Roller Blind Fabric and Colour: Feature or Blend In?
The best blockout roller blind for your renovation comes down to two decisions. First, do you want the blind to be a feature or to blend in? Second, how will it be fitted? Fabric colour and fitting work together, and getting the pair right matters more than picking from the hundreds of fabrics on offer.
There are plenty of fabrics, colours and textures to choose from, and it's easy to feel stuck. Here's how we help renovating homeowners across the Central Coast narrow it down.
What do you want your roller blind to do?
Start with the job the blind has to do in the room, then decide how it should look. When the blind is down, it does one of two things: it stands out as part of the design, or it quietly disappears into the room.
Both work. They just lead to different fabric colours. Decide this first and the sample range gets a lot smaller.
For bedrooms and media rooms, we recommend blockout fabrics because they keep the room dark. Our Window Blinds page shows the range of blind types we make and install.
Should my roller blind be a feature or blend in?
Feature: choose a fabric colour that's different from your wall colour. When the blind is down, it becomes a deliberate part of the room. In the photo above, the sand-coloured blind stands out against the white wall and adds warmth to the room. This works well in a renovation where you're already choosing a colour scheme.
Blend in: choose a fabric colour close to the wall colour. In the photo above, the white blind sits quietly against the white wall and doesn't pull your eye. This suits a calm, uncluttered look, and it's popular in rooms where the view, the furniture or the new paint is meant to be the star.
Neither is better. It depends on the room and your taste. If you're unsure, take a sample home and hold it against the wall in the morning and again in the afternoon. Light changes how a colour reads.
Face fit or reveal fit: how does it change the colour I choose?
How the blind is installed matters as much as the fabric you pick. It changes what you see around the blind when it's down, and that changes which colour makes sense.
Face fit: the blind is fixed to the architrave. When it's down, it covers the window and the architrave. So the wall is what surrounds the blind. If you want it to blend in, match the fabric to the wall colour.
Reveal fit: the blind sits inside the window frame. When it's down, the architrave stays visible around the blind. So the architrave is what surrounds it. Matching the fabric to the architrave colour is the recommended choice here.
| Fit | What you see around the blind | Match the fabric to |
|---|---|---|
| Face fit (on the architrave) | Wall | Wall colour |
| Reveal fit (inside the frame) | Architrave | Architrave colour |
The mistake we see is choosing a fabric from the wall colour and then reveal fitting the blind. The fabric ends up sitting next to a different colour. Decide on the fit first, then match your colour to what will surround the blind.
How do I narrow down blockout fabrics, colours and textures?
Work through it in this order:
- Pick your outcome: feature or blend in.
- Pick your fit: face fit or reveal fit. This tells you whether to match the wall or the architrave.
- Pick your colour family: close to the match colour if blending, noticeably different if it's a feature.
- Compare textures in person: fabric texture changes in the light. A flat, smooth finish reads differently from a woven one, and you'll only see that in a real sample.
- Take two or three samples home: check them in the room, in daylight and at night.
If your renovation includes new paint, choose the paint colour first and match the blind to it. It's easier than the other way around.
For a master bedroom, where blockout matters most, see our Master Bedroom page for ideas. If the same fabric question applies to large windows and sliding doors, our post on S-Fold Drapes for Open Plan Living (linked under Related reading below) covers a different approach.
Ready to choose your roller blind fabric?
If you're renovating and want help choosing a fabric and colour, Request a Free Quote and we'll arrange a free in-home measure and quote. You can also visit our showroom at 1/217 The Entrance Road, Erina NSW 2250 to look at samples. We cover about 50km around Erina, and you can check your suburb on our Service Areas page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should my roller blind match the wall or be a different colour?
It depends on the look you want. A colour close to the wall makes the blind blend in. A colour that differs from the wall makes the blind a feature when it's down.
What colour should I choose for a face fit roller blind?
With a face fit, the blind covers the window and the architrave. If you want it to blend in, match the fabric to the wall colour.
What colour should I choose for a reveal fit roller blind?
A reveal fit sits inside the window frame, so the architrave stays visible when the blind is down. We recommend matching the fabric colour to the architrave.
Are blockout fabrics a good choice for a bedroom?
Yes. Blockout fabrics are the usual choice for bedrooms and media rooms where you want the room dark. You can compare fabrics at the free in-home measure and quote.
How do I clean a fabric roller blind?
Wipe the blind gently with a damp cloth. Don't soak the fabric, and don't use abrasives, solvents or hard rubbing. Let the blind dry fully before rolling it up. Care can vary by fabric, so ask us about your specific fabric.
Can I see fabric samples before I decide?
Yes. You can look at samples at our Erina showroom, and we can also bring options to your home at the free in-home measure and quote. You'll find more answers on our FAQ page.
Related reading:
S-Fold Drapes for Open Plan Living →About the Author
Written by Brendan Hunt — qualified carpenter, joiner, and Director of Central Coast Shutters (EMBLUM Pty Ltd). With over 20 years of experience installing flooring and window furnishings on the Central Coast, Brendan leads every consultation and oversees installation quality personally.