vinyl fabric and so can be wiped clean.  You may want to make sure that you also fit a child safe blind device. These are available for just a couple of pounds. 

Vertical Blinds for Bedrooms

For most bedrooms the choice becomes wider, more emphasis can be placed on appearance rather than function although blackout vertical blinds in bedrooms of those who work shifts are usually a good idea. You may want to pick some colour out in your bedroom decor and buy a coloured vertical blind that compliments or contrasts. Always bear in mind however that a coloured vertical blind may look odd from outside if the rest of the blinds in the house are neutral! 

A second option that you may want to consider if you already have vertical blinds is to replace the vertical blind slats. This often works out much cheaper than replacing the full blind. 

Vertical blind slats are available from around 95p each and come in a variety of colours and patterns, you can even buy blackout vertical blind slats and if you have the older 5" blinds you can also buy 5" blackout blind slats. 

With some vibrant colours about, new vertical blinds or replacement blind slats can make an incredible difference to a bedroom, combine with some new bedding, maybe a throw, a bedroom carpet or even just a rug and in no time you've created a whole new look for your bedroom. 

Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds often conjure up mental images of childhood, certainly for me, alternate colours of pale yellow and green making up a kitchen blind. Thankfully today Venetian blinds are totally different. Lets take a quick look at how venetian blinds can help you to achieve almost any look in your home or office.

Aluminium Venetian Blinds

Aluminium Venetian blinds, often called metal Venetian blinds are now generally made with a 25mm slat width giving them a very elegant and minimalist look. These Venetian blinds are available in a variety of hardwearing anodised finishes. Venetian blinds can be raised to give an uninterrupted view or for ease of cleaning your windows. Aluminium venetian blinds have a very small stack height when raised.

• Satin venetian blinds
• Metallic venetian blinds
• Perforated venetian blinds 
• Patterned venetian blinds
• Soft touch venetian blinds

Some blind companies offer cut down cheap venetian blinds that you buy to a set size and trim to the required size yourself using scissors or a small tool. Without saying too much on the subject, I'll give you some key words and let you figure it out yourself, ready? "cut fingers, sharp edges, different size slats, cheap, nasty. 

Thankfully some more reputable blind companies will supply made to measure venetian blinds. These will be supplied to your sizes and will simply require a couple of screws to hang at your window thereby taking minutes, not hours and with considerably better results. Made to measure venetian blinds aren't much more expensive either. Available in so many different colours venetian blinds can transform a conservatory, bring a touch of sophistication to your lounge, offer privacy in the bedroom and make any office look stylish.  Click on the highlighted link to see a full range of aluminium venetian blinds

Real Wood Venetian Blinds

Nothing beats the beauty of real wood venetian blinds. Giving a similar effect to plantation shutters but at a much lower price real wood blinds add a sense of warmth and nature to the home or office. Wood venetian blinds are available in 25mm, 35mm, 50mm and even 60mm slat widths. As with other venetian blinds the whole blind can be raised to give access for cleaning the window. There are many colours and shades to choose from including

• White wood venetian blinds
• Teak wood venetian blinds
• Walnut wood venetian blinds
• Black wood venetian blinds
• Oak wood venetian blinds
• Chocolate wood venetian blinds
• Oyster wood venetian blinds
• Pecan Wood venetian blinds
• Limed Wood venetian blinds

You can buy cheap wood venetian blinds at most DIY stores that you can cut to size yourself, however, as with anything cheap, don't expect it to last for more than one summer. Not only will the wood be poor quality and warp in the heat of the sun but also the controls simply aren't up to managing the weight of the blinds. Real wood blinds can be heavy and therefore need adequate controls to adjust them. As with anything you only get what you pay for. 

Made to measure real wood blinds aren't that expensive in comparison. Real wood blinds are made from quality wood taken from sustainable sources. 

Click the highlighted link to visit our shop and see our range of Real Wood Venetian Blinds starting at just £22

Child Safe Vertical Blinds

Child safe blind device

Child Safe Blinds have become somewhat of a popular topic lately and whilst the topics popularity has been fuelled by tragedy the positive that we can draw from it is that the window blind industry has acted together to make blinds safer.

You can make your existing blinds "child safe" simply by buying the child safe blind device shown on the left and fitting it to your control cords / chains. This device will work on not just vertical blinds but also on venetian and roller blinds too.

If you are looking to buy new vertical blinds then quite a few blinds manufacturers in the UK are offering a child safe option.

We have put together an ideal child safe vertical blind offer. Made to measure vertical blinds in a choice of 3 machine washable fabrics, Cream, White and Linen. The blinds are available with either standard cord weights or a no cost "child safe" option. Prices start from an incredibly low £12

click the link to buy these child safe vertical blinds

Child safe vertical blinds

Vertical Blind Slats- Buying Guide

More often than not you'll want to eventually decorate your room, change your flooring or carpet and perhaps think about buying new window blinds.

If you have vertical blinds however there is a much cheaper alternative to changing the whole blind. Chances are, the vertical blind still operates perfectly well and it is just the blind slats that look a little worse for wear. You can buy vertical blind slats to replace your old ones at a fraction of the price of a new blind. This gives you the opportunity to change your blind as you change the colour scheme of your room without it breaking the bank.
Vertical blind slats (often called blind louvres or blind vanes) can be found on the internet for as little as 95p each (sometimes even cheaper if you're prepared to have a coloured end of line fabric).

There are a few things to consider before ordering your replacement blind slats.

Do you have 3.5" or 5" wide blind slats?
Measure the width of one of your existing blind slats. It will either be 5 inches wide (127mm) or 3.5 inches wide (89mm). You can't put 3.5 inch slats onto a rail designed for 5 inch and vice versa. 5" blind slats aren't as popular these days so expect to find a smaller choice on offer. 3.5" blind slats offer a much wider choice of fabrics.

Do you need new weights and chain?
Not all blind slat shops include the weights and chains and will charge you extra for these. It's worth checking on the website of the company that you choose for your replacement blind slats if they are included in the price or not. It's always worth changing your bottom weights and chains as not only do they discolour with time but some bottom weights are different sizes and trying to fit your old weights into your new blind slats may prove tricky.

Will new blind slats fit my old track or rail?
Luckily most blind slats use the same type of hanger system. For more information you may want to read this blind buying FAQ

Measuring for your new vertical blind slats
This part is really simple. Take down one of your existing blind slats and lay it flat. Now measure from the top of the fabric to the bottom. There is no need to allow for hems etc. Simply measure the fabric from top to bottom.

Vertical blind slats -buying guide

Choosing a Fabric for Replacement Vertical Blind Slats

You may already have a colour in mind. Popular colours are always white or cream as they are neutral and will go with any colour scheme. If you're feeling a little more adventurous then see the article on this years interior design colours for blinds.

Replacement blind slats are available at different prices and for different purposes, You may want a washable blind slat fabric or blackout vertical blind slats for the bedroom or nursery. For a touch of luxury why not consider suede blind slats?

You are much better to buy made to measure blind slats instead of the slat packs sold by such shops as Argos etc. Buying made to measure costs about the same and is so much easier than having to cut each slat down. Simply unpack and hang them onto your head rail.

Bear in mind when buying vertical blind slats that the colour you see on screen may be different to the actual colour of the fabric. This is due to the limitations of computer screens. Most blind companies will be happy to provide you with free samples if you are trying to match a colour.

Click here to buy 3.5 inch vertical blind slats
Click here to buy 5 inch vertical blind slats

Interior Design Colours for 2012

A few hours trawling through the countless pages on the internet regarding interior design in the UK and it becomes clear that the major authorities on the subject of colour trends all share the same view this year. 


There are a number of different colours and styles mentioned but the overriding trend seems to centre around the same theme. 


2012 interior design trends seem to favour a minimalistic approach using neutral colours but with splashes of vibrant colour the most popular of which is Tangerine Orange.  A full list of 2012 trend colours are listed below

• Tangerine Orange
• Lime Green
• Sunflower Yellow
• Navy
• Rosy Red
• Lilac
• Blossom Pink

In addition to home decor a number of fashion designers are reported to have introduced Orange or Tangerine Tango and the other reported colours into their 2012 clothing ranges too so expect to see this colour scheme invade every aspect of your life this year. 

Neutral colours including pale grey, stone and cream will provide the backdrop to these bursts of colour. 

After a couple of trying years in the UK it is reported that people want to add a splash of colour and light into their surroundings. Tangerine Tango and Lime Green will certainly do that. 

How to get the look

Don't over do it, that is the key, Don't go buying carpets and a new sofa. Maybe have one relief wall and then consider subtle additions to your room, scatter cushions maybe, a rug, a vase, replacement vertical blind slats even. For very little cost you can transform your room to reflect a modern bright and clean look. If you keep the cost down then come next year you can afford to do the same again when accent colours change. 

Tangerine replacement vertical blind slats £1.35 each

Lime Green replacement vertical blind slats £1.35 each

Rosy Red replacement vertical blind slats £1.35 each












Click here to buy vertical blinds
Click here to buy replacement vertical blind slats